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 2019 Hyundai Sonata owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, smoke started coming from the hood and the vehicle was pulled over into a parking space. While opening the hood, the contact saw that fire was coming from the top of the engine. The contact stated that the fire consumed the front of the vehicle, including the windshield and the dashboard. The smoke coming from the vehicle was dark gray and turned black afterwards. The contact called 911, and the Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries reported. A vehicle parked next to the vehicle was damaged by the flames. The contact's vehicle was not inspected or officially deemed a total loss. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where an oil change had been performed prior to the failure. …
The contact owned a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light, smoke was present coming from the hood and a burning oil odor was present inside the cabin of the vehicle. Moments later while driving, flames were seen coming from under the hood before the vehicle stalled. After exiting the vehicle, the front of the vehicle burst into flames. The local fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed and later towed away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. A fire report was taken at the scene. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 60,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while parked and powered off, the vehicle was being refueled and connected to the fuel pump when she observed smoke coming from vents and from the engine compartment. The contact opened the hood of the vehicle and she observed fire emanating from the engine compartment. The gas station attendant extinguished the fire with an extinguisher. A police report was filed. The fire department was not called. The vehicle was towed to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
The vehicle consumes a gallon of oil weekly. The spark plugs are having to be replaced every three months. The Low beams have been replaced and are working but the headlights are completely out and flashes on the dash board. I have Hi beam's only. There is an electrical issue with the vehicle and is very dangerous to drive with the oil leaks that are continuously happening.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a knocking sound coming from under the hood. The contact stated that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. In addition, while attempting to drive, the vehicle failed to exceed 5 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a blown piston and cylinder #2 failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop sign, there was black smoke coming from under the hood, with an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to another local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
The contact's mother-in-law owns a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started shuddering. There was no warning light illuminated. Minutes later, the failure reoccurred with the messages "Check Hybrid System" and "Turn Engine Off" being displayed. The contact immediately pulled over and had the vehicle towed to a dealer for assistance. A diagnostic test was performed, and it was determined that there was engine failure and that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer requested proof of the last two oil changes. The contact obtained a Carfax Report, which showed proof of the oil changes and maintenance records. The manufacturer denied the goodwill request after several months of negotiations. The vehicle remained with the dealer unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently revved and decelerated to 40 MPH while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that timing chain had failed and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact then stated that occasionally she needed to add engine oil between oil changes. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case number was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. There was an abnormal knocking sound while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact had to add oil to the engine after an oil change. The oil level had been low by one quart, three quarts, or even more on several occasions. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was oil leaking from the gaskets. There was an internal leak in the engine. The dealer informed the contact about an oil consumption test. The dealer informed the contact about the associated fees. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that after the vehicle was purchased, the vehicle was taken for an oil change. The contact stated that the very next day he checked the dipstick and became aware that there was no oil on the dipstick. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was called, and the contact was informed that there might be an oil consumption failure with the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for an oil consumption test; however, the contact stated that he was not able to pay for the oil consumption test to be performed. The contact stated that the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 118,000.
On April 14, 2026, my 2019 Hyundai Sonata was parked at a retail store parking lot. Returning from the store, I attempted to start the car, and it did not start. I attempted to start it again, and I saw smoke coming out from under the hood. I immediately exited the vehicle and opened the hood. I saw open flames coming out of the engine area, about 4" high. I called 911 and waited about 10 minutes for the fire department to arrive. During this time, the flames engulfed the entire engine compartment and extended vertically above the hood height. The hood eventually melted and fell back onto the engine area. The fire department came and put out the fire. The car is totaled. There were no injuries, thank God!
NHTSA investigations
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 2019 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA has 94 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2019 Hyundai Sonata, 58% of the model year's 162 complaints. The component named most often is engine › oil/lubrication › sump/tank (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2019 Hyundai Sonata engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2019 Hyundai Sonata. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2019 Hyundai Sonata engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 89,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 5 fires and 1 injury 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.