Hyundai Sonata 2015–2019
7th generation (LF)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20264,405 complaints, 1,754 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 17,560 and 86,800 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 6 complaints (0.3%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 3,000
- 25%
- 17,560
- Median
- 52,000
- 75%
- 86,800
- 90%
- 123,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 226 | 12.9% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 82 | 4.7% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 80 | 4.6% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 80 | 4.6% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 76 | 4.3% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 65 | 3.7% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 65 | 3.7% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 59 | 3.4% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 43 | 2.5% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 57 | 3.2% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 74 | 4.2% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 65 | 3.7% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 61 | 3.5% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 65 | 3.7% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 80 | 4.6% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 56 | 3.2% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 66 | 3.8% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 55 | 3.1% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 48 | 2.7% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 33 | 1.9% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 49 | 2.8% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 32 | 1.8% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 28 | 1.6% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 19 | 1.1% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 23 | 1.3% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 33 | 1.9% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 12 | 0.7% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 21 | 1.2% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 19 | 1.1% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 14 | 0.8% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 16 | 0.9% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 12 | 0.7% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 13 | 0.7% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 5 | 0.3% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 6 | 0.3% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 6 | 0.3% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 4,405 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015–2019 Hyundai Sonata, and 1,754 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 17,560 and 86,800 miles. The median is 52,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (39.3% of complaints, typically around 66,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (9.9% of complaints, typically around 38,000 miles), the electrical system (8.9% of complaints, typically around 50,000 miles).
12 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine66,000median 66,000 miles, middle half 27,000 to 103,000
- Problems owners could not categorise38,000median 37,750 miles, middle half 13,000 to 70,000
- Electrical system50,000median 50,000 miles, middle half 14,000 to 86,000
- Steering55,000median 55,000 miles, middle half 22,000 to 84,000
- Transmission and driveline51,000median 51,000 miles, middle half 25,000 to 74,000
- Fuel and propulsion system50,000median 50,500 miles, middle half 15,000 to 89,000
- Brakes20,000median 20,287 miles, middle half 4,500 to 60,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1,733 | 39.3% | 66,000 | 27,000–103,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 437 | 9.9% | 38,000 | 13,000–70,000 |
| Electrical system | 394 | 8.9% | 50,000 | 14,000–86,000 |
| Steering | 295 | 6.7% | 55,000 | 22,000–84,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 294 | 6.7% | 51,000 | 25,000–74,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 180 | 4.1% | 50,000 | 15,000–89,000 |
| Brakes | 151 | 3.4% | 20,000 | 4,500–60,000 |
| Body structure | 143 | 3.2% | 35,000 | 20,000–74,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 137 | 3.1% | 22,000 | 1,500–62,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 133 | 3.0% | 35,000 | 12,000–75,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 52,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 39.3% of complaints (1,733 reports, 591 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 66,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 27,000 and 103,000 miles.
A single system taking 39.3% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 9.9% of complaints (437 reports, 136 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 37,750 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,513 and 70,025 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 8.9% of complaints (394 reports, 163 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 50,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 14,000 and 86,118 miles.
The steering accounts for 6.7% of complaints (295 reports, 113 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 22,250 and 83,500 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 6.7% of complaints (294 reports, 129 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 51,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 25,000 and 74,500 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 4.1% of complaints (180 reports, 52 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 50,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 89,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2015 model year drew the most — 1,657 complaints — while 2019 drew the fewest at 209. The median year sits at 995.
The first year of the generation, 2015, sits above the median. That is a common pattern — early production of a redesigned vehicle tends to surface problems that later years do not repeat — and it is worth weighing when choosing between years.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 12 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the electrical system (3), the airbag system (3), latches and locks (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 4,405 complaints filed against this generation, 181 reported a crash; 167 reported a fire; 146 reported an injury; 9 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 4.1% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 17,560 and 86,800 miles, with a median of 52,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and problems owners could not categorise are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Problems owners could not categorise in particular shows a median failure mileage of 37,750, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine
Theta II GDI connecting-rod bearing wear and seizure continues into this generation. Hyundai extended engine warranty coverage and applied the Knock Sensor Detection System software campaign across MY2011-2019 Theta II GDI vehicles.
Transmission 2016–2019
7-speed dual-clutch behind the 1.6L turbo: low-speed shudder, hesitation from a stop, and clutch wear.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1,657 | 857 |
| 2016 | 995 | 354 |
| 2017 | 1,000 | 288 |
| 2018 | 544 | 201 |
| 2019 | 209 | 54 |
Recalls (12)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 21V619000 | 2021-12-04 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:trunk Lid:latch |
| 21V749000 | 2021-11-19 | Electrical System:software |
| 17V359000 | 2017-08-04 | Parking Brake:indicator Light |
| 16V956000 | 2017-02-13 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 16V726000 | 2016-11-29 | Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly |
| 16V615000 | 2016-10-14 | Air Bags |
| 16V232000 | 2016-06-15 | Air Bags:frontal |
| 15V678000 | 2015-11-30 | Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel |
| 15V414000 | 2015-09-15 | Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly |
| 14V784000 | 2015-01-14 | Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft |
| 14V325000 | 2014-09-15 | Electrical System:wiring |
| 14V368000 | 2014-09-12 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper |
What owners reported
On friday october 12. 2018, I was driving on the 78 high east bound and was about to pass another car. As my car was accelerated, the car engine lost power. The engine check light came on. My car was decelerated. I was lucky because the traffic on the freeway was light. I was able to move the car slowly to the…
2015 · Engine
My check engine light turned on and my car has power hesitation during acceleration. This happend 1-2 days out of the week until the forth time it happened the check engine light stayed on and continues to have power hesitation as well as high idling at all times, burning oil, smoke coming from the exhaust, and the…
2015 · 2 miles · Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata sport. While driving at approximately 45 MPH, the contact noticed that the seat belt on front driver side would tighten independently. The contact stated that this was a recurring failure. The vehicle was driven to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician was unable…
2015 · 3 miles · Seat belts
Purchased 9 months ago from a local dealer certified road ready carfax certified. Had 41000 miles. At 63000 miles entering highway 65 MPH, car buck and loses power, engine shuts off, all idiot lights are lit and coast to side of highway in flowing traffic. Car starts up and does exactly same thing. Car started but not…
2015 · 10 miles · Engine
Built from 1,754 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page