2015 Hyundai Sonata Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
80/100
#4 most-complained of 16 Sonata years
The 2015 Hyundai Sonata ranks 4th worst out of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 80 and 1,144 complaints, mostly Engine (58%) and Electrical System (17%) issues. It carries 9 recalls, including a do-not-drive front brake caliper fracture recall, making it an Avoid year relative to other Sonata years.
- Complaints
- 1,144
- Recalls
- 9
- incl. Do Not Drive
- Crashes / fires
- 34 / 48
- Injuries / deaths
- 32 / 2
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 27
- 24 city / 34 hwy
Top 2015 Hyundai Sonata problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine666 (58%)
- Electrical System190 (17%)
- Other167 (15%)
- Transmission & Powertrain134 (12%)
- Brakes89 (8%)
- Fuel System84 (7%)
- Steering74 (6%)
- Structure & Body66 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires33 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers29 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while parking or backing out of spaces, sometimes at low speed just before a crash.
- Some drivers describe complete brake failure where the pedal went to the floor with no stopping power, leading to rear-end collisions.
- Engine stalling and smoke from under the hood have been reported while driving around 35 mph, with the engine compartment catching fire shortly after.
- Owners describe brake lock-up during turns in snowy conditions, causing the car to slide into curbs even with minimal snow present.
- Frontal airbags have deployed unexpectedly or failed to deploy during low-speed parking incidents, in some cases tied to the floor-mounted gas pedal design.
- Takata airbag deployments have been reported in rear-impact situations, with debris knocking drivers' feet off the brake pedal.
2015 Hyundai Sonata recalls
9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V749000Sep 24, 2021Electrical System469,377 vehicles
Electrical system:software
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 17V359000Jun 5, 2017Brakes161,074 vehicles
Parking brake:indicator light
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 16V726000Oct 11, 2016Visibility & Wipers62,811 vehicles
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
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.
Risk: 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.
2015 Hyundai Sonata fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 24 MPG
- Highway
- 34 MPG
- Combined
- 27 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,400
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2015 compared with other Sonata years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2015 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
- Compared to other Sonata model years, the 2015 ranks 4th worst out of 16 years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 80 and an Avoid verdict. NHTSA lists 1,144 complaints and 9 recalls for this year.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2015 Hyundai Sonata?
- Engine problems dominate, accounting for 666 complaints, or 58% of all complaints, with a median failure mileage of 63,000 miles. Electrical System issues follow at 190 complaints, or 17%.
- Does the 2015 Hyundai Sonata have a do-not-drive recall?
- Yes. NHTSA recall 14V368000 told owners not to drive due to front brake calipers that may fracture, and recall data shows 2 do-not-drive recalls for this year among the 9 total recalls.
- How does the 2015 Sonata compare to the 2011 Sonata?
- The 2011 Sonata has the worst Complaint Index at 100 with 3,376 complaints, while the 2015 sits at 80 with 1,144 complaints. Both carry Avoid verdicts, but 2011 is worse.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata?
- EPA rates the 2015 Sonata at 27 mpg combined, 24 mpg city and 34 mpg highway, with an annual fuel cost of $2,400.