2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Routine

Owners filed 27 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System7
010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic5
000
Service Brakes4
202
Engine4
000
Seat Belts2
101
Power Train1
000
Hybrid Propulsion System1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling1
000
Electronic Stability Control (esc)1
000
Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module23V651000Park outside
Filed Sep 22, 20231,649,478 vehiclesHyundai Motor America

Defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Risk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.

Seat Belts › Pretensioner17V617000
Filed Oct 4, 2017443,545 vehiclesHyundai Motor America

Defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrid vehicles previously repaired under recall campaign 17V-152. The seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.

Risk. If the seat belt linkage detaches from the seat belt anchorage, it can not properly restrain the occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will again verify the connection between the seat belt linkage and the pretensioner and additionally install a warning label to prevent future seat belt linkage detachment, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 169.

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage17V152000
Filed Mar 8, 2017977,778 vehiclesHyundai Motor America

Defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.

Risk. In the event of a crash, if the seat belts detach from the anchor pretensioners, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy. Hyundai will notify owners and dealers will inspect the connection between the seat belt linkages and the seat belt anchor pretensioners, repairing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 7, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for the recall is 160.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Jan 10, 2026FL

Hybrid system warning. Safely drop don’t drive. It comes and goes for all hybrids it has the issue

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 28, 2024134,000 milesCT

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. Several unknow warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the rod bearings and observed metal shavings inside the short block. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V226000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 134,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed May 1, 2024172,453 milesOR

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle the brake pedal went to the floorboard. The contact replaced the brake pads; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 172,453. Parts distribution disconnect.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Mar 27, 2024FL

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool showed no open recalls.

Electrical System
Filed Feb 6, 202460,000 milesCA

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not able to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to an independent dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery fuse needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 26, 2024AL

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 25, 2024AL

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Nov 14, 2023160,000 milesFL

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Brake System Malfunction - Vehicle Will Turn Off for Safety" was displayed on the instrument panel and the vehicle turned off. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who determined that the ABS module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the remedy was not yet available and did not include replacement of the ABS module. The failure mileage was 160,000.

Engine
Filed Jan 11, 2023116,000 milesGA

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated while driving onto an on-ramp at an unknown speed, an abnormal knocking noise was heard. The vehicle was able to accelerate to approximately 40 MPH. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven home and then to a dealer. While at the dealer, the failure was diagnosed as a piston failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine), and the VIN was included in the recall. The contact stated that the vehicle was not repaired under the recall. The contact stated that the dealer provided the test results to the manufacturer. The contact stated that the recall repairs were denied by the manufacturer due to negligent maintenance. The contact stated that he had owned the vehicle for 3-weeks. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 2, 201979,684 milesCA

I WAS DRIVING 20 MPH STRAIGHT DOWN A FLAT RESIDENTAL STREET. A LOUD DASH ALARM SOUNDED IN MY 2014 HYUNDAI SONADA HYBRID. THE DASH DISPLAYED "HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING, SAFELY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE" . BELOW THE WARNING A YELLOW CAUTION TRIANGLE DISPLAYED. I ATTEMPTED TO GIVE THE VEHICLE GAS, SO I COULD PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT THE ENGINE ACTED LIKE IT HAD NO POWER. A BLINKING GREEN "READY" LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED. THE ECO GUIDE DISPLAY WAS MOVING UP AND DOWN FROM THE TOP TO BOTTOM. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND BEGAN BRAKING. THE BRAKES FELT MUSHY AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STOPPING. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND WAS THE ENGINE WAS REVVING UP AND DOWN BUT LIKE IT WAS OUT OF GEAR. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10-15 SECONDS, I LOST THE POWER STEERING AND THE IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I AGAIN TRIED BRAKING BUT THE BRAKES JUST FELT MUSHY AND WERE NOT STOPPING THE VEHICLE. I CONTINUED COASTING DOWN THE ROAD AND EVENTUALLY USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED I SHUT IT OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE GREEN "READY" LIGHT DISPLAYED ON THE DASH AS WELL AS THE WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN ON BUT NOT START AGAIN. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE PUSH ME TO THE CURBSIDE. THE BRAKES WERE VERY MUSHY AND ALMOST NON-EXISTENT. I AGAIN USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP IT. I NOTIFIED MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER AND ADVISED I WOULD BE TOWING THE VEHICLE TO THEM. I HAD JUST CAME O

Engine
Filed Mar 12, 201956,500 milesFL

WHILE IN MOTION GOING 60MPH, VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND THEN AN ALARM SOUNDED ALONG WITH A WARNING DISPLAYED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SCREEN STATING "HYBRID SAFETY WARNING. PULL OVER AND DO NOT DRIVE." THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE AND CAME TO A STOP. HAD TO RESTART THE CAR. THE SAME WARNING HAPPENED AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE IN MOTION GOING 50MPH. HAD TO GET OUT OF THE ROADWAY AND RESTART THE CAR. HYUNDAI REPLACED THE ENTIRE ENGINE UNDER MANUFACTURER WARRANTY (TOOK ABOUT 5 MONTHS). UPON RECEIVING VEHICLE BACK, THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST 10 MINS OF DRIVING IT (ISSUE NOT FIXED). IT IS BACK AT THE HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER AWAITING REPAIR.

Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery
Filed Feb 11, 2019100,000 milesFL

WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION, CAR JUST STOP OVERSUDAN WITH A SPOKEN MESSAGE: " HYBRID CELLS VEHICLE IS IN DANGER. CAR WILL STOP"AND AFTER THIS MESSGAE, CAR STALLS WITH NO CONTROL ON THE BREAKS AND STERINGWHEEL.

Seat Belts
Filed Feb 11, 201988,000 milesFL

SEATBELT POPS OUT OF THE SEATBELT RECEIVER AND MOST OF THE TIME, SEATBELT DOES NOT ATTACH TO RECEIVER AT ALL. DOES NOT ATTACH PROPERLY. THIS IS HAPPENING FOR LONG TIME BUT I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS SITE THAT WE CAN FILE A SAFETY ISSUES ON CARS.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 19, 201999,000 milesFL

2 TIMES THE ENGINE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION DUE TO HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE. A SIMPLE FUSE FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEM WENT OUT AND TURNED OFF ALL POWER. THE MAIN ISSUE IS THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW. OTHER HYBRID VEHICLES HAVE A SAFETY FEATURE THAT WHEN THE HYBRID SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING THE GASOLINE ENGINE WILL STILL BE IN FULL OPERATION. EVERYTIME THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON IT KILLS THE WHOLE CAR. I GOT STUCK ON AN EXPRESSWAY AND WAS PUT IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN THIS DID NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THE 2 MOTORS COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON EACH OTHER. HAVING THE GASOLINE ENGINE CONTINUE TO RUN AND BE ABLE TO POWER THE CAR IN A HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE WILL SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE. I AM NOT SURE WHY THIS IS NOT A REQUIREMENT BY LAW TO HAVE THIS SAFETY FEATURE

Electrical System
Filed Jan 6, 2019129,759 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING CAR SYSTEM WARNING CAME ON TO" SAFELY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE". WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP CAR. COULD NOT RESTART IT. HAD IT TOWED THEN CHANGED BATTERY WHICH WAS LOW. TRIED TO RESTART AND DID NOT TURN ON UNTIL 3RD TIME STARTING. LET ENGINE RUN FOR ABOUT 10 MIN AND WARNING CAME BACK ON.

Hybrid Propulsion System
Filed Dec 14, 2018146,388 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A WARNING CHIME SOUNDED AND "HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AS IF THE BRAKE PEDAL WERE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE A FEW TIMES, THE FAILURE WENT AWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY FOR A MONTH AND WAS BECOMING WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,388. *DT CONSUMER STATED ERROR BECAME PERMANENT. SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED THE CONSUMER ORDER A STARTER BATTERY. *JB

Power Train
Filed Oct 17, 201895,000 milesIN

THIS EVENT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING AND HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES DURING ONE SHORT TRIP UNTIL I PARKED THE CAR DUE TO THE DANGER OF DRIVING IT. WHILE DRIVING, YOU GET AN ALARM SOUND AND DASH INDICATION AND THE CAR JUST DIES. YOU THEN MUST PULL OVER QUICKLY AND STOP. WHILE STOPPING IN THIS CONDITION, THE BRAKES SOUND TERRIBLE LIKE THEY ARE GRINDING HORRIBLY BUT DO STOP THE CAR. IF YOU PUSH THE BUTTON TO SHUT OFF THE CAR AND THEN PUSH IT TO RESTART, THEN THE FAULT CLEARS AND THE CAR DRIVES NORMALLY UNTIL IT OCCURS ALL OVER AGAIN. MY WIFE SAID IT HAD BEEN HAPPENING OCCASIONALLY BUT NEVER SEVERAL TIMES DURING ONE SHORT TRIP. SHE HAD ALREADY TAKEN IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND THAT IT WAS A HYDRAULIC SENSOR IN HE THE HYDRAULIC PACK THAT WOULD BE SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPLACE. THEY THEN ASSURED HER THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THEY LATER STATED THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE CAR WAS SHUTTING OFF AND THAT THEY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS ONLY A DASH TROUBLE LIGHT. THIS ISSUE PUTS THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS IT HAPPENED TO US SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. WE PARKED THE CAR AFTER THIS ONE TRIP AND STARTED DRIVING A BACKUP CAR UNTIL WE COULD GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE ABOUT 36K MILES. IT STARTED MAKING A FUNNY NOISE AT THAT TIME BUT DIDN'T AFFECT THE CAR IN ANY WAY AND THE DEALER ASSUR

Engine
Filed Oct 1, 2017GA

I BOUGHT MY USED CAR SEPTEMBER 1 IT'S A 2014 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID, WITH A LITTLE OVER 61000 MILES ON IT, I HAD TO EVACUATE FROM A HURRICANE ABOUT WEEK AFTER THAT, WHEN I RETURNED I CHECKED THE OIL ON MY CAR THERE WAS NO OIL SHOWING ON THE STICK THE OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID ENGINE OIL DRAIN BOLT WASHER HAD CRACK IN IT, THEY PUT OIL IN AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I HAD TO GO OUT OF TOWN THIS PAST WEEK AND ON THE WAY BACK I CHECKED THE OIL IT WAS ABOUT A QUART AND A HALF LOW I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND ASK THE SERVICE MANAGER WHAT TYPE OF OIL THEY USED WAS IT SYNTHETIC OR REGULAR OIL SHE WENT AND ASK THE MECHANIC SHE CAME BACK AND SAID DO NOT PUT OIL IN IT BECAUSE IT WOULD VOID THE WARRANTY I ASK HER HOW THAT WOULD VOID IT, SHE DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR ME AND I GOT KINDA MAD CAUSE THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME WHAT OIL TO PUT IN IT, THEN I DROVE TO THE NEXT REST AREA A CHECKED IT AGAIN THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE STICK I TRIED TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP THEY WOULD NEVER ANSWER THE PHONE I GUESS THEY HAD CALLER ID , SO I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND TOOK IT TO THE CLOSET HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP THEY PUT IT ON THE RACK THE UNDER BELLY WAS CLEAN THERE HAD BEEN NO LEAK, HE THEN TOOK OFF THE OIL CAP AND THERE WAS SO MUCH SLUDGE BUILD UP HE SAID THE ENGINE WAS TORCHED NO WAY IT COULD BE FIX, I ASK WAY THE OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON, HE SAID BECAUSE OF ALL THE SLUDGE IN THERE, HE SAID THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SOLD

Electrical System
Filed Sep 20, 201736,000 milesTN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START ALTHOUGH THE LIGHTS AND RADIO WERE ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE ROLLED WHEN PLACED IN GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HYUNDAI OF COLUMBIA (1370 NASHVILLE HWY, COLUMBIA, TN 38401). THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE A FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE BATTERY BE CHANGED. THE BATTERY WAS CHANGED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Sep 15, 2017NV

EL CARRO TRYNA CUANDO VOY DE REVERSA Y CUANDO ESTOY AN STOP EL CARRO TIEMBLA Y LOS BRAKES YA SE LOS CAMBIE Y SIEMPRE ME HACE RUIDO..

20 of 27 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2012
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20263100Routine
202511000Routine
20249000Routine
202315000Routine
202219000Routine
202153000Routine
202016100Routine
20194000Routine
20189100Routine
201780340Routine
2016132530Routine
201552430Routine
2014 — this page27310Routine
2013107440Routine
2012154650Routine
201196650Routine

Compare every Sonata Hybrid year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 22, 2023. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.