Wrench.Pro

2018 Hyundai Sonata: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2018 / hyundai / sonata
known issues6 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-19)
complaints372 on file (2017-12-31 → 2026-09-11)
recalls1
investigations2
fars52 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Oil pan crack and leakENGINE13 complaints2023-02 → 2026-07sonata-2018-oil-pan-crack
  • 11751641 The lower aluminum engine oil pan developed a structural hairline fracture ("micro-crack") directly along the factory casting ridge adjacent to the drain plug. The component failed without any external impact, road hazard, scraping, or underbody damage
  • 11552753 I was driving and when I made a left turn I heard a sucking type of noise coming from the engine. I immediately made an appointment at my local Hyundai dealership, however they were booked for another month so I made it at my local mechanic shop
  • 11508753 Hairline crack in engine oil pan possibly resulting in engine failure
ABS module and brake system malfunctionSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC12 complaints2023-02 → 2026-04sonata-2018-abs-brake-malfunction
  • 11662272 The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS module had failed
  • 11509454 The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal would depress to the floorboard with the maintenance message displayed on the instrument panel
  • 11556945 ABS module stopped working and the ABS module light is on. Car automatically brakes by its self sometimes or locks up at stop lights creating dangerous driving situations
No-start condition and starter failureELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER10 complaints2023-12 → 2025-12sonata-2018-no-start-starter-failure
  • 11707411 Intermittent no-crank, no-start condition. Dash lights illuminate, push-button start produces no response. Brake pedal applied. Vehicle becomes immobilized without warning. I’ve been stranded on multiple occasions
  • 11677493 My starter failed after 35,683 miles leaving me stranded in a parking lot at night. The life expectancy for a starter is between 100,000and 150,000 miles. Hyundai replaced the part at a cost of $1,139 which is way above what it normally costs to replace a starter
  • 11616684 My 2018 Hyundai sonata with only 20,821 had to have the starter replaced on [XXX] because the car would not start. I had 3 different people including AAA road service to verify why it would not start and what the problem was
Theta II engine oil consumptionENGINE68 complaints2023-04 → 2026-07sonata-2018-oil-consumption
  • 11702514 I bought this vehicle as a certified pre-owned from a Hyundai dealership on 09/10/2022 with 32,677 miles. Around 85,000 miles, it began burning an excessive amount of oil—about two quarts per month
  • 11616911 Car has an engine defect and consumes too much oil. Hyundai Sonata is denying the repair or engine replacement
  • 11636198 2018 Hyundai Sonata with only 128k miles already needs a new engine due to oil consumption. I have done the regular maintenance on the car and have only put roughly 25k miles on the car since owning it
Engine stall from rod-bearing failurePOWER TRAIN, ENGINE48 complaints2023-03 → 2026-03sonata-2018-engine-stall-rod-bearing
  • 11692952 While driving my vehicle one day, the engine blew out. This was caused by a malfunction from connecting rod bearing wear. I could have easily been rear ended. Hyundai was aware of the issue, but it was never resolved for me at least
  • 11625548 The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power and was unable to accelerate above 60 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated
  • 11553050 Engine is failing, stalls frequently. Dealership where I bought the car will not help, other dealership advised us to drive the car until the engine fails. I do not feel safe driving this car with my children
Seat belt and airbag restraint failureSEAT BELTS6 complaints2024-05 → 2026-01sonata-2018-seatbelt-airbag-failure
  • 11637409 The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, the contact became aware that the driver’s side seat belt failed to latch securely into the buckle. The seat belt warning light was illuminated
  • 11710253 The three airbags in the car (on the driver's weel, driver's knee, and the passenger's side) deployed while driving on a normal street at a speed of 50 miles/hour. This is an unexpected behavior of a car at a normal speed
  • 11624830 The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the dealer performed a compression check

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
3722017-12-312026-09-111813ENGINE:210; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:60; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:58; POWER TRAIN:40; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM:31

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
21V61900006/08/2021LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCHHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.Dealers will replace the trunk latch base, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 208.

Investigations all years →

action_numberstatussubjectcomponentsopenedclosedrecall_campaignsummary
DP22003closedLoss of Motive PowerENGINE2022-09-122023-12-12·The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complain
EA19001closedElectrical overstressAIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE2019-04-192024-09-1920V024The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mount

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-202452legacy-code0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2018 Hyundai Sonata vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2018/hyundai/sonata
@misc{wrenchpro_2018_hyundai_sonata_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2018 Hyundai Sonata},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2018/hyundai/sonata}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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