2007 Hyundai Sonata Engine

2007 Hyundai Sonata- Consumers son is emailing on behalf of his elderly mother. He is requesting any kind of help in reference to a catastrophic engine failure. Complaint has been filed with the MA Attorney Generals Office and the email mentions a current NHTSA investigation into the 2007 Sonata.

The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while performing a daily check on the vehicle, the contact became aware that oil was leaking onto the alternator. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the mechanic replaced the driver’s side valve cover gasket. The dealer was contacted, and the dealer stated that the vehicle was not under recall and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was 114,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE HEARD RATTLING AND TAPPING SOUNDS. THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WHILE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A ROD KNOCK AND VALVE TAP PRESENT AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. KEARNY MESA HYUNDAI (4797 CONVOY ST, SAN DIEGO, CA 92111) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPAIRED OUT OF POCKET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,800.

MY TRANSMISSION WENT

I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE FOR ALMOST AN HOUR WHEN I STARTED TO HEAR A CLICKING NOISE. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH AND PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR. WHEN I DID SO, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND SUDDENLY, SMOKE FILLED UNDER THE HOOD AND ALSO CAME OUT THE EXHAUST PIPE. I ALSO SAW DEBRIS FLEW OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR, LOOKING LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. I PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND OIL EVERYWHERE, MORE SMOKE FLOODING OUT OF THE HOOD AND BITS OF METAL DEBRIS ALL OVER. OIL WAS LEAKING ALL OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE MECHANIC HAS JUDGED THAT THE ENGINE BURST WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT.

OIL LEAK FROM VALVE COVER GASKET DROPPED ON ALTERNATOR. DAMAGE TO ALTERNATOR CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF WHILE GOING 60MPH ON AN INTERSTATE. MULTIPLE LIGHTS ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED (INCLUDING THE ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHTS, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT STARTED FLASHING), I LOST POWER TO THE RADIO AND THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE CAR STOPPED WORKING, QUICKLY AFTER THESE TWO ISSUES STARTED I LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE (AGAIN, WHILE GOING 60MPH ON AN INTERSTATE). VERBATIM TEXT FROM COMPLAINT 14V415000 FOR THE HYUNDAI VERACRUZ (INCLUDING THE MODEL YEAR 2007)- "AN UNEXPECTED FAILURE OF MOTIVE POWER WHILE DRIVING INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH." I BELIEVE THAT THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO OTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLES AS THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR SONATAS FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, INCLUDING 2007. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME $1372.43 TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR, VALVE COVER GASKET, AND BATTERY (ATTACHED).

2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE. *LD *JS

HYUNDAI REPLACED ORIGINAL ENGINE THAT EXPLODED WITH A REBUILT ENGINE THAT SUFFERED SAME FATE WHILE DAUGHTER WAS EVACUATING FROM HURRICANE IRMA ON INTERSTATE 95

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WANT IT REPLACED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. WHITE WATER MOTORS IN WEST HARRISON, INDIANA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FIRE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 207,000.

VEHICLE IN MOTION ON FREEWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, SPEED VARYING FROM 0-30 MPH. ENGINE SPONTANEOUSLY BEGAN MAKING LOUD METALLIC KNOCKING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED. NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED. MECHANIC FOUND NO LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. FRONT END DISASSEMBLY SHOWED METAL BITS IN THE OIL PAN. ENGINE CONSIDERED TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THREAT OF FIRE. CAUSE BELIEVED TO BE CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS.

THE ISSUE IS THE TENSIONER FOR THE TIMING CHAIN. THE TENSIONER FAILED, CAUSING A VERY EXPENSIVE ENGINE REPAIR. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 6 CYL TENSIONER, BUT NOT THE 4 CYL WHICH I HAVE. MY RESEARCH SAYS THE SAME TENSIONERS WERE USED FOR BOTH ENGINES. IT FAILED AT 169,000. IT WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT WHEN IT FAILED TO START. IT WOULD TURNOVER BUT WOULD NOT CATCH. I HAVE ALL THE DAMAGED PARTS SAVED BY THE MECHANIC. IF I WAS DRIVING WHEN IT FAILED, IT WOULD HAVE NOT ONLY BLOWN THE ENGINE BUT MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE STOPPED MY CAR ON WHATEVER ROAD I WAS DRIVING ON, INCLUDING AN EXPRESSWAY.

2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK HAD A CRACK IN IT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS PREMATURE. THE ENGINE WAS REPAIRED AND THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED. THE ENGINE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND ENGINE BEGAN KNOCKING. STOPPED DRIVING IT. REMOVAL OF ENGINE HAS SHOWN THAT IT HAS THROWN A ROD AND SPUN THE INSERT OUT OF IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLES BUT THE RECALL ISN'T GOING BACK FAR ENOUGH.

ENGINE MAKES A VERY LOUD NOISE AND CANNOT BE USED. THIS CAR WAS VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. LOUD NOISE IN CYLINDER AND CRANK SHAFT. HYUNDAI SAYS ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE WHO WOULD BE LEFT STRANDED OR IN A BAD SITUATION. HYUNDAI DOES ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM, BUT SO FAR NO RECALL.

THIS CAR HAS THE FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET LEAK THAT OTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLES WITH THE V6 ENGINE. IT ONLY LEAKS RIGHT IN THE SAME CORNER AS ALL THE OTHERS AND IT LEAKS RIGHT ON TO THE ALTERNATOR. I AM ON MY SECOND MAYBE THIRD ALTERNATOR. I AHVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE IT NOT CAUSE ANY INJURY'S SO FAR.

THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING METALLIC CLICKING AND KNOCKING NOISES ABOUT A WEEK AGO. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND BY THEN IT STARTED SQUEAKING AND SQUEALING. HE SAID IT WAS CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND ASKED IF I HAD EVER LET IT RUN OUT OF OIL, WHICH I NEVER DID. WHEN DRIVING TO MY MECHANIC, LOST A LOT OF POWER ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP TO HIGHWAY AND ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT. MY MECHANIC NEVER SEEN IN AN ENGINE WITH < 200,000 MILES UNLESS AN OIL EVENT, SO HE BELIEVES THIS WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE 2011 AND 2012 SONATA WAS RECALLED FOR EXACTLY THIS TYPE OF ISSUE AS WELL. I WONDER IF THE PROBLEMS WERE ALSO EXISTING ON PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS, SUCH AS THE 2007 MODEL.

TRAVELING AT 50 MPH HIGHWAY OFF RAMP. A RATTLING IN THE ENGINE - BROKEN ROD - LOSS OF POWER AND NO ACCELERATION.

AT 107,000 MILES THE ENGINE STARTED TICKING. I DROVE TO THE DEALER AND THE FIRST MECHANIC WHO LISTENED - DIDN'T EVEN OPEN THE HOOD, JUST LISTENED SAID "YOU NEED A NEW ENGINE". COST OF ENGINE REPLACEMENT WITH LABOR WAS ESTIMATED $4000-$5000 WHICH WAS MORE THAN THE CAR WAS WORTH, SO I DROVE IT ANOTHER 20,000+ MILES WITH THE TICKING GETTING LOUDER UNTIL ONE MORNING IT BLEW A HOLE IN THE BLOCK ON THE FREEWAY. I'VE HEARD OF THIS WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND THERE LOW MILEAGE SONATAS. SEEMS TO ME HYUNDAI IS REFUSING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF A BAD ENGINE - THIS WAS A SINGLE OWNER 7 YEAR OLD CAR WITH THE ORIGINAL BATTERY. YEP, THE BATTERY LASTED LONGER THAN THE ENGINE! *TR

THE ENGINE FAILED WITH A BENT ROD IN THE ENGINE. ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JS

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I HEARD A CLANKING NOISE. IT GOT VERY LOUD WITH ACCELERATION. THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON, OR OVER HEATING, SMOKE, OR ANY SIGNS OF A PROBLEM OTHER THAN THE NOISE. I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, AND AS I DID SO, THE CAR DIED. LONG STORY SHORT, (AS THIS HAS NOW BEEN A MONTH OF A NIGHTMARE) THE MECHANICS AT THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS VERY LOW ON OIL. I DROVE FROM SAN DIEGO AND WAS ON MY WAY TO SAN ANTONIO, SO OF COURSE I MADE SURE THE OIL WAS OKAY BEFORE I LEFT. I HAD JUST PAID MY TAGS AND HAD IT SMOG CHECKED AND OIL WAS CHECKED AND FINE. SINCE SPEAKING WITH MANY MECHANICS, I HAVE FOUND IT IS A WELL KNOWN FACT THAT THIS ENGINE IS DEFECTED AND HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE FILED FORMAL COMPLAINTS. THE ENGINE ITSELF IS MORE EXPENSIVE THE V-6! I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CAR RUNS FINE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN DIES BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE FILTER SUCKING UP OIL. THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP CHANGED MY OIL AND MY CAR TURNED BACK ON, KNOCKING, BUT ON. I HAD ANOTHER MECHANIC LOOK AT IT, AND HE SAID THERE WAS NO OIL IN IT, SO I KNOW THE FILTER IS SUCKING IT UP. I ONLY REALIZED THIS PROBLEM AFTER SEEING MANY MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ON CARS.COM CHAT BOARDS, OF THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENING TO THEM, AND FROM HEARING ABOUT IT FROM DIFFERENT MECHANICS I'VE SPOKE WITH. THE LAST MECHANIC I SPOKE WITH AT AAMCO, CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY TOLD HIM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WHY IT HAS NOT YET BEEN RECALLED. I ONLY HAD 117,000MLS ON IT. THAT MAY SOUND LIKE ALOT TO SOME, BUT I'VE OWNED MANY CARS AND THEY HAVE ALL LAST MUCH LONGER (A TOYOTA @ 334,00). THIS PROBLEM HAS COST ME MY JOB I MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO FOR, AS I AM NEW TO THE AREA AND CANNOT BE FINANCED ET. AND OWE 4,000+ ON MY SONATA STILL. ITS COST ME TONS OF MONEY OUT OF POCKET, TOWING, MECHANICS, RENTALS ETC. AND PHYSICALLY MADE ME ILL. A NEW OR REBUILT ENGINE: 3,000-7,000! *TR

WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HEARD LOUD KNOCKING SOUND UNDER THE BOTTOM. TOOK IT TO TUFFY AUTO AND WAS TOLD ENGINE IS LOSING OIL BADLY. THEY NOTICED BECAUSE I HAD JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED 3 WEEKS PRIOR. WAS TOLD NEED NEW ENGINE. *TR

HAD JUST HAD MY CAR SMOG CHECKED, OIL CHECKED, TIRES ROTATED AND BEGAN MY DRIVE FROM SAN DIEGO CA. TO SAN ANTONIO TX. I GET TO OZONA TX I HEAR A CLINKING IN MY ENGINE. I PULL OFF THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR DIES, THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME MY CAR IS TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN SAN ANGELO THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, AND THE MECHANICS SAID IT WAS LOW ON OIL AND THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE AN ENGINE PUT IT IN AT THE TIME, AS IT IS AN EXPENSIVE ENGINE COSTING 5, -$7,000.00. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SAN ANTONIO TX WHERE BY A MECHANIC WHO SAID IT WAS LOW ON OIL (HAD JUST HAD OIL CHANGED @ HYUNDAI). HE ADDED MORE OIL. THE PEOPLE AT HYUNDAI SAID THEY CHANGED THE OIL AND GOT THE CAR TO UNSEIZE AND TURN ON BUT IT WAS KNOCKING. MY CAR WAS LATER TAKEN TO AM AAMCO, WHERE THE MECHANICS LOOKED AT IT AND FOUND PARTS FALLING OFF IT AS THEY REMOVED THE OIL PAN. THEY CALLED HYUNDAI, BECAUSE ANOTHER CAN JUST LIKE MINE CAME IN THAT DAY WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE PERSON AT HYUNDAI SAID THERE IS NOW A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THE CAR BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN VOLUNTARILY RECALLED AS OF YET, BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE STEPPED FORWARD N FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT. THEY DO KNOW THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WAY THE FILTER SOAKS UP THE OIL IN THE ENGINE. IT HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON IN MY CAR...NO ENGINE LIGHT, NO OIL LIGHT, NO OVERHEATING OR SMOKE OR ANYTHING. WAS RUNNING FINE, AND DIED. IN THIS HORRIFIC PLACE I'VE BEEN PUT IN, BEING STRANDED IN A SMALL TEXAS TOWN FOR A WEEKEND, THEN ANOTHER, AND HAVING TO PAY FOR RENTAL CARS, TOWING, MULTIPLE MECHANICS, I HAVE LEARNED ALOT ABOUT THE CAR. THE ENGINE (ACCORDING TO HYUNDAI)IS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T MAKE VERY MANY. IT COSTS MORE THAN THE V-6!! MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARS, ITS ALL OVER MESSAGE BOARDS ONLINE AND KNOWN AMONG THE SALVAGE YARDS, MACHINISTS ETC. *TR

ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON THEN IT STARTED WITH A TICKING NOISE, IT GOT LOUDER AND LOST POWER. I AM TOLD I NEED A NEW ENGINE. IT THERE ANY RECALL ON THIS MODEL CAUSE I FOUND QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR