2015 Hyundai Sonata: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Aug 5, 2026 · Engine · CA

Engine / Short block assembly / Connecting rod bearing seizure. The engine suffered a sudden, catastrophic seizure while I was actively driving on a steep incline mountain road with a cliff on one side and forest on other. The vehicle experienced an immediate, total loss of motive power, forcing an emergency maneuver onto the shoulder in 5 seconds with no power steering or power brakes, creating an extreme collision hazard on a high-speed incline. The rod bearing melted due to a manufacture defect and could have also possible caught fire in heavy fire country. The fuel pump was also leaking recently and just replaced. They are nearly $1800 for a new pump because of price gauging because they are in "high demand". The Check Engine Light was solid (not flashing) for a thermostat code (P0128) due to extreme internal friction/heat from the failing bearings. There were no flashing KSDS warnings or physical signs of engine overheating. My car was denied a new engine under a Federally Mandated Warranty explicitly stating the exact symptoms of internal engine defect that happened in my car under "owner neglect" even though I have changed my oil regularly and even before the manufacture recommended time frames to do so. I've changed the valve covers, 02 sensors, thermostats, and plenty more on this car than any other car I have ever owned proving I'm actually an exceptional owner. I remained nice to all corporate staff during this process while they denied my car proper care under a Federal Mandate. I bought this car to believe that Hyundai was a superior company in regards to warranties, price, and function as opposed to the more expensive counterparts of the same class. Which in the end has cost me way more, and almost my life. This car is dangerous and the company has done everything in their power to try to cover it up while placing blame on the very consumers that are believing in them to do better.

Filed May 26, 2026 · Engine · CO

Was driving the vehicle up Berthoud Pass on [XXX] . Was a few miles past Berthoud Falls and realized that the vehicle power diminished, noticed smoke coming from the engine. Pulled over and noticed leaking underneath the engine. It appears that a bolt came loose and punctured the engine block. After further research, it appears that this engine recall should have applied to my vehicle, but did not: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 4, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · CT · fire

I was driving on the highway and the engine shut off but everything else remained on. I drifted to the breakdown lane and turned the car off. It would not start again and the car began acting up by turning lights on and off, telling me to check the tire pressure, and not unlocking the doors. I then saw some very light smoke from the engine compartment. I popped the hood and looked and saw a glow on the bottom side of the engine area. Then the car just went up in flames.

Filed Dec 16, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · GA

i've had my 2015 hyundai sonata now for A year. i took it to the hyundai place to have recalls on the security fixed. and told them about the valve cover gasket leaking. they said they fixed it. however every since i took it to the dealership i have had nothing but problems. my car makes a rattling noise when i accelerate, i smell a strong gas smell occasionally at random times but always while driving. my driver brake light has never worked, my driver headlight keeps blowing, my airbag light is now coming on randomly, my car has a bag vibration while going down the road, when i let off the gas it stops and i have replaced tires and still it won't go away no matter what i have done to fix it , and there has been many times after i return home the smell of something burning as off something is on fire is coming from my car. i have even been in panick thinking something today home was on fire but the smell was coming from my car. and others have even stated they smelled it as well. i've already taken out two loans to fix the valve cover gasket and the fuel pump filter, i can not keep taking out loans to fix problems that appears to be problems from the manufacturer and same problems others have had due to malfunctioning issues. i have children that ride in my car, i would hate for someone to get hurt or worse bc of manufacturing problems. then hyundai would have a bigger problem on their hands.

Filed Nov 27, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · IL · fire

While I was driving at approximately 55mph, a loud clank happened and the car stalled, and smoke started pouring out of the hood and through the vents into the cabin, and I was leaving burning pieces behind on the road. I pulled over, ran to the back to get my dogs out of their crash tested kennels in the backseat, and both rear doors & passenger front door were locked. I ran up front to unlock them, and the unlock button did not work. I tried the unlock on the keys and it did not work. Due to having a recommended crash safe kennel set up it was not possible to crawl into the back to open it from the inside. My dogs were trapped in a car that was filled with smoke and on fire for over 2 minutes while I debated breaking the windows. I managed to fish a wire into the back to unlock and pull the door open from the inside of the back doors. The car stopped burning but was still smoking for several minutes after & I was able to clear the smoke to make it safe for my dogs to wait for a tow. When the mechanic looked at it he said the engine blew up due to the rod shattering into the block, destroying the entire engine and spilling oil which lit on fire. Mechanic recommended I contact Hyundai for engine replacement as this was a known issue with other 2015 Hyundai sonatas which were recalled due to risk of a defect rod knock causing the rod to shatter causing high speed stalling. Hyundai says my engine was not included in that specific recall. I included photo of the shattered rod which fell out when the mechanic lifted the vehicle

Filed Sep 28, 2025 · Engine · MO · fire

The engine light started to come on and go off. I had the spark plugs changed and I kept regular maintenance done on oil changes and tune ups. Now my engine is knocking and the vehicle is in limp mo. I took to dealership for extended warranty it was denied due to not properly maintained I turned an additional maintenance records the claim was never reevaluated I took my car home which is only 3 mi away in the engine caught on fire before I could get home $9,000 loss I don't know what to do

Filed Aug 19, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · TX · fire

I had a standard oil change done on my car and it was running fine afterwards. Later that evening, my car started smoking and spontaneously burst into flames from the hood. The fire originated in the hood of the car and melted the entire front of my car as well as the entire inside. It burned a lot of fuel and oil, which leaked onto the ground and continued burning on the ground. My car was overtaken by flames in a matter of a few minutes. It burned so fast that there was nothing I could do to stop it. I was not aware of anything wrong with my engine or fuel lines, or anything like that. However, something was very wrong for the engine area to catch fire like that spontaneously.

Filed Aug 11, 2025 · Electrical · FL · fire

On [XXX], my 2015 Hyundai Sonata experienced a sudden and complete loss of power while driving at highway speed on [XXX] in Sarasota, FL. There were no warning lights, error messages, or abnormal performance indicators prior to the failure. Within minutes of losing power, smoke began to enter the cabin, followed by visible flames from the engine compartment. I pulled over, exited the vehicle, and called 911. The fire fully engulfed the vehicle and destroyed personal property inside, including my late father’s ashes. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) The incident caused significant emotional distress and has resulted in a PTSD diagnosis. The sudden nature of the failure and rapid spread of the fire suggest a critical defect in the vehicle’s engine or related components. I believe this represents a serious safety hazard to other Hyundai owners and the public. Documentation, photographs, and insurance/fire reports are available.

Filed Aug 5, 2025 · Engine · NV · fire

My car 2015 (Hyundai Sonata)started leaking oil, it only had 50,000 miles. my mechanic said the motor had too much pressure and kept pushing oil out. He advised me to take it to the dealership for a motor recall. The dealership gave it back with a list of things to fix. replaced the valve cover gasket but still leaked oil. I found out these cars have an oil leak problems that are not being addressed. My car went up in flames 2 weeks later. I have done everything I could to save this car but nothing saved it. My grandkids were in the car and it had traumatized them.

Filed Jun 6, 2025 · Engine · 155,000 miles · MD · fire

The contact owned a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that after the daughter reached the destination and parked the vehicle, a popping noise suddenly occurred from the engine compartment. After exiting the vehicle, flames were present coming from under the engine hood. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. The vehicle was later towed to an impound lot. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed. The cause of the failure was not determined. No injuries were reported. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact indicated that the engine had been previously replaced as part of a recall repair. The failure mileage was 155,000.

Filed Oct 8, 2024 · Brakes, Electrical · SC · fire

I was driving down the street I went to show down by hitting my brakes they wouldn't slow down the vehicle then the car caught fire

Filed Jul 8, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · CA · fire

On June 30, 2024 I was driving a 2015 Hyundai Sonata and the car caught on fire. There were no warning lights/ dash indicators/ no check engine lights or other warnings present. I had just exited the highway and while sitting at a light, smoke began emanating from the hood and within seconds the smoke turned dark brown at the vents near the windshield. I immediately exited out of the vehicle. I did not have time to pull over out of traffic. The car was engulfed in flames within a very short period of time. I had only seconds to exit the car. I would have struggled to get any passengers out of the backseat safely (i.e. kids in car seats) had I not been the only one in the car at the time. We had notified Hyundai of engine concerns that began in 2023, and they had given us the runaround for many months requiring us to submit paperwork for oil changes for the lifetime of the car and to keep returning to the dealership for "testing" after driving a certain # of miles. They required us to bring the car in to have pictures of the engine taken to ensure there wasn't "neglect" to the car on our part. This excessive and lengthy process by Hyundai took several months after initial concerns were brought up with the dealer. After being required to submit voluminous amount of paperwork and several trips to the dealership for "testing", Hyundai finally agreed to replace the faulty engine. We were told we could continue to drive it until a new engine was ordered. The new engine was scheduled to be replaced on July 11, 2024 however, the car burst into flames on June 30, 2024. Had Hyundai taken appropriate action when the issue was first brought to their attention, this incident would have likely been avoided and had not endangered my life and others helping. Thank you for your attention to this incident.