2015 Hyundai Sonata: engine overheating

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 Jul 9, 2026 · Engine · 74,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer who performed an emission software upgrade. Later, while driving, the air conditioner blew hot air, the thermostat increased to high, and an engine overheating warning message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who diagnosed that the thermostat had failed and needed to be replaced. The thermostat was replaced, and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,000.

Filed Feb 15, 2025 · Engine · CA

In 8-2021 the original engine locked up due to a crankshaft bearing lock up. The dealer replaced the entire engine with a rebuilt. It locked up within 10 seconds after I drove from the dealer due to a massive external oil leak from the engine front area. The dealer could not determine where the leak was coming from and prepared a report to reflect this. The dealer then replaced this first replaced engine with another rebuilt engine. I drove it and within 5 minutes of driving the radiator plastic side tank exploded open and lost coolant. The engine then misfired and began to smoke out the tailpipe. and engine areas. The dealer demanded I pay $1,100 for a replacement radiator and then they would confirm that the head gasket was leaking from the combustion chamber into the cooling system that exploded the radiator side tank due to overpressurization from exhaust gas. Another dealer saw that the combustion gas had a large leak that was coming out of the broken radiator plastic side tank and advised repalcing the engine with another engine and radiator. The engine locked up while driving it as a result of overheating and/or coolant inside the cylinder that has the head gasket leak. The dealer and factory refuses to repair the engine that is still under two different kinds of warranties. The warranties expire on 10-12-2025

Filed Feb 8, 2023 · Engine · FL

My 2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport 2.4L is burning through oil like crazy and has been for a while now and I had no Idea. I get oil changes like I am suppose to do per the sticker and miles. Recently I drove about 4 hours away from home and I smelled burning but I had just got my breaks done and a oil change so I assumed it was the breaks . I got back home and still smelled the smell took it to the shop and they told me it was bone dry with NO oil at all. I was not at my mileage from the sticker so it wasn't time for me to get another oil change. They then told me these cars burns oil like crazy but that was the fist time anyone told me this and I have never had this issue ( I've had the car since Jan 2020 with no issues) They put more oil in it and told me to come back when it reaches the mileage. I went back to get my oil change and once again it was BARE!!!!!! They did the oil change and 2 weeks later I started my car and white smoke came from the engine part under the hood through my exhaust pipe AND my VENTS!! It was so much smoke I was afraid a fire was going to start!!! I lost a day at work and my daughter missed a day at school. Turns out I have a oil leak and I need my Valve seal cover gasket replaced. Not once did my oil light come on and TWICE my car had been completely out of oil! I am going to get my engine checked because who knows if it has done any damage (hopefully none). My car has never overheated or my check engine light has never came on. I see there a recall for this exact situation but the years covered was from 2008 or something until 2014 and I have a 2015! This is clearly a ongoing problem with Hyundai and something needs to be done. This is not a sweep under the rug issue. Its literally ruining peoples cars and we are left to fend for ourselves. Something or someone needs to advocate for the customer because the company clearly is not listening to complaints.

Filed Aug 29, 2022 · Engine · 127,785 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, there was a cranking noise coming from the engine. There was an engine overheated message displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The vehicle was then towed to another dealer who diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 127,785.

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 Jun 21, 2018 · Engine, Transmission · 63,000 miles · MD

Air intake was replaced 3x. 3rd time lead to turbo failure. Thompson hyundai replaces turbo but doesn't put antifreeze, tighten oil screw (which blew oil all over engine), and they didn't even test drive it. Drove vehicle, smoke starts pouring from the vents, engine overheats. Vehicle gets towed back to dealership. Currently vehicle has check engine light on, rough idle and doesn't accelerate. Almost got into an accident because loss of acceleration. Also, the sunroof winddeflector which was recalled is now coming off again. Dealership used a small amount of glue to adhesive it back to the car. The glue has failed.hyundai needs better service techs. They have destroyed my car.

Filed Aug 16, 2017 · Engine · 34,000 miles · TX

My engine suddenly stalled while driving down a busy highway with my family. Luckily no one was hurt thank the lord! We were driving down the highway when we started to hear a knocking noise and the car started to decelerate. We noticed there was white smoke as well. I was able to get the car to the shoulder of the highway. The car would not restart so we called roadside assistance and since it was saturday evening, (after hours) we had park the car at a nearby walmart until monday. I had to do the whole roadside assistance song and dance all over again monday. The service department was very accommodating. They were pleasant and even provided a loaner car. They informed me the engine would need to be replaced but since my car only had 34,000 miles it should be covered. They said they just had to get it approved by hyundai first. After a week of waiting they called me up an told me hyundai would not be covering the vehicle due lack of maintenance (sighted oil crude build up as evidence) and I would need to fork over $5500. I got the oil changed and maintained the car but failed to keep documentation. Upon researching the issue, it appears hyundai has a history of not standing by their warranty and leaving their customers high and dry. In fact they just settled a law suit for the same exact thing. So we paid up, waited a week for the repairs and now I'm back up here a week later with another engine problem (overheating). Luckily we only had the car for a week because they likely would've charged me again. Well hopefully they will provide me with a loaner again because this just destroyed my work schedule for today.

Filed May 10, 2017 · Electrical · 66,000 miles · AR

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 hyundai sonata. While driving 32 MPH, the contact heard a loud noise underneath the hood. The overheating, steering, and battery warning indicators illuminated and the engine stalled. The contact pulled over to the parking lot. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,000.

Filed Feb 17, 2016 · Brakes, Steering · 600 miles · TN

2015 hyundai sonata se - engine vibrations/rattles/droning when in overdrive at low RPM acceleration. At times the engine has been unresponsive. Was told by hyundai it was normal, but did not start until the car had around 600 miles - now at 7400 miles, still doing it and sounds horrid. Also, popping sound from steering/brakes when backing up and turning/using brakes at only 1200 miles. That was fixed by dealer, said I had overheated the brakes, which wasn't true, only drove on freeway and wasn't using the brakes.

Filed Dec 30, 2015 · Steering · 1,500 miles · OH

The steering wheel on this car will lock or get stuck as I am operating the vehicle. It has happened at slow speeds as well as highway speeds and even happened in reverse once. It is intermittent and random but the frequency is increasing. On my first dealer visit 12/10/15 there was a code for the electronic steering which the dealer cleared and returned the car to me without making any repairs. The problem continued so the car was taken to a 2nd dealer who found a code pertaining to ECM overheating. Hyundai advised the dealer to clear the code and return the car to me. I filed a complaint with hyundai customer care on 12/16/15 and received an acknowledgment email that a representative would contact me in 3-5 days. On 12/21 I contacted hyundai customer care, explained the car wasnt safe to drive so what should I do. I was told hyundai would not offer a loaner car but I could ask my dealer if they would provide one at their cost. I asked about a representative contacting me and I was told it hasnt been 5 days yet so I needed to be patient. As of 12/30/15 I still have not received a response from hyundai customer care.

Filed Oct 2, 2015 · Engine · 1,089 miles · TX

I bought this new car a few months ago. At 1089 miles engine overheated while in traffic. I manage to stop safely and I called roadside to tow the car to service. Second day they told me that they need to replace the engine according to hyundai tech line. This for me was a red flag that something is really wrong with that car. They found coolant inside the engine and this was their diagnosis, jsut like this. The replaced the engine with a remanufactured one and few weeks later I ended up in service again for coolant leaks. They replaced 2 big houses. Not long after this I ended up again in service cause coolant level is low on the overfill compartment. They said is nothing wrong and all the tests are good. So I took the car and a couple of weeks later the same. They told me the same story. Well the car overheated again and again and again till everything started to smell like something melted and some kind of smoke came out from inside the engine when you open the oil cap. The car has been in service for more than 3 weeks with no resolution so far. I reported coolant issues from the beginning but hyundai refuse to listed and kept saying is nothing wrong. I consider this s huge issues and can cause the car to get on fire or engine to explode. I hope to get this done under lemon law but hyundai is stubborn and we might end up in court. In the mean time I am paying for the 7 months for a defective problem not to mention the value after all these major issues.