2015 Hyundai Sonata: brake failure

Filed Oct 28, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · CO

On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, our 2015 Hyundai Sonata with the 2.4L Theta II GDI engine suffered a sudden, complete engine seizure while traveling about 75 mph on I-25 Southbound near Castle Rock, CO. A family member was driving. Warning lights across the car began flashing, the engine made a loud grinding noise, and the brakes stopped working. Over a long distance, the driver was able to get the car onto the shoulder and bring it to a stop, then engage the parking brake. There was no collision and no injuries, only because traffic was light. The car was towed to a repair shop, then transferred to a second shop, which determined the engine had seized and requires full replacement. This vehicle is covered by Hyundai's Theta II GDI engine campaigns for connecting rod bearing failure. On October 26, 2026, Hyundai told us the Knock Sensor Detection System software update (Campaign 953) was never completed on this vehicle and declined coverage. Neither we nor the prior owners, who are family members, recall receiving any notice of this campaign. All previous check engine lights were diagnosed and repaired at independent shops, including an intake manifold replacement in April 2024, and no shop ever identified an open engine campaign. A full engine seizure at highway speed, combined with the loss of braking, creates a serious crash risk for the driver and surrounding traffic.

Filed Jan 15, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · FL · 1 injury

Location: [XXX] Description of Incident: On a rainy morning, while driving to work, I encountered a sudden lane cut-off by a speeding truck as I exited a school zone. I applied the brakes to avoid a forward collision, but the brake system failed entirely. This resulted in the loss of vehicle traction, causing the car to spin out uncontrollably. The vehicle collided with an island, bounced into oncoming traffic, and sustained severe damage, including: •Tires ripped off the rims •Front axle damage Injuries: I sustained a lightly sprained neck as a result of the incident. Vehicle History: The vehicle had been in the custody of the Hyundai dealership just days prior to this incident for an engine/powertrain recall and replacement. The dealership held the car for over a week to address the issue. However, shortly after retrieving the vehicle, the brake failure occurred. Observations and Concerns: •The brake failure occurred after recent service by the manufacturer dealership. •Hyundai vehicles are known to have documented brake system issues, which may have contributed to this incident. •This failure nearly resulted in a life-threatening accident. Action Requested: I am requesting an investigation into the service performed during the recall and the brake system failure. It is imperative to determine accountability and address any potential defects to prevent future occurrences. [XXX] [XXX] - Victim and incident reporter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 9, 2024 · Brakes, Electrical · NC · fire

Car was going approximately 50 miles an hour on a side street when warning lights went on, brakes stopped working, and the engine smoked and appeared to catch on fire. Car was steered into a parking lot and abruptly placed in park. Occupant grabbed valuables and quickly exited the vehicle. At that point, the front of the vehicle, under the hood went up in flames.

Filed Nov 14, 2023 · Brakes, Electrical · IN

My hydraulic brake booster went out, Very dangerous i almost had an accident, the car doesn’t stop, there are no brakes the car would not stop I’f the hydraulic brake booster goes out you have no brakes and if you’re over 50 miles an hour the E break barely does anything it just sounds like you grinding into the ground. Very scary and I had a child in the car. Towed car to Hyundai.

Filed Aug 23, 2023 · Brakes, Transmission · FL

I would like to write about my experience with New Port Richey Hyundai. I have owned a Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited since 2015. I take immaculate care of my car and it only has 65,000 miles. All maintenance has been done regularly and on time. For the last six months I have had a warning light and alarm going off for a few seconds once in a while, which shuts off my cruise control. I took the car in, in the spring of 2023 to have the codes read and no problems were found. Finally, In July of 2023, while my wife was in traffic it started again and totally shut off the car. Unfortunately, the brakes did not work as well. She was going up a slight incline and was able to come to a stop. The brake pedal went completely to the floor. The warning was about a Hybrid System Failure. It was very upsetting to her that her brakes failed when the Hybrid system had a problem. This should never happen! Once the car was towed to New Port Richey Hyundai in Florida, we were told that the car would be look after. The car was returned in the middle of July 2023 with a new electric motor installed. Everything was working fine until today, August 23, 2023. The same warning light that I brought the car in for in May 2023 is going off again. It only stays on for a second or two, so I don’t have time to read it. I really hope this car does not shut off again with no brakes when traveling on the interstate. As mentioned before the car has low miles and is well cared for. This should not be happening.

Filed Dec 17, 2022 · Brakes · VA

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? (LEFT REAR BRAKE PAD . FOUND CALIPIER IS SIEZED IN BRACKET .RECOMMEND REPLACING BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPER BRACKETS, BOTH REAR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS (BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPER BRACKETS WITH ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE WITH PINS) ( Yes, available for inspection upon request) 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? (Brake failure will cause fires & COSTLY ACCIDENTS ) 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?(YES, confirmed by Hyundai Dealership) 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others?( Inspected by dealership) 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? (No warning lamp, message. Problem was found upon yearly inspection ) Appreciate your immediate attention for a reimbursement or claim on this serious matter for my 2015 Hyundai Sonata Limited . Rgds [XXX] , [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Filed Sep 8, 2020 · Brakes · 67,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that while his wife was pulling out of the driveway, the brakes failed to operate without warning. Due to the failure, the vehicle rolled into some bushes at a low rate of speed which stopped the vehicle. The vehicle regained normal braking function. The contact also stated that upon approaching a four way stop, he depressed the brake pedal however, the brakes failed without warning. Due to the failure, the contact drove through an intersection and another vehicle swerved to avoid crashing into the contact's vehicle. The contact also stated that the vehicle regain braking functionality soon after the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact was given a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

Filed Oct 15, 2019 · Brakes · CA

For the past 6 months I've been experiencing brake issues. It happens randomly, sometimes while I am driving (at speeds ranging from 20-65 MPH) and sometimes when I am stopped at a stop sign. It even happened while I was sitting in traffic on a hill driving into yosemite valley! When it happend, the car issues a warning saying that there is a brake failure and to pull over safely. It feels as if something is dragging on the front wheels and the car stops on its own. I took it to local mechanic but they couldn't diagnose the issue and suggested I take it to hyundai. I took it into hyundai this weekend and the mechanic said that they were familiar with the issue and says it has something to do with the hydraulic brakes alerting the system to brake when it shouldn't be. It's going to cost me around $2500 to fix it, which is a hefty sum and unfortunately will have to come out of my wedding budget for my wedding in 6 months. It sounds like something hyundai should take care of. This is incredibly dangerous, I could've gotten into an accident if the cars behind and around me were not paying attention when the brake failures occurred. I thought I would be okay if it happened after once or twice. But I got really scared when it happened in yosemite since there was no place to pull over so I decided to take it in.

Filed Aug 15, 2016 · Brakes · 15,000 miles · SC · crash · fire · 1 injury

I had an accident this morning in my 2015 hyundai sonata se due to brake failure a vehicle stopped in front of me about one-and-a-half crawler and I applied my breaks because I saw when the vehicle stops when I apply my brakes they didn't work it went completely to the floor and had no breaks whatsoever and I slammed into the back of another vehicle at about 45 miles per hour all of the airbags deployed the steering wheel crack the front of my car is demolished I contacted hyundai to try to find out whether they had a recall on break for the sonatas and they said that there were no open recall on my car so I found it very strange that they said no open recall on my car but they never said that they didn't have open have any incidents with people with brake failure and I just wanted to make this publicly known that there is an issue with the brakes and I wish if there's anybody else out there that has had a similar problem they would come forward with this because I wasn't hurt very very badly but I got bumps and bruises but I could have died the same way if I was going at a high rate of speed and someone should have stopped I could have killed myself and someone else.