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2015 Hyundai Sonata Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 1,153 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Hyundai Sonata, most often about the engine (56% of complaints, typically around 66,000 miles). It is 4th of 27 Sonata model years by number of complaints and has 9 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2015 Hyundai Sonata problems
Engine
648 complaints · 56%Half of these problems showed up before 66,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system.
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the oil and check engine lights suddenly illuminated before the engine began to sputter and stall. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who did not yet determine the cause of the failure. No additional information was available. The…
Engine ceases and all the lights on the dash board flash and stay on and the car stalls. This happened for the 5th time yesterday on rt 78. I almost coursed a collusion because my car lost power and stalled on the highway. I managed to move over to the shoulder as quick I could. After a few minutes later the engine…
Electrical
167 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 57,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, starter assembly, instrument cluster/panel, instrument panel.
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. When the contact inserted the key into the ignition, the vehicle failed to start without warning. The vehicle was towed three times to the contact's residence. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The failure…
I left harrisburg to drop 3 students to state college, driving for uber on 09/29/2017.around 9:30pm in lewiston in mifflin county, we came across a short turn.I got a kind of sudden small speed. We were out of the road. I tried to stop and put the car back on the road, too late. We hit a mountain and the car was lying…
Other or unspecified
166 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 48,000 miles.
Our car was serviced by southwest Hyundai dealer in albuquerque on 7/6, and although it was idling rough, they told US our car was safe to continue our vacation to co. The next morning, 30 miles later on I 25 we were traveling the speed limit, and a clanking noise started and smoke poured out from under the hood...we…
Hybrid system warning. Check brakes. Do not drive. The car shuts down while you are driving and you get this warning with alarms dinging loudly. It renders the car unusable and is unsafe in traffic. If you turn the car off and wait you can restart it but it just happens again. It happens on the freeway at high speed…
Transmission
135 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles.
Vehicle stalls. Randomly. Acceleration stalls randomly. Engine dies parked randomly. Seems so decelerate/brake/. Drag while driving. Recall o comport n program only. Warranty for original owner only. Recalled made in. 2011-2014 Sonata my 2015 Sonata sport has the same engine
1/14/18 upon entering a 4 lane major road from a store parking lot, my 2015 Sonata would not accelerate. I let off and pushed the accelerator pedal, no response though the RPM's were revving. The check engine light came on. I pulled over, shut the car off, and restarted the car. The car seemed to accelerate ok after…
Fuel system
86 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 41,500 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
I purchased a used 2015 Hyundai Sonata with 43k miles. I have had it for three months with minor problems such as sluggish acceleration, hard deceleration when removing foot from gas pedal, and a noisy engine. However, on 4-8-2016 at about 7:30 am, I was attempting a left turn on a busy metropolitan street when the…
Applying the brakes at a stop requires the brake pedal to be firmly held to the floor otherwise the engine will start reviving up and move out fast if the brake is released. Also appears that the transmission when moving the shifter to park does not mean the car is in park. I did this once in a store parking lot. The…
Brakes
79 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock.
My vehicle makes a clunking noise when I make a turn and accelerate simultaneously, napelton Hyundai told me it was my axel and my front brakes grind when my car settles after I brake or when I ease off the brake
Left brake caliper stuck wearing out brake pad completely. Headlights so dim they don't light roadway. Windshield unusual hazy appearance causing unclear front view. All problems during any condition on road.
Steering
74 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 63,000 miles. Parts named most often: steering wheel/handle bar, column.
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. While making a right turn while driving 5 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the ABS indicator illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home. The contact called the local dealer (alan vines Hyundai at [phone] located on 1639 US-45 byp, jackson, tennessee, 38305)…
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while her son was driving the vehicle at approximately 65 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to steer. The contact stated that the driver pulled to the side of the road. The contact stated after the driver turned off and restarted the vehicle several…
Speed control
61 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control.
Whenever I accelerate on the highway my engine would rev to a high RPM with a delayed reaction in order to get the car accelerated. Also, whenever I slow down my car for a stop light or stop sign, my engine would rev to a high RPM to slow down my car. I asked the Hyundai dealerships, they said the everything is okay…
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, it would not immediately accelerate when pressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine light would remain illuminated. Also, the vehicle had experienced unintended acceleration. The vehicle was taken to an independent…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2015 Hyundai Sonata recalls
Electrical: software
Risk: A turn signal that activates in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Brakes: indicator light
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Visibility and wipers: sun/moon roof assembly
Risk: If the sunroof detaches from the vehicle it could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: An air bag that does not inflate increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: instrument cluster/panel
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Seat belts: buckle assembly
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: axle shaft
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Brakes: caliper
Risk: If a brake caliper fractures, brake effectiveness would be reduced, lengthening to distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: wiring
Risk: The reduction of power steering assist can increase the steering effort needed, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Engine fires
Summary
On march 29, 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened two preliminary evaluations (pe19-003 on hyundai and pe19-004 on kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year hyundai and kia vehicles.â during the pe investigations, hyundai and kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types.â the remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement.â additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modif
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) of the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated october 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (etc) system on certain kia vehicles resulting in the opening of dp21-003. Accordingly, model year (my) 2005-2016 kia optima/k5, my 2006-2015 kia sorento, my 2007-2016 hyundai elantra, my 2007-2016 hyundai santa fe, my 2006-2015 hyundai sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a vehicle owner questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (odi) number 11439675.on november 12, 2021, odi opened defec
Electrical overstress
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.â during the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (acu) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ecu) manufactured by zf-trw. â the ecu receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with m
Questions about the 2015 Hyundai Sonata
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 Hyundai Sonata?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (648 complaints, typically around 66,000 miles); electrical (167 complaints, typically around 57,500 miles); other or unspecified (166 complaints, typically around 48,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2015 Hyundai Sonata have?
- 9 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 24, 2021 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2015 a bad year for the Hyundai Sonata?
- It is 4th of 27 Sonata model years by number of complaints, with 1,153 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.