2014 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
27 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
88,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 27 complaints (40.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 44.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 18.5% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 14.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 11 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Engine: 11; Electrical System: 9; Service Brakes: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Seat Belts: 2; Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 8 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 6; 2023: 2; 2024: 6; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10700848 · 2015-03-21 (March 21, 2015)
I PURCHASED SKY BLUE 2014 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID LIMITED ON AUGUST 31ST, 2014. I DROVE THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS, DURING THIS TIME I NOTICED AND FELT WHEN I BRAKED THE CAR DID NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY, THERE WAS A DELAYED EFFECT. AT THIS TIME THE BREAK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I CHECKED THE MANUAL WHICH INDICATED THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN IN THIS STATE AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A CHECKUP AND SERVICE TO DEALERSHIP ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2014 SO THAT THE ILLUMINATED BREAK LIGHT COULD BE CHECKED. THE TECHNICIAN SPENT FIVE DAYS ON THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,060 miles reported. Look up ODI 10700848 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10865003 · 2016-05-15 (May 15, 2016)
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED A LITTLE MORE RAPIDLY OR HARDER THAN NORMAL THERE IS A SHORT GRUMBLE NOISE. THIS NOISE HAS NO RELATIONSHIP TO CAR SPEED AS IT WILL MAKE THIS SAME NOISE IF THE CAR ISN'T MOVING OR AT ANY SPEED. THE BRAKES FEEL AND OPERATE NORMALLY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE NOISE THEY MAKE. I HAVE TOLD TWO DIFFERENT SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND BEEN TOLD THIS NOISE IS NORMAL ON ALL THE SONATA HYBRID CARS. IN THE TWO YEARS AND 19,000 MILES THE NOISE REMAINS THE SAME, NO LESS OR MORE. EVEN IF THE CAR ISN'T ON PUSHING ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE IT WI…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10865003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10627349 · 2014-08-22 (August 22, 2014)
AFTER JUST TWO MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, THIS SONATA HYBRID WOULDN'T START (FOR THE SECOND TIME). HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER 15 DAYS (TOTAL SO FAR FOR BOTH INCIDENTS) THE DEALERSHIP STILL HAS NO IDEA WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT OR HOW TO FIX IT. IT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,113 miles reported. Look up ODI 10627349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11024655 · 2017-09-20 (September 20, 2017)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11024655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11170917 · 2019-01-19 (January 19, 2019)
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 MAK…
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11170917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11176211 · 2019-02-11 (February 11, 2019)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11176211 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11217433 · 2019-06-02 (June 2, 2019)
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 BRAKE…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,684 miles reported. Look up ODI 11217433 at NHTSA ↗