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Hyundai Sonata HybridModel year report

2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Problems

Compared with other Hyundai Sonata Hybrid years

Typical for this model

53/100 1.1× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2014

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
54filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
50,500miles, 43 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
37 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl · hybrid FWD · 35 city / 38 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

The largest group of owner reports describes sudden stalling or loss of hybrid drive power while driving, often with dashboard messages telling the driver to stop. Other common topics are brake and ABS complaints, including waits for a brake recall repair, hesitant or unexpected acceleration, engine failure or check-engine lights, and smoke or fire. Reported mileage varies widely, so these problems are not limited to one mileage range.

  1. Electrical system

    Sudden stalling or loss of drive power while driving

    • 19 complaints (35%)
    • median 55,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (17 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2016–2026

    Owners describe the car losing drive power or shutting down while being driven, sometimes at highway speed. Some reports include charging-system or hybrid-system warnings, or a message to pull over and stop, and in some reports the steering or brakes stop responding. Some owners say the car would not restart after it was turned off, and that the dealer could not find the cause or that repairs did not stop the failure. Mileage given ranges from about 60 to about 152,000 miles, and the stalls are described at speeds from about 15 to 65 mph.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for repair records of any hybrid system or charging warnings, and ask whether the bulletin for inspecting the hybrid safety plug and fuse was completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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 miles

    “I was driving on the highway when suddenly the check charging light system warning came on, all 3 lights for oil, battery, and engine came on at the same time! The car stalled was not possible to stear and brakes didn't work... I had to coast luckily I was only in second to right line and easily got to emergency lane!! This happened on 101 in california during a busy time!!!”

    NHTSA complaint #10979986, filed 2017-04, 50,500 miles
  2. Brakes

    Brake and ABS faults, plus recall repair waits

    • 18 complaints (33%)
    • median 62,590 mi at 4.2 yrs old (12 state mileage)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2015–2026

    Some owners describe ABS or brakes that lock up, grind, or make an unusual noise, and say the dealer found the brakes normal. In other reports the brake pedal sinks to the floor, or the car would not move after a brake light warning. Others describe waiting for parts for the ABS module recall, with owners saying the repair took longer than reasonable. One owner reports a no-start after recall work, and another links an overheating event with a burning odor to the recall notice. Mileage given ranges from 7 to about 170,000 miles, and the two ABS lock-up complaints cite about 9,000 to 10,700 miles.

    Recall 23V651000

    What to check: Check whether ABS module recall 23V651000 has been completed, and ask the seller for proof of the finished repair rather than only a recall notice.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I've years of experience with ABS systems. My current car claims to have ABS, but if I slam on the brakes, they lock. That is not ABS. I took the car in to have it looked at and the dealer claimed it met their ABS standards. The brakes don't meet my ABS standards. I have had to slam on the brakes on several occasions, sometimes going as slowly as 20 MPH and the brakes locked and the car skidded.”

    NHTSA complaint #10894938, filed 2016-08, 9,000 miles

    “While driving 65 miles on the highway, vehicle started a ringing noise and an error message appeared on screen hybrid system warning! Safely stop and do not drive. After that, check brake . Appeared and the two messages kept switching back and forth. The vehicle then started to slow down by itself and the break pushed down to the floor by itself. The brakes started grinding and I lost control of the vehicle and the vehicle stopped moving, on the highway, with a semi right behind me. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11129176, filed 2018-09, 77,000 miles
  3. Vehicle speed control

    Hesitation or unexpected acceleration

    • 10 complaints (19%)
    • median 52,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2015–2026

    Owners describe the car accelerating on its own while parking or braking, and describe slow or no response when pressing the accelerator. Some describe a delay of up to several seconds before the car responds, and others say the car could not accelerate and then stalled. One owner reports that the car took off with no brakes while trying to park, jumped a curb, and went into an apartment building. Mileage given ranges from about 5,000 to about 110,000 miles, and the problems are described both when parking or pulling away and at highway speed.

    What to check: On a test drive, check for hesitation or delayed response when pulling away and when braking, and ask for records of any powertrain or hybrid repairs.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “When pressing the accelerate pedal there seems to be a delay in response. The delay can be as short as a few milliseconds to almost 3 entire seconds. This problem happens randomly, and makes my wife and I very nervous when trying to maneuver or proceed into traffic after being stopped.”

    NHTSA complaint #10808593, filed 2015-12, 5,000 miles

    “On sat, oct 1, at about 1 pm I was about to complete parking the vehicle in the parking lot of the huntington beach branch of chase bank. I fortunately selected a site on front of a planter section with bushes, as otherwise there could have been injuries or property damage. I was almost stopped and was about to put the gear in park, the car suddenly revved up the engine and accelerated violently and with great force, propelling the car over the cement curbs of the planter and landed in the bushes. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10916773, filed 2016-10, 24,000 miles
  4. Engine

    Engine failure, noise, or check-engine light

    • 8 complaints (15%)
    • median 88,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2017–2026

    Some owners describe engine failure with sludge or metal fragments, or an engine that had to be replaced after its bearings failed. Other reports describe a clicking noise under the hood with oil leakage, or a check-engine light that came back after a repair attempt. One owner had the engine rebuilt recently and then reports a breakdown with the engine light flashing. Mileage given ranges from about 50,000 to about 134,000 miles, and several of these failures are described as a stall or a no-start.

    7 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether any check-engine light with code P1326 or engine noise was inspected under the connecting-rod bearing bulletins, and look for oil leaks and odd noises on a test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Coming home from a funeral out of town. The the vehicle started making a clicking noise under the hood on the passenger side of the car. Then the vehicle started slowing down. We were able to make it to a gas station and the vehicle stopped. There is also oil leakage. It would turn over, but stop again. Had to pay 700 to tow us and the vehicle home.”

    NHTSA complaint #11155443, filed 2018-12, 88,699 miles

    “Recently got the engine rebuilt (2024) and then it broke down on me yesterday with the engine light flashing and a warning sign stating pull over don’t drive”

    NHTSA complaint #11769300, filed 2026-10
  5. Electrical system

    Smoke, burning smell, or fire

    • 6 complaints (11%)
    • median 67,500 mi at 7.9 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2018–2026

    Owners describe smoke from under the hood or from the floor area, and in one case flames that reached the cabin. Some describe a loud pop or a burning electrical odor while driving, and another reports white smoke from a rear seat area. In one report the airbag came out filled with smoke after the car had no brakes while the owner tried to park. Mileage given ranges from about 35,000 to about 115,000 miles, and the smoke is described while driving, when stopping, or after parking.

    What to check: Inspect the engine bay and passenger-side floor area for heat marks, melted wiring or fresh repairs, and ask for records of any overheating or burning-smell repair.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “We pulled up at Hillgreen circle Cockysville MD To drop my boyfriend off at his apartment. I went to pull in the parking spot.I went to put the car into park and it had no brakes. I was slamming them and pumping them. It excellerated and took off. Jumped the curb,went down the hill and into the apartment building. A red light had came on the dash, right before it took off. Seemed like it was changing to gas or the electric mode,or the other way around. The airbag on the passenger side came out deflated,and filled with smoke going into the car. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11717654, filed 2026-02

    “The contact's sister-in-law owned a 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that while the vehicle owner was driving 55 MPH, the owner noticed smoke coming from under the hood. The owner parked and exited the vehicle, and while attempting to inspect the vehicle, the owner noticed flames coming from underneath the hood, and the fire extended to the cabin of the vehicle. The Fire Department extinguished the fire and informed the owner that the fire had gone through the firewall and entered the interior of the vehicle. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11764359, filed 2026-09, 98,000 miles

Buying note. Before buying, ask for records of any hybrid warning, stalling, or engine repairs, and confirm whether ABS module recall 23V651000 was completed. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a hybrid system scan and a brake check can address the main reported issues.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 52 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 54 consumer complaints for the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. 43 of the complaints include a mileage, and 47% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 50,500 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 117 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 7 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 53 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Air bags (1), Electronic stability control (1), Seat belts (1), Steering (1), Body and structure (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “While driving my car started alarming saying check charging system...it immediately went to 15 miles and hour while I was on i95 where speed limit is 65 MPH. By the time I got home and turned the car off it would not turn back on. Ive had this car for a year and a half. I bought it new.”

NHTSA complaint #10969997, filed 2017-04, 60 miles

Engine: “It has overheat problem that Hyundai service couldn't fix. It broke down 6 times and was 3 times in the shop. 4/2/17, I was on fastest lane on 101 freeway in downtown la. Suddenly the car alarm beeps. Dash board displayed hybrid system warning, safely stop and do not drive . The gas pedal was hard to press, (guess it goes into protection mode. ) fortunately it was in rush hour traffic that no car ram into me from behind. I forced the car switched lanes and exit freeway. After I parked, the car frozed. I can't turn on the emergency signal. …”

NHTSA complaint #11003751, filed 2017-07, 17,800 miles

Brakes: “Break pedal unusual sound: when standing still and applying pressure to brake pedal, unusual noise can be clearly heard. I believe this noise should not be present. Sound is reappearing more than once throughout all brake pedal travel from upper position to its lowest position. Sound is if some metal part was rubbing against either another metal or plastic surface.”

NHTSA complaint #10861568, filed 2016-04, 7 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “About an hour into driving home on the freeway, my car alert system went off and the car automatically began to decelerate and the dashboard display showed instructions to check hybrid charging system and to check surroundings and to pull over when safe and to not drive vehicle. The check engine light, the needs maintenance light and the check oil light all came on. After about 15 secs my vehicle lost all power but did not turn off; the steering wheel became locked. I placed the car into park and restarted it and the warning alert alarm ceased, but now the check engine light stayed on. …”

NHTSA complaint #10979806, filed 2017-04, 82,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

47% of the 43 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 15,000 and 95,000 miles.

19%0–1014%10–2514%25–5016%50–7521%75–10012%100–1505%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (43 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 50,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2015201792019202220242026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Sonata Hybrid · sedan FWD★★★★★5 / 5554 · 10.5% risk

Neighbouring years: 2014: same overall rating; 2016: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Sonata Hybrid FWD2.4L 4-cyl · hybrid6-speed automatic353837$1,800
Sonata Hybrid Limited FWD2.4L 4-cyl · hybrid6-speed automatic353837$1,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 117 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 117 bulletins →

Other model years of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202511—0547—Too new
2024915,3950—47—Too new
20231534,0000—52—Too new
20221916,9120552—Rising
20215528,274055231 · FewerRising
2020167,1501—52—Rising
201953,5000542—Not enough data
201899,5001542—Not enough data
20178166,000354246 · TypicalRising
201613364,000554181 · MoreFalling
20155450,500453753 · TypicalRising
20142888,00035372 · FewerRising
201310863,500453770 · MoreFalling
201215576,630653690 · MoreFalling
20119686,750653647 · TypicalFalling

All Hyundai Sonata Hybrid model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?

The largest group of owner reports describes sudden stalling or loss of hybrid drive power while driving, often with dashboard messages telling the driver to stop. The issues reported most often: Sudden stalling or loss of drive power while driving; Brake and ABS faults, plus recall repair waits; Hesitation or unexpected acceleration.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid have?

NHTSA recorded 54 consumer complaints for the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 24 complaints (44% of the total), followed by engine with 19.

Has the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid get?

The EPA rates the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (Sonata Hybrid, 2.4L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 37 mpg combined, 35 city and 38 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid reported?

Among the 43 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 50,500 miles and the middle half falls between 15,000 and 95,000 miles; 47% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.