2021 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
53 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
28,274 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 53 complaints (47.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 29 | 54.7% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 7.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.9% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Engine | 21 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Electrical System: 25; Engine: 21; Unknown Or Other: 7; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Power Train: 3; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 51 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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2024 | 22 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2021: 1; 2023: 16; 2024: 22; 2025: 10; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 29 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 11436473 · 2021-10-12 (October 12, 2021)
On Wednesday, October 6th, I was driving full speed (65mph) on a major highway. Multiple lights on the dashboard came on. The LCD display screen for music, apps, etc. went black. More lights came on and others went off on the dash display. I let off the accelerator and steered the car. The fuel efficiency was wilding jumping back and forth. Soon enough, all the lights went back off, but the mileage gauge (fuel efficiency) continued to jump wildly. The brakes seemed to respond differently- almost as if there was a delay between me pressing the b…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11436473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11518107 · 2023-04-20 (April 20, 2023)
When I arrived in the parking lot and selected the R (reverse), the vehicle stayed in the D (Drive) although that it was moving backwards and was able to park it. The shift selector was stuck in DRIVE (Drive) leaving the vehicle on but not operational. After several attempts to allow the vehicle to cool and the battery to reset, (30 minutes_ later), the car started and took the vehicle to be serviced. The vehicle technician said they had a difficult time diagnosing the vehicle because it was giving different codes. They said that while testin…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11518107 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11508517 · 2023-02-22 (February 22, 2023)
The forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control failed as the first 2 activated when there were no oncoming collisions in front of me and the nearest cars around me were 1/4 of a mile away. The cruise control failed as it turned back on after the vehicle veered off the highway and into the rest stop. My safety and the safety of a lot of other people in the rest stop were put at risk because the system malfunction and tripped when no other cars were present that would have led to a collision. The vehicle l…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11508517 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11518105 · 2023-04-20 (April 20, 2023)
Incident sounds similar to those experienced with the dual clutch transmissions. November 2022, all of the vehicle warning lights were on and remained on. The vehicle would not move and the transmission selector/shifter was locked in place. Working with the local service/dealership, the vehicle was repaired after 3 weeks with a new transmission shift actuator (or possibly other part). Similarity in the experience and possibility of risk with little information about trends or others in similar situations or resolution. We've had another (Same…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11518105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11608129 · 2024-08-12 (August 12, 2024)
The car randomly loses power and stalls on the expressway and it states that something is wrong with the hybrid system
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11608129 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11755133 · 2026-08-05 (August 5, 2026)
The vehicle experiences sudden, complete electrical power loss while driving at speed on highways and city streets or on the parking. All digital displays turn off, the engine shuts down, and power-assisted steering and braking are instantly lost without prior warning, presenting an extreme collision risk. The issue first occurred in August 2025 at approximately 48,000 miles and was taken to an authorized Hyundai dealer in Michigan for warranty repair. The dealer held the vehicle for over 30 days but failed to correct the defect. The identical…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11755133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11656895 · 2025-04-25 (April 25, 2025)
Air flow check engine light alerted and source was faulty fuel injector which required replacement of 4 fuel injectors.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11656895 at NHTSA ↗