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Engine & cooling

2004 Hyundai Sonata Engine problems

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 2004 Hyundai Sonata's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 5% of all its complaints, most recently on September 19, 2023. They describe 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

UNKNOWN, I recently purchased it from a dealership in Lemon Grove Cailfornia. Ever since I bought it,it has never had a catalytic converter and only one muffler. It is a 2.7L motor DOHC and requires 2 catalytic converters and dual exhaust due to the double overhead cam. It has cause motor oil into my engine block and has coughed my heater core. Also blown head gasket. I have hired certified ASE mechanics to replace parts and then I run into another problem.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11545320
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

Leaking valve cover is allowing oil to leak down onto the alternator. Car can be stationary or running. Most notable when car engine is running. Oil leaking onto alternator can cause alternator to short. Alternator failed and car battery could not charge battery. Car died while my wife was driving and she had to pull quickly off to the side of the road.

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11182857
SteeringSuspensionEngine & coolingBody, doors & structure

Took car to mechanic for fuel pump work. He informed us that the engine cradle is rusted beyond repair and is un-safe to drive. I found the recall online and called hyundai. They informed me that remediation had been done in 2009. (A new hole for drainage had been drilled in the engine cradle frame and a sealant applied). Evidently this did not stop the corrosion of the frame and caused a weakening of the frame and a crack in the structural area of the frame. Is hyundai liable to repair this defect? I can supply pictures of the defect and crack in frame if necessary. *Tr

Filed Incident Steering · Suspension · Engine and engine cooling · StructureNHTSA 10679022
Engine & cooling

The car started losing speed and stalled a couple of times. The camshaft sensor and crankshaft sensors were replaced. The problem happened 6 months later. *Tr

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10574627
Acceleration & cruise controlBrakesEngine & coolingFuel systemCrash

Backing into the garage, my foot on brake, the engine suddenly revved to high rpm, the car shot backwards, propelling a heavy rubber mat on which the car is normally parked out of the garage and into the driveway. The vehicle then impacted and crashed through the rear garage wall before coming to a stop. I managed to pry the gear lever out of reverse, hit drive instead and sent the car, wheels still spinning and laying down rubber, forward out of the garage. On its way out the car swiped along the right side the...

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garage door post before finally coming to a stop in the driveway. Final result, serious damage to both the car and the garage. Fortunately this did not occur in traffic or with pedestrians in the area. On-line research has since shown me that there have been numerous other similar incidents where hyundai sonatas have suddenly accelerated on their own. See http://www.Carproblemzoo.Com/hyundai/sonata/car-accelerates-on-its-own-problems.Php. *Tr

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · Service brakes · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10504759
SteeringBody, doors & structureWheels & tiresEngine & cooling

The right side of the engine cradle broke (due to corrosion); the result of this broke the right front half axle, and detroyed right front tire. *Tr

Filed Incident Steering · Structure · Wheels · EngineNHTSA 10502166
Engine & cooling

2004 Hyundai sonata gls dies randomly when stopped at a red light or turning at a low rate of speed, then starts right up and may not do it again for a month or a few days. Check engine light does not come on and vehicle runs great besides dying in traffic which could cause a crash. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10348606
Engine & cooling

While driving my 2004 hyundai sonata at low speed, the engine suddenly died. This caused me to lose power steering and power brakes. Fortunately there was space for me to pull to the curb and no one was behind me. After an hour or so of trying the car started up and I drove it home. Three days later it happened again on a busy street at about 10 mph. Again I was fortunate and could pull to the curb. This time I could not start it and had it towed to a local repair shop. They diagnosed it as a "defective evap....

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Solenoid that was causing engine flooding." This was a very scary occurrence--if it happened on a highway it would be very difficult to steer (due to loss of power steering) and my sudden slowing could cause rear-end crash. The old part is not available. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10252206
Engine & cooling

2004 HYNDAI SONATA STALLS ON HIGHWAY. *TR

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10246690
Engine & cooling

Dt: the contact experienced problems with starting the vehicle on two occasions. When it occurred the first time he attempted three times before the engine turned over. The second time the key remained in the ignition for four minutes before the vehicle would start. Also, the dealer stated the problem was intermittent, and only occurred once. Because the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem no repairs were done. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10143766

Hyundai Sonata engine complaints by year

Sonata engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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