8.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
31,200 miles
Total Complaints:
4 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
  2. replace transmission (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Hyundai dealer.

problem #4

May 232016

Sonata Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,642 miles

Car jerks when the transition goes from electric engine to gas engine, and when braking.

- jfpcreations, Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, QC, Canada

problem #3

Oct 052016

Sonata Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,000 miles

This has happened frequently since I purchased the car. Not only is it dangerous, it is super annoying as well.

- Stephany P., Kill Devil Hills, NC, US

problem #2

Oct 132014

Sonata Hybrid Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,000 miles

I have been dealing with the same issue just about every day for the past 6 months and despite going to a dealer-they can't find anything. In the morning when I am pulling out of the driveway, the car engine always feels really sticky and grabby. I usually pull out the car and then switch gears several times when going from reverse to drive to help reduce the tension. Despite doing this, the car gets really grabby and violently jerks back and forth when I start speeding up from 0 mph to 20 mph. This is always during the time the car goes from EV / Battery mode to regular engine mode. The jerk can be so violent that it whips me back and forth in the car. A few months ago-it even led me to hitting the gate to my apartment building garage, which is why I am determined to find a solution.

Aside from the mornings, I also get the jerking when the car has been sitting for a long time (8+ hours) at work and I pull out at the end of the day. Typically the car will jerk when making wide left hand turns across the lanes. It will also jerk (like it did twice today) when accelerating after a red light. I noticed that after I have driven around for awhile, the car does not jerk as much. The other issue is unless I press the brake a very particular way-the car is very grabby when stopping. Overall, it feels like the car is having trouble deciding to go from battery to regular engine mode. There has also been a few times where it does not accelerate appropriately and stops before it moves forward.

I have taken the car to a Hyundai dealer, but because this only happens when the car has been sitting for several hours and thus has a cold start-they can't replicate the problem and send me home because they can't find an issue. I bought this car used last year from Commerce Hyundai so I also have a hard time believing they didn’t know about the issue.

It feels like a VERY unsafe issue and I am very worried about it jerking and getting into an accident again, but with other cars or people involved.

- bella h., Playa Del Rey, CA, US

problem #1

Feb 282012

Sonata Hybrid Premium 4 cyl Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles

Trans computer cannot make up its mind to engage or disengage and create a 'power loss' or acceleration loss. The car then bucks and clunks for a few seconds until it figures out what its going to do. Happens mostly in Blue Drive mode, low engine temps and when going down hill. Sometimes the car will over rev and then catch making the car lurch forward or backward. When making left turns across traffic or accelerating from a stop on the emergency lane of a high speed highway, the car has failed to accelerate. DANGEROUS. Hyudai just tells me the vehicle is in tolerance and cant replicate while driving around the dealership. To be fair, I have driven with mechanics and cant get to replicate. However, this problems exists 99% of the time on morning startups. When the engine is warm, it happens infrequently but when you have a vehicle coming at you at 70 mph and the car fails to accelerate quickly when pulling onto a highway, its discomforting to say the lease.

- madasheck, Herndon, VA, US