Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 63 consumer complaints across the 3 model years of the Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid (2016–2019) that have at least 5 complaints. 2017 has the most, with 32. Across all years, the part named most often is engine (36 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Sonata Plug-In 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5 | 12,489 | 0 | 66 | — | Not enough data |
| 2017 | 32 | 12,735 | 2 | 93 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Rising |
| 2016 | 26 | 28,100 | 2 | 82 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Engine36 36%
- Electrical system25 25%
- Other or unknown13 13%
- Fuel system11 11%
- Transmission and drivetrain9 9.0%
- Hybrid propulsion system3 3.0%
- Vehicle speed control2 2.0%
- Steering1 1.0%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2016: “My car completely lost power while I was driving on the freeway. The dash read hybrid system failure . It shut off while I was driving in the carpool lane. There was no warning, just shut right off. I was able to coast over to the shoulder to safety until aaa came to tow me away. The car would not start back up. It turned on but couldn't start the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11084582, filed 2018-04, 38,175 miles2019: “The touch screen radio is ineffective when tuning to siriusxm. It just sits on updating and nothing else you press works. I have had multiple mechanics look at it, pulled fuses, resets and nothing fixes the issue. From research online it appears this has been an ongoing issue for years with Hyundai touch screens. They say there's nothing they can do, but I literally just bought the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11353282, filed 2020-09, 56 miles2017: “While vehicle is in motion at various speeds with cruise control engaged climbing up on hilly or steeper grades the vehicle accelerates on the dash at nearly 100 percent power according to the hybrid tachometer. This increase in power surpasses well over the set cruise speed. From what I have noticed its 6-10 MPH climbing past my set speed. There is also a long delay in power restoration after coasting down hills. …”
NHTSA complaint #11192026, filed 2019-03, 16,400 milesOther Hyundai models
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1,349 complaintsHyundai Veloster
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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