Engine owner reports: Hyundai Sonata years in the records

The records describe a possible fatal outcome.

“Driving home from work on [XXX] (not a safe location)when my car lost power and engine light began to flash. I pulled off to the side of road and called my dad. He came with a code reader and said there was a code P1326. He cleared the code and car drove normally again. 2 days later it began to run rough. I was told about the engine recall so I called Hyundai corporate and told them this same story. I was advised to take to dealership and have the “rod bearings inspected” and shouldn’t matter that my dad cleared the code. The dealership(Massey Hyundai MD) said it had a burnt valve and not part of warranty. But never checked rod bearings. When I called corporate. They said nothing they could do. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”

The records describe a possible fatal outcome.

“High oil consumption, burning a quart of oil or more every 500 miles since bought used at Hyundai dealership.”

The records describe a possible fatal outcome.

“The Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) system in my 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited malfunctioned. On three separate occasions, the HEV warning light illuminated while I was driving on the highway, followed by a sudden loss of power. The vehicle stalled and stopped running, leaving it inoperable. The incidents occurred in approximately August 2022, November 2023, and February 2026. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Each incident occurred while driving on a highway. The vehicle suddenly lost power and stalled in moving traffic, creating a significant safety hazard. I was forced to attempt to move the vehicle out of active traffic lanes while other vehicles were traveling at highway speeds. The unexpected loss of propulsion increased the risk of a crash, serious injury, or death to myself, my passengers, and other motorists. The vehicle was taken to a Hyundai dealership after each incident. However, the dealership did not provide an explanation for the HEV warning light, loss of power, or stalling condition. To my knowledge, no permanent repair was identified, and the problem recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was inspected by a Hyundai dealership following each towing event. The vehicle was towed after each incident because it was not safe to drive. To my knowledge, Hyundai did not provide a definitive cause for the failures. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives in connection with”

The records describe a possible fatal outcome.

“The rod bearings failed in the engine. The vehicle is currently at the dealership and is available for inspection. Rod bearing failure can cause complete engine seizure while driving, creating a serious risk of losing vehicle control at any speed. This is a known issue with Hyundai's Theta II engine. Yes. The dealership performed a diagnostic on April 27, 2025 and confirmed rod bearing failure. Yes. The dealership inspected the vehicle and Hyundai corporate opened a warranty case and arranged the repair appointment, initially confirming coverage before later denying the claim without providing documentation. The dealership has also repeatedly failed to provide documentation supporting the denial of my warranty claim despite my requests beginning April 29, 2025. I have also been unable to get callbacks from the dealership after being promised updates on May 1st, May 7th, and after requesting a manager on May 18th. As of May 27, 2025 I have still not received any documentation or a callback. The check engine light came on prior to the failure. I proactively checked and changed the oil, added Lucas oil treatment, replaced the spark plugs, and replaced the battery attempting to diagnose and resolve the issue before bringing it to the dealership. No oil pressure warning light ever appeared. The check engine light persisted despite these efforts which is what led me to bring the vehicle in.”

The records describe a possible fatal outcome.

“Engine failed while driving, Took it to dealership and the engine is seized. We were declined by Hyundai an engine replacement even though the Theta 2 engines have a lifetime replacement warranty because these engines are known to fail. They constantly deny due to 'severe owner neglect' because people do their own oil changes.”

The records describe a possible fatal outcome.

“The vehicle experienced repeated engine-related failures associated with the P1326 error code, which indicates a potential engine defect. The issue first occurred around February 2023 at approximately 51,500 miles, when a warning light appeared. The problem has recurred multiple times despite inspections and service attempts. In January 2024, a dealership performed a software update related to the P1326 code. Shortly after this update, the engine began consuming excessive oil (approximately 2 liters per 1,000 miles). The condition worsened over time, and the vehicle failed an oil consumption test conducted by a dealership. The issue was confirmed by an authorized dealership, which ultimately diagnosed the engine as failed and requiring replacement in May 2026 at approximately 99,000 miles. The problem has been reproducible, with the P1326 warning code appearing multiple times over the life of the vehicle. This condition creates a significant safety risk because the engine may lose power, misfire, or stall unexpectedly while driving, increasing the risk of a crash, especially at highway speeds or in traffic. The vehicle has already experienced engine misfire and severe performance issues. Warning indicators included the P1326 error code and check engine light, which first appeared in 2023 and recurred multiple times thereafter. The engine oil consumption issue developed after the 2024 service and continued to worsen. The failed engine is currently available for inspection upon request.”