HYUNDAI SONATA · model year

2015 HYUNDAI SONATA

1596 NHTSA complaints, 59 crash reports, and 9 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

5 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2015HYUNDAISONATA carries 1596 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 59 crashes, 78 fires, 58 injuries, and 4 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 5/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2015 SONATA is engine with 583 filings, followed by unknown or other (161) and electrical system (158). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 9 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 2015 SONATA, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

1596
Complaints
59
Crashes
78
Fires
58
Injuries
4
Deaths
2015 HYUNDAI SONATA — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA. Overall composite: 5.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 5.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 5.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 4.0 ★
NHTSA overall 5.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

1596 filings

Crashes Reported

59 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 5/5 — Top NCAP rating · Front: 5/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE583
UNKNOWN OR OTHER161
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM158
POWER TRAIN129
STEERING71
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM71
SERVICE BRAKES70
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL58
STRUCTURE:BODY46
EXTERIOR LIGHTING37
AIR BAGS23
SEAT BELTS21
SUSPENSION17
WHEELS15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING15

Recalls (9)

15V41400030/06/2015

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.

21V74900024/09/2021

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 activat

14V36800024/06/2014

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.

16V23200021/04/2016

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, th

15V67800020/10/2015

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

14V32500012/06/2014

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 inabil

16V72600011/10/2016

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 s

14V78400009/12/2014

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.

17V35900005/06/2017

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.

Recent Complaints

20260219ENGINE

Engine has knocking sound. Sudden loss of power and hesitation when accelerating

20260218ENGINE

The vehicle suddenly lost power while driving on a public roadway. Immediately after, the vehicle began producing a large amount of smoke. The smoke quickly filled the cabin, making it difficult to breathe and creating an urgent safety hazard. My passenger and I had to exit the vehicle right away due to the amount of smoke. We were exposed to smoke inhalation and were stranded on the side of the road in unsafe weather conditions for over an hour while waiting for a tow truck. I later learned that the vehicle had an open recall related to engine issues; however, I was never notified of this recall. Regardless of recall status, the sudden loss of power combined with heavy smoke and potential fire risk created a dangerous situation that could have resulted in serious injury or death. I believe this issue represents a serious safety defect and fire hazard that could endanger other drivers.

20260217ENGINE

Component/System Failed: Engine – connecting rod bearing failure consistent with Hyundai Theta II engine defect subject to federal recalls and Consent Orders. The vehicle previously received Recall Campaign 953 (KSDS software update), intended to detect premature rod bearing wear. The engine is currently knocking and has been diagnosed as requiring replacement. The vehicle and engine are available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: Rod bearing failure can cause sudden engine seizure or stall while driving, creating a significant crash risk due to loss of power steering and braking assist. Engine failure DID occurr despite prior recall software update, indicating potential recall remedy ineffectiveness. Sudden stalling in traffic placed myself and others at risk of collision. Dealer Confirmation: Hyundai of North Charleston confirmed through warranty history a prior engine replacement request (PA) was submitted by a previous owner but denied. The recall repair was never perform

20260217FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Component/System Failed: Engine – connecting rod bearing failure consistent with Hyundai Theta II engine defect subject to federal recalls and Consent Orders. The vehicle previously received Recall Campaign 953 (KSDS software update), intended to detect premature rod bearing wear. The engine is currently knocking and has been diagnosed as requiring replacement. The vehicle and engine are available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: Rod bearing failure can cause sudden engine seizure or stall while driving, creating a significant crash risk due to loss of power steering and braking assist. Engine failure DID occurr despite prior recall software update, indicating potential recall remedy ineffectiveness. Sudden stalling in traffic placed myself and others at risk of collision. Dealer Confirmation: Hyundai of North Charleston confirmed through warranty history a prior engine replacement request (PA) was submitted by a previous owner but denied. The recall repair was never perform

20260217POWER TRAIN

Component/System Failed: Engine – connecting rod bearing failure consistent with Hyundai Theta II engine defect subject to federal recalls and Consent Orders. The vehicle previously received Recall Campaign 953 (KSDS software update), intended to detect premature rod bearing wear. The engine is currently knocking and has been diagnosed as requiring replacement. The vehicle and engine are available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: Rod bearing failure can cause sudden engine seizure or stall while driving, creating a significant crash risk due to loss of power steering and braking assist. Engine failure DID occurr despite prior recall software update, indicating potential recall remedy ineffectiveness. Sudden stalling in traffic placed myself and others at risk of collision. Dealer Confirmation: Hyundai of North Charleston confirmed through warranty history a prior engine replacement request (PA) was submitted by a previous owner but denied. The recall repair was never perform

20260217SUSPENSION

This complaint concerns a repeat failure of both front CV axles on my 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The CV axles and boots were replaced by Gettel Hyundai of Charlotte County using OEM parts in November 2024. The same components failed again just 7,876 miles later in January 2026; requiring a second full replacement. A CV axle replaced with factory OEM parts by a certified Hyundai tech should not fail within 7,876 miles under normal driving conditions. This pattern of repeat failure indicates either * A defect in the OEM replacement parts supplied by Hyundai * An installation defect at the authorized dealership * An unresolved underlying mechanical condition that causes accelerated CV axle wear The rapid repeat failure represents a potential safety hazard. CV axle failure can result in sudden loss of drive power, difficulty controlling the vehicle, and in severe cases, wheel separation --all of which create dangerous conditions for the driver and others on the road. Chronological Timeline of E

20260214ENGINE

While driving on the freeway, my vehicle experienced a sudden and catastrophic engine failure. The check engine light began flashing, the vehicle lost power, and I almost lost control of the car. I barely had time to pull over to the shoulder to avoid an accident. The vehicle was towed to a Hyundai dealership. The engine does not start and the engine block is cracked. Hyundai denied coverage stating that a software update (Campaign 953) was not installed. Campaign 953 is only a detection update and does not repair or prevent internal engine failure. This is a serious safety issue.

20260211ENGINE

Was driving car and it went completely hot. Towed to a dealership and they said was not drivable and that the radiator support and radiator hose needs replacing and eventually the Drive CV left and front will need replacing or I will be stranded on side of road.

20260211UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Was driving car and it went completely hot. Towed to a dealership and they said was not drivable and that the radiator support and radiator hose needs replacing and eventually the Drive CV left and front will need replacing or I will be stranded on side of road.

20260207ENGINE

I have been dealing with issues with the turbo that cost over $3k out of pocket to get "fixed" only to have a part go bad and needed to be replaced. Now the engine is bad and needs to be replaced. The dealership is horrible at being honest and treat me as if that's not my only vehicle. I ask for a loaner car and thery never respond!!

20260206ENGINE

Engine locked up

20260206ENGINE

The car is burning a quart of oil a week.

20260202ENGINE

On January 21, 2026, while driving on I-495 at highway speeds (e.g. 50-60 mph) in heavy traffic, my car made a "clunk" sound and I suddently was unable to accelerate. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure, but immediately when it happened several warning indicators, including the check engine light, oil light, and tire pressure indicator, lit up. The electrical systems and brakes appeared to still work, but the best I could to was coast onto the nearest shoulder and call for an emergency tow. I waited on the shoulder of a busy highway, in the dark, for over an hour. My car apparently has a type of engine that is known for catastrophic failure, so I assume that is what happened. I had the car towed to a Hyundai dealership and they confirmed that the engine needs to be fully replaced.

20260131ENGINE

The oil in the car burns quickly. After driving 2000 miles, there is no oil left. I do not have any oil leaks anywhere. It’s just burning oil. This has been consistent since I’ve gotten the vehicle.

20260130ENGINE

While driving my 2015 Hyundai Sonata, the vehicle suddenly lost power and entered limp mode. A loud engine knocking noise was present, and acceleration was severely limited, creating a safety risk in traffic. The check engine light illuminated at the time of the failure. An independent mechanic confirmed diagnostic trouble code P1326, related to the engine knock sensor detection system designed to detect early engine bearing failure. The condition occurred without warning. The vehicle is currently not being driven to prevent further damage and is available for inspection upon request. Sudden loss of power while driving poses a serious safety hazard. This appears to be a known engine defect affecting similar vehicles.

20260120WHEELS

We have had issues with tires not wearing equally and tears on the inner tire/s shortly after replacing. This has happened twice so far. This has lead to air loss, severe vibration, and pulling while driving. Most recently, both back tires were losing air with one back tire having a structural issue on the inner portion of the tire making it unsafe to drive. We had just put on new tires in 1/2024 and had to replace one of those before this issue because of a tear on the inner portion. Both back tires were replaced and rotated. Severe vibration and pulling occurred. We took it in to have balancing and an alignment done only to find out that all 4 rims are bent to varying degrees on the inner lip that meets with the tire. All 4 tires were wobbling significantly during the service to balance resulting in the inability to balance the tires. As there hasn’t been any occurrence that would have caused all 4 rims to bend in the exact same place, and reading about the defects of the coating o

20260119SERVICE BRAKES

My 2015 Sonata will stall out dropping speeds to 12-24 when i slightly merge, when I turn ect. Then it won’t accelerate for what seems like 10 minutes realistically 2 minutes maybe 3 Then will slowly regain speed. I’ve almost wrecked twice Share care with daughter and she’s been victim to it way way more. This is scary and Hyundai won’t stay behind their product Local dealership won’t fix recalls so we have to go over 120 miles for repairs. The recall isn’t even for transmission engine

20260119ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My 2015 Sonata will stall out dropping speeds to 12-24 when i slightly merge, when I turn ect. Then it won’t accelerate for what seems like 10 minutes realistically 2 minutes maybe 3 Then will slowly regain speed. I’ve almost wrecked twice Share care with daughter and she’s been victim to it way way more. This is scary and Hyundai won’t stay behind their product Local dealership won’t fix recalls so we have to go over 120 miles for repairs. The recall isn’t even for transmission engine

20260119ENGINE

My 2015 Sonata will stall out dropping speeds to 12-24 when i slightly merge, when I turn ect. Then it won’t accelerate for what seems like 10 minutes realistically 2 minutes maybe 3 Then will slowly regain speed. I’ve almost wrecked twice Share care with daughter and she’s been victim to it way way more. This is scary and Hyundai won’t stay behind their product Local dealership won’t fix recalls so we have to go over 120 miles for repairs. The recall isn’t even for transmission engine

20260114ENGINE

on the day of Friday may 16, 2025. I was returning from work on 35 going south in Dallas, Tx. the engine seized leaving my vehicle in a neutral state. I was in the furthest left lane(passing lane). Lord willing I had enough motion to safely exit on Illinois ave without injury of myself or others. the starter could no longer turn the flywheel indicating to me that the crank shaft had seized. i inspected the oil; it was low but no warning light ever came on(the dealer recently stated the oil was fine when they performed a multipoint inspection(5/10/25) when I went in for the gov mandated theft software update as my car had recently been attempted to be stolen), no sort of warning light came on, nor did the ksds update do anything just like countless other kia/hyundai owners who's engine seized on the interstate. I towed the car to clay Cooley Hyundai Dallas because my research indicated that theta 2 engines had government mandated extended warranty even for subsequent owners however as I

Compare 2015HYUNDAISONATA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA have?
The 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA has 1596 NHTSA complaints, 59 crashes, 78 fires, 58 injuries, and 4 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA?
The 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 5/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA?
Yes, the 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA has 9 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA?
The most-complained component for the 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA is ENGINE with 583 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.