Hyundai Solaris: common problems, service schedule and fuel economy
What typically goes wrong on the Hyundai Solaris, at what mileage, and what keeping it right involves — from Brimly's Vehicle Knowledge Base, where every fault is checked by a human before publication.
- Years
- 2010–2022
- Generations
- 2
- Engines
- 2
- Verified faults
- 7
HCR / 2nd gen · 2017–2022
1.4 MPI · 100 hp · 1.6 MPI · 123 hp
Known problems
- Worth watching usually from 37,000 mi (60,000 km)
Rear suspension noise on rough roads
Symptoms: knocks and rattles from the rear on broken surfaces, from worn bushings, links and mounts
What to do: Have the rear suspension links, bushings and shock mounts inspected when noise appears; consumables wear faster on poor road surfaces.
- Worth watching usually from 43,000 mi (70,000 km)
Corrosion starting at paint chips
Symptoms: surface rust forming where chips have exposed bare metal, notably on wheel-arch lips
What to do: Treat chips before they rust and inspect the arches each year, especially where winter road salt is used.
- Good to know
Soft paint, prone to chips
Symptoms: stone chips and light scratches appear easily on the hood and front end
What to do: Touch up chips early and consider protective film on high-impact panels; paint thickness improved over the first generation but remains on the thin side.
Service schedule
| Item | Interval | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin filter | every 9,000 mi (15,000 km) | — |
| Engine oil & filter change | every 9,000 mi (15,000 km) or 12 months | halve for city/short-trip or dusty-road use |
| Air filter | every 19,000 mi (30,000 km) | — |
| Spark plugs | every 28,000 mi (45,000 km) | — |
| Valve clearance check important | every 56,000 mi (90,000 km) | Gamma engine has no hydraulic lash adjusters — inspect if a top-end tick develops |
| Brake fluid important | every 24 months | — |
| Timing chain inspection | — | chain-driven — inspect for noise rather than scheduled replacement |
RB / 1st gen · 2010–2017
1.4 MPI · 107 hp · 1.6 MPI · 123 hp
Known problems
- Worth watching
Electrical and ABS sensor faults
Symptoms: intermittent ABS/ESC warning lights, wheel-speed sensor faults, occasional dashboard electrical gremlins
What to do: Have fault codes read rather than clearing the light; wheel-speed sensors and their wiring/connectors are common culprits and are inexpensive to renew.
- Worth watching usually from 37,000 mi (60,000 km)
Wheel-arch and underbody corrosion
Symptoms: rust blooming at chipped arch lips, sill seams and around fasteners, especially on salted winter roads
What to do: Inspect the rear arches and sills annually, treat chips early, and consider anti-corrosion underbody treatment in salt-belt climates.
- Worth watching usually from 62,000 mi (100,000 km)
Engine oil consumption on the 1.6
Symptoms: oil level dropping noticeably between changes, sometimes with no visible leak
What to do: Check the dipstick at every fuel-up and keep it topped up; a degraded close-coupled catalytic converter can accelerate ring/cylinder wear, so investigate a failing cat promptly.
- Good to know
Thin, soft factory paint
Symptoms: stone chips on the hood, front bumper and door edges appear early; easy to scratch
What to do: Touch up chips promptly before they open a path to bare metal; consider a clear paint-protection film on the hood and arch lips.
Service schedule
| Item | Interval | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin filter | every 9,000 mi (15,000 km) | — |
| Engine oil & filter change | every 9,000 mi (15,000 km) or 12 months | halve for city/short-trip or dusty-road use |
| Air filter | every 19,000 mi (30,000 km) | — |
| Spark plugs | every 28,000 mi (45,000 km) | — |
| Valve clearance check important | every 56,000 mi (90,000 km) | the Gamma engine has no hydraulic lash adjusters; skipping this eventually causes a top-end tick |
| Brake fluid important | every 24 months | — |
| Timing chain inspection | — | chain-driven — no scheduled belt; inspect for cold-start rattle instead |
Manufacturer-declared fuel economy
No manufacturer-declared figures for this model are in the Knowledge Base yet. A figure without the cycle it was measured under is not comparable to anything, so we publish none rather than a number you cannot interpret.
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Frequently asked
What are the most common Hyundai Solaris problems?
The faults reported most often are: Electrical and ABS sensor faults; Wheel-arch and underbody corrosion; Engine oil consumption on the 1.6. Symptoms, the mileage each appears at and what to do about it are all above.
How often does the Hyundai Solaris need servicing?
Engine oil & filter change — every 9,000 mi (15,000 km) or 12 months. The full published schedule is above; your car's own service book always takes precedence.
Where does this data come from?
Brimly's Vehicle Knowledge Base — the same verified facts the app's AI assistant answers from. Every fault is written up from public sources and then checked by a human before it is published; nothing here is generated on the fly.