2015 Hyundai Sonata · symptom sheet
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing
- 226owner reports
- 82,985median miles
- $1,141median quote
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Sep 1, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
642 of the 1,144 complaints on this car are about the engine. 226 of those describe engine failure. Only stalling is reported more often on this car.
Narrower sheets: Engine knocking or ticking (97 reports) · Engine seized (36 reports)
Tick what matches of 226 reports
Engine failure on other Sonata years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.
What this problem usually is
These are the reports nobody wants to file. The engine started knocking or ticking, the oil light came on, and then it seized or had to be replaced. Some owners had the replacement covered under warranty or an extension, and plenty were told they'd pay. Several narrower sheets split this group into knocking, seized engines and rod bearing failure.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (214 reports) and the turbo (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2015 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Sonata
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
Scope and timeliness. Closed dec 22, 2021, led to recall 17V-226.
What owners paid
34 of the 226 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $205 to $5,800.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 38,500 and 113,000 miles, from the 128 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 10 service bulletins or notices for the 2015 Hyundai Sonata that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
The warranty coverage for engine long block repair or replacement regarding engine damage or malfunction from connecting rod bearing wear has been extended to a Limited Lifetime Warranty and is valid for original and subsequent owners.
Applicable vehicles with 2.0L T-GDI and 2.4L GDI engines may experience the Check Engine warning lamp illuminated with DTC P1326 and/or engine may exhibit Abnormal Noise or No Crank/No Start condition.
Certain vehicles with 2.0L T-GDI and 2.4L GDI engines may experience the Check Engine warning lamp illuminated with DTC P1326 and/or engine may exhibit abnormal noise or no crank/no start condition related to connecting rod bearing wear or damage.
The warranty coverage for certain Theta II engine long block repair or replacement regarding engine damage or malfunction from connecting rod bearing wear has been extended to a Limited Lifetime Warranty and is valid for original and subsequent owners.
6 more on the 2015 Hyundai Sonata page.
What owners wrote
“I had my engine replaced less than 5000 miles ago and now my check engine light is on once again causing more problems and Hyundai is very unwilling to do anything”
Filed Mar 13, 2024 · 5,000 miles
“Oil consumption issues. Had a brand new factory motor to replace original motor due to engine failure from oil consumption issues on June 29 2020 at 154,285 miles. The new motor only has 56,665 miles on it and I'm having to add extra oil in between changes because it is bone dry after about 1800 miles from oil change each time.”
Filed Nov 28, 2023 · 154,285 miles
“Driving at 55 and the engine blew. No warning, no check engine light, no sign of anything wrong. Power steering loss, limo mode activation. Almost rear ended during catastrophic failure. 111,000 miles”
Filed Jul 26, 2022 · 111,000 miles
“We have had some issues but take very good care of the car maintenance wise. The car went into limp mode and we took it in they ran it and came up as the knock sensor.. I noticed there was a huge recall for these cars. What can I do? It has 140000 miles and again we keep up on the car. Is this something I need to seek counsel for? Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you, Dominique”
Filed Apr 14, 2022 · 140,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 226 reports involved a crash and 3 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 250 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 171 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 83 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 76 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 48 reports
- Vehicle fire 44 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 41 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 36 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 35 reports
- Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power 32 reports
- Fuel pump failure 30 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 29 reports
- Engine leaks oil 29 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 25 reports