Hyundai Sonata grinding brakes problems

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 Aug 18, 2026 · Body · OH

Driving on road and hear grinding. Pull off and check underbody and see undercover dragging the pavement. Going speed limit prior to hearing noise of grinding undercover and no impacts or damage occurred to bumper or undercover prior to ripping and dragging the ground

Filed Aug 17, 2026 · Transmission · 38,000 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while the accelerator was depressed, the vehicle hesitated, jerked, and failed to accelerate as intended. The failure occurred while driving from a stop and while driving at various speeds, causing the vehicle to decelerate during the failure. While depressing the brake pedal, there was a rubbing or grinding coming from the vehicle, and the braking was rough. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

Filed Jun 5, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · RI

To Whom It May Concern: I am submitting this complaint to report ongoing safety concerns involving my 2013 Hyundai Sonata. I purchased this vehicle in 2022 through financing and paid it off in 2025. Since acquiring the vehicle, I have experienced persistent mechanical issues that I believe may pose a safety risk to myself, my child, and others on the road. The most concerning issue involves the braking system. I have had the brakes replaced and serviced multiple times, yet the brakes begin grinding again within a very short period, including an instance where the grinding returned approximately one month after replacement. Despite spending money on repairs, the problem continues to reoccur. I am concerned that there may be an underlying defect affecting the braking system that is not being properly identified or corrected through normal maintenance. In addition, the vehicle consumes an excessive amount of oil, requiring frequent monitoring and replacement between oil changes. I am concerned that this issue could potentially lead to engine failure or other dangerous mechanical problems while the vehicle is being operated. As a single mother, I rely on this vehicle daily for transportation to and from work and for caring for my family. I have experienced significant financial hardship attempting to keep the vehicle operational and safe. Despite my efforts to maintain the vehicle, these issues continue to occur. I respectfully request that the federal safety agency review this complaint and determine whether these issues may be related to known defects, recalls, investigations, or patterns reported by other owners of 2013 Hyundai Sonata vehicles. I am willing to provide maintenance records, repair invoices, mileage information, and any additional documentation that may assist in evaluating this matter. Thank you for your attention to this complaint and for your commitment to vehicle safety.

Filed Apr 20, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · NC

We think there’s an issue with the abs module and wheel speed sensor because we started having a problem where the brakes wouldn’t work or would stutter. The car would shake real bad it would make an awful grinding sound but normally only when trying to stop at higher speeds or long braking. The only thing that made it stop was to unplug the abs but then other parts of the car stopped working like the speedometer and the sensors around the car. So we got the abs replaced but the new one started doing the same thing. We did some research and it sounds like the same issue Hyundai is having with the palisade. The incident that made us get it replaced to begin with was were driving down the road and we got to a traffic light but when we tried to brake they just didn’t work so we drove through the red light luckily the one person who was supposed to be going saw us and didn’t pull out in front of us so we didn’t get hit. We haven’t taken it to the dealership yet but my sister who teaches automotive repair at the community college is the one who diagnosed it so she said we should report it here so maybe it won’t happen to anyone else. Before we had the brake issue we were having problems with basically everything on the dash not working randomly. We’d be driving down the road and the speedometer and the outside sensors and the gas gauge and the traction control all would go out at the same time it’s the same stuff that went out when we had the abs unplugged so it seems that might be related.

Filed Mar 25, 2026 · Brakes · 80,000 miles · AR

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power, an alarm sounded for the braking system, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and the vehicle failed to exceed 15 MPH. After originally paying out-of-pocket for an ABS module at the dealer and was informed that the engine needed to be repaired and the brakes needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to the residence where an independent mechanic repaired the vehicle. There was a recall for the ABS module and the contact returned to the dealer, and the dealer confirmed that the independent mechanic had correctly installed the part. The dealer performed the official recall repair and refused to reimburse the contact for the previous expenses. Three months later, the braking system failed again. The contact stated that the vehicle temporarily returned to normal after a restart, but the failure worsened and required a return trip to the dealer for another repair. In January 2026, the failure recurred for a third time with a loud squealing sound. The dealer was not notified of the third failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

Filed Mar 23, 2026 · Brakes · GA

I am the original owner of a 2025 Hyundai Sonata purchased new in 2025. The vehicle currently has fewer than 4,000 miles on the odometer. Since early in my ownership, I have experienced a persistent and recurring squealing noise that occurs specifically when releasing the brake pedal after a short stop, and when transitioning from braking to acceleration. This is not an intermittent or weather/humidity-related issue. The noise has been consistent and ongoing throughout my ownership and has not resolved on its own--I was thinking it might since new cars take some time to adjust. At under 4,000 miles, brake components on this vehicle should be essentially new. Brake pads are engineered to last between 30,000 and 70,000 miles under normal driving conditions. A persistent brake noise at this mileage cannot reasonably be attributed to normal wear and tear and is indicative of a manufacturing defect, defective OEM brake pad compound, or a sticking/dragging brake caliper that fails to fully release after braking. I note that the federal safety agency has previously investigated Hyundai Sonata brake behavior, including a technical bulletin concerning rear brake pads remaining in contact with rotors after a diagnostic self-check cycle, causing a dragging condition in the next drive cycle. My symptoms are consistent with this type of brake drag behavior. Multiple Hyundai Sonata owners have documented the same persistent squeal-on-release pattern on Hyundai owner forums, with some reporting the issue beginning within the first year of new vehicle ownership and dealers being unable to diagnose or resolve it. I have formally reported this issue to Hyundai Motor America Consumer Affairs prior to filing this complaint and have requested warranty coverage. I am filing this complaint to create an official federal record of this defect and to contribute to any pattern investigation the federal safety agency may conduct on 2025 Hyundai Sonata brake systems.

Filed Jan 22, 2026 · Engine, Steering · 138,000 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 - 70 MPH, there was a grinding sensation coming from the front wheels, and the grinding sensation was felt in the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the rod bearings and hubs had failed, causing the grinding sound. The contact was informed that the rod bearings and hubs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the following day, there was a loud grinding sound coming from the vehicle. The sound also occurred while the vehicle was parked. While attempting to accelerate from 25 - 35 MPH, the engine started knocking, and the vehicle clunked and jerked. The vehicle decelerated, and the contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact became aware that the accelerator pedal was not operating as needed. While on the side of the road, the contact turned off the vehicle and attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the engine had failed, and the mechanic recommended the engine replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to a different dealer, Capital Hyundai of Greensboro (801 E Bessemer Ave, Greensboro, NC 27405), and the contact was informed of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V568000 (Engine). The vehicle was not repaired because the manufacturer stated that the maintenance history was not satisfactory enough to warrant an engine replacement. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

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 Sep 23, 2025 · Brakes · GA

The issue has happened multiple times while driving, sitting in traffic, or parked idling. The Brake Light comes on and starts flashing, Alarm Chimes, Brake Pedal goes to the floor seems to not have any hydraulic pressure, the brakes grind like I have no brake pads, and essentially I have NO Brakes. If I turn the car off and on it goes back to normal. I took it to have it checked for a diagnostic code, there were none.