Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II engines may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions. This bulletin provides instructions for updating the Engine Control Module (ECM) to address this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Hyundai Sonata electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2019 Hyundai Sonata have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Sonata | 141 |
| 2016 Sonata | 73 |
| 2017 Sonata | 46 |
| 2018 Sonata | 51 |
| 2019 Sonata (this page) | 11 |
| 2020 Sonata | 26 |
| 2021 Sonata | 14 |
| 2022 Sonata | 12 |
| 2023 Sonata | 8 |
2fires
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II engines may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions. The California Air Resources Board has determined that these vehicles may be releasing air pollutants which exceed Federal and California standards.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Following completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain vehicles may exhibit a brief hesitation or rough shifting condition during cold start operation. If present, this condition is expected to occur only within approximately the first 1-3 minutes after engine start, while the catalyst is reaching its normal operating temperature.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Following completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain vehicles may exhibit a brief hesitation or rough shifting condition during cold start operation. If present, this condition is expected to occur only within approximately the first 1-3 minutes after engine start, while the catalyst is reaching its normal operating temperature.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather. This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an inspection on the starter magnetic switch for potential freezing and, if necessary, replace the starter magnetic switch (solenoid) assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2019 Sonata shows a troubling pattern of electrical and engine system failures. Two separate engine fire incidents stand out—one totaling the vehicle—with flames erupting from the engine compartment during startup or while parked, no warning given. One owner's vehicle started burning May 2023; another caught fire April 2026 after the owner pressed the start button.
Oil burning is widespread: one owner went through 2+ quarts over a weekend despite two valve cover replacements and no active leaks. Dealership diagnostics were slow, and Hyundai refused an oil consumption test. Start/stop system failures prevent starting, sometimes within 300 miles of ownership; a dealership couldn't replicate or diagnose the issue after three days.
Electrical gremlins plague other systems. An airbag light cost $250 diagnostic plus over $1,000 to repair. A backup camera circuit failure ran over $1,600 at an independent shop. A blind-spot warning malfunction stuck the key in the ignition. The hybrid power system shut down twice without warning while driving, killing steering and throttle control.
A critical vulnerability: the keyless entry system can be defeated by inserting a USB charger into a port where the key entry was removed—a TikTok trend Hyundai hasn't recalled. Owners report the alarm doesn't sound; one vehicle was stolen and used for illegal activity.
Most damaging: owners describe dealership diagnostics as expensive, slow, and often inconclusive. Several issues fall outside existing recall coverage.
Same Hyundai Sonata electrical reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2020 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Engine fire / spontaneous combustion
Vehicle caught fire while parked or immediately after start attempt with no prior warning. Two separate incidents reported where flames erupted from engine compartment, with one instance totaling the vehicle.
When: One incident around 97,000 miles (April 2026); another at unknown mileage (May 2023)
Symptoms owners cite: Flames and smoke from engine compartment; Fire engulfed entire engine area; Hood melted; No warning signs before ignition
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled in one case; owner paid $199.95 diagnostic fee at dealership in other incident
Excessive oil consumption / burning
Engine burns oil at an abnormal rate, requiring frequent oil changes. Mini oil consumption test showed over 2 quarts burned over a weekend. Oil pressure light illuminates inconsistently during turns and when low. Valve cover replacements did not resolve the issue.
When: 70,000 to 80,000 mile range; persisted through 97,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Frequent need for oil changes; Oil pressure light illuminates during turns; Oil pressure light inconsistent when oil low; Over 2 quarts oil burned Friday to Monday; Safety risk from complete oil depletion
Repairs/costs cited: Valve covers replaced twice; independent shop (Auto Tech) confirmed oil burning issue; Hyundai denied oil consumption test request
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai dealership confirmed oil burning issue; noted VIN not covered under open recalls
Start/stop system malfunction
Start/stop system fails, preventing vehicle from starting. One owner reports system ceased functioning entirely. Another owner experienced hard brake pedal and failure to start on two separate mornings within first 300 miles of new lease; issue could not be replicated at dealership after 3 days of diagnosis.
When: At approximately 97,000 miles (first case); within first 300 miles / two weeks of lease (second case)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start; Hard brake pedal reported in one case; Multiple start attempts required before starting; No warning signs
Repairs/costs cited: Independent shop (Auto Tech) confirmed start/stop system causing no-start condition; dealership unable to diagnose intermittent no-start issue
Airbag system electrical fault
Airbag warning light illuminates on otherwise good-condition vehicle. Dealership diagnosed a short on front passenger side but charges $250 minimum for diagnostics and possibly over $1,000 for repair. Owner reports finding many similar complaints on 2019 Sonatas.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light comes on; Vehicle otherwise in perfect condition
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership quoted $250 diagnostic fee plus potentially over $1,000 repair cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership offered $50/day loaner (charging customer as rental, not free loaner)
Rear camera system / backup camera electrical failure
Rear camera and associated electrical circuit failed. Multiple error lights and warning messages cycled continuously with beeping. Hyundai has issued recalls for this issue on other model years but 2019 Sonata is not included.
When: Unknown mileage; repair took one week
Symptoms owners cite: Rear camera inoperable; Multiple error lights and warnings cycling through dashboard; Continuous beeping
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic repair cost over $1,600
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai recalls exist for this issue on other years/vehicles but 2019 Sonata not included
Blind-spot warning system malfunction / key stuck in ignition
Blind-spot warning system inoperable. When system malfunctions, key becomes stuck in ignition and cannot be removed. Warning light has illuminated intermittently on dashboard.
When: Intermittent since October 5, 2022
Symptoms owners cite: Blind-spot warning system not functioning; Key cannot be removed from ignition when system malfunctions; Blind-spot warning light illustrated intermittently on dash
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer confirmed the problem
Hybrid power system shutdown
Hybrid power system shuts down completely while driving with no warning. All power is lost including steering and throttle control, forcing vehicle to coast to shoulder. Two separate incidents reported below 50,000 miles.
When: May 2021 and December 2022, both under 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power; Power steering fails; Throttle unresponsive; No warning before shutdown; Vehicle must be pulled over
Electronic control system failure
Dashboard display showed all red warning lights, vehicle went into automatic park mode, and steering became unresponsive. Hyundai dealership charged $199.95 diagnostic fee but delayed providing diagnosis by 3-4 days.
When: March 2024, exact mileage unknown
Symptoms owners cite: All dashboard warning lights displayed in red; Vehicle entered automatic park mode; Steering wheel immobilized; No explanation provided by dealership
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership charged $199.95 for diagnostics; no resolution timeline given
Keyless entry system vulnerability / theft via USB charging port
Vehicle stolen after vandals removed key entry area and used iPhone charger inserted into USB port to start vehicle. Owner reports this is a known TikTok trend targeting Hyundai vehicles. No security recall issued by Hyundai.
When: Unknown mileage; incident occurred at some point
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle starts when USB charger connected to port where key entry area was removed; Alarm does not sound; Vulnerable to theft via well-known method
Repairs/costs cited: Owner forced to pay for repairs on stolen vehicle; vehicle was used for illegal activities
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued despite known vulnerability affecting Sonatas and Elantras
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Blind-spt warming system inoperable. When malfunctioning, cannot disengage the key from the ignition. Problem has been confirmed by dealer. Vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. Blind-spot warning light has been illustrated on the dash intermittently since 10/5/22.
Had electrical trouble with your 2019 Hyundai Sonata?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2019 Hyundai Sonata?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 153,400 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Hyundai/Sonata.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.