2015 Hyundai SONATA: complaints, problems and recalls

WE PURCHASED A 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA SPORT/L1 ON 26 DEC 2014. MY WIFE REQUIRES AN EXTRA CUSHION TO SIT ON DUE LOWER BACK PROBLEMS. OUR PREVIOUS CAR (2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA) HAS SENSORS UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT CONTROL THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. WITH MY WIFE SITTING ON THE EXTRA CUSHION, THE SENSORS CORRECTLY DETERMINED SHE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND SET THE AIRBAG TO OPERATE IF WE WERE TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. NOT REALIZING WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE NEW HYUNDAI SONATA AIRBAG SENSORS, WE DID NOT TAKE TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10670560 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS A NEW HYUNDAI SONATA 2015. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ERRATICALLY. THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS CAN BE A SAFETY CONCERNS: 1. SOMETIMES WHEN IDLING AT INTERSECTION THE ENGINE RPM GOES UP ALL OF A SUDDEN AND THE CAR STARTS MOVING FORWARD AND ONLY A STRONGER PUSH ON THE BRAKES STOPS THE CAR FROM CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OR RUNNING A RED LIGHT. 2. WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE CAR LACKS POWER EVEN IF THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY INTO THE FLOOR. THIS PREVENTS THE CAR FROM PROPERLY ACCELERATING WH…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,552 miles reported. Look up ODI 10676407 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 386 miles reported. Look up ODI 10676853 at NHTSA ↗

POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED. LUCKILY, IT FAILED SOMETIME BETWEEN WHEN I LAST DROVE IT AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT THE NEXT DAY. THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE, DUE TO THE FAILED MOTOR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679236 at NHTSA ↗

I WENT TO ACCELERATE, BY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, AND THE ENGINE REVVED HIGH, BUT, THE CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE AND THERE DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE POWER AT THE WHEELS. IT ACTED AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. I LET OFF OF THE PEDAL AND IT DOWNSHIFTED AND POWER TO THE WHEELS WAS RESTORED. I REPEATED THIS PROCESS 3 TIMES AFTER AND I COULD REPLICATE IT EVERY TIME. DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT FOR SERVICE. THEY DROVE IT THE NEXT DAY AND COULDN'T REPLICATE THE ISSUE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE SINCE THAT DAY EITHER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679238 at NHTSA ↗

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF FILING THIS REPORT IS TO PREVENT A CHILD FROM DYING IN A LOCKED TRUNK. AS I PACKED MY RENTAL CAR FOR A TRIP I STUPIDLY LOCKED MY KEYS IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. AN UNLOCKING SERVICE CAME AND POPPED MY DOOR LOCK BUT BECAUSE THE ALARM SYSTEM WAS ON THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO ACCESS TO THE TRUCK AT ALL. THIS MODEL HAS DROP DOWN SEATS BUT ARE LOCKED FROM IN THE TRUNK. IT TOOK A COUPLE OF HOURS FOR SOMEONE TO CORRECTLY TELL ME TO OPEN THE TRUNK I HAD TO VISIT A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP FOR A KEY....NO OTHER WAY TO ENTER THE TRUNK. …

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10680469 at NHTSA ↗

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 DO…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,720 miles reported. Look up ODI 10682526 at NHTSA ↗

BRAND NEW CAR PURCHASED AND FEW ISSUES. 1. GAS GAUGE ONLY GOES UP TO 7/8 EVEN WITH FULL TANK FILL UP. 2. GAS MILEAGE DOES NOT SEEM TO INDICATE CORRECT MILEAGE. WITH FULL TANK GAS, THE INDICATOR SHOWS 450+ MILES, BUT ACTUAL MILEAGE IS 300~350 MILES. 3. ERROR OCCURS WHEN PLAYING SONGS FROM IPHONE 6 USING USB CABLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10683577 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-06-12 (June 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.

Consequence: The reduction of power steering assist can increase the steering effort needed, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2014-06-24 (June 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.

Consequence: If a brake caliper fractures, brake effectiveness would be reduced, lengthening to distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2014-12-09 (December 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2015-06-30 (June 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2015-10-20 (October 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."

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2016-04-21 (April 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.

Consequence: An air bag that does not inflate increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2016-10-11 (October 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.

Consequence: If the sunroof detaches from the vehicle it could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2017-06-05 (June 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2021-09-24 (September 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.

Consequence: A turn signal that activates in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.