The Worst Problems for Every Hyundai Model and Generation

A large pile of crushed cars

Car problems happen. But there's something we can do about it.

By matching owner complaints with recall, investigation and technical service bulletin data we've come up with a list of the most common Hyundai problems for every model and generation. We've even ranked vehicles by their reliability.

Trending Problems

A few problems that keep popping up. There's plenty more where that came from.

  1. Elantra Nu Engine Tick

    The 1.8L Nu engine has been ticking owners off with its constant ticks, connecting rod knocks, predispostion to engine bearing failure and problems with oil sludge. These problems all happen within Hyundai's 10-year / 100,000 mile warranty,…

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  2. Tucson Dual Clutch Transmission Acceleration

    Hyundai went with a 7-speed EcoShift dual-clutch transmission for its blend of performance and fuel economy. But these transmissions tend to have two major drivability issues like hesitation off the line or added vibration. In the case of t…

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  3. Hyundai Theta II Engine Knocking, Seizing, and Sludge

    The Theta II is a gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine that is well known for a lot of things and none of them are good. Bearing failure, metal debris riding on contaminated oil, piston ring defects, siezing, knocking, crying.

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All Problems

What Owners Complain About the Most

Sometimes it's easiest to just tally up all the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are.

Worst Issues

Worst Topics

Worst Years

The Least Reliable Hyundai Models

Some models just can't seem to get out of their own way. We've created a list of the least reliable GMC models using data such as complaint volume, average cost of repairs, age of the car when it breaks down, and recall frequency.

All Models

  1. Hyundai Sonata

    Reliability
    25th of 25
    PainRank™
    74.27
    Complaints
    2100
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a

  2. Hyundai Elantra

    Reliability
    24th of 25
    PainRank™
    61.02
    Complaints
    1327
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a

  3. Hyundai Tucson

    Reliability
    23rd of 25
    PainRank™
    26.92
    Complaints
    598
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a

  4. Hyundai Santa Fe

    Reliability
    22nd of 25
    PainRank™
    22.36
    Complaints
    988
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a

Key Numbers

  1. 30 models

    Each with their own trim levels, bodystyles, and special blend of headaches.

  2. 56 generations

    A group of years for a specific model with the same design, features, and problems.

  3. 30 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  4. 6,274 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  5. 3,269 service bulletins

    Documenting the process of troubleshooting common problems.

  6. 242 recall campaigns

    Time-sensitive, free repairs for widespread safety problems.

Worst Generations

A generation is a group of model years where little, if any, changes were made. They tend to have the same problems and some generations have horrible reputations for reliability. Here's a handful you should avoid.

See All Generations

  1. 6th Generation Sonata

    Years
    2011–2014
    Reliability
    50th of 50
    PainRank™
    68.11
    Complaints
    1312
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a Sonata

  2. 5th Generation Elantra

    Years
    2011–2016
    Reliability
    49th of 50
    PainRank™
    45.43
    Complaints
    937
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a Elantra

  3. 2nd Generation Santa Fe

    Years
    2007–2012
    Reliability
    48th of 50
    PainRank™
    21.52
    Complaints
    559
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a Santa Fe

  4. 5th Generation Sonata

    Years
    2006–2010
    Reliability
    47th of 50
    PainRank™
    19.96
    Complaints
    384
    Continue Front 3/4 view of a Sonata

Recent Hyundai News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. Posted on
    Source
    carcomplaints.com
    Tagged
    #recall

    Hyundai thought it could manage EV battery fires with some software updates, but then one of the "repaired" vehicles caught on fire.

    So now the company finds itself staring down the barrel of an all-out battery replacement program for 76,000 Kona EVs worldwide (that's a $900 million dollar barrel, FWIW).

    Also included are some Ioniq EVs and Electric City buses that have also run the risk of being torched. The recall will begin in South Korea before expanding to other countries. There is no official word on a North American recall, but it's only a matter of time.…

  2. Posted on
    Source
    carcomplaints.com
    Tagged
    #recall

    Owners of the 3rd generation Tucson (2016-2021) are being urged to keep their parked vehicles away from anything that can burn until they have a fuse in the antilock braking system (ABS) replaced.

    If you're wondering if they really mean that, yes. Yes they do Multiple SUVs have caught on fire, both while parked and in motion, due to a short circuit in the ABS.

    An investigation found that the fires may not occur if the operating current in the ABS module traveled through a lower amperage fuse so they want to swap the system's current 40-amp fuse for a 25-amp version. I'd personally like a little more certainty than "may not occur," but that's just me.…

  3. Posted on
    Source
    carcomplaints.com
    Tagged
    #recall

    The 1st generation Veracruz (2007-2012) has been recalled a second time to fix oil sneaking past defects in a valve cover gasket and damaging the alternator.

    The oil-soaked alternator will lose voltage, leading to problems such as the battery system not properly charging or the vehicle entering "limp home" mode while driving.

    Only 83% of the vehicles originally recalled were ever repaired and of those roughly 1% of the vehicles suffered from gasket leaks about two years later. Hyundai extended the warranty for the 60,000 affected vehicles hoping that would be enough, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ordered them to recall the problem ... again.

    The recall (#197) is expected to begin on January 8th, 2021.

  5. Posted on
    Source
    carcomplaints.com
    Tagged
    #recall

    Hyundai is recalling 11,000 Kona Electric SUVs and asking the owners to park outside after reports of 13 battery fires.

    Hyundai believes an electrical short-circuit is being triggered in the lithium-ion batteries as they charge and approach 100%. Most of the fires happened while the SUVs were parked and charging. While the root cause is still under investigation, electrical deficiencies in the LG batteries or software issues in the battery management software are likely to blame.

    More About This Recall ∞

    • In March, Hyundai issued a Kona Electric service campaign to upgrade the battery management system software to detect abnormalities in the battery while the vehicle is parked. But over the last 7 months an additional 7 fires were reported.
    • Now an interim repair will limit the battery's maximum charging capacity to 90%, which removes the risk of fires but will limit the owner's range until a more permanent solution is available.
    • Recall #196 expected to begin in Devember 2020. Because of the nature of the recall, Hyundai strongly emphasizes that owners need to park outside and away from any structures that could catch on fire.
  6. Posted on
    Source
    carcomplaints.com
    Tagged
    #investigation

    More than 1,300 Hyundai vehicles have burst into flames, now the government wants to know why. It’s about time.

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) was petitioned to look into these non-collision fires last June. The fires are responsible for 26 injuries in Hyundai vehicles and over 100 if you include Kia. The investigation will focus on the Theta II engine, but the NHTSA plans on looking into tail lights and other potential combustion sources as well.

See More News

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Tell Us What's Wrong With Your Hyundai

The best way to find out what's wrong with a vehicle is from the people who drive them. Not only do owner complaints help us rank vehicles by reliability, but they're often used to spark class-action lawsuits and warranty extensions. Plus, they're a great way to vent.

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