2015 Hyundai Sonata problems
The Hyundai Sonata (Korean: 현대 쏘나타) is a mid-size car that has been manufactured by Hyundai since 1985. The first generation Sonata, which was introduced in 1985, was a facelifted version of the Hyundai Stellar with an engine upgrade, and was withdrawn from the market in two years due to poor customer reaction. While the nameplate was originally only sold in South Korea, the second generation of 1988 was widely exported.
The Sonata is currently manufactured in South Korea where their headquarters are located, China and Pakistan. It was named after the musical term, sonata.
First generation (Y1; 1985)
The first Sonata was introduced to compete with the Daewoo Royale series and was a more luxurious version of the Stellar. It included cruise control, power seats, head lamp washers, power brakes, electric operated adjustable side mirrors and chrome bumper trims. The Sonata was available with two trim options in Korea: Luxury and Super (the latter only available with a 2.0-liter engine). In the domestic market Hyundai attempted to sell the Sonata as an executive car using catchphrases like "Luxury car for VIP"; however, as the Sonata was based on the Stellar without any major changes, it was seen by the public as no more than a luxury version of the Stellar. In 1987 Hyundai added two tone color schemes and a trip computer option, but sales soon went down and the car was discontinued in December of that year. The Sonata was sold only in the South Korean domestic market. The vehicle was unveiled in South Korea on 4 November 1985.
Engine choices included 1.6-liter Mitsubishi Saturn (only available outside the domestic market), 1.8- and 2.0-liter Mitsubishi Sirius inline-fours. The latter unit also found its way into the 1987 and later Stellar, and in MPI form the 1986 Hyundai Grandeur. The body was a largely unchanged Hyundai Stellar.
It was sold in New Zealand (right hand drive) with the 1.6-liter Mitsubishi engine with the five-speed manual gearbox; an automatic transmission was an optional extra. The original importer was a unit of the Auckland-based Giltrap Motor Group.
The final version of the Stellar was known as the Stellar 88 and was launched to celebrate the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. Afterwards, Hyundai discontinued the Stellar and replaced it with the all-new Sonata.
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Common 2015 Hyundai Sonata problems
The 2015 Hyundai Sonata has been associated with several common problems based on complaints from owners, which have led to numerous recalls and investigations. One major issue is the faulty throttle control system, which has caused stalling, hesitation, and unintended acceleration in the vehicle.
Another significant problem with the 2015 Hyundai Sonata is related to recalls and complaints about the braking system, specifically the electronic parking brake. The NHTSA has received 59 complaints about the braking system, with many owners reporting issues with the recalled electronic parking brake. The primary concern is that the dash light does not indicate when the parking brake is engaged, leading to uncertainty about whether the parking brake is actually engaged. The culprit has been identified as a corroded parking brake switch, which the manufacturer will replace free of charge for affected owners.
Electronic power steering failure is another issue that has affected the 2015 Hyundai Sonata. This problem, which resulted in a recall of 2,138 units, is caused by a poor connection within the vehicle's wiring harness. This issue can lead to a reduction of steering assist from the Sonata's motor-driven power steering system or the inability to move the car's shifter from the Park position, increasing the risk of accidents.
The powertrain, while not inherently problematic, has faced issues due to the throttle control system. The engines and transmissions themselves are generally fine, but the throttle control system has caused engine hesitation, unintended acceleration, stalling, and fluctuating RPMs. Many reports also mention excessive oil consumption and check engine lights. One owner mentioned having their ECU reprogrammed to fix the issue, only to have the problem return shortly after.
In summary, the 2015 Hyundai Sonata has been plagued with several significant issues, including a faulty throttle control system, airbag malfunctions, electronic parking brake problems, and electronic power steering failure. These problems have led to numerous recalls, investigations, and complaints, making the 2015 model year a problematic one for the Hyundai Sonata.
What is the problem with 2015 Hyundai Sonata?
By far, the most pervasive problem in the 2015 Sonata is its powertrain. While the engines and transmissions themselves are fine, the throttle control system is wreaking havoc. Over 300 complaints detail issues with engine hesitation, unintended acceleration, stalling, and wildly fluctuating rpms.
Is the 2015 Hyundai Sonata a good used car?
Freshly fortified to face its foes, the Edmunds "A" rated 2015 Hyundai Sonata should be on your must-drive list if you're in the market for a well-rounded midsize sedan. It's also one of our top recommended cars in our 2015 Sedan Buying Guide.
What is the common problem of Hyundai Sonata?
Old and new Sonata model years had similar issues with their timing chain tensioner, which produced rattling noises upon engine startup. Many owners also reported a broken timing belt, which damaged the crankshaft position sensor.
What is the axle problem on a 2015 Hyundai Sonata?
Summary: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 1.6 liter model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured August 29, 2014, to October 28, 2014. The affected vehicles may have been assembled with an incorrect left axle shaft which may result in the shaft separating from the transaxle differential.
2015 Hyundai Sonata car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Hyundai Sonata problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Electrical system problems
- Power train problems
- Steering problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2015 Hyundai Sonata vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 2015 Hyundai Sonata
The NHTSA has received 969 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2015 Hyundai Sonata. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 2015 Hyundai Sonata vehicles.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-10-20
- VIN: 5NPE34ABXFH
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: My cars' dashboard started cracking after about 3 years of ownership (purchased new), which we though was weird. It is almost 10 years old now and the dashboard has cracked all over. I have taken it to the dealership for recalls and repairs and was told that it was a common problem for these cars, which I'm surprised that it has not been recalled. They said that they would report it but I'm not sure. We have owned more than a dozen cars and we have never seen that happen to a car so early on. I'm not sure if it poses any dangers with air bags or other functions, other than visual defect. I'm just trying to get it reported. I also emailed Hyundai.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-19
- VIN: 5NPE34AFXFH
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: My Hyundai sonata is burning oil internally from the engine
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-22
- VIN: 5NPE34AF6FH
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Engine not holding pressure. Week of September 22, 2024. Had to have car towed either [XXX] or [XXX] by Champion Towing to Columbus Hyundai. Spoke with Rodney Cockrell. Engine not holding pressure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-05
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 5NPE34AF4FH
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: I was driving down the street I went to show down by hitting my brakes they wouldn't slow down the vehicle then the car caught fire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-02
- VIN: 5NPE34AF5FH
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: To whom it may concern, I was driving on the highway with my sunroof down as the weather was nice. I started to hear a flapping sound and got off at the next exit. I tried to close the sunroof but it would not close. It looked like the windshield thing for the sunroof detached on the passenger side and blocking it. A minute after I started to drive the sunroof panel detached and flew off my car. It shattered on the street in front of another car that was driving behind me. This car had to swerve to miss being hit. I immediately called the Hyundai dealership crying and the women promised me a manager would call me back. I told the lady I dont know what to do. Do I call the police because a 30-pound glass panel is shattered on the street? Do I call my insurance? She said she would have the sales manager and service manager call me back. I was so shaken and scared from the event I called out the rest of the day from work. I had to uber my son home from school because I was nervous to drive the car. If I didnt get off the next exit; would my sunroof have flown off and caused a car accident? It was really scary to see the panel fly off like paper and almost hit another car. That I could have cause another person to have an accident and they couldve gotten hurt. The whole thing is just crazy to me. I did not get a call back from hyundai yesterday. I will try to reach them today. I will uber my son to school this morning as one of the pieces is sticking out and still flapping. When I looked up the recall on my car for this; I could not believe that the hyundai fix is super glue? This car really is glued together.... Thank you to listening to my concern and you can reach me anytime at [XXX] . Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-06-14
- VIN: 5NPE34AB5FH
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Engine turned off running. Car was at Hyundai Dealer, Puerto Rico for 5 months. The car belongs to campaign lots 21-01-066H and 19-01-006H-2, which establishes alternative transportation service, or rental car coverage, the transportation service was denied. In addition, Hyundai PR did not provide me with a warranty period for the new or remanufactured engine, fuel pump and starter. A complaint was filed with DACO (government agency) and it was found in favor of the defendants Hyundai de PR and Sojitz (Cataño, PR) since they did not issue documentation reporting that it was covered under the campaign, they argue that it was as a courtesy (good will) which they also did not present evidence of. After repaired (200 miles) the car presented low voltage, code P0234-P0236 overboost condition, the unit was verified presenting broken cables from one tail of the map sensor. I incurred transportation and crane expenses, and the repair of the cables, and the replacement of the map sensor.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-01
- VIN: 5NPE24AF7FH
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
- Summary: The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the ABS and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the ABS module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 84,107.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-08
- VIN: 5NPE34AB0FH
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
- Summary: I took the car for 4 recalls it had 2 of which were physical and the other two were software according to them. Took the car back to drop someone off, turned it off and then on; it began losing and breaking on its own at slow rpm’s slamming on the breaks. a minute later after having turned the corner I turned on my hazards and it had continued to randomly happen to the car. It is not consistent it is completely random and I have had a mechanic only inspect it while it happened once because I’ve only been able to have it happen while being inspected out of luck . I’ve gotten several error codes to the car since from p04 misfires. Evap leaks etc. the car was in pitch perfect condition and after that day it has since stopped working properly . I have photos of the mechanics that day even leaving food in the back of my car as if they just relaxed and didn’t do their job as professional as it could’ve have been . They denied anything is wrong with the car and have offered me discounted inspections after claiming nothing was wrong they gave me one free inspection and I haven’t gone back . My engine or censors are messed up. It puts my health and others at safety because it slams on the breaks unknowingly and randomly at low RPMs. The manufacturer has inspected my car and claimed it was okay although they unprofessionally left food and ate breakfast and left trash in the back. (With photo proof) . Last there was NO issues whatsoever with my car until that day. Never had a misfire . Never had a engine light . Never had a popped tire . It all began they DAY I got my car back not even an hour later. I could not return that day because it was near closing time of the dealership and the day after I went they denied it has been tampered. This happened around the beginning of July 1-8th 2023.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-10
- VIN: 5NPE34AF0FH
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The vehicle experienced an engine failure with minimal warning. While driving 35-50 miles per hour, I experienced a loss of power upon acceleration. Within 1 mile of the trouble starting the check engine light came on. I was able to drive less than 5 more miles before the engine completely stalled and would not restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent service center, where I was informed the engine needed to be replaced. It was then towed to my home and is still there, without repairs.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-09
- VIN: 5NPE24AF9FH
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, the engine replacement request was denied. The failure mileage was approximately 140,829.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-07
- VIN: KMHEC4A41FA
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: Hybrid system failure leading to complete power loss while driving.
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-06
- VIN: 5NPE24AFXFH
- Components: POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
- Summary: My transmission literally went out once on me the SECOND DAY after I financed it. Now, less than a year later, it says I need to replace the transmission again. This is ridiculous.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-01
- VIN: 5NPE24AF0FH
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
- Summary: The air bag sensor located in the front passenger seat does not function. It is available for inspection upon request. Because the sensor doesn't engage, the passenger-side air bag will not deploy in the event of an accident, leaving my passenger at risk of serious injury or death. The Hyundai of Cool Springs dealership in Franklin, TN, has inspected the car and confirmed that the sensor is not functioning. The sensor, if properly working, will show a glowing red light on the dashboard that goes on when a passenger sits in the passenger seat, and goes off after a few seconds. In the case of my car, however, the dashboard light goes on when a passenger sits and stays on (glowing red) the entire time the passenger is seated. This defective dashboard light, according to the Hyundai service technician, indicates that the sensor needs to be replaced. The cost the technician quoted is prohibitive at $3,500.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-06
- VIN: 5NPE34AB2FH
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: The wrong turn signal lights up. I know there is a recall for this but my vehicle does not come up when I search for affected vehicles.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-29
- VIN: 5NPE34AB4FH
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated after having the oil changed. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic and the contact was informed there was no oil in the engine. The contact had paid for a better grade of oil in the vehicle. The mechanic inspected the engine and could not find any failure. After having the oil changed the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to another mechanic approximately 3 weeks later who was unable to find any failure with the engine. The mechanic had reset the sensor. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was returned to the mechanic who reset the sensor again. After having the vehicle serviced, while driving approximately 50 MPH, the warning light illuminated again, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the mechanic and the contact was informed that the O2 sensor had failed causing the engine to seize. The vehicle had not been repaired. The dealer had been contacted, and the contact was informed that the vehicle had a Salvaged Title and there would be no assistance provided. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 97,000.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-29
- VIN: 5NPE34AF4FH
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: I have been driving at night about 3 times now and my headlights have gone off on their own and come back on after about 10 seconds. This has happened on countless other Hyundai drivers vehicles and needs to be investigated.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-06-17
- VIN: 5NPE34AF4FH
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: My vehicle has an oil consumption problem despite the fact that my car has been excluded from the class action lawsuit. I’ve had it in the shop and they have confirmed the oil consumption issues. There are countless other vehicles excluded from the class action lawsuit that have the same theta engine as the other vehicles that were included in the lawsuit. This needs to be investigated. I still owe over 6k on my car and it’s one trip away from being completely undriveable
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-01-01
- VIN: 5NPE34AB9FH
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The contact's husband owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for an oil change, the contact was informed that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption and that it was a known failure. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 73-74 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rod bearing had caused engine failure. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact the failure was due to a factory defect and would reoccur even after the engine replacement. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the same assessment was made. The dealer filed a claim with the manufacturer and sent a diagnostic report with pictures of the failure; however, the manufacturer denied the claim several times. The contact stated that the engine was previously replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,550.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-05
- VIN: 5NPE24AF2FH
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Was driving on the access road... Luckily .... When I lost all power. Turned off my car and wouldn't restart. Had it towed , 1 month later and $7500 had to get a rebuilt engine. Which now I'm having 100s of issues. Love my car but this is literally stressing me out. Bought the car 2 months before this all happened
STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-02-02
- VIN: 5NPE34AF6FH
- Components: STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: I purchased a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. Two years ago, I'm having issues with my car paint peeling off in the hood, roof and trunk. Many times I when to the dealer to ask them about the recall, and they state that there is nothing they can do since they did not have anything registered for a paint peeling recall. My car day by day is getting worse and I need help for this issue to be fix.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-08-09
- VIN: 5NPE34AB8FH
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: Vehicle has manufacturer defect paint started to peel
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-01
- VIN: 5NPE24AF0FH
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the front passenger’s side seat air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and it was determined that the front passenger’s seat air bag sensor was faulty. The contact was informed that the front passenger’s seat sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-27
- VIN: 5NPE24AF0FH
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: My 2015 Hyundai Sonata with Quartz White Pearl paint continues to peel off my car and cause me to swerve thinking that there is something coming at my car like a bird due to the paint peeling so fast. This is also a concern for drivers behind me as my roof pain is peeling and may fly into their line of sight/vision which could potentially cause an accident.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-22
- VIN: 5NPE34AF4FH
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: I was driving on the highway and my engine violently started to shake and I pulled onto the shoulder and the engine shut off. I’ve had oil leak and engine problems with this car for 2 and a half out of 3 years! I’ve had to buy countless gallons of oil. Multiple spark plugs, coil packs, etc. You can’t drive the car for one whole minute without it stalling in traffic and almost causing accidents. So I can’t drive it!
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-21
- VIN: 5NPE34AF9FH
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel and the contact observed that the steering wheel had become very difficult to turn. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that before the power steering failure, the engine had been replaced by a dealer. The contact pulled over, turned off, and restarted the vehicle, and the power steering functionality returned. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent and occurred at various speeds. The contact took the vehicle back to the same dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
2015 Hyundai Sonata recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 9 recalls for different components of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata.
- Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
- Summary: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Sonata, 2016-2017 Sonata Hybrid, and Sonata Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The Smart Junction Box (SJB) software logic may not properly interpret the signals received from the multifunction switch, which could cause the turn signal to activate in the opposite direction of what the driver intended.
- Consequence: A turn signal that activates in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will update the SJB software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 210.
- Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
- Components: PARKING BRAKE:INDICATOR LIGHT
- Summary: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Sonata and Genesis vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the warning light to indicate that the parking brake is applied may intermittently not illuminate in the dash due to corrosion in the switch.
- Consequence: If the parking brake indicator is not illuminated when the parking brake is applied, the driver may operate the vehicle with the parking brake partially engaged, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the parking brake switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 164.
- Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
- Components: VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
- Summary: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles manufactured December 8, 2014, to August 18, 2015, and Hyundai Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to March 18, 2016, equipped with the panoramic sunroof option. Due to a bonding issue with the sunroof wind deflector, the sunroof panel on the affected vehicles may detach while driving.
- Consequence: If the sunroof detaches from the vehicle it could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair the wind deflector anchor plate, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 152.
- Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
- Summary: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 29, 2014 to February 11, 2016, 2017 Elantra vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016 to February 22, 2016, and one 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicle manufactured October 15, 2015. In these vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may be missing a chemical enhancer required for the second stage air bag deployment, resulting in the second stage not deploying in certain crashes. The primary stage will deploy as intended.
- Consequence: An air bag that does not inflate increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 5,2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 144.
- Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
- Summary: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to August 21, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with an Antilock Braking System (ABS) warning light intended to warn the driver if there is an ABS malfunction. In the event of an ABS malfunction, the Brake System warning light will illuminate, but the ABS warning light will not illuminate. Since the vehicles have ABS malfunction lights that do not illuminate, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
- Consequence: If the driver is alerted there is a brake system malfunction, but not specifically with the ABS system, the driver may operate the vehicle unaware that the vehicle's brakes may lock up during hard braking, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 134.
- Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
- Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
- Summary: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured April 25, 2014, to December 4, 2014. The affected vehicles have a front passenger seat belt whose buckle latch assembly may prevent the front passenger from fastening the seat belt.
- Consequence: If the front passenger seat belt cannot be latched, an occupant sitting in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the front passenger seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 130.
- Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
- Components: POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
- Summary: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 1.6 liter model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured August 29, 2014, to October 28, 2014. The affected vehicles may have been assembled with an incorrect left axle shaft which may result in the shaft separating from the transaxle differential.
- Consequence: If the left axle shaft separates from the transaxle, the vehicle may stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, a separated axle shaft may allow the vehicle to roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
- Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, dealers will inspect and replace the axle shaft, as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 126.
- Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor Company
- Park It: 1
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
- Summary: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured April 25, 2014, through June 16, 2014. Due to a manufacturing error, one or both of the front brake calipers may fracture.
- Consequence: If a brake caliper fractures, brake effectiveness would be reduced, lengthening to distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Hyundai contacted the affected owners on June 19, 2014 and instructed them not to drive their vehicles. Hyundai dealers will replace the affected brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 120.
- Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor Company
- Park It: 1
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 2, 2014, through May 23, 2014. A poor connection within the vehicle's wiring harness may result in a reduction of steering assist from the vehicle's motor driven power steering system or the inability to move the vehicle's shifter from the Park position.
- Consequence: The reduction of power steering assist can increase the steering effort needed, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Hyundai notified dealers to suspend sales of affected Sonata vehicles and has published recall bulletin 14-01-024 providing a service procedure to repair the affected vehicles. On June 7, 2014 Hyundai began to contact the affected retail customers. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 119.
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Positive 2015 Hyundai Sonata car reviews
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This car has a lot of great features. The ECO model takes inspiration from the Mercedes CLA 250, which I also own, and has a similar trunk lid design. The car is well-designed and executed, with plenty of common sense and standard options. It has an 8-way automatic driver seat and a quiet drive, with a lot of torque available from 1500 rpm to 5K RPM. The car also has good fuel economy and takes regular gas. The standard Michelin Energy tires are a nice touch, and the dual scroll turbos ensure no noticeable turbo lag. The 7-speed dual clutch auto tranny is smooth and fast shifting, making it a great ride. The telematics package is also excellent, with seamless iPhone and Android integration. However, there are a few cons to consider. The turbo is not covered under the 100K powertrain warranty, which may be a concern for those who plan to keep the car after the b2b warranty. The car is also a bit underpowered and lacks a spare tire. More frequent oil changes are needed, and the turbo engine requires fully synthetic oil. The BSD side mirror is not standard on the ECO, and the lumbar support is not height adjustable. Service-wise, Hyundai is trying to bundle a long list of inspections with oil changes, which can be expensive. Overall, the ECO Sonata is a great car with plenty of features to offer.Hyundai wants you to have your service done at the dealer and charges high fees by bundling a long list of checks and inspections. They make it sound like they are doing all this work to justify charging you a couple of hundred dollars for an oil change. For instance, they will change your wiper blades for three times what it would cost you to do it yourself. If you buy into the concept, you can get some discount off their maintenance. While you are at the dealer, you may want to peruse their service leaflet. Personally, I do all my own maintenance, following the user's manual recommended service intervals and items, keeping detailed logs and receipts. Don't be intimidated by a salesperson telling you that they will not honor the warranty unless you opt into their maintenance program. By law, they cannot force you to do your maintenance there. Update: I had a failed battery at 5K. The dealer service was not up to the mark. They admitted the battery was bad as they could see it draining down to nothing in 24 hours with no load on it. But they insisted the battery was fine, as their tester did not show a problem. They kept looking for a parasitic drain, despite the fact that there was not one when monitoring the two battery terminals. They kept the car for a week and wanted to give it back unfixed (no loaner) but ended up replacing the battery in the end after I yelled at them. Two things I dislike about the car: the jack point markers cannot be seen unless you kneel down and bend way down to look for them. When you need to change tires in the rain, this is needlessly painful. It is hard to get at the drain plug and oil filter. You have to remove a panel with a bunch of bolts to get at them.
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The car never ceases to amaze me with how little gas it uses. Although there are two weak points that I have addressed. The factory tires are not good, so I replaced them with Pirelli P7. The car used to wander left and right on all roads with any crown or groove, but this was fixed with a bolt-on strut tower brace that cost about $200 and is a simple 5-minute installation. With those two changes, the car went from okay to very good. When you take a test drive, make sure it is long enough with various road surfaces and speeds, as these items may not be a bother to you. One other thing to note is that the road noise is much louder than a Chevy Malibu and many other new cars today. Overall, this may be the best all-around car I have ever had.
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I'm currently 27 months into my 36 month lease and I have to say, I have zero complaints about my Sonata. The fuel economy is still excellent and I've had no mechanical issues. I've had the standard scheduled maintenance performed and everything is running smoothly. Although there was a recall issued for the Parking Brake Switch, I didn't have any issues or notice anything affecting the performance of my silver baby before having the recall work performed. One of the main reasons I leased the Sonata was because of its roominess. I often have 3 kids with me, my growing nieces and nephew, and they all fit easily in the back seat even though they are still in booster seats. As they grow and age out of the boosters, there will still be plenty of room. With less than a year left on my lease, I'm starting to consider whether I'll keep it and buy the lease out, or move into the 2018 model. The 2018 model looks amazing and if it performs as well as my 2015 has, I'll be very happy. I'm hoping the remainder of my lease is as problem-free as it has been up to now. If anyone is considering the Sonata, I highly recommend it.
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As a car enthusiast with many years of experience owning various cars, I can confidently say that I really enjoy driving this Sonata. The design is great, the ride is comfortable, and the steering is smooth and effortless. The engine is quiet yet moderately powerful, and the HVAC performs flawlessly. I particularly appreciate the stop-neutral feature, which makes driving even more enjoyable. The engine idles smoothly and the transmission shifts perfectly. The tire and rim sizes are perfect, and the interior visibility is good (with the exception of the rear window, which I use blind spot mirrors for). When braking, I love that the transmission gears down, making it easy to come to a stop. While there are some cons, such as the plastic components bolted onto the hot metal engine and the body roll when cornering, these are to be expected with most mid-class mid-size sedans. Overall, this is still a great car that I highly recommend. Just be careful not to use the mode selector to switch between Eco, sport, etc., as this can cause the VCMA to fail.
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Congratulations on your new car! It's great to hear that you're enjoying the smooth ride of your 2015 Sonata, even if it's not a sports car. The exterior design may be more conventional, but the lack of outside noise is a huge plus. The interior sounds spacious and comfortable, and it's impressive that you're getting 39 MPG on your trips. It's a shame that you had to make a couple of trips to the dealer, but it's good to hear that the issue with the rear window defogger switch was fixed. I understand that the storage room in the middle console area could be better, but overall it sounds like you're happy with your purchase!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2015 Hyundai Sonata problems:
Top 5 Problems Hyundai Sonata Sedan 7th Generation 2015-20 ...
Nov 15, 2020 ... 0:00 Top Problems Hyundai Sonata 7th Gen 2015-20 · 0:18 Steering Wheel Air Bag · 1:15 Steering Column Worm Gear · 2:04 Timing Chain Tensioner · 3:29 ...
2015 Hyundai Sonata Problems and Complaints - 7 Issues
Problem with your 2015 Hyundai Sonata? Our list of 7 known complaints reported by owners can help you fix your 2015 Hyundai Sonata.
2015-2019 Hyundai Sonata Common issues and inspection ...
Mar 19, 2022 ... We go over and inspect a 2018 Hyundai Sonata belonging to a good customer of mine!
2015 Hyundai Sonata Problems | Kelley Blue Book
How reliable is the 2015 Hyundai Sonata? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 months.
Concerns about my Hyundai 2015 Sonata Sport : r/sonata
Jun 9, 2022 ... My 2015 Sonata has been basically trouble free. It has been a very enjoyable car for me. I am really disheartened by all the issues that ...
Other years of Hyundai Sonata
Are you having problems with your 2015 Hyundai Sonata?
Salvatore Kunde 2025-08-13
Before purchasing a Hyundai Sonata, it may be helpful to research any ongoing class action lawsuits. Unfortunately, my 2015 vehicle experienced engine failure after only 2 years and less than 55,000 miles. Despite still being under warranty, I have encountered difficulties with both Hyundai and the dealership. It's important to be aware of these potential issues before making a purchase.
Lamont Homenick 2025-08-10
The turbo has caused issues three times in the past three years. On the first two occasions, the engine lost power due to turbo failure. On the third occasion, the oil line from the engine to the turbo is leaking oil. Despite having only a little over 64,000 miles on the car, Hyundai has refused to cover the repair under their extended power train warranty.
Sterling Bernhard 2025-06-12
I purchased a 2015 Sonata Sports in July 2015 and unfortunately, the driver's seat leather color has started to come off, turning grey and looking worn. I reached out to Hyundai's consumer department and the dealership to address the issue, but they explained that it's a result of normal wear and tear from getting in and out of the vehicle. While I understand that this can happen, I am disappointed that it has occurred so quickly and that the warranty does not cover this issue. I have owned other cars with leather seats and have never experienced this problem, even after 10 years of use. I hope that Hyundai can find a solution to this issue and stand behind their products. Despite this setback, I still appreciate the other features of the Sonata Sports and will continue to enjoy driving it.
Erick Jerde 2025-03-20
When we were deciding between the Sonata and the Accord, the Sonata's price and warranty made it an easy choice. At first, we were impressed with the vehicle, despite the road noise that we didn't notice during the purchase. However, we soon encountered some issues. Within a few months, we had to take it to the dealership multiple times to fix various features such as the heated seats, automatic breaking, BSD system, heated steering wheel, traction control, TPM system, and more. While the vehicle is comparable to others in its class, we did notice a sacrifice in quality. We thought the warranty would cover us, and it still does, but constantly taking it to the dealership became a hassle. We now have some issues that we just leave because it's not worth the time without the vehicle. The current issues include the backup camera taking almost ten seconds to turn on when you put it in reverse, the automatic mirror tilt not always working, a I totally understand where you're coming from. Maybe next time we could consider paying a bit extra for the Accord.
Louvenia Erdman 2024-11-24
The car is comfortable, quiet, and handles well. However, I did experience some issues with the shifter knob coating peeling off, the passenger door handle falling off suddenly, and the phone controls not working properly. Although it took the dealer over two weeks to order the necessary parts and fix the issues, they did acknowledge the problem with the phone controls. Despite these setbacks, the car still gives a feeling of quality. The only downside is that the acceleration is not as strong as other cars I have owned with similar engine sizes.