41 of the
1,162 complaints filed about the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
are about the throttle and cruise control —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2012.
41
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
6
Crashes
1
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
UNKNOWN- While driving on highway, from 70 mph speed the car suddenly lost acceleration and speed dropped. No response to accelerator. Even with pushing the accelerator high, car will go in high RPM and speed will barely reach 40 mph. I was lucky that there was no other vehicle behind me, especially heavy automobile like semi truck as it would have crashed in me from behind due to sudden propulsion loss. The car started working fine next day. I took it to dealer and they couldn't find any error code but said it could be 12V battery BMS software update and they updated it. They mentioned that this is NOT a safety issue which is mind-blowing and concerning as this is a MAJOR safety hazard. I would request you to investigate this further and if this is a software issue then please direct Hyundai to update this with all vehicles and cover the cost for those who have had to pay for it.
NHTSA complaint #11704561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The gear shifter design on this Hyundai model is dangerously counterintuitive compared to industry norms. It nearly caused me to drive off a cliff. I encountered a serious safety issue with the gear selector design. In most vehicles — including Mercedes, GM, and even pickup trucks — pushing the gear selector down engages forward drive, and up engages reverse or park. Hyundai has reversed this logic. In a rushed moment, I instinctively pushed the shifter down expecting to go forward (as in most cars), but the Hyundai was in reverse. I stepped on the gas and nearly backed off a cliff. This design is not just unfamiliar — it's opposite of established standards. Drivers with muscle memory from other vehicles like ANY pickup truck, MB, or GM EV are at real risk of making fatal errors. I strongly urge NHTSA to investigate whether this shifter design meets safety and human factors standards. At a minimum, Hyundai should issue a UI/UX recall to standardize shift direction or implement safeguards to prevent this kind of mistake.
NHTSA complaint #11663112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The speedometer in this car is extremely inaccurate and inconsistent with its accuracy. On some occasions, the speedometer can indicate a +-2mph variance at any given speed (good), while other times, the speedometer can indicate a +-6mph variance at any given speed. (bad) The vehicles true speed was verified by GPS speed data and by manually calculating given each individual wheel speed in the car. Both measured speeds confirmed that the vehicles speedometer was off by 5-6mph. No modifications performed to the car. This is a serious safety hazard as the driver is given inaccurate information regarding the actual speed of the vehicle and can lead to accidents.
NHTSA complaint #11633455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I purchased a new 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited on [XXX]. At about 2000 miles I noticed the speedometer of the car and the WAZE app were reporting different speeds. This is an intermittent problem so sometimes the vehicles speedometer and the WAZE app match and other times the vehicles speedometer and the WAZE App disagree. I've repeatedly taken this car to the dealership where I purchased it complaining about the problem and they can't seem to find a problem. Hyundai documented the problem is with WAZE and there's "DELAY" in the signal from the satellite to the WAZE App, even though I've stated my other vehicles speedometers and the vehicle speed reported by WAZE match. Hyundai documented this anomaly is what gives the vehicle it's "UNIQUENESS." Yet they won't resolve this issue. There are several functions in the car that are dependent on the the vehicle's speedometer being correct and when the speedometer is incorrect, these other functions don't work properly either. I've taken the car onto freeways where there are measured mile postings. Sometimes when the speedometer indicates it's at 60 MPH it takes 60 seconds to traverse the mile. Other times, when the speedometer indicates its at 60 MPH it takes 63 seconds to travel the measured mile. it's not just my car, there are many other customers around the United States that are experiencing this problem and I/we can't seem to get Hyundai to address, fix this problem. My personal opinion is this; Hyundai knew about this problem before they put the car out to the market for sale. So Hyundai knowingly sold a defective vehicle, before they sold the first one of these vehicles. Other HYUNDAI Sonata owners complaining about speedometer [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11630579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The Hyundai Sonata was brought to a stop in a parking lot. When the driver went to put it in park, the vehicle accelerated across the parking lot and smashed into a solid wall. The driver broke her right ankle from standing on the brake pedal. The brakes were ineffective at stopping the vehicle. The collision avoidance system failed to activate or warn of the impending collision. The driver and passenger were severely injured and the car is considered a total loss. There were numerous other injuries sustained. No one outside of the vehicle was injured.
NHTSA complaint #11575678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HEV WARNING TURN OFF ENGINE SIGN WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE MY CAR LOST POWER AND THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO SUDDENLY MOVE OVER THIS IS VERY UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE
NHTSA complaint #11551358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2017 Hyundai hybrid Sonata Check hybrid system turn off engine, It’s been at a dealership for three months last time. after year later same issue again.
NHTSA complaint #11520073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving on the highway at speed, I received a red Check Hybrid System error, and immediately lost all acceleration, putting myself and all occupants at risk on a busy interstate highway, as we tried to find a safe way to quickly change lanes and coast to a stop in a safe location. The cause is under diagnosis by a Hyundai Service Center. This was a sudden failure and there had been no previous warning alerting us to substandard system condition.
NHTSA complaint #11494395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 50 mph, the vehicle loss power and decelerated to 25 mph. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was referred to the local dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11428929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. DRIVER HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES. GOT ON FREEWAY FROM DOWNTOWN HOUSTON AND WAS ON FREEWAY FOR LESS THAN 10 MILES. WITNESS SAID CAR WAS ON FIRE UNDER VEHICLE IN THE REAR OF THE HYBRID VEHICLE. DRIVER PULLED OVER TO FEEDER OF FWY AND CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK SO HE TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND EXITED VEHICLE. DRIVER SAW CAR WAS ON FIRE AND RAN TO SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #11415348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, A NOTICE WAS SHOWN ON THE DASHBOARD THAT THE HYBRID SYSTEM AND CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED TO ACCELERATE, UPHILL, WITHOUT THE GAS PEDAL BEING ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN COMING TO A NEAR COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING IT TO A SAFE PLACE TO PARK A NOTICE INDICATED THE BREAKS WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. THE CAR WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS SINCE AND IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE(S) AS OF 12/05/2019.
NHTSA complaint #11287127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING 40-50 MPH, AN AUDIBLE CHIME WAS HEARD AND THE CHECK BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ONCE THE CHIME STOPPED, THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS WERE RENDERED INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MALCOLM CUNNINGHAM HYUNDAI (4355 STONE MOUNTAIN HWY, LILBURN, GA 30047, (770) 972-1222) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
NHTSA complaint #11270844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURES RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JIM CLICK MAZDA AUTO MALL (877-888-2760, LOCATED AT 700 W AUTO MALL DR, TUCSON, AZ 85705), BUT THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED OR DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.
NHTSA complaint #11229352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING AND USING THE ACCELERATOR , THE RPM WOULD REV UP BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CAR WOULD THEN JERK BACK AND FORTH. ONLY ABLE TO GO APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES PER HOUR, BUT THE RPM WOULD GO AS HIGH AS 6K OR 7K RPM. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WHEN IDLE, ALSO FELT RPM GO UP AND JERKING MOTION.
NHTSA complaint #11205370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE TIRE OF A HEAVY TRUCK, BOUNCED OFF THE TIRE, AND STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE SWITCHED FROM HYBRID PROPULSION TO GAS PROPULSION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO INJURY SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11174667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
YESTERDAY THE CAR DROVE FINE UNTILL ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE I WENT HOME. THEN IT STARTED WITH THE BUMPING/JERKING WHEN SWITCHING FROM ELECTRIC TO GAS. WORSE THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN. THEN THE REVVING STARTED, MORE THAN USUAL, AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. THEN IT WAS LIKE THE THROTTLE STUCK. GOT THE REVVING NOICE, BUT THE ECO WASN'T BURRIED AT RED, FOR ABOUT 1/4 MILE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT. SHUT OFF THE CAR. RESTARTED AND DROVE 1 MILE TO HOME. REVVED A FEW TIMES IN THAT PERIOD.
NHTSA complaint #11171828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY REV VERY HIGH IT STARTED ABOUT 3 WEEKA AGO WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND AN AVERAGE OF 45MPH IN CITY. IT WAS INITIALLY JUST REVVING 3-4 TIMES UNTIL I HIT THE BREAK AND IT WAS ISOLATED TO ONE INCIDENT PER DRIVE. BUT LAST NIGHT AFTER DRIVING ON I-25 AT HIGHWAY SPEED I TURNED TO A SLOWER BUSY STREET MORE STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR STARTED REVVING AGAIN ONLY THIS TIME IT DID NOT STOP AFTER ONE INCIDENT. AS SOON AS I HIT THE ACCELERATOR IT WENT INTO A REVVING FIT. AND DIDNT STOP I COULDN'T EVEN DRIVE IT BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET IT TO ACCELERATE. I TRIED TURNING OFF BLUE DRIVE AND TRIED SHIFTING DOWN TO 1ST GEAR SO I COULD AT LEAST MAKE IT AT 10-15MPH BUT IT REVVED UP EVEN IN MANUAL GEAR. I HAD TO PARK IT FOR THE NIGHT IN A PRETTY SKETCHY NEIGHBORHOOD AND CALL AN UBER. THE SYSTEM DIDN'T POPULATE ANY CODES AND NO SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON. THEN, THIS MORNING WHEN I WENT BACK TO GET THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND IT WAS ACCELERATING FINE THOUGH IT WAS SLUGGISH. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT 2.5 MILES TO A MECHANIC WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT STILL NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #11169886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (50-60MPH), THE "ECO GUAGE" REVS UP BUT THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE - SLOWS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LAMP FLICKERS ON AND OFF AS WELL. AFTER THE CAR IS STOPPED AND TURNED OFF, THE CAR FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. MECHANICS ARE UNABLE TO RETRIEVE ANY CODES FROM THE SYSTEM. THE CAR HAS INTERMITTANTLY DROPPED INTO THIS MODE AT LEAST 10 TIMES SINCE WE FIRST EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM IN JULY 2018. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS CAUSING THE CAR TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC WITH NO ADVANCE WARNINGS. THIS SITUATION REQUIRES IMMEDIATE EVASIVE ACTION TO REMOVE THE CAR FROM HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC LANES SO IT CAN BE SHUT DOWN AND TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER. MY WIFE AND I CONSIDER THIS A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION AS IT HAS OCCURRED IN PLACES SUCH AS THE BAY BRIDGE (WITH NO SHOULDER) AND A LENGTHY UNDERWATER TUNNEL (AGAIN WITH NO SHOULDER). WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER SERVICE SHOP FOUR TIMES. THEY HAVE REPLICATED THE PROBLEM AND HAVE TRIED VARIOUS REPAIRS - REPLACE TRANSMISSION OIL PUMP, REPLACE INHIBITOR SWITCH, INSTALL NEW AUXILLIARY BATTERY, AND - FINALLY - REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. EVEN AFTER THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, THE CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS TEST DRIVING IT AND PROVIDED A CODE TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE MECHANICS STILL ARE NOT CERTAIN THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. IT APPEARS AS IF HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS THEIR TECHNICAL SUPPORT STAFF HAVE A PROTOCOL FOR REPAIRING THE CAR. GIVEN THE INTERMITTANT NATURE OF THE PROBLEM, THE FACT THAT IT OCCURS AT HIGH SPEEDS, AND THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF HAVING YOUR CAR RAPIDLY DECELERATE ON BUSY FREEWAYS, I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY HYUNDAI. ATTACHED IS THE ORIGINAL SERVICE RECORD THAT DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM (DATE 8/6/18). THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS 11/27/18.
NHTSA complaint #11161831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, IT JERKED AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR END. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THEN ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
NHTSA complaint #11129164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL, MY CAR WAS TOTALED OUT IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON JULY 24, 2018. AS THE RESULT OF THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME WAS DRIVING AND HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP MULTIPLE TIMES ATTEMPTING TO FIND THE TURN SHE WAS LOOKING FOR. IT WAS A UNIT IN BETWEEN US ALLOWING ME TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT HITTING HER. IN THE PROCESS OF ME HITTING BREAKS MY ENGINE REVED REALLY HIGH CAUSING MY CAR TO SPEED UP INSTEAD OF STOP. THE BACK TIRED WERE EVEN SPINNING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAKS. AS A RESULT MY CAR SLAMMED INTO HER REAR END WITHOUT ME HAVING ANY CONTROL PERIOD. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO HER VEHICLE OTHER THAN A SCRATCH FROM THE IMPACT OF MY CAR, HOWEVER MY CAR WAS TOTALED COMPLETELY OUT. I'M FAULTED FOR THE ACCIDENT BC I'M SUPPOSE TO HAVE CONTROL OVER MY OWN CAR. IN THIS CASE I DID NOT. I WAS TOLD BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO INVESTIGATE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES CAUSING MY ACCIDENT, AND SURE ENOUGH THERE IS 2 RECALLS I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT. THE ONLY ONE I KNEW ABOUT WAS THE SEATBELT AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALSHIP FOR THAT AND IT STILL DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. I NEED TO KNOW SINCE THESE RECALLS PLAY A PART IN MY ACCIDENT HOW I CAN BE COMPENSATED. IT CLEARLY WAS NOT MY FAULT THAT THE CAR HAD MANUFACTURE ISSUES I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT. IT'S HAD THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME NOW BUT I WAS TOLD IT'S BC IT'S A HYBRID ME KNOWING IT WAS SOMETHING NOT SAFE ABOUT IT. I WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET GETTING READY TO GET IN THE LEFT LANE ONCE THE LADY TURNED TO TAKE MY SON TO SCHOOL. SHE ALMOST MISSED HER TURN AND HIT HER BRAKES. MY CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO ME HITTING MY BRAKES IT JUST KEPT GOING. #162
NHTSA complaint #11123576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.