What breaks most · 2011 to 2026 model years
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problems by year
Owners have filed 785 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid across model years 2011 to 2026. Three years stand out: 2012 for engine complaints, 2016 for engine complaints and 2013 for engine complaints. The quietest years are 2019, 2018 and 2024.
- Years to check closely: 2012, 2016, 2013
- Fewest complaints: 2019, 2018, 2024
- Complaints on file
- 7852011 to 2026, all trims
- Worst year
- 2012154 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 3724 fires · 35 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 74kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 34Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96 | 6 | 6 | Engine (40) | |
| 154 | 2 | 6 | Engine (67) | |
| 107 | 8 | 4 | Engine (40) | |
| 27 | 3 | 3 | Engine (11) | |
| 51 | 4 | 4 | Electrical system (23) | |
| 131 | 4 | 5 | Engine (72) | |
| 80 | 1 | 3 | Engine (45) | |
| 9 | 0 | 1 | Engine (5) | |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | Engine (2) | |
| 16 | 1 | 1 | Engine (8) | |
| 53 | 1 | 0 | Electrical system (25) | |
| 19 | 0 | 0 | Electrical system (11) | |
| 15 | 3 | 0 | Engine (7) | |
| 9 | 0 | 0 | Speed control and throttle (2) | |
| 11 | 1 | 0 | Electrical system (4) | |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | Forward collision system (1) |
What fails on the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 44% |
67 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 19% |
30 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 15% |
23 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid |
| Unknown or other | 10% |
15 | 0 | — |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 8% |
13 | 0 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid |
| BrakesBrake pads, rotors and calipers | 8% |
12 | 1 | Shop brakes parts for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid |
| Brakes (hydraulic)Brake pads, rotors and calipers | 8% |
12 | 0 | Shop brakes (hydraulic) parts for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 6% |
10 | 0 | Shop steering parts for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
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Suddenly gave warning while driving not drive hybrid system failure. Please call me at [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
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My check Hybrid system light comes on and then my car stops allowing me to drive , the gas stops working ! This happened 3 times on the highway very dangerous
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While driving and using the accelerator , the rpm would rev up but the car would not move. The car would then jerk back and forth. Only able to go approximately 10 miles per hour, but the rpm would go as high as 6k or 7k rpm. Dangerous to drive. When idle, also felt rpm go up and jerking motion.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Hyundai Sonata Hybrid years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2012, 2016, 2013 carry the most filings on the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The 2012 alone has 154 complaints, led by engine.
What is the most common Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problem?
On the 2012 model year, the most-reported component is engine with 67 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Hyundai Sonata Hybrid complaints that include mileage is about 74,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.