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: vehicle speed control
61 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 9, 2017, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A JEEP AND DAMAGED THREE OTHER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,300.
Vehicle speed control, Oct 26, 2016
I BOUGHT MY CAR IN AUGUST 2014 AND EVER SINCE 2015 AROUND JANUARY/FEBRUARY I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, THE CAR EITHER BRAKING OR ACCELERATING "SURGES" AND I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERS BUT THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM AS WELL AS IT SOMETIMES CUTS OFF AT A LIGHT OR WHEN ACCELERATING IT SHUDDERS LIKE IT'S GOING TO DIE BUT THEY CAN'T (OR WON'T BECAUSE IT'S STILL UNDER WARRANTY) FIND THE PROBLEM BUT IT IS A CONCERN TO ME WHEN DRIVING AND I'M NOT SAYING THEY AREN'T SEEING IT BUT I WONDER IF ANYONE ELSE HAS THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SONATA. *TR
Structure, Vehicle speed control, Aug 7, 2016, crash
ON JULY 12,2016 I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT THE BANK. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AS I ENTERED THE SPACE. MY CAR THEN SEEMED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE LIKE THE ENGINE WAS REVERING UPS IT THEN SHOT FORWARD LIKE A ROCKET. IT FELT SOMEONE HAD SMASHED BEHIND ME! LUCKILY THERE WERE PILLARS IN FRONT OF THE BANK WHICH PREVENTED MY CAR FROM CRASHING IN THE BANK. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH THE 2015 HYUNDAI SONATAS DOING THIS HOWEVER THERE IS NO RECALL. COST OF DAMAGE WAS $9,051. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE!
Vehicle speed control, Jun 30, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND ACTIVATING THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMPSTARTED, BUT BEGAN TO INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATE FROM 50 TO 25 WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Structure, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Feb 26, 2016, crash
I WAS PARKING MY 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA TURBO SPORT IN A STRIP MALL PARKING LOT. I PULLED INTO THE SPACE AND, BEFORE GETTING IN ALL THE WAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO A HIGH SPEED, JUMPED THE CONCRETE CURB AND SLAMMED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY HEAD WHIPPED BACK SO I NOW HAVE HEADACHES, NECK AND BACK PAIN.THE FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED WITH MARKS FROM THE CONCRETE AND THOUGH IT REMAINED ON THE CAR, IT WAS DISLODGED. THERE WAS ALSO SOME DAMAGE AROUND THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS AND THE RUBBER PART OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Feb 25, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000. UPDATED 04/19/16*LJ CONSUMER STATED IT WAS A JOINT KIT BEHIND THE DASHBOARD THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 6/6/18*JB
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Engine, Oct 1, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, May 21, 2015
2015 HYUNDAI SONATA 2T - SLOW ACCELERATION; CAR WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE WHEN FOOT ON BREAK; LOUD ENGINE NOISE; ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS ON. TOOK CAR TO DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS A RECALL ISSUE THAT THEY REPAIRED. DROVE CAR TWO DAYS ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. NOW DEALER STATES THEY ARE WAITING FOR PARTS TO COME IN TO FIX.
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
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 13, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE TRAVELING ON A ROADWAY OR A HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED WOULD REDUCE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE BECAME SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER MORE THAN FIVE TIMES, BUT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.
Vehicle speed control, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 10, 2015
SINCE LEASING THE VEHICLE ON AUGUST 1 I CONSTANTLY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE GAS MILEAGE WHICH HYUNDAI INDICATED WOULD BE RESOLVED ON THE FOLLOWING OIL CHANGE. THE OIL CHANGE BARELY EFFECTED THE MILEAGE EFFICIENCY WHICH LEADS TO THE SECOND ISSUE WHEN THE GAS GAUGE SHOWS BELOW A QUARTER ON THE TANK THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK AND IS ALSO AFFECTED IN HIGH MOUNTAIN AREAS. WHEN I EXPLAINED THESE ISSUES TO HYUNDAI THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF IT AND WOULD SENT TO THE COMPANY FOR FURTHER REVIEW IN THE MEANTIME I HAVE A CAR WITH THE GAS GAUGE THAT DOES NOT SHOW EXACT AMOUNTS FROM FILL UP TO EMPTY MAKES THIS CAR A SAFETY RISK THAT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE NOT TO MENTION THE CAR IS RUNNING HORRIBLE WHICH SUGGEST OTHER SAFETY FEATURES ARE NOT WORKING ACCURATELY. THE DEALERS LOOK OVER ONLY SUGGESTED OTHER UNDERLYING ISSUES EXIST WITH THIS VEHICLE AND IS A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD. *TR