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2015 Hyundai Sonata

Verified August 31, 2026Sources: NHTSA · EPA · vPIC

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Safety
5
of 5 stars
Recalls
9
on record
MPG
31
combined

Do not drive until repaired

2 active "park it" recalls — NHTSA advises against driving this vehicle until the remedy is complete.

Vehicle Summary

2015 Hyundai Sonata

9 recalls
1128 complaints
31 MPG combined
5/5 safety rating

Before You Buy

Confirm all 9 recalls were repaired — a dealer checks by VIN, free
Read the 34 complaints reporting a crash
Review the 1,128 owner complaints on record
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Safety record at a glance

Recall campaigns
9
Owner complaints
1,128
Complaints citing a crash
34

These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.

9 Recalls on Record

2 of these are high-severity. Some may require you to stop driving the vehicle until repaired.

Enter your VIN to check if specific recalls apply to your vehicle.

Safety recalls

9 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.

  • 16V726000high

    Visibility issue

    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.

    Consequence

    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.

    Full campaign record
  • 17V359000high

    Brake system issue

    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.

    Consequence

    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.

    Full campaign record
  • 16V232000high

    Airbag system issue

    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

    Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 29, 2014 to February 11, 2016, 2017 Elantra vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016 to February 22, 2016, and one 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicle manufactured October 15, 2015. In these vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may be missing a chemical enhancer required for the second stage air bag deployment, resulting in the second stage not deploying in certain crashes. The primary stage will deploy as intended.

    Consequence

    An air bag that does not inflate increases the risk of injury.

    Remedy

    Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 5,2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 144.

    Full campaign record
  • 15V678000high

    Electrical issue

    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to August 21, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with an Antilock Braking System (ABS) warning light intended to warn the driver if there is an ABS malfunction. In the event of an ABS malfunction, the Brake System warning light will illuminate, but the ABS warning light will not illuminate. Since the vehicles have ABS malfunction lights that do not illuminate, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

    Consequence

    If the driver is alerted there is a brake system malfunction, but not specifically with the ABS system, the driver may operate the vehicle unaware that the vehicle's brakes may lock up during hard braking, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 134.

    Full campaign record
  • 15V414000high

    Safety restraint issue

    SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured April 25, 2014, to December 4, 2014. The affected vehicles have a front passenger seat belt whose buckle latch assembly may prevent the front passenger from fastening the seat belt.

    Consequence

    If the front passenger seat belt cannot be latched, an occupant sitting in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy

    Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the front passenger seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 130.

    Full campaign record
  • 14V368000critical Do not drive

    Brake system issue

    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

    Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured April 25, 2014, through June 16, 2014. Due to a manufacturing error, one or both of the front brake calipers may fracture.

    Consequence

    If a brake caliper fractures, brake effectiveness would be reduced, lengthening to distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Hyundai contacted the affected owners on June 19, 2014 and instructed them not to drive their vehicles. Hyundai dealers will replace the affected brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 120.

    Full campaign record
  • 14V325000critical Do not drive

    Steering issue

    STEERING

    Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 2, 2014, through May 23, 2014. A poor connection within the vehicle's wiring harness may result in a reduction of steering assist from the vehicle's motor driven power steering system or the inability to move the vehicle's shifter from the Park position.

    Consequence

    The reduction of power steering assist can increase the steering effort needed, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Hyundai notified dealers to suspend sales of affected Sonata vehicles and has published recall bulletin 14-01-024 providing a service procedure to repair the affected vehicles. On June 7, 2014 Hyundai began to contact the affected retail customers. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 119.

    Full campaign record
  • 14V784000high

    Drivetrain issue

    POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 1.6 liter model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured August 29, 2014, to October 28, 2014. The affected vehicles may have been assembled with an incorrect left axle shaft which may result in the shaft separating from the transaxle differential.

    Consequence

    If the left axle shaft separates from the transaxle, the vehicle may stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, a separated axle shaft may allow the vehicle to roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

    Remedy

    Hyundai will notify owners, dealers will inspect and replace the axle shaft, as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 126.

    Full campaign record
  • 21V749000high

    Lighting issue

    EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

    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.

    Consequence

    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.

    Full campaign record

NHTSA crash-test ratings

NCAP star ratings and the underlying test breakdown for the 2015 Hyundai Sonata.

  • Frontal crash

    Driver
    5 / 5
    Passenger
    5 / 5
  • Side crash

    Driver
    5 / 5
    Passenger
    5 / 5
    Side pole
    5 / 5
  • Rollover

    Rollover risk
    10.5%
    Dynamic tip
    No Tip

Driver-assistance technologies

Electronic stability control
Standard
Forward collision warning
Optional
Lane departure warning
Optional

What the ratings mean

NHTSA gives the 2015 Hyundai Sonata 5 out of 5 stars overall. NHTSA does not publish enough comparable results for this class and year to rank it against peers.

NHTSA published results for every NCAP test in this program, so the overall star rating rests on a complete set of crash and rollover results.

NHTSA's dynamic test put this vehicle's rollover probability at 10.5% in a single-vehicle crash — the figure behind the rollover star rating, published here because the star alone hides how wide each band is.

NHTSA crash tests

2015 Hyundai Sonata Frontal crash crash test
Frontal crash Video
2015 Hyundai Sonata Side crash crash test
Side crash Video
2015 Hyundai Sonata Side pole crash test
Side pole Video

Fuel economy & emissions

EPA figures for the 2015 Hyundai Sonata, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.

28

City

36

Hwy

31

Comb

Annual fuel cost
$2,000
Tailpipe CO₂
286 g/mi

How this compares

At 31 MPG combined, the 2015 Hyundai Sonata ranks 1st of 6 large cars EPA rated for 2015 — 8.5 MPG better than the 22.5 MPG median for that group.

That places it in the upper third of its class. Fuel cost is unlikely to be the deciding factor against its direct rivals.

EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $2,000, $800 less than the $2,800 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $10,000, a $4,000 difference against a class-median vehicle.

Tailpipe CO₂ is 286 grams per mile — about 4.3 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.

Consumer complaints

1,128 owner reports filed with NHTSA.

1,128
Total
34
Crashes
47
Fires
32
Injuries

Most reported components

  • ENGINE662
  • OTHER101
  • BRAKES77
  • STEERING57
  • ELECTRICAL48

Serious Concerns

1128 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 2 reports involve a death. 32 reports involve injuries. 34 reports involve a crash.

Most reported problems

engine problems (stalling, power loss, warning lights)662
miscellaneous issues101
brake problems (soft pedal, noise, failure)77

Safety timeline

Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2015 Hyundai Sonata, newest first.

  1. Investigation closed

    NHTSA closed investigation EA19001

    Electrical overstress

  2. Investigation closed

    NHTSA closed investigation EA21003

    Engine Fires

  3. Investigation closed

    NHTSA closed investigation DP22003

    Loss of Motive Power

  4. Investigation closed

    NHTSA closed investigation DP21003

    Throttle control system vulnerabilities

  5. Investigation opened

    NHTSA opened investigation DP22003

    Loss of Motive Power

  6. Investigation opened

    NHTSA opened investigation EA21003

    Engine Fires

  7. Investigation opened

    NHTSA opened investigation DP21003

    Throttle control system vulnerabilities

  8. Recall

    Recall 21V749000

    A turn signal that activates in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.

  9. Investigation opened

    NHTSA opened investigation EA19001

    Electrical overstress

  10. Recall

    Recall 17V359000

    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.

  11. Recall

    Recall 16V726000

    If the sunroof detaches from the vehicle it could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

  12. Recall

    Recall 16V232000

    An air bag that does not inflate increases the risk of injury.

  13. Recall

    Recall 15V678000

    If the driver is alerted there is a brake system malfunction, but not specifically with the ABS system, the driver may operate the vehicle unaware that the vehicle's brakes may lock up during hard braking, increasing the risk of a crash.

  14. Recall

    Recall 15V414000

    If the front passenger seat belt cannot be latched, an occupant sitting in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

  15. Recall

    Recall 14V784000

    If the left axle shaft separates from the transaxle, the vehicle may stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, a separated axle shaft may allow the vehicle to roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

  16. Do not drive

    Do-not-drive recall 14V368000

    If a brake caliper fractures, brake effectiveness would be reduced, lengthening to distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

  17. Do not drive

    Do-not-drive recall 14V325000

    The reduction of power steering assist can increase the steering effort needed, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.

Specifications & ratings

Specifications

Body class
Large Cars
Drive type
Front-Wheel Drive
Engine
1.6L 4-cyl
Fuel type
Unknown
Transmission
Automatic (AM7)
Seats
0

Fuel economy

28

City

36

Hwy

31

Comb

Annual cost
$2,000
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

NHTSA crash ratings

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Explore related

Safety timeline

Full timeline
  1. Investigation closed

    NHTSA closed investigation EA19001

    Electrical overstress

  2. Investigation closed

    NHTSA closed investigation EA21003

    Engine Fires

  3. Investigation closed

    NHTSA closed investigation DP22003

    Loss of Motive Power

  4. Investigation closed

    NHTSA closed investigation DP21003

    Throttle control system vulnerabilities

  5. Investigation opened

    NHTSA opened investigation DP22003

    Loss of Motive Power