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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 1,144

Of the 2015 reports, 34 involved a crash and 48 involved a fire. 32 people were injured and 2 people died.

Primary concernEngine623 reports · 54% of complaints
Owner complaints1,144Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship9 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine623
  2. Electrical system167
  3. Other or unspecified164
  4. Power train134
  5. Service brakes76
  6. Fuel/propulsion system75
  7. Steering74
  8. Vehicle speed control61

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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: service brakes

76 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Jan 20, 2015

    I PURCHASED MY HYUNDAI SONATA ON 1/05/2015 WITH ONLY 6 MILES FROM SHEEHY HYUNDAI OF WALDOR IN MARYLAND AFTER 11 DAYS OF PURCHASE ON JANUARY 16 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:45 PM (RUSH HOUR IN THE DC METRO AREA) MY SONATA CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS ON THE HIGHWAY IN MIDDLE LANE WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS AND VERY SCARY AND PUT ME IN A VERY VULNERABLE POSITION. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, I WAS UNABLE TO STEER OUT THE WAY OF TRAFFIC AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I WAS A SITTING DUCK WAITING TO GET SMASHED BY A PICKUP TRUCK DIRECTLY IN THE BACK OF ME.THANK MY GOD NOTHING HAPPENED. I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE SOS AND BLUELINK EMERGENCY FEATURES THAT IS EQUIPPED CAME WITH 3 MONTHS FREE ACTIVATION IN THIS VEHICLE. I HAD TO PERSONALLY CALL VIA MY CELL PHONE AND AWAIT POLICE ASSISTANCE WHICH WAS 10 MINUTES STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND AFTER THE ASSISTANCE OF THE POLICE WE WERE ONLY THEN ABLE TO PUSH THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THE BLUELINK CUSTOMER SERVICE DID VERY POORLY IN RESPONDING AFTER ALL THIS EMERGENCY SITUATION AND TO MAKE IT WORSE THEY DID NOT PROVIDE A TOW UNTIL 1.45 MINUTES AFTER, THEN COMMENCE TO JUSTIFY THIS LONG PERIOD BY STATING ITS "FRIDAY AND THE NORMAL TIME IS 2 HOURS OR MORE". THEREFORE, I AM PLEADING TO SHEEHY DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI CORPORATION ALONG WITH ANYONE ELSE THAT CAN ASSIST ME TO ENSURE THAT I HAVE A NEW REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. I AM GETTING NOWHERE WITH SHEEHY DEALERSHIP IN REFERENCE TO A NEW REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT SHEEHY SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY ARE STILL NOT ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIX THE VEHICLE I WILL NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE SAME VEHICLE AFTER THIS VERY HAZARDOUS INCIDENT. *TR