BestCarRank

Hyundai SONATA — Years to Avoid

Which model years have the most problems and which are safe to buy.

Avoid These Years

2011 Hyundai SONATA

4605 complaints (853% of segment average)

Avoid This Year

Main issue: I OWNED THE CAR FOR A WEEK. THERE WAS NO WARNING. I WAS DRIVING AROUND 40 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL WHIPPED TO THE LEFT AND PULLED ME INTO THE OTHER LANE. THE WHEEL WAS SHAKING AND DIDN'T WANT TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. I HAD TO FIGHT TO BRING IT BACK OVER, AND HAD TO USE ALL OF MY STRENGTH TO KEEP IT OVE

2013 Hyundai SONATA

2635 complaints (488% of segment average)

Avoid This Year

Main issue: PURCHASED 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS AT STREETBORO OHIO HYUNDAI DEALER NEW IN MID JUNE 2012. VEHICLE SEEMED OK BUT AT ABOUT 1500 MILES IDLE BECAME ROUGH PARTICULARLY AT IDLE IN DRIVE AT LIGHTS AND STOPS. TOOK IN TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD AFTER 4 DAYS IN SHOP THAT PROBLEM WAS FAMILIAR TO THE DEALER AND AN

2012 Hyundai SONATA

2271 complaints (421% of segment average)

Avoid This Year

Main issue: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING, FOLLOWED BY AN ABNORMAL GRINDING. THE DEALER MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CUR

2015 Hyundai SONATA

1634 complaints (303% of segment average)

Below Average

Main issue: THIS IS A NEW HYUNDAI SONATA 2015. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ERRATICALLY. THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS CAN BE A SAFETY CONCERNS: 1. SOMETIMES WHEN IDLING AT INTERSECTION THE ENGINE RPM GOES UP ALL OF A SUDDEN AND THE CAR STARTS MOVING FORWARD AND ONLY A STRONGER PUSH O

2014 Hyundai SONATA

1071 complaints (198% of segment average)

Below Average

Main issue: AT APPROXIMATELY 5PM ON OCTOBER 10TH 2014 I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT IN HARRISBURG, NC. WHEN THE CAR REACHED 15 MPH IT DID NOT SHIFT (THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH SHIFTRONIC MANUAL CONTROLS) AND I HAD TO SHIFT THE CAR MANUALLY INTO SECOND GEAR AND EACH SUCCESSIVE GEAR. A

2016 Hyundai SONATA

991 complaints (184% of segment average)

Below Average

Main issue: WHILE DRIVING 65MPH AT 10PM ON A THE INTERSTATE, I HEARD A POUND "THUNK" AND THOUGHT I HAD A TIRE ISSUE, SO BEGAN TO STEER TOWARD THE EMERGENCY LANE. I QUICKLY REALIZED I HAD NO POWER TO ACCELERATE, NO POWER STEERING AND THE DASH WAS BLACKED OUT...CAR WAS DEAD. ONLY EVER THING WORKING WAS RADIO, EME

2017 Hyundai SONATA

989 complaints (183% of segment average)

Below Average

Main issue: WHILE I WAS DRIVING I HAD COME TO A STOP AT THE STOP LIGHT. WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. HALFWAY THROUGH THE TURN AT A FEW MILES AN HOUR MY ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV TO ABOUT 4500 RPM. IT DIED DOWN QUICKLY. I THEN

Safe to Buy