This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
While driving the car on the freeway, it will jerk forward and then shortly after lose power. The car shows the battery as being barely charged. I pull over (luckily haven't been killed yet) on the side of the freeway. Let the car sit for a few minutes, restart it and the battery is half full and the car is driveable. I've read online that this is a common issue with 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrids. I've taken my car to a Hyundai dealership twice, and they can't find anything wrong, diagnostics show its fine. The second time I took it in they replaced the battery located in my trunk for $485. That did nothing, as the car is still randomly shutting off, and most times in the most dangerous areas of the road. I don't think Hyundai will do anything about this until numerous people are killed. Forgot to mention that sometimes when it shuts down the check oil light comes on. I've had the oil replaced and the oil sensor, so thats not the issue.
Yesterday the car drove fine untill about an hour before I went home. Then it started with the bumping/jerking when switching from electric to gas. Worse than it has ever been. Then the revving started, more than usual, and wouldn't accelerate. Then it was like the throttle stuck. Got the revving noice, but the eco wasn't burried at red, for about 1/4 mile before I was able to pull over into a parking lot. Shut off the car. Restarted and drove 1 mile to home. Revved a few times in that period.
After I exited the freeway while traveling to my mothers on thanksgiving day I was stopped at a light to turn left onto a street and when I tried to go the car would not move I had to push the gas peddle all the way down and when it finally went it jumped/jerked really bad which almost caused me to hit the car in front of me and after that it was going really slow. 2 days prior the car was lagging while slowing down to break seemed like the system wasn't reading that I want to slow down and stop which again almost caused me to have an accident. This car is a safety hazard and I only have 61,000 miles and I only had the car for 9 months. I was told it was the transmission and the car is still in the shop trying to figure out what is wrong.
Takata recall: I have a 2012 Hyundai sonata 2.0T SE and my car stopped in the middle of the road with no warning and would not start back. Now my eps, oil, mil, battery light ate on and car will not crank. I was driving up troy highway in montgomery al when my car begin to slow down and cut off. It did make a clunk noise before it shut off.. there wasn't any fire but engine will not start and just had oil change on Friday.
Was backing out of the driveway and the check brake warning started going off. The brake pedal went to the floor. The whole system of the car shut down. My hydraulic unit failed and they will not cover it under warranty. Thank god I wasn't driving when this happened.
- Goleta, CA, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
First incident, Sunday, September 9, 2018. While driving, car suddenly flashed warning lights, with message pertaining to the battery. Car decelerated extremely rapidly and became harder to steer. Pulled car over out of street as it lost power. It stopped. Lights remained on. Turned car off and then turned it back on. It cranked up and could be driven as if the incident never happened. There were no warning lights or warning message when the car was restarted. Second incident, Monday, September 10, 2018. While driving the car to the dealership for diagnosis of the problem, the car suddenly lost power again, the warning lights flashed again, and again it became hard to steer. This time driver was not able to pull the car over; it stopped in the street. Driver turned the car off, then turned it back on and drove to the nearest service station. A tow truck was called and the vehicle was towed to the dealership. The dealership stated the vehicle did not register any code that they could detect. They had a technician drive it from work to home each day and the vehicle never gave any problem. They could not find any problem at all with the vehicle that required service or repair. Vehicle was picked up on Saturday, September 16, 2018. The dealership waived the diagnostic fee since they were not able to diagnosis a problem. The vehicle has been traded-in. The issue was reported to Hyundai motor corporation.
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. The contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the engine compartment. While driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle suddenly decelerated and the "hybrid pull over soon" warning indicator flashed. The vehicle stalled and was able to be coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the hybrid battery needed to be replaced. The dealer (dicksmith Hyundai, 781 congaree rd, greenville, SC 29607) indicated that the motor assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer indicated that the vehicle was excluded from any recall campaigns. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal noise while driving approximately 55 mph. In addition, the charging system warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to autonation Hyundai mall of Georgia (located at 3445 buford dr, buford, ga) where it was diagnosed that the compressor failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.
In September 2015 the trans. Was replaced in the car. The car was kept for 1 week for repairs.I replaced a battery 12/13/2016, and have had to have at least 12 battery problems. The radio will go out, and within a week to 2 the battery is dead, resulting in my insurance company coming out to start my car. On May 1, 2017, I had a diagnostic done, and they could not find a problem. They recommended trying to replace the radio, but were not sure it would correct the problem. A radio was purchased/replaced 8/2/17, and the problem has continued. Below are the dates of occurrences: 9/14/15-transmission- car went out while driving on highway dead battery: 1/22/16 7/30/16 10/2/16 10/13/16 12/11/16 4/30/17 7/30/17 10/16/17 1/2/18 4/18/18 I have a copy of all claim forms.
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle lost power and came to a complete halt. In addition, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate. "hybrid battery low, shift to park position" was displayed across the message board. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.
After the 6th or 7th time the car is started, there is no radio sound. I have to turn the car off then back on 5 or 6 times to get the radio to engage. This happens regularly, starting a few months after I bought the car, which was brand new.
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. When shifting into reverse or drive, the vehicle jerked violently. In addition, while driving 15-20 mph, a chime sounded and the 'safely stop and do not drive' warning message appeared on the message board. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil pump or the computer module failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in a manufacturers recall that was related to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 71,415.
Check charging system light comes up, some times cant change from drive to reverse, other times change park to any other gear, have to turn the car off and on again. The car jumps when getting out of ev mode, hesitates when going out of ev mode, making it very dangerous at a intersection and U turns. I found so many complains about the Hyundai hybrid 2012, .....same problems, how come nobody does anything "?"
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 mph, the hybrid safety warning do not drive warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed that the bms module needed to replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000.
This problem has been getting progressively worse during the last 6 months. While driving or stopped at a light, the vehicle has sudden unexplained acceleration. The acceleration happens with or without the foot on the gas. When in drive, the driver can remove his foot from the gas and the vehicle continues to accelerate and pick up speed. The condition is extremely hazardous and warrants further investigation.
The car was at a stop light and burst into flames, all of the sonatas have this problem, all sonatas will at the least burn up the engines, transmissions, or batteries due to this problem. Out of 35 sonatas tested 35 had this problem. Contacted Hyundai usa, Hyundai fullerton, Hyundai consumer complaint line and they refuse to do anything about it. Every sonata hybird in the world, (to the best of my knowledge) will burn up the engine, transmission, or lithium batteries (which will catch fire) between 70,000 &120,000 miles, Hyundai will not warranty the failure, this is caused by a manufacture defect.. a part in the cooling system will disintegrate and crumble apart like a wet cookie, then you will have a 3/4" hose coming off the water pump pumping all the water out of the cooling system, with less then a gallon of coolant this will take 2 seconds, everything will overheat and you can throw that car away, a new engine is $7,000 a transmission, $6,000 lithium batteries $10,000 all prices do not include installation..
Back up camera takes 10 to 15 seconds before coming on (average 12 seconds), audio on radio, cd player and iphone music goes out occasionally, gps has failed to operate on occasion.
Electrical smell like melting plastic wiring: First incident as noted above; 2nd incident on 1/29/2013, mileage 9227-on vehicle start up (engine warm as it was after earlier driving) same hot, melting wire type smell coming through climate control dash vents; 3rd incident on 4/12/2013-mileage 12,353-hot burning smell through heater vents occurring on/after climbing steep hill for a mile or so; 4th incident-4/16/2013, mileage 12538, location of incident same as 3rd incident, same hill climb, same smell occurring during drive. Reported to dealer. Could not be duplicated during service appt. No further incidents of burning smell to current date: 01/13/2014. Cruise control and transmission gear selection issues: First incident: Around 1/20/2013; subsequent incidents periodically since then to current date of 01/14/2013: When on cruise control, speeds set at anywhere (40-60 mpg for these incidents), on coasting down or flat terrain transmission will shift from 6th (high) gear down to 3rd or 4th and hold that gear with engine rev ving accordingly, until I either manu-shift it back up to 6th, or, perhaps after 10 or more seconds it might shift into higher gear on its own. I have deliberately not disengaged cruise control during these incidents to continue to assess the condition. Related to this is occasional excessive acceleration as car can drop (on cruise) to below set speed as in a dip in the road, and then applying speed to get back to set speed, but, it will accelerate aggressively to as much as 10 mph above set speed before cruise control mode 'back' off the acceleration action, making the car feel like it is 'taking off'. this can happen often on certain roads at same transition points from coasting downward into a dip in the road, then (cruise control) reapplying power to get the car backup to speed. Rest will be sent in a second submission following this.
Purchased new in Mar. 2013, not our first hybrid. Car began to have shudder/jerky/rough take off from morning start and first stop sign at end of street. This became more often and worsened. One morning left curb as usual, brakes locked up at stop sign and warning light on dash for brake problem. Was able to back car back into curb spot and had towed to dealership. Date given was about the towing date. Car was in shop around three weeks due to needing new brake module or something that was leaking internally inside brake unit from factory. Car also had issue to were the battery would not charge properly. Worked correctly when purchased but then would not charge past 50% and usually less than. Repairs made and lots of updates and sensor adjustments and we were given car back. Sadly it only lasted a few months and had to be towed again. Late Aug, early Sept, the car started to jerk at take off again. I tried just sitting at curb for awhile after starting car to let sensors warm up. This seemed to help for short time. Problem worsened again until wife complained. I drove full time and it had gotten worse to bad and all the time. Bad acceleration, like brakes not letting off. Last straw! Nov 1st 2013, car jerked and shuddered at take off, brakes locked up solid at stop sign, locked up again at second stop sign, entering traffic to get back home... car stopped dead in middle of left hand turn in middle of highway!! fully loaded log truck coming at me passenger side. Took 2-3 hard stomps on accelerator peddle to get car moving, gas engine finally revved high but car just crawled forward!!! thankfully the truck had started braking as soon as he saw car hesitate in street and car crawled forward enough that I did not get hit. But that grill filled the entire passenger window. Car towed to shop again on mon 4th am. Called on 5th, huge software update, but no guaranty !"!?"
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Alpine, CA, USA