What breaks most · 2011 to 2018 model years
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problems by year
Owners have filed 350 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid across model years 2011 to 2018. One year stands out: 2012 for engine complaints. The quietest years are 2014, 2015 and 2016.
- Years to check closely: 2012
- Fewest complaints: 2014, 2015, 2016
- Complaints on file
- 3502011 to 2018, all trims
- Worst year
- 2012103 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 229 fires · 21 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 62kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 32Across 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 5 | 6 | Engine (27) | |
| 103 | 2 | 6 | Engine (41) | |
| 80 | 8 | 4 | Engine (26) | |
| 17 | 3 | 3 | Engine (9) | |
| 30 | 2 | 4 | Electrical system (13) | |
| 34 | 1 | 5 | Engine (9) | |
| 12 | 1 | 3 | Engine (6) | |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | Air bags (1) |
What fails on the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 40% |
41 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 20% |
21 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 20% |
21 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 12% |
12 | 0 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid |
| BrakesBrake pads, rotors and calipers | 10% |
10 | 1 | Shop brakes parts for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid |
| Unknown or other | 10% |
10 | 0 | — |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 8% |
8 | 0 | Shop steering parts for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 5% |
5 | 0 | Shop fuel system 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.
-
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).
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 30, 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 carries the most filings on the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The 2012 alone has 103 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 41 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 62,000 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.