2015 Hyundai Sonata: grinding or squealing brakes

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 Nov 23, 2025 · Engine · FL

On the highway, my 2015 Hyundai Sonata suddenly began making a squealing or metallic rattling noise. At first, I thought it might have been something loose inside the vehicle. Within moments, the check engine light began blinking, followed by several additional warning lights and a pronounced knocking noise from the engine area. Immediately after the warning lights appeared, the vehicle entered a reduced-power “limp mode” and began rapidly losing speed, even though the engine was still running. Because this occurred at highway speed while surrounding traffic was traveling normally, I had to pull onto the shoulder to avoid being struck. This created a significant safety hazard. I was stranded for approximately 45 minutes on the shoulder, at risk of being struck by other vehicles passing at high speeds. A tow truck arrived before the highway patrol, and the vehicle was towed home. When I returned home, my code reader pulled two versions of diagnostic code P1326, which is associated with potential engine bearing failure in Hyundai Theta II engines. The issue has since been inspected by the dealership, who confirmed the presence of the P1326 code. The vehicle is currently available for further inspection upon request. There were no prior symptoms that I was aware of leading up to the incident other than the brief squealing/rattling noise and the sudden warning lights immediately beforehand. The failure happened suddenly and without warning, causing an immediate and unexpected loss of speed and creating a dangerous situation on the highway.

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 Feb 25, 2020 · Brakes · 45,000 miles · CA

Brakes and rotors have been replaced. Noticed that it's taking longer for me to stop along with squealing of front brakes.

Filed Dec 31, 2019 · Engine · 125,000 miles · MO

I was driving 60mph with cruise on a state highway. When the car accelerated there was a noise I couldn't identify. I immediately pulled to the side of the road to investigate and the noise sounded like rocks grinding. I checked oil and it was full. When car was restarted the noise resumed. I turned off the car and it didn't start again. Towed to a garage and they said there were metal shavings in the oil and motor was locked up. 125k miles and regularly maintained. Engine was replaced at a cost of $4000.

Filed Oct 4, 2019 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · CA

My vehicle's dual-clutch system has been making loud, grinding noises while accelerating from a stop, or low speed (0-10 miles per hour). When this happens, I am not able to accelerate unless I slam the break on, and try to accelerate again. This has been dangerous when crossing intersections because the other drivers around are not anticipating a full stop. As the clutch continues to not engage, the problem becomes more and more frequent and has even got to the point where it will not accelerate or go into the next gear when in high speeds. This happened to me while trying to merge onto a freeway, I was going about 30 MPH, the rpms jumped up and down and I could not accelerate the car at all. It was extremely unsafe because there was no shoulder lane and I was crossing a bridge. This is an ongoing issue that has been happening for over 6 months. I am currently not driving the vehicle because it has become so frequent of a problem.

Filed Jun 10, 2019 · Brakes, Suspension · 50,000 miles · IL

My vehicle makes a clunking noise when I make a turn and accelerate simultaneously, napelton hyundai told me it was my axel and my front brakes grind when my car settles after I brake or when I ease off the brake

Filed May 19, 2019 · Engine · 70,000 miles · UT

I was in motion (just coming out of a steep canyon on an interstate/highway) and suddenly the engine just stopped. The check oil, check engine, and check battery lights flashed because my ignition was still on, but I had to try to coast to a safe stop. No warning, no overheating, no issues with battery or oil or other fluids. The engine just squeaks faintly when I turn the key and won't turn over.

Filed Aug 12, 2018 · Acceleration, Engine · 72,000 miles · WI

P0010 code and p0011 can hear a metal grinding noise when accelerating also fluctuating rpms. I keep immaculate maintenance and take excellent care of it. Absolutely no idea how but parked car everything was normal, started car next day and rpms shot high and light came on. They reset light and say nothing wrong but this keeps occuring. Highly upset as I have absolutely loved everything about this car until now.

Filed Jun 5, 2018 · Body · 75,000 miles · VA

Sun roof squeaking. Brought the car to dealer twice for this issue. They temporarily fix it by lubricating. Issue has come back so bad that it sounds that the car is falling apart. When I push up on the sun roof or I open it it disappears.

Filed Nov 6, 2017 · Engine · 20,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 hyundai sonata. While driving approximately 5 MPH approaching a stop light, the vehicle suddenly began to emit a grinding noise from the front end and began to shake. The vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, because it began to hesitate, the contact pulled the vehicle off the road and turned off the engine. The vehicle was towed to hyundai of chantilly virginia (14848 stonecroft center ct, chantilly, va 20151; 703‑480‑9000), but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.