Hyundai Engine Problems & Everything You Need To Know

Hyundai is the largest car manufacturer in South Korea. The company is known for producing quality cars and has exported them to over 190 countries worldwide. However, Hyundai has its flaws. Their major problem lies with the engine.

The most common Hyundai engine problems are related to manufacturing defects that cause metal shavings to enter the engine oil, which invariably leads to premature wear and damage to the engine bearings. If ignored, it will cause engine seizures.

In this article, I’ll outline KIA and Hyundai engine problems, specifications, and prices and list all Hyundai engines. But first, let’s explain Hyundai engines.

Hyundai Engines Explained

Hyundai Motors dominates the South Korean auto industry as the leading car manufacturing company in Seoul, South Korea. The company started the auto manufacturing business in 1967 and has maintained its Solid Gold Reputation in the country. Here are the most popular Hyundai engines.

CRDi Engines: CRDi stands for common rail direct injection. Hyundai uses diesel CRDi engines in diesel-powered vehicles like the Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Tucson, and others.

Lambda Engines: The lambda engine family is Hyundai’s V6 all-aluminum engine manufactured since 2005. This engine family used to be manufactured in an HMMA plant in Montgomery, Alabama, United States.

But the company is currently manufacturing it in ASan, South Korea. All engines in this family use timing chains. They also use variable valve timing, dual overhead camshafts, and four (4) valves on each cylinder.

Theta Engines: The theta engines are a four-cylinder Hyundai gasoline engine family. Theta engines are manufactured in Asan, South Korea, and Montgomery, Alabama, US automobile factories.

They made the first public appearance when used in the fourth-generation Hyundai Sonata sedan, which came into the market in August 2004 in South Korea. Since then, the car manufacturer has used them in several car models like Genesis and Santa Fe. The engines feature dual overhead cams, VVT, and aluminum constructions.

Nu engine: The Nu engine family is another notable Hyundai four-cylinder engine that has been making waves since its inception in 2011. Hyundai introduced the Nu engines to fill the gap between the Gemma and Theta engines. They feature direct fuel injection, VVT, and aluminum construction.

Gemma engine: The Gemma engine family consists of several small Hyundai engines in Hyundai vehicles. The Gemma 1.6L engine is the smallest Hyundai engine to feature gasoline direct injection. The engine also features Dual-VVT.

Kappa engine: The Kappa engine family are all-aluminum gasoline engines with 16 valves design and a DOHC configuration. It comes in three and four cylinders. The three cylinders are usually turbocharged and are compatible with flex fuel.

Hyundai Engine List and Specifications

Hyundai has utilized several engines in its car models since the release of its first car, Cortina, in 1968. Here is the list of Hyundai car engines and their specifications.

Hyundai 1.0 MPI/T-GDI (G3LC/G3LA Kappa) Engine

The Hyundai KIA1.0 MPI is a 3-cylinder engine with multipoint fuel injection from the Kappa series.

Engine specifications

Hyundai 1.4L Engine (Gamma G4FA)

The G4FA 1.4L Hyundai engine is one of the notable engines in the Gamma family. The Gamma family has two engines – the G4FA 1.4L and the G4FC 1.6L engines. They feature timing chains and continuously variable valve timing systems.

Engine specifications

Hyundai KIA 2.0L (Theta GDI/MFI Turbo) engine

The 2.0L Theta GDI/MFI Turbo comes from the Theta family. It debuted in 2004 in Hyundai Sonata. It can come in gasoline direct injection (GDI) or multipoint fuel injection (MFI). The 2.0 Theta and Theta II engines have undergone a series of changes. The different versions available are G4KL, G4KH, G4KF, G4KD, and G4KA.

Engine specifications

Hyundai 2.4L Engine (Theta GDI/MFI)

The Hyundai 2.4L engines belong to the Theta/ThetaII families. Depending on the modification and the vehicle you see, it is a multipoint or direction fuel injection. It is similar to the previous 2.0L engine above but with small differences.

Engine specifications

Hyundai KIA 3.8L Engine (Lambda RS/MPI/GDI)

3.8L V6 G6DK, G6DJ, and G6DA are the most significant Hyundai engines in the Lambda series. Due to its stunning torque and horsepower, the SR version of the 3.8L lambda engine is installed in Sporty Hyundai and KIA cars.

Engine Specifications

Hyundai KIA G6BA 2.7L Engine

The 2.7L engine or G6BA belongs Hyundai Delta engine family. The Delta family are the smallest Hyundai V6 engines, ranging from 2.5L to 2.7L. The 2.5L engine is called G6BW. These engines are featured in only cheap and reliable mid-sedans and SUVs until 2009.

Engine Specifications

Hyundai KIA 1.4 T-GDI Engine (Kappa G4LD)

The 1.4T-GDI Hyundai engine is a gasoline turbocharged four-cylinder engine introduced in 2016, along with the 1.0L three-cylinder version. This engine belongs to the Kappa engine family. It provides excellent fuel economy, low noise level, and smooth operation like a V6 engine.

Engine specifications

Hyundai KIA 1.6L Engine (Gamma MPI/GDI/T-GDI)

Hyundai 1.6L Gamma engine comes in the following versions; G4FJ, G4FG, G4FD, G4FC, and G4FA. G4FC, the first 1.6L four-cylinder gasoline gamma engine, was introduced in 2007.

Engine specifications

Hyundai KIA 2.2L CRDi Engine (D4HB)

The 2.2L CRDi (D4HB) is a four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine that belongs to the Hyundai R series. It made its first public appearance in 2009 with its 2.0L counterpart. The 2.0L diesel engine is known as the 2.0L CRDi D4HA.

Engine specifications

Hyundai KIA 3.3L Engine (Lambda MPI/GDI/T-GDI)

The Hyundai 3.3L V6 gasoline engine comes in various versions – G6DP, G6DH, G6DF, and G6DB. The Hyundai 3.3L engine was first introduced in 2006 in a Hyundai Sonata and has undergone a series of changes since then. 

Engine specifications

Hyundai KIA G4GC 2.0L Engine

The Hyundai G4GC 2.0L engine is the biggest in the Beta II family. It is a four-cylinder engine with a DOHC valvetrain layout and a successor of G4GF.

Engine specifications

Hyundai KIA G6CU/G6AU 3.5L Engine

The Hyundai G6CU/G6AU 3.5L V6 engine is of the Sigma series. They are also called the 3.5D engine. The 3.5D is the largest Hyundai engine in the Sigma family. They are available in KIA and Hyundai minivans and mid-size SUVs.

Engine Specifications

Hyundai Engine Price

The price of Hyundai engines varies depending on factors like the make and model and the car, the type of engine, and whether it is a new or used engine. However, a new Hyundai engine can cost between 699 to 1799 USD, depending on the above factors. Used engines will be more affordable.

It is essential to know that the cost of an engine is one part when repairing or replacing an engine. Labor cost is another thing to consider and other additional causes like taxes and fluids will drop expensive repair bills on the table. I recommend you get estimates from different mechanics and dealers and compare them when considering engine replacement or repair.

Average Maintenance Cost

The average maintenance cost of Hyundai cars can vary depending on the car model, mileage, your driving conditions, and maintenance culture.

According to a report by RepairPal, the average annual maintenance cost for Hyundai cars is $468. It is $200 less than the average car maintenance cost. The maintenance includes tire rotation, brake checks and replacement, engine oil, and oil filter change. However, major repairs or replacements can increase the maintenance cost.

What are the Common Hyundai engine problems?

While Hyundai is a leading automotive manufacturer in South Korea, its engines have several flaws you should be aware of. These issues include excessive oil consumption, engine failures, knocking noises, and oil sludge buildups. Let’s properly look at these issues.

Oil sludge and carbon buildup

Oil sludge buildup is a common engine problem that has affected several Hyundai models, especially the Hyundai G6BA 2.7L V6 engine. The engine buildup can cause severe engine damage if ignored for an extended period. A lot of customers have been complaining about this issue.

The 2.4L GDI inline four-cylinder suffers carbon buildup issues more than other Hyundai engines. However, you can drive up to 100,000 miles without cleaning the carbon deposits on the intake ports. It is crucial to ensure there are no oil sludge or carbon deposits on your Hyundai engines.

Engine Oil leaks

Oil leaks are a common topic in Hyundai 2.4L GDI and MPI four-cylinder engines. Well, the truth is, all internal combustion engines are prone to oil leaks as they age. When engines age, the O-rings, gaskets, and seals begin to degrade. So, this isn’t something you should worry about as most Hyundai and KIA cars with 2.4L GDI and MPI engines are up to 10 years.

The leaks often start with a little crack and become worse over time. The oil leaks in 2.4L GDI and MPI 4-inline cylinders usually come from valve cover seals, main seals, and oil pan seals.

Excessive Oil Consumption

Excessive oil consumption is among the Hyundai engine problems 2022 discussion that made headlines. Too many cases relate to Hyundai engines burning too much engine oil without any trace. Most internal combustion engines generally consume oil. This is especially true with gasoline engines. But the issue is obvious in Hyundai engines.

Excess oil consumption happens when there’s a blowby in an engine. Blowby means oils blowing crossing the piston rings to the combustion chamber. Every engine has a normal level of blowby, but the ones on most Hyundai engines are internal flaws.

Engine failure

The most severe engine problem Hyundai has faced is engine failure or seizure. Most Hyundai models, including the model year 2011 to 2014 Hyundai Sonata and the 2013 to 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, have taken their peak share of the problem. The engine failure issues also affect some 2.4L Theta II engines in KIA models from 2011 to 2014. KIA vehicles with the affected 2.4L Theta II engines include Sportage, Sorento, and Optima.

I won’t beat this topic to death because there were hefty fines on Hyundai and KIA for safety concerns. It leads to the Hyundai 2.4 engine recall for vehicles under warranty. However, there was a Hyundai engine replacement denied for some Hyundai owners who have elapsed their engine warranty.

Engine failure issues raised several eyebrows in Australia and Canada. In 2019 alone, Hyundai recalled 13,000 vehicles in Australia. In the same vein, Hyundai Canada has recalled 110,000 vehicles to address manufacturing defects.

The Hyundai engine problems in Canada and the Hyundai engine problems in Australia are still topics of discussion in many automotive forums. These engine problems could lead to engine fire in certain circumstances. 

If you own a 2011 to 2019 Hyundai Sonata, you most likely have garbage in the engine bay. The Hyundai engine problems 2013 to 2019 Sonata are obvious. Manufacturing debris during production was not properly removed, and this causes slow oil flow, which usually leads to engine seizure.

Knocking and ticking sound

Other notable Hyundai and KIA engine problems are knocking and ticking sounds from the engine. The problem is usually caused by manufacturing defects that lead to accelerated friction on the connecting rods and the crankshaft.

What engines are recalled on Hyundai?

Car manufacturers issue recalls addressing manufacturing defect-related problems that have been identified with the vehicle. There have been several Hyundai engine 2.4 recall cases and some other engine versions. It’s important to note that Hyundai uses one engine on several models. Therefore, engine recall on different models like Tucson, Sonata, or ix35 does not mean most Hyundai engines are bad. Instead, it means the specific engine on those models is bad.

The automaker has recalled engines on the Theta II, NU GDI, and Gamma GDI series due to manufacturing defects. Most recalls are the 2.4L and 2.0L turbo Theta II engines.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Q: Which Hyundai engine has problems?

Hyundai and KIA have been experiencing issues with their Theta II GDI engines for years. This issue is serious on their 2.4L and 2.0L turbo GDI gasoline engines. The problem occurs due to a manufacturing defect on the crankshaft.

Q: Has Hyundai fixed their engine problems?

Hyundai and KIA have collectively recalled over a million cars to correct the engine problem, especially on the Theta II series. The issue was higher on aged vehicles with the 2.0L turbocharged engine.

Q: Will Hyundai replace my engine for free?

Kia and Hyundai’s class-action lawsuit could mean a free engine replacement. However, this would be only for affected engines and vehicles under warranty. If you have a 2.0L or 2.4L Theta II engine, check if you qualify for a free engine replacement.

Q: What is the average life of a Hyundai engine?

An average Hyundai engine lasts 200,000 to 250,000 miles with proper care and maintenance. However, skipping scheduled maintenance can reduce the engine’s lifespan. To achieve this mileage, you need to develop a regular maintenance culture.

It is also important to note that some Hyundai engines, like the Theta II 2.4L and 2.0L turbocharged gasoline engines, may not attend the 200,000 to 250,000 average lifespan. This is because of the issues associated with these models.

Q: Does Hyundai have a lifetime warranty on the engine?

Hyundai has a 10 years or 100,000 miles powertrain warranty on their gasoline-powered vehicles, whichever comes first. The powertrain warranty includes the transmission, the engine, and the parts that deliver power to the wheels. However, the powertrain warranty does not extend to a second owner of a vehicle.

Hyundai electric and hybrid powertrains also have 10 years or 100,000 miles warranty. The warranty applies to the battery, charging devices, electric motor, and corresponding parts.

Final Words

Hyundai engine problems are no joke, especially their 2.4L and 2.0L turbocharged Theta II engines. Their engine failure can cause fire outbreaks in certain circumstances. However, Hyundai still have reliable engines.

This article has outlined Hyundai engine problems in 2021 and other years. It has also listed available engines in its engine line-up, specifications, prices, maintenance costs, and recalls. With this knowledge, you now know the engine model to go for if you are considering a Hyundai vehicle.