10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 10 / 4
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 7 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 40,569 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The brake pedal stopper pad deteriorated, allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal was released. This kept my break lights on even when the car was turned off, which lead to issues with my accelerator randomly giving out while I was on the road, and my traction control forced off.
- Lafayette, LA, USA
On March 19th I was involved in wreck where the other driver was at fault. The lady t-boned me on my driver's side. Airbags never deployed so my head smashed Into the window leaving me with a concussionand spinal injury. My usually working horn failed as well. I would also like to mention that I have only had this car a year. I was also told it was never in a wreck and had 1 owner. Nope. A week after I got it, I was driving and my engine seized while I was doing 70mph. The steering stopped working, but somehow managed to pull off to the side. i had to stay in my car because of the busy highway. It was 100+ weather and my windows wouldn't work. I sat there for 2 hours. Took the car to a shop just to find out about the engine recall that I believe my car wasn't apart of, but should have been. Fought with Hyundai for them to fix it then lost my job because I was denied a loaner car while waiting. 2 months later they finally fix it. Now the breaks do a weird grinding thing a lot, my shifter slips out of place, the steering column wobbles, the engine is constantly making a disturbing noise and is sluggish, it has trouble shifting when accelerating. I have had the car rapidly accelerate instead of slow down when stopping at a stop sign or light. I only got it to stop after stomping the breaks repeatedly while throwing it in park and turning the car off all at the same time. Emergency break and traction control light come on a lot. It's throwing a high speed can bus code, but only sometimes. My gas mileage has went down to 16-18 mpg. Oil changes are necessary every month. AND my taillights burn out every 1 to 2 months. Now I have 4 traffic tickets. And that was all BEFORE the wreck. Hyundai refuses to call me back after they reluctantly fixed the first recall.
- Tyler, TX, USA
After the recent recall repairs, the car started to intermittently getting a message on the dashboard saying -??Hybrid System Warning - Safely stop and do not drive-?? and -??Check brakes-?? and the brake lights came on with a loud chiming beep, the car would stop accelerating and would not go beyond 10 mph, also the breaks would fail to apply correctly and made a loud screeching sound when applied. It used to do have this issue without any warning, while driving or stopped at the light, without any distinguishing pattern. However, it used to go away when the car was restarted multiple times. However now the message is on continuously and doesn-??t go away with the restarting the car. After taking to the dealership, they said that the repairs would cost $3000 as the Hydraulic Power Assembly unit has failed. After looking for the issue online, I have found that a lot of the 2011-14 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid have this same issue and seems to be a manufacturing defect. This is a huge life risk for the owners of this car since it can happen while on the freeway and pose a life threatening risk to their life. It is also a huge financial burden for the owners for a manufacturing defect. I would like you to investigate these issues and provide us with a appropriate solution.
- Dallas, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that upon depression of the brake pedal, an abnormal grinding noise would emit from the brake pedal without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where they found no fault with the vehicle. The contact had taken the vehicle back to the dealer on multiple occasions where software updates were performed and rotors were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact had also taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic and the driver-??s side rear brake caliper piston was replaced; however, the repair did not correct the failure. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
- Ware, MA, USA
I am experiencing the exact same issues described in a previous recall of 2006 to 2007 model affecting the brake lamp switch. My brake lamps remain illuminated after release of the brake pedal, and the ESC light illuminates on the dash
- Redlands, CA, USA
At 28,000 miles the ABH pressure sensor failed c1237 Hydraulic Power Unit. Dealership charged $2947.95 for the repair. $2141.55 just for the part. The brakes completely failed and the car required towing.
- Ponte Vedra Beach , FL, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the brake warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the brake lights were continually illuminated. The contact called the local dealer but, vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was concerned about a possible fire. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.
- Lumberton, TX, USA
The rear brake lights burned out can't replace the light because the wiring harness melted and y'all no longer sell replacement wiring harness at the store or dealership for my vehicle make and model I was told I would have to make a out of pocket costly repair to install a new model wiring harness. I keep getting pulled over by the cops cause I don't have break lights. Worse case someone could run into the back of me. This issue is a Hyundai issue. It's so many Hyundai sonata riding around without break lights. Please fix this issue.
- Owings Mills, MD, USA
After driving one day, I noticed the brake lights on without anybody in the car, they would not turn off whatever I tried. The next symptom was the traction control turned off and would not function via dashboard button. the next symptom was, while driving, cruise control turned on without myself doing so, set it's speed and maintained, I was approaching a 4 way stop and depressed the brake expecting cruise control to disengage, it did not, I pressed the brake again this time holding it down while the car continued to revv, the engine continuing to attempt to speed up while pressing the brake. The only thing stopping the car was the on and off button on the steering wheel. I finally came to a screeching halt half way into the intersection, the brakes were locked up and vehicle would not move, the dealership claims no responsibility in anything and blames it in fact on myself putting the wrong brake fluid into the vehicle. I had not put anything into the vehicle, the dealership was the last to touch it when they did a complete engine replacement in Jan 2021. Vehicle is currently in their possession and available for inspection. No warning lights came on and vehicle began to function normally after, and I have not driven it since. I do not feel safe any longer in the vehicle. Dealership wants me to pay for all new brakes, rotors, brake light switch and brake flush, all which I feel is dancing around the real issue of the brakes and the cruise control. This is a real serious safety issue to anyone with this same vehicle and the potential for a serious possibly fatal accident, dealership doesn't seem to think it's a serious issue, and instructed me to drive the vehicle home, I did not!!!!!
- Las Vegas, NV, USA
When driving the -??Check Brake-?? warning comes out and the brakes hit the tires allowing for minimal movement of the vehicle. Right after that, a -??Hybrid System Warning - Safely Stop and Do Not Drive-?? comes up. At times, The warnings will continue for days or hours and other times, imthey would just disappear. When bringing the car to the dealer they wouldn-??t be able to understand the issue as the warnings suddenly disappear and they would just start guess-repairing the car which can be extremely expensive for us the consumers
- Miami, FL, USA
I was driving on the freeway and I put my foot on the gas to accelerate and my car would not go. It had no power. It is intermittent. I can be driving and it is fine then all of a sudden it won-??t go more then 30 mph. My brake lights are always going out. Now my break lights won-??t turn off.
- Norwalk, CA, USA
I was driving on the Highway and my vehicle started blinking with all of the check lights going off and it stated -??hybrid system warning stop and pull over immediately-??. The car seemed to continue to jerk with the gas than the brakes went off. My steering wheel would not allow my to turn and I was very close to getting into an accident. My 6 month old baby was in the car and I feared for both of our lives. Every time I turn the car on it states the same thing... please help
- Kihei , HI, USA
Brake pedal went to the floor with grinding noise. Car would not accelerate.
- Houston, TX, USA
Stopped at a stoplight with the engine running, gear in drive and the brake depressed, but the engine started to rev and lurch forward--with my foot still on the brake. Moved forward a couple of feet with my foot still on the foot brake but finally came to a stop on its own.
- Lexington Park, MD, USA
A warning keeps happening with no codes it says to check brakes and pull over I can only go about 15 miles an hour and the brakes pedal has a weird grinding noise like it's something to do with the ABS system it is very scary and it does it intermittently
- Orlando, FL, USA
The vehicle slows down on its own and will not allow me to rev up even when pressing the gas pedal down. Also the light for traction control turns on and the brake lights stay on all day and all night whether the car is on or off.
- Palm Bay, FL, USA
For 6 months I have received emergency notification "hybrid system warning! safely stop and do not drive" also "check brakes" most recently the warning lights came on while driving 65mph and the car lost all power. Most often this occurs when the car is parked. The dealership has looked at it twice. The first time they replaced the battery to resolve the issue. The second time they were "unable to replicate the problem" and said there was nothing they could do to fix the problem. As the car lost power while on a major highway I feel it is unsafe to drive. When the warning lights are on the brakes must be fully pressed down to engage. I filed a case with Hyundai but have received no response in two weeks
- Oakland Park, FL, USA
The catalyst conversion is not working right I have change it and it still have gas smells come into the car.
- Oxford, MS, USA
Could not start car parked in the garage, and fault drained battery. Warning lights said do not operate car hybrid system not functioning. Have car towed. Also had brake waring light light up on dash. Had to have car towed. Good thing this did not happen when driving but when trying to start the car. Dealer reported that ABS module failed. 57,200 miles on vehicle. Repair cost estimate is over $3,200.
- Valparaiso, IN, USA
- Tracy, CA, USA