The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 671 of 1,210 complaints (55%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more deaths (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 778 in 2014 to 1,210 in 2015.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,210
- Recall campaigns
- 12
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,700–$2,600
- Combined MPG
- 24–37
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | vs. 2015 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,700–2,400 | 1,700–2,600 | 1,700–2,600 | 1,500–2,600 | 1,500–2,600 | |
| Combined MPG | 26–37 | 24–37 | 24–37 | 24–41 | 24–42 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–35 / 33–38 | 21–35 / 31–38 | 21–35 / 30–38 | 21–39 / 30–42 | 21–39 / 30–45 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 242–342 | 242–361 | 242–365 | 221–365 | 221–365 | |
| Complaints filed | 2,026 | 778 | 1,210 | 889 | 882 | |
| Recalls issued | 11 | 8 | 12 | 9 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 101 | 32 | 38 | 23 | 29 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 102 | 41 | 51 | 31 | 15 | |
| Injuries reported | 86 | 38 | 38 | 20 | 12 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2015 Hyundai Sonata have?
12 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2015 Hyundai Sonata?
Engine: 671 of 1,210 NHTSA complaints (55%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2015 Hyundai Sonata get?
EPA rates it 24–37 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2015 Hyundai Sonata?
EPA estimates $1,700–$2,600 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (7)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 24 mpg | 36 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,200 | 312 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 24 mpg | 34 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,300 | 327 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AM6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 35 mpg (high) | 38 mpg (high) | 37 mpg (high) | $1,700 (low) | 242 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AM6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 35 mpg (high) | 38 mpg (high) | 37 mpg (high) | $1,700 (low) | 245 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 22 mpg | 31 mpg | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 347 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (AM7) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 28 mpg | 36 mpg | 31 mpg | $2,000 | 286 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 21 mpg (low) | 30 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $2,600 (high) | 365 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 671 | 4 | 39 | 10 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 142 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 91 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Electrical | 192 | 5 | 17 | 11 | 0 |
| Brakes | 105 | 13 | 7 | 11 | 0 |
| Steering | 75 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 35 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 46 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 2 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 78 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 67 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 64 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 176 | 5 | 13 | 5 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (12)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
- Consequence
- An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
- Defect
- 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.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE; SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrid vehicles previously repaired under recall campaign 17V-152. The seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.
- Consequence
- If the seat belt linkage detaches from the seat belt anchorage, it can not properly restrain the occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will again verify the connection between the seat belt linkage and the pretensioner and additionally install a warning label to prevent future seat belt linkage detachment, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 169.
PARKING BRAKE:INDICATOR LIGHT
- Defect
- 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.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash, if the seat belts detach from the anchor pretensioners, it can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners and dealers will inspect the connection between the seat belt linkages and the seat belt anchor pretensioners, repairing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 7, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for the recall is 160.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
- Defect
- 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
- Defect
- 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
- Defect
- 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.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
- Defect
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
- Defect
- 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.
Show 2 earlier campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
- Defect
- 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.
STEERING; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
- Defect
- 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.