2010 Hyundai Sonata: engine stalls while driving

Filed Sep 11, 2025 · Engine, Steering · CO

Car has had check engine light on for 3 + years. Have taken it to several mechanics including a Hyundai dealership and none of them can figure out what is wrong. Have replaced water pump, belts x2 in a year (same belt) and thermostat x 3 again (all within 2 years). Dash fuel gage and Dash heating/cooling gage are completely erratic. Cruise control does not work. Due to chronic check engine light and mechanics unable to pin point the problem, car has become hazardous to drive. With that in mind, today (9/10/2025) while exiting the high way, car stalled and behaved like it was in neutral. Steering wheel also locked up at this time. Luckily was able to stop. Had to restart car and then it occurred again while driving on a side street at 35mph. The codes that are still popping up are ones that I have spent thousands trying to fix and find the root cause of the problem. What could the issue be if no mechanic can seem to diagnose and fix the issue?

Filed Mar 2, 2021 · Engine · 116,000 miles · CO

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the engine threw a rod and the vehicle stalled without warning. Due to the failure, the contact pulled the vehicle off to the side of the roadway and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic confirmed that the engine threw a rod which LED to complete engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact to towed the vehicle to an authorized dealer for assistance. The vehicle was then towed to hyundai of greeley (4533 w 29th st, greeley, co 80634) and he was informed that the vehicle was no longer under warranty. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer offered any further assistance. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The engine blew and failure mileage was 116,000. *dt *jb

Filed Feb 14, 2020 · Engine · 70,000 miles · NE

While driving the car on a city street at about 35 miles an hour, it suddenly stalled. I was able to get to a side street. The car would not start. The engine is ruined and needs to be replaced. The car has had all of its maintenance/oil changes. It has had no accidents. It has 70,000 miles on it.

Filed Apr 7, 2019 · Driver assistance · CT

Takata recall . My girlfriend and I were driving when we were approaching a stop light when my ESC light came on at 15 MPH and my car 'stalled' then shut off however my car was turned on. I was in still in 'drive'and had four cars behind me. I proceeded to put my hazard lights on to let the other drivers pass by, put my car in park, then I turned the car off. After ten minutes I was able to turn the car on, proceeded to start to drive however the light remained on. I instantly noticed my car was slower than before I couldn't properly accelerate and the performance overall was just low. I am now afraid to go anywhere far with the car due to this experience luckily we were not in an accident this time. It's happened three more times since then. This was two weeks ago.

Filed Jun 2, 2018 · Engine · 24,500 miles · NY

When driving vehicle, it completely stalls and vehicle is unable to start again for a few minutes. Happens randomly without notice.

Filed Apr 24, 2017 · Engine · 32,000 miles · TX

Driving in traffic and car stall on freeway doing rush hour traffic car died could not move gear selector fondling with key before it started was followed by a police until out of danger, had it tested at firestone auto repair no electrical problem was found

Filed Feb 29, 2016 · Engine · 123,000 miles · MO

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 hyundai sonata. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the timing chain failed and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v568000 (engine). The failure mileage was 123,000.

Filed Sep 15, 2015 · Driver assistance · 52,000 miles · NJ

The ESC turns off while driving the car at normal speed. I cannot turn it on when this happens. I turn off the vehicle and turn it back on then I can work the switch for ESC to turn on and off, but after driving less than a mile, ESC will automatically turn off, when this happens if I try to turn it on using the switch, it does not turn on. I had the same problem a couple of years ago while the vehicle was under warranty (miles at that time around 40,000). The dealership said they fixed the issue, but it is recurring. Now the car is out of warranty.

Filed Nov 19, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 16,500 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that the check engine warning lamp was illuminated and the vehicle had exhibited stalling failures. The transmission also failed to shift gears. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. However, the technician was unable to diagnose and duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 16,500.

Filed Feb 1, 2012 · Transmission · 28,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 hyundai elantra. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, he attempted to accelerate further, but the vehicle would not accelerate beyond 50 MPH. The vehicle then stalled. The dealer advised the contact to replace the transmission. The manufacturer had not been notified. No repairs were performed. The failure and current mileages were 28,000.

Filed Mar 19, 2010 · Transmission · 2,504 miles · FL

The manual transmission in my 2010 hyundai sonata has been having abnormal issues since my date of purchase. First it was just stalling when disengaging the clutch from reverse and first gear; now it is primarily from first gear. To get the car to move forward you must drag the clutch and push the accelerator causing an odd clacking noise in the front of the car, or sometimes it has a squealing or rubbing sound and the car does not move forward and there is a burning smell. Today, when shifting from first gear to second gear, the car lunged forward as though it was accelerating on it's own and I was barely touching the gas pedal. I have taken it to the dealer twice with complaints of the abnormal performance, the first time at 809 miles, and the second time at 1794 miles , and they said they have not been able to duplicate the complaint.