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Hyundai Sonata fire or smoke problems

578 of the 16,115 owner complaints about the Hyundai Sonata describe fire, smoke or burning smell, most of them for the 2011 model year.

owner complaints
578
worst model year
2011
typical repair cost reported
$2,000
typical mileage
100,000
Is there a fix? There are 6 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Oct 22, 2026 · Engine · 180,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, there was smoke coming from under the hood, and the vehicle lost automotive power and the vehicle was barely moving. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence at a slow speed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil and that there was no oil in the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle had received an oil change one week prior to the failure. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

Filed Oct 22, 2026 · Fuel system · LA

The fuel tank assembly became pressurized with compressed air due top worn purge control system check valve. This caused the tank to deform and the deformation of the tank led to the fuel pump being pushed out and the back seat of the car was completely unattached and no longer secured. There was a strong presence of gas smell in the car as well. The check engine light came on and the car began to drive poorly. It was taken directly to a Hyundai dealership where it remains as of today. This could have resulted in the car catching on fire and potentially killing everyone in the car. My [XXX] daughter and 2 friends was driving the car from Louisiana to Mississippi when this occurred. The dealership in MS told her she needed to call and find someone to come and get her because the car was not safe to drive. My daughter was stranded in another state and had a college friend come and get them since I did not have a car and I was in Louisiana. After several hours her friend was able to pick them up which she remained stranded in MS for an additional 4 days. I had to get a friend to meet them halfway and bring her home because the dealership said there was nothing they could do to assist with transportation. This occurred on [XXX]. My car remains at this dealership in MS with only the testing to say the gas tank test failed and the car could not be driven. I was told Hyundai would offer a buyback on my vehicle because the repair was costly and time consuming. I have not been reimbursed for my transportation expenses through Uber as of today. I was told I could rent a car and they would reimburse my expense after I submitted a receipt and waited several weeks to process and then at least 2 weeks for the payment to clear. Either way I have received nothing. There was not any warning and the dash lights and poor engine running all happened at once. She drove straight to the dealership on [XXX]. We have not been treated fairly with this situation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S

Filed Oct 12, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · CA · fire

My 2013 sonata caught fire from the engine I was barely able to get out safely

Filed Sep 20, 2026 · Electrical · TX · fire

Fuse for A/C was blown, caught on fire, and melted components.

Filed Aug 23, 2026 · Electrical, Visibility · IL

Blower motor malfunction at night. Smelled something burning. Extremely hot and humid outside. Windows fogged up inside which greatly reduced visibility. Checked the multifuse which controls the ABS, oil pump, cooling fan, & Blower. I discovered a burnt connection on one of the terminals for the blower. This is a huge safety and fire risk and needs to be addressed ASAP!!!! Upon my research, I’m finding several Hyundai Sonata vehicles having this same exact issue. Kia vehicles are being recalled for this same exact issue. Why isn’t the Hyundai Sonata??

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 30, 2026 · Engine · FL · fire

Vehicle engine caught fire in April 2026! Tow company sold for parts without my permission! Immediately after gaining possession of my car. I didn't have comprehensive insurance, only basic. I had a brain bleed stroke Nov. 2022 and this is causing stress, setbacks. No attorneys want to take the case because there was no injuries! I jumped out in time. THANK GOD!

Filed Jul 23, 2026 · Engine · 172,000 miles · VA · fire

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, smoke started coming from the hood and the vehicle was pulled over into a parking space. While opening the hood, the contact saw that fire was coming from the top of the engine. The contact stated that the fire consumed the front of the vehicle, including the windshield and the dashboard. The smoke coming from the vehicle was dark gray and turned black afterwards. The contact called 911, and the Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries reported. A vehicle parked next to the vehicle was damaged by the flames. The contact's vehicle was not inspected or officially deemed a total loss. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where an oil change had been performed prior to the failure. The mechanic stated that there might have been a high-pressure fuel valve on top of the engine that possibly caused a gas leak, which started the fire. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 172,000.

Filed Jul 21, 2026 · Airbags, Fuel system · CA

I purchased fgis car from a used car dealership, for over $6,000.00 , which is not a ton of money, but plenty enough to not have instant issues. Since my purchase in june 30, 2026, i have already had all of these issues occur. There is white smoke coming from the left tail pipe, it is sluggish when you push on the gas, there is black soot constantly on my rims that is extreamly hard to remove, the high pressure fuel pump jas failed, I can tell because the oil is higher then it was when o had the oil freshly changed, and it smells of gasoline.inside the oil. The exhaust has stron smell of gasoline. My steering wheel has a loud clinking noise everytime I go over a speed bump on pull into my driveway. Just so many items consistently needing repair or replacement, even though I just had the fuel system cleaned, the oil changed, and filters, and.oil filter too. I checked to see if any of my issues are covered by a recall warranty, because they all are recalled items for my car year, make, and model, but apparently Hyunfai is only covering these dangerous recall items for ul to 10 years. These items shkuld be covered longer, because my carfax states that at least one of these recalled items had already been changed in 2018, and is already broken again!! Hyundai should have covered these extreamly high wear out car parts for a longer period of time, or for the life of the vehicle, if every 5 years your replacing a $1000.00 part, not including labor, like the (HPFP) I was quoted by auto zone for over that price point!! "Ridiculous"! Another item is the air bag cover on the driver side windows area, of the body frame it is loose and keeps un-clipping, i am afraid that it is going to possibly just go off and kill me or something!! Very disappointed right now, that i cannot get any of these recalled items replaced by the manufacturer!!

Filed Jul 17, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · PA · fire

When my father was driving, the vehicle stalled out with no prior odd activity. He pulled over to the side of the road and attempted to start the vehicle. He saw smoke, opened the hood, saw flames and cleared the area of the vehicle. Due to the large Hyundai/Kia engine recall for his year of vehicle, the engine had been replaced 2-3 times and ONLY EVER been serviced by the dealership. We do not know if all recall repair work had been done, because there was also a fuel line recall which was "fixed" in 2020 and 2022.

Related recalls

Electrical system: instrument cluster/panelReported January 26, 2026 · 41,651 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Risk
An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 293. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on January 28, 2026.

Recall number 26V047000 · Recall details

Electrical system: softwareReported September 24, 2021 · 469,377 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Sonata, 2016-2017 Sonata Hybrid, and Sonata Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The Smart Junction Box (SJB) software logic may not properly interpret the signals received from the multifunction switch, which could cause the turn signal to activate in the opposite direction of what the driver intended.
Risk
A turn signal that activates in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the SJB software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 210.

Recall number 21V749000 · Recall details

Electrical system: softwareReported April 9, 2020 · 11,870 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Nexo and Sonata vehicles. The Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) software may fail to prevent vehicle movement upon detection of an RSPA system malfunction.
Risk
Unintended vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the RSPA software, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 191.

Recall number 20V213000 · Recall details

Electrical system: instrument cluster/panelReported October 20, 2015 · 64,744 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to August 21, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with an Antilock Braking System (ABS) warning light intended to warn the driver if there is an ABS malfunction. In the event of an ABS malfunction, the Brake System warning light will illuminate, but the ABS warning light will not illuminate. Since the vehicles have ABS malfunction lights that do not illuminate, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk
If the driver is alerted there is a brake system malfunction, but not specifically with the ABS system, the driver may operate the vehicle unaware that the vehicle's brakes may lock up during hard braking, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑671‑3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 134.

Recall number 15V678000 · Recall details

Electrical system: wiringReported June 12, 2014 · 2,138 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 2, 2014, through May 23, 2014. A poor connection within the vehicle's wiring harness may result in a reduction of steering assist from the vehicle's motor driven power steering system or the inability to move the vehicle's shifter from the Park position.
Risk
The reduction of power steering assist can increase the steering effort needed, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Hyundai notified dealers to suspend sales of affected Sonata vehicles and has published recall bulletin 14-01-024 providing a service procedure to repair the affected vehicles. On June 7, 2014 Hyundai began to contact the affected retail customers. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑800‑633‑5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 119.

Recall number 14V325000 · Recall details

Electrical system: wiringReported September 11, 2000 · 165,977 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: some sonata vehicles equipped with 2.5 liter v-6 engines and all elantra model vehicles may have experienced intermittent low-speed engine stalling, which could occur if the maf (mass air flow) sensor electrical signal is interrupted as a result of engine vibration transmitted to the maf sensor connector wiring harness.
Risk
This condition can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will re-route the maf sensor connector wiring harness.

Recall number 00V259001 · Recall details

Questions about the Hyundai Sonata fire or smoke

Which Hyundai Sonata years have fire, smoke or burning smell problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2011 (117 complaints), 2013 (107 complaints) and 2012 (91 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix fire, smoke or burning smell on the Hyundai Sonata?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $2,000 (median of 23 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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