# 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA — ENGINE
> NHTSA complaint `2233464` · 2026-08-08 · Hyundai Motor America
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** HYUNDAI
- **Model:** SONATA
- **Year:** 2015
- **Manufacturer:** Hyundai Motor America
- **Component:** ENGINE
- **Speed:** 40 mph
## Narrative
Vehicle: 2015 Hyundai Sonata VIN: [XXX] Mileage: ~85,000 Description of the Problem: While driving, the vehicle suddenly began producing thick smoke from under the hood without warning. I safely maneuvered to the shoulder to avoid an accident. The engine subsequently seized completely and became inoperable. My mechanic diagnosed this as a known internal manufacturing defect in the Theta II engine (connecting rod bearing failure), a widely documented issue for this model and production year. Oil and coolant levels were confirmed normal with no leaks, ruling out maintenance neglect. I initially paid for an unnecessary starter replacement before this diagnosis was confirmed. This is a serious safety hazard that could cause loss of engine power and control while driving, posing a risk to myself and other drivers on the road. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · MORVS · CC0 1.0*