Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 794 consumer complaints across the 15 model years of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (2011–2025) that have at least 5 complaints. 2012 has the most, with 155. Across all years, the part named most often is engine (345 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
Best and worst Sonata Hybrid years →
All Sonata Hybrid model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | — | 0 | 21 | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 9 | 15,395 | 0 | 22 | — | Too new |
| 2023 | 15 | 34,000 | 0 | 32 | — | Too new |
| 2022 | 19 | 16,912 | 0 | 49 | — | Rising |
| 2021 | 55 | 28,274 | 0 | 51 | 31 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2020 | 16 | 7,150 | 1 | 61 | — | Rising |
| 2019 | 5 | 3,500 | 0 | 82 | — | Not enough data |
| 2018 | 9 | 9,500 | 1 | 87 | — | Not enough data |
| 2017 | 81 | 66,000 | 3 | 118 | 46 · Typical | Rising |
| 2016 | 133 | 64,000 | 5 | 132 | 81 · More | Falling |
| 2015 | 54 | 50,500 | 4 | 117 | 53 · Typical | Rising |
| 2014 | 28 | 88,000 | 3 | 107 | 2 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2013 | 108 | 63,500 | 4 | 109 | 70 · More | Falling |
| 2012 | 155 | 76,630 | 6 | 111 | 90 · More | Falling |
| 2011 | 96 | 86,750 | 6 | 113 | 47 · Typical | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Engine345 35%
- Electrical system205 21%
- Brakes110 11%
- Transmission and drivetrain100 10%
- Other or unknown94 9.4%
- Steering53 5.3%
- Fuel system52 5.2%
- Vehicle speed control41 4.1%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2012: “Vehicle had just turned off highway onto a main road and there was a sound like a tire going out. We pulled over and exited vehicle and the tire was slanted on a diagonal. There happened to be a mechanic right there so he walked over and looked at it and determined it was the subframe. Car completely un-drivable. We were towed and had the subframe replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #11121495, filed 2018-08, 116,175 miles2011: “I had a terrible accident on highway. Another car hit me on my right side. I was driving with 60 mile/ hours. I deviate from the road and that car hit few more times. My car was distroyed. Ok this accident the air bags didn't deploy. The seat belt protected. Even that I didn't broke any bone I hurt really bed my left shoulder, left hip and also I hit my head during this accident.”
NHTSA complaint #11232616, filed 2019-07, 120,000 miles2015: “Driving in rush hour traffic about 25 MPH and car stuttered warning light came on and said to pull over, but everything shut down before I could. I blocked traffic for 6 hours. Did not get into an accident, but was very close to one. Everything shut down including hazard lights. I was unable to exit vehicle due to heavy traffic.”
NHTSA complaint #11151183, filed 2018-11, 116,000 milesOther Hyundai models
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About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology