Hyundai Sonata Complaints (2021)

190 consumer complaints on file.

#11679381August 8, 2025
AIR BAGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
During a front end collision the car did not auto brake and the air bags did not deploy. The car has been totaled and is currently at a dealership for insurance appraisal.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
7
Deaths:
0
#11678866August 6, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding Hyundai’s Recall Campaign 216, which involves a safety defect related to the windshield assemblies of certain Hyundai vehicles. Despite the recall being issued to address the risk of inadequate windshield adhesion due to non-conforming clear coat paint, I have been unable to get my vehicle repaired. I contacted my local Hyundai dealership promptly after learning about the recall; however, they informed me that they were unable to perform the repair at the time due to not having a glass technician on staff/on site. I made multiple phone calls after anticipating the service manager’s follow up, as she promised, with dates a glass technician could be on site. I never heard back after leaving various voicemails or being put through to the wrong departments. This delay is concerning because the recall notice specifically outlines the increased risk of injury in a crash if the windshield is not adequately retained. As a concerned vehicle owner, I am left driving a potentially unsafe vehicle without any clarity on when a proper remedy will be available. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter and ensure that Hyundai and its dealerships are prepared and properly equipped to carry out the necessary recall repairs in a timely manner, in alignment with their safety responsibilities. I have attached the email received 7/31 from Hyundai following my customer service complaint I submitted 7/9. Please let me know if any additional documentation or vehicle information is required.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676697July 28, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This is on my 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited - for the 7th time the vehicle has been completely dead and unresponsive. I have had to gain entry to the vehicle using the manual key and press the "jump" button to get the vehicle to start. The Hyundai dealership ran a bunch of battery updates to the 12 volt battery several weeks ago and said that should hopefully fix the issue. Several weeks later on 07/19/2025 the vehicle was dead again. I had to use the key to manually gain entry and jump the car again. The dealership said that the 12 volt battery may need to be replaced and said that it is fully integrated with the hybrid battery system which is covered for 10 years/100K miles whichever comes first. I am still within the warranty period so hopefully Hyundai will fix the issue. From an online search, it appears this is not an uncommon issue with the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. I am waiting on Hyundai for a fix and for .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676441July 27, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
After initial startup and drive for a short time, I come to a stop. Then after vehicle doesn’t want to accelerate as it normally would. Vehicle struggles to gain speed but, the engine revs excessively. I pull off the road and come to a stop and try to accelerate again and the same thing happens. I shut the vehicle off and wait a few minutes,then restart and the vehicle accelerates normally again. There were no check engine lights the when this has happened.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672497July 10, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? RANDOM TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE (DOORS WON'T UNLOCK, CAR UNRESPONSIVE) How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? DIFFICULT TO GAIN MANUAL ENTRY TO CAR, PARTICULARLY IN DARK SITUATIONS Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? NO, I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE TWICE AND THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THE CAR IS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW FOR A THIRD ATTEMPT. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? YES Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? NO As a reference: [XXX] Key Takeaways from the Thread: Several 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid owners (and a few Ioniq and Elantra Hybrid owners) are reporting the exact same symptoms: Random total electrical failure (doors won’t unlock, car unresponsive) Requires manual key to enter 12V battery reset button inside vehicle restores power No error codes or permanent fixes from dealerships Issue occurs sporadically, making it difficult to replicate or diagnose Some dealers have replaced the 12V battery or DC-DC converter, but results are mixed No formal recall exists yet, despite growing reports INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670129June 30, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Every day the car is dead, have to take the manual key out pop door cover off unlock car manually push the 12v reset button and hold fob to start/stop button for car to work again. Happens daily.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11668567June 23, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The moon roof made a very loud noise as I was driving down the interstate. It sounded like a loud bang. The safety risk was that I could have jerked the wheel from the scare of the loud sound. My moon roof then shattered and began to fly off.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11668446June 22, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I bought this car in June 2013 for its safety and its Amazing warranty and all the features that it has Hyundai manufacture had an obligation as a consumer service and failed to send notification of any recalled to us in regards to a recall High pressure, fuel pump, and fuel rail Fuel system engine, gas tank This is a product of liability and negligence on time but they failed to take responsibility and comply with federal laws. I was driving with my family in the car when this car was a ticking Time bomb not even being aware of the Death trap on wheels. We ended having towed our home and then to then had to make a call next day and have it towed to Hyundai service center While we were driving this happen, where we heard two loud pops the gas gauge went down from 200 something to 80 engine lights came right up the backseats were heating up under my son seat in the back stated he felt waves as the backseat was getting hotter, we pulled over to a gas station and that’s when we had to call called O’Reillys and then we called a mechanic friend which stated that he ended up looking up the car and stated please pull over and get out car and called the Hyundai manufacture that there was a recall that’s the only way we found out other than that no prior incidents, then called the service technician of Hyundai i called amd complaint with the Honda manufacture corporate. They have failed to take the responsibility for this and they should be ashamed and take their accountability for this we could’ve died and anyone else around us on road as we drive this car daily The car was a higher risk of a ticking time bomb stated by the Hyundai service center technicians. this is an nere to miss accident narrowly avoid catastrophe
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
5
Deaths:
0
#11667835June 18, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Rearview camera fails to display an image. It does work sometimes but then most of the times the rearview camera does not display any image as seen in the images attached. This issue started occurring recently, that is when I reverse the car, the rearview camera image is not displayed at all. Earlier the rearview camera was working with out any issue when I reverse the car. Issue seems to be same as campaign number: 24V879000
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11663098May 27, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
12v battery dying randomly
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11663019May 25, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
P0741 code tcc solenoid
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657913April 30, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The buttons to the door locking and unlocking don't work unless I open and close my door a few times. The same thing with the back windows. But after you do the trick and use the intended button once, it stops working and have to repeat the entire process over again. Which is not safe especially when the car is in motion, I am not able to use those buttons at all.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11656895April 25, 2025
ENGINE
Air flow check engine light alerted and source was faulty fuel injector which required replacement of 4 fuel injectors.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11656443April 23, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The car would excelerate while in park. While I was pressing the brakes the car would jerk forward, it would not just quietly idle. While driving the car would randomly speed up or slow down. Sometime it would sound like it was going to shut off and start vibrating.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11647714March 11, 2025
POWER TRAIN
My transmission on my 21 Hyundai sonata n line has failed. It began when the car needed to emergency brake when someone jump into my lane on the road. There’s grinding, and whining in the transmission along with delayed shifts, jerking and a burning smell that comes through the vents of my car upon start up. The recall on this transmission is because it may become defective. I bought the vehicle from a Honda not a Hyundai dealer in March of 2023 the recall campaign closed out Jan of 2023. According to Hyundai records show that the TCU update remedy was performed Jan of 23. However, even though that TCU update was performed, 2 years later my transmission began to fail. I brought it to my local dealer for a transmission drain and refill not a flush. Per the service manual it’s a drain and refill however they flushed it which caused the transmission to worsen. I took it back to have it diagnosed and I was told I needed my transmission replaced. Didn’t even explain why or go into further detail what was wrong with the transmission. I brought up the recall on the transmission and they did nothing to honor it. Now I’m stuck with a car with a broken transmission i can’t afford to fix and I’m gonna be forced to hand the car over to the bank. If this recall can still be honored please help.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11647194March 9, 2025
ENGINE
Overheated engine alarm came on while I was on the freeway on a rainy day. Vehicle was towed to Hyundai dealership in which service technician found that the part preventing water from leaking into the muffler was broken. Hyundai dealership has ordered replacement part but it is on backorder. The broken part that needed replacement has been on backorder for close to a month and there is not an ETA of when the part will be received. Prior to the overheated engine alarm going off, cold air was blowing out of the vents even when the heat option was selected.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11646538March 5, 2025
ENGINE
Coolant system leaks in to the engine or exhaust system, which is evident in white smoke exhaust and coolant level dropping. In my situation, I required an entire container of coolant to perform a daily commute, and the reservoir was empty by the time I made it to the dealership. Car is rendered undrivable due lack of coolant and engine overheating. My car was in the dealership repair facility for 6 weeks awaiting parts on back order due to nationwide shortage. A technical service bulletin has been issued for this manufacturer defect (23-EM-009H). Cost of repairs was roughly $2,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11645969March 3, 2025
ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while pulling out of a parking lot, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended and started shaking abnormally. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel injector needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that all four fuel injectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 47,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11642854February 14, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car is giving a p0741 code and I was told has something to do with transmission and my car has been jerking.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11642360February 12, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
A semi truck passed me from the opposite direction and caused a gust of wind to be generated diagonally across the car. Both of us were traveling at highway speeds. The gust of wind caused the undercarriage retainers\clips to completely fail. The undercarriage folded back on itself and was pinned on both sides against each tire beneath the car. On the left side, the tire tore part of the undercarriage off as if it had came between the tire and the pavement. I believe this has the potential to cause a loss of control given ideal circumstances. Luckily, neither tire failed and I was able to safely pull to the side of the road to zip tie the undercarriage in place. However, part of the wheel well was shredded.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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