2015 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 1,144 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 34 involved a crash and 48 involved a fire. 32 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, turn signalSep 24, 2021
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Sonata, 2016-2017 Sonata Hybrid, and Sonata Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The Smart Junction Box (SJB) software logic may not properly interpret the signals received from the multifunction switch, which could cause the turn signal to activate in the opposite direction of what the driver intended.
A turn signal that activates in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the SJB software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 210.
Campaign 21V749000 on NHTSA.gov
Parking brake, indicator lightJun 5, 2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Sonata and Genesis vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the warning light to indicate that the parking brake is applied may intermittently not illuminate in the dash due to corrosion in the switch.
If the parking brake indicator is not illuminated when the parking brake is applied, the driver may operate the vehicle with the parking brake partially engaged, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the parking brake switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 164.
Campaign 17V359000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, sun/moon roof assemblyOct 11, 2016
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles manufactured December 8, 2014, to August 18, 2015, and Hyundai Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to March 18, 2016, equipped with the panoramic sunroof option. Due to a bonding issue with the sunroof wind deflector, the sunroof panel on the affected vehicles may detach while driving.
If the sunroof detaches from the vehicle it could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair the wind deflector anchor plate, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 152.
Campaign 16V726000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalApr 21, 2016
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 29, 2014 to February 11, 2016, 2017 Elantra vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016 to February 22, 2016, and one 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicle manufactured October 15, 2015. In these vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may be missing a chemical enhancer required for the second stage air bag deployment, resulting in the second stage not deploying in certain crashes. The primary stage will deploy as intended.
An air bag that does not inflate increases the risk of injury.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 5,2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 144.
Campaign 16V232000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, instrument cluster/panelOct 20, 2015
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to August 21, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with an Antilock Braking System (ABS) warning light intended to warn the driver if there is an ABS malfunction. In the event of an ABS malfunction, the Brake System warning light will illuminate, but the ABS warning light will not illuminate. Since the vehicles have ABS malfunction lights that do not illuminate, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
If the driver is alerted there is a brake system malfunction, but not specifically with the ABS system, the driver may operate the vehicle unaware that the vehicle's brakes may lock up during hard braking, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 134.
Campaign 15V678000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, front, buckle assemblyJun 30, 2015
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured April 25, 2014, to December 4, 2014. The affected vehicles have a front passenger seat belt whose buckle latch assembly may prevent the front passenger from fastening the seat belt.
If the front passenger seat belt cannot be latched, an occupant sitting in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the front passenger seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 130.
Campaign 15V414000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, axle assembly, axle shaftDec 9, 2014
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 1.6 liter model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured August 29, 2014, to October 28, 2014. The affected vehicles may have been assembled with an incorrect left axle shaft which may result in the shaft separating from the transaxle differential.
If the left axle shaft separates from the transaxle, the vehicle may stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, a separated axle shaft may allow the vehicle to roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Hyundai will notify owners, dealers will inspect and replace the axle shaft, as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 126.
Campaign 14V784000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, disc, caliperDo not drive until repairedJun 24, 2014
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured April 25, 2014, through June 16, 2014. Due to a manufacturing error, one or both of the front brake calipers may fracture.
If a brake caliper fractures, brake effectiveness would be reduced, lengthening to distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai contacted the affected owners on June 19, 2014 and instructed them not to drive their vehicles. Hyundai dealers will replace the affected brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 120.
Campaign 14V368000 on NHTSA.gov
SteeringDo not drive until repairedJun 12, 2014
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 2, 2014, through May 23, 2014. A poor connection within the vehicle's wiring harness may result in a reduction of steering assist from the vehicle's motor driven power steering system or the inability to move the vehicle's shifter from the Park position.
The reduction of power steering assist can increase the steering effort needed, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai notified dealers to suspend sales of affected Sonata vehicles and has published recall bulletin 14-01-024 providing a service procedure to repair the affected vehicles. On June 7, 2014 Hyundai began to contact the affected retail customers. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 119.
Campaign 14V325000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
134 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 6, 2016
ON MAY 30, 2016 AT AROUND 9 PM I STOPPED MY 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE DIED. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON UNTIL THE ENGINE DIED. AFTER ABOUT TWO MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. I TURNED LEFT AT THE INTERSECTION WHERE MY CAR HAD STALLED AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. EXITED THE CAR AND WAVED TRAFFIC BY. TWO MORE MINUTES AND THE ENGINE STARTED AGAIN AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE THREE REMAINING BLOCKS TO MY HOME. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OURISMAN HYUNDAI WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THEY HAVE HAD IT EVER SINCE. TODAY, JUNE 6, OURISMAN CALLED AND SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND I SHOULD RETURN THE LOANER CAR AND PICK UP MY SONATA. I WILL NOT PICK UP A SONATA THAT DIES IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. I WOULD LIKE TO LIVE. I CALLED HYUNDAI AMERICA AND REPORTED THE ISSUE AND THEY OPEN D A CASE FILE. I HAVE LEFT MESSAGES WITH THE GM AT OURISMAN AND HE HAS NOT RETURNED MY CALLS. OH, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR (IT WAS A YEAR OLD) I TOLD THE SALESMAN THAT I DID NOT WANT A HERTZ, AVIS OR ANY OTHER RENTAL CAR. HE ASSURED ME IT WAS NOT PURCHASED FROM A CAR RENTAL COMPANY. AFTER OVER 5 HOURS AT THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD IT HAD BEEN FROM A RENTAL COMPANY. I WAS WORN OUT AND THOUGHT IT STILL HAD FOUR YEARS LEFT ON THE WARRANTY. I FEEL LIKE A FOOL. I HAVE ASKED HYUNDAI AMERICA TO BUY MY CAR BACK.
Steering, Power train, Service brakes, Feb 17, 2016
2015 HYUNDAI SONATA SE - ENGINE VIBRATIONS/RATTLES/DRONING WHEN IN OVERDRIVE AT LOW RPM ACCELERATION. AT TIMES THE ENGINE HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE. WAS TOLD BY HYUNDAI IT WAS NORMAL, BUT DID NOT START UNTIL THE CAR HAD AROUND 600 MILES - NOW AT 7400 MILES, STILL DOING IT AND SOUNDS HORRID. ALSO, POPPING SOUND FROM STEERING/BRAKES WHEN BACKING UP AND TURNING/USING BRAKES AT ONLY 1200 MILES. THAT WAS FIXED BY DEALER, SAID I HAD OVERHEATED THE BRAKES, WHICH WASN'T TRUE, ONLY DROVE ON FREEWAY AND WASN'T USING THE BRAKES.
Power train, Engine, Jan 15, 2016
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY LOST ENGINE POWER; THE CAR ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND WHENEVER I QUICKLY STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL; THEREBY MAKING ANY QUICK DEFENSIVE MANEUVER IMPOSSIBLE. IT'S AS IF THE CAR ENGINE WAS STARVED FOR AIR AND BECAME UNRESPONSIVE FOR QUICK ACCELERATION. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED ERROR CODE P2600, INTAKE RUNNER CONTROL PROBLEM. DUE TO THIS PROBLEM OF IMPAIRED ACCELERATION GETTING, ON AND OFF MAJOR HIGHWAYS WAS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SINCE QUICK POWER WAS NON-EXISTENT AND AVOIDING OTHER CARS QUICKLY WAS NOT POSSIBLE. TRULY A SAFETY ISSUE!
Power train, Dec 21, 2015
THIS IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE.CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AT 15000 MILES AND NOW AT 31000 MILES. AS A RESULT OF THIS, CAR DOESN'T ACCELERATE AS INTENDED. THE CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN.
Power train, Sep 26, 2015
DURING LABOR DAY WEEKEND, I WAS ALERTED ON DISPLAY THAT THE "TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE IS HIGH". I STOPPED FOR 40 MINUTES IN A TURNOUT AREA (THE MANUAL STATES THAT YOU NEED TO WAIT 20 MINUTES IN THIS CASE). I CONTINUED THE TRIP, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING GEAR. I PUSHED THE ACCELEROMETER AND RPMS WERE AT 5000 AND GEAR WAS NOT SHIFTED (THE SPEED WAS AROUND 10-20 M/H). AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS TO INCREASE RPMS THE GEAR SHIFTED. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. I PARKED THE CAR FOR 5-6 HOURS. ON MY WAY BACK THE ISSUE APPEARED AFTER 20-30 MINUTES OF DRIVING. IN MY GARAGE, I NOTICED THAT I'M NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION. THE REVERSE GEAR WAS NOT SHIFTING. I FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL POSITION. I WAS NOT ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO PUSH THE CAR INTO THE PARKING SPOT. THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT "CHECK ENGINE" TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING OK. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A HYUNDAI DEALER. THE SERVICE MAN WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE. THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE WAS P191464. THE SERVICE MAN CONTACTED HYUNDAI FSE. FSE ADVISED REPLACING THE SHIFT MOTOR ACTUATOR. THE SHIFT MOTOR ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED. I PICKED THE CAR UP FROM THE SERVICE TODAY ON SEPTEMBER 25TH. I DROVE FROM SERVICE TO HOME WITHOUT ANY ISSUE ( APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES).
Power train, Aug 15, 2015
WHEN IN DRIVE, AT LOW SPEEDS (BETWEEN 5MPH AND 10MPH) THE VEHICLE BECOMES JERKY WHEN DECELERATING, VEHICLE SHUDDERS AS IF TROUBLING TO CHANGE GEARS.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Apr 25, 2015
BOUGHT 2 BRAND NEW SONATA WITH TOP TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE ON 4/15/2015. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED ON BOTH NEW CARS. WHENEVER THE GAS PEDAL IS OFF, THE COMPUTER/SOFTWARE TAKE CONTROL OF SLOWING THE CAR DOWN EVEN WITH OPEN ROAD AHEAD, ON FLAT SURFACE, ON CORNERS, UP OR DOWN HILL. THIS HAPPENED WHETHER IT IS IN ECO, NOR OR PWR DRIVING MODE. AT VARIOUS STAGES, THE BRAKE KICKS IN AT VARIOUS SPEED AND THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT PREMATURELY; IN DECELERATION, THE RPM WILL ONLY GOES DOWN UNTIL IDLING SPEED, BUT I CAN SEE THE RPM GOES UP A FEW HUNDRED RPM AT LEAST TWICE BEFORE THE SONATA COME TO A COMPLETE STOP? SONATA DOES NOT HAVE "HILL DECENT CONTROL" LIKE THE RANGE ROVER FOR SPECIFIC SAFETY REASONS. IN CRUISE CONTROL, IT IS EVEN WORST. IF YOU SET CRUISE AT 60, LATER SPEED UP TO 80 TO PASS A SLOWER CAR, ONCE YOU LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR HIT THE BRAKE AND SLOW YOU BACK TO 60? WHAT IS THE HURRY? COASTING IS DRIVERS BEST FRIEND BECAUSE IT MEANS FREE MILEAGE. YET SONATA ENGINEER THINKS OTHERWISE. THIS ERRATIC BEHAVIOR WOULD CERTAINLY IRRITATE THE DRIVER BEHIND YOU ENOUGH AND EVEN CAUSE ROAD RAGE. IF THE SONATA DECIDED TO HIT THE BRAKE BY ITSELF AT A FAST CORNER, WHAT WILL HAPPENED? THERE IS AN ARTICLE IN DETROIT BUREAU MARK B, SAID HIS 2012 EQUUS SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND NO ONE UNDERSTAND WHY? I BROUGHT BACK THE CAR TWICE TO THE DEALER AND BOTH THE MECHANIC AND THE SALE MANAGER DEFEND THEIR PRODUCT. ATTACH ARTICLE FROM DETROIT BUREAU. HTTP://WWW.THEDETROITBUREAU.COM/2014/06/HYUNDAI-COUNTS-ON-ALABAMA-PLANT/COMMENT-PAGE-1/#COMMENT-180948. *TR
Power train, Engine, Apr 16, 2015
ON 04/06/2016, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND HESITATED. LACK OF ACCELERATION, EVEN AT 4000 RPMS (TOP SPEED 20 MPH AT 4000 RPMS). THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL AND REQUIRED THE GAS PEDAL TO BE PRESSED DUE TO LOW RPMS AT IDLE. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, WITH NO WARNING TO THE OPERATOR, AND POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK ON ROADWAYS WITH SPEED LIMITS ABOVE 40 MPH. NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TO WARN THE OPERATOR. AFTER THREE OCCURRENCES OF THIS PROBLEM, IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS, THE VEHICLE, WITH ONLY 1,351 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE ON 4/7/2015. AFTER REPLACING, THE FUEL PUMP, THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE OWNER ON 04/10/2015. LESS THAN 2 MILES AFTER PICKING THE VEHICLE UP FROM SERVICE, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, ON A 50 MPH ROADWAY. THE OPERATOR WAS VERY CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY AS OTHER MOTORISTS WERE SWERVING AROUND THE VEHICLE AND HONKING THEIR HORNS. AGAIN, NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON TO WARN THE OPERATOR. ONCE AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WITHIN 20 MINUTES OF INITIAL PICK-UP, FOR FURTHER REPAIRS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE VEHICLE EVER SINCE, CHANGING MULTIPLE PARTS DEALING WIT THE FUEL SYSTEMS, AND HAS YET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM TO DATE (04/16/2015). *TR
Power train, Jan 27, 2015
I WENT TO ACCELERATE, BY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, AND THE ENGINE REVVED HIGH, BUT, THE CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE AND THERE DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE POWER AT THE WHEELS. IT ACTED AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. I LET OFF OF THE PEDAL AND IT DOWNSHIFTED AND POWER TO THE WHEELS WAS RESTORED. I REPEATED THIS PROCESS 3 TIMES AFTER AND I COULD REPLICATE IT EVERY TIME. DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT FOR SERVICE. THEY DROVE IT THE NEXT DAY AND COULDN'T REPLICATE THE ISSUE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE SINCE THAT DAY EITHER. *TR