Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Hyundai Sonata owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated there was play in the steering wheel while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where an unknown repair was completed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle made abnormal sounds while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there were metal shavings in the engine oil. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the steering wheel loosened up inadvertently and she lost control of the vehicle. The contact depressed the brake pedal but the vehicle failed to respond, causing the vehicle to crash into two occupied vehicles. The air bags deployed. The contact sustained a seat belt mark, and soreness on the neck and shoulders. The contact also sustained numbness in the right hand. The contact later sought medical assistance. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed while he was at a complete stop at the stoplight, but it failed to respond. The battery warning light and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact turned off and attempted to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle would not start. The contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the driver's side hood. The contact was able to push the vehicle to the side of the road with some assistance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer called the contact and advised that he would be responsible for the cost of the repair as he failed to complete an unknown recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owned a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming from the front and the rear of the vehicle followed by flames. The contact was not able to stop the vehicle and had to jump out to exit. The vehicle drove off to the side of the road where it came to a complete stop and burned bushes that were on the side of the road. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was filed. The contact suffered a fractured left arm and bruising on the left rib which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home and was deemed totally destroyed by the insurance company. The contact stated that the engine of the vehicle was replaced due to a recall under the VIN. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 119.000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while his son was driving 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated the instrument panel with an abnormal clicking sound coming from the engine. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic who informed him that the vehicle was no longer safe to be driven. The contact then called a dealer and had the vehicle towed to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The contact was informed that the engine had failed and that the dealer needed approval from the manufacturer to replace the engine. The contact was called back and informed that they would not be able to service the vehicle because the vehicle had a salvage title. The contact then called the manufacturer directly and was given the same information. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. …
I drove a mile from my house and the vehicle stalled at a turn. The engine shut off. I tried to turn it back on and it did not. I have an electrical push button and it did not work. My passenger and I pushed the car out of the road into the back area of an HEB. We then opened the hood and the engine started smoking. I had called my boyfriend who then arrived. The engine continued to smoke and an HEB driver saw the incident. He came over with a fire extinguisher and sprayed it because they could see flames starting under the car. The fire department and police had been called. The car engine then went up in flames and my boyfriend used the fire extinguisher. The fire department arrived and went over to the car and cut the wires. Nothing on the car works. It has not been assessed because I only had collision insurance and my company would not come to assess it. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost power and the contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The instrument panel was illuminated with several unknown warning lights. The contact restarted the vehicle and continued driving. Three months later, on November 11th, 2024, while driving approximately 40 - 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated with a message indicating a failure with the Variable Valve Timing Solenoid. An independent mechanic confirmed that the Variable Valve Timing Solenoid was the cause of the failure, and the contact replaced the part himself. The following day after being idle at a stop light, the contact attempted to accelerate, and the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was restarted; however, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption, and the low oil pressure warning light failed to illuminate as needed. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle at the gas station, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The contact checked the oil level and became aware that there was no oil in the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was dark smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, where the contact became aware that there was no oil in the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer advised the contact to check the oil level daily. …
Hello! I bought a car at an auction, it had the crankshaft bearings turned and it was knocking. I decided to repair it myself in my workshop . When I disassembled it, all the bearings and crankshaft necks were erased there (I kept all the details) the connecting rod on the 3rd cylinder was black and the bearings were erased into dust. I repaired it myself, but it still doesn't sound right (but errors don't burn) . A friend told me about the problems associated with this model and I found out on the website that there is a review on the engine. Therefore, I immediately went to the Hyundai dealership, where I was refused a recall saying that I had a good engine because the engine error lamps do not burn. To which I objected by saying that the recall policy warns of bringing the engine to jamming and a possible accident (despite the fact that the engine was already on the verge of this). …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for an oil change, the contact was informed that the engine oil level was low and there were metal shavings in the engine oil. The independent mechanic referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where a second oil change was performed. The dealer also performed three oil consumption tests every 1,000 miles. In the first oil consumption test, the engine oil level was 2 1/2 quarts less. In the second oil consumption test, the engine oil level was 1 quart lower, and in the third oil consumption test, the engine oil level was 1 1/2 quart lower. The dealer informed the contact to return for the fourth oil consumption test after another 1,000 miles. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the sound was persistent. The vehicle was driven to a local restaurant parking lot. The contact stated that the vehicle had stalled several times. The contact was afraid to drive the vehicle because of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to have the vehicle towed to the dealer. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact stated that in November 2024, the vehicle was taken to the dealer and several unknown recall repairs were performed. …
Related recalls
Engine
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2013-2014 Santa Fe Sport vehicles previously repaired under recall numbers 15V-568 and 17V-226. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned, or improperly torqued during the engine replacement…
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Sonata and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine, replacing the engine short block, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151.
NHTSA investigations
Scope and Timeliness
NHTSA opened Recall Query (RQ) 17-004 to investigate the timeliness and scope of Hyundai?s Theta II GDI engine recalls (Recall Nos. 15V-568 and 17V-226), and Hyundai?s compliance with reporting requirements. On November 23, 2020, the Agency entered into a Consent Order with Hyundai to administratively resolve NHTSA?s assertions of violations of law in connection with RQ17-004.
Engine Fires
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles.
Loss of Motive Power
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.
Engine complaints in other Sonata years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2014 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA has 322 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2014 Hyundai Sonata, 43% of the model year's 750 complaints. The component named most often is engine › oil/lubrication (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2014 Hyundai Sonata engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 18V-934 (engine, Dec 28, 2018); NHTSA recall 17V-226 (engine, Mar 31, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2014 Hyundai Sonata engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 86,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 25 fires and 7 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.