2018 Hyundai Sonata Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 233 engine complaints for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata, 62% of the 373 total complaints filed for this year. Owners report sudden unintended acceleration, stalling, and engine fires, with a median mileage at failure of 21,250 miles and 9 crashes plus 8 fires tied to the reports. No related recall is listed in this data.
- Engine complaints
- 233
- 62% of 373
- Crashes reported
- 9
- Fires reported
- 8
- Injuries reported
- 5
- Median mileage
- 21,250 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration at low speeds, including while parking or turning, that ends in a crash into walls, poles, or other vehicles.
- Some drivers report the brake pedal failing to slow or stop the car during these acceleration events, even with firm pressure.
- Multiple owners report engine fires, some starting under the hood while driving and others while the vehicle was parked and unattended.
- A few complaints describe the engine stalling or stuttering suddenly during normal driving, including during a turn that led to a collision.
- One owner linked their fire to what they described as a known Hyundai Theta II engine defect, though this dataset lists no related recall.
When 2018 Hyundai Sonata engine complaints were filed
First complaint Jun 1, 2018, latest Sep 21, 2026.
Engine recalls for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine complaints by Sonata model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many engine complaints does the 2018 Hyundai Sonata have?
- NHTSA lists 233 engine complaints for the 2018 Sonata, which is 62% of the 373 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata engine?
- This dataset lists no related recalls for the 2018 Sonata engine, though one owner complaint mentions a Theta II engine defect by name.
- At what mileage do 2018 Sonata engine problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for engine-related complaints is 21,250 miles.
- Do 2018 Sonata engine problems involve fires or crashes?
- Yes. NHTSA data tied to this problem area records 9 crashes, 8 fires, and 5 injuries.
- How does the 2018 Sonata compare to other years for engine complaints?
- Engine complaints made up 62% of all complaints for 2018, higher than 2017's 54% and 2019's 58%, but lower than 2016's 65%.