If your 2018 Hyundai Sonata trunk won’t open, it could be something as simple as an accidental activation of the valet mode, or the lock itself could be faulty and in need of repair or replacement.

Picture it: you’ve returned from the grocery store. You go to pop the trunk, and it won’t budge—no matter how many times you hit that key fob. To make matters worse, you’ve got ice cream in there, and it’s your favorite flavor!

But take a deep breath, because

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, is here to help! Read on for a guide about what to do when the trunk of your 2018 Hyundai Sonata won’t open—and also some tips on how to unlock the lowest possible prices on your

Hyundai Sonata insurance costs

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What to do if your 2018 Hyundai Sonata trunk won’t open

If you find yourself unable to open the trunk of your 2018 Hyundai Sonata, there are a few things you can try before you make an appointment at your dealership for repair.

One possible cause: Valet mode accidentally activated

One of the simplest causes isn’t actually a malfunction at all, it’s just an accidental activation of a security feature on your Sonata.

Some 2018 Sonatas have a valet system that, when activated, locks the trunk so that it can only be opened with the physical key. But here’s the thing: there’s bafflingly conflicting information as to whether the 2018 Sonata trunk has a physical key opening. Some sources say yes, and some say no. But if you do, use the key to open the truck, and there should be a little switch on the underside of the trunk lid that turns the valet mode on and off.

Some Sonatas have a Blue Link app with a number of remote features, and valet mode is often one of them. If you have a Blue Link-enabled Hyundai, check in the menu to see if valet mode has been activated.

We’ve all gotten so used to electric key fobs that often, we don’t even notice if there are external key openings on our cars. This is a good detail to check out before it becomes an issue!

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Are Hyundais expensive to maintain?

Another cause: Recalled latch mechanism

There are a few years and models of Hyundai that are actually the subject of a recall due to a malfunctioning latch mechanism, and some 2018 Sonatas are included in this. In this case, owners frequently reported hearing the latch mechanism clicking, but the trunk wouldn’t open.

A defective trunk latch is not only annoying, but it could also potentially cause serious injury or death if someone was accidentally locked in the trunk and the inside emergency release failed to work. Hence, the recall. Not all 2018 Sonatas are affected, though—you can check to see if yours is included in the recall by

entering the VIN here

If your Hyundai is one of the vehicles affected, contact your dealership right away to have it addressed. As it’s a safety recall, there should be no charge for this.

Other potential causes

There are also a few other culprits for a trunk that won’t open:

Broken key fob: If you can pop the trunk using the trunk release on the driver’s side dashboard, a faulty or low-battery key fob could be the problem.

Frozen latch: The Sonata’s owner’s manual states that in freezing temperatures, the trunk latch can temporarily freeze shut.

Electrical malfunction: A blown fuse, bad wiring, or a dead battery can also lead to a trunk that won’t open.

Broken latch: It could be that the trunk latch itself is broken, which may or may not be covered under recall.

A frozen hinge you can troubleshoot yourself, but any of the other causes here should be addressed by your Hyundai dealership.

How to manually open a 2018 Hyundai Sonata trunk

The above solutions are all well and good if time is not a factor, but what if you have to get that trunk open now? The good news is, there’s an emergency trunk release mechanism inside your Sonata that’s a little hard to see, but is easy to use once you find it. Here’s the skinny:

Look closely at the outside base of the driver’s side passenger seat in the back—you should see a small plastic cover with an emblem of a car with an open trunk on it.

Remove the plastic cover—you might need to use a flathead screwdriver or a key to get it started.

Inside the opening, there should be a cable with a loop on the end. You might need to poke around a bit to find it. Pull on that cable, and the trunk should pop open!

Cost of trunk repair for 2018 Hyundai Sonata

If you have a trunk latch issue that’s included in the recall, then there should be no cost for the repair. Ditto if your Hyundai is still under warranty, which, depending on your mileage and warranty plan, might be the case. But if not, then you’ll need to pay for repairs.

Sources online report that a trunk latch replacement for a 2018 Hyundai Sonata ranges from around $200 to $265. There are a few things that could be the source of the problem—it might just need a

trunk latch adjustment

or the issue could be a

broken lock actuator

. But no matter what the source is, it’s definitely not something you want to wait to get checked out.

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How to save on Hyundai Sonata insurance

The Hyundai Sonata is a nice midsize sedan and insurance costs for them are generally not too bad. But if you have a Sonata that has an upgraded turbo engine, you might find that those additional horses come with an increased

car insurance

cost.

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