What 157 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in

AT ABOUT 58K MILES I STARTED TO NOTICE WHEN I TURNED THE TURN SIGNAL TO INDICATE A LEFT TURN THE RIGHT BLINKER WOULD COME ON AND THEN AFTER A MOMENT SWITCH TO THE LEFT OR NOT SWITCH AT ALL. THIS WAS TOTALLY RANDOM. I TRIED TO CAPTURE IT ON CAMERA TO SHOW MY LOCAL DEALER BEFORE THE 60K WARRANTY RAN OUT BUT I COULD NEVER CAPTURE IT BECAUSE IT WAS SO RANDOM AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE IT. OVER THE LAST YEAR THE ISSUE HAS GOTTEN WORSE WHERE NEARLY EVERY TIME I USE THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL THE RIGHT SIGNAL WILL TURN ON INSTEAD. THE LAST TIME MY CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE I MENTIONED IT AGAIN AND TOLD THEM I THINK THEY CAN REPLICATE THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT HAPPENS NEARLY EVERY TIME NOW. WHEN I INDICATE A LEFT SIGNAL AND THE RIGHT SIGNAL COMES ON OTHER CARS THINK I AM MERGING INTO THEM WHILE MY SIGNAL IS STUCK. THE SIGNAL STOCK SEEMS TO HAVE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE SENDING THE CORRECT SIGNAL TO THE LIGHTS. THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE AND I HOPE IT DOES NOT CAUSE ACCIDENTS AS THE SIGNALS BECOME STUCK. THIS OCCURS REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11350205

AFTER FILLING TANK FOR LONG ROAD TRIPS THE CAR DOES NOT START AND THE CHECK HEV HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON.

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I STOPPED FOR GAS AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START CAR AN ALERT CAME ACROSS MY SCREEN SAYING CAR HAS A HEV ISSUE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR 15 TO 20 MINUTES FOR MY CAR TO START AGAIN. I WAS ASSUMING IT WAS BAD GAS BUT MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT IT WASN'T A BAD GAS ISSUE. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT'S A POTENTIAL ELECTRIC ISSUE THAT MY WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER. I HAD YET EVEN EXCEED MILEAGE ABOVE 70000 MILES. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS AN INCONVENIENCE TO ME AND OTHER DRIVERS BECAUSE IT IS STARTING TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY. THIS COULD BE A FATHER FOR ANYONE IN A URGENT SITUATION AND NEED TO BE ABLE TO ACTIVATE THE CAR TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

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HEV ENGINIE ERORR

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ON 5/11 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE HEARD A CLICKING SOUND. SHE WAS NOT FAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND DECIDED TO DRIVE THE CAR IN TO GET LOOKED AT. AS SHE GOT CLOSE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. SHE PULLED OVER TO A SAFE LOCATION WHERE SHE COULD GET OUT AND AS SHE WAS PULLING OVER THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FLAME. SHE IMMEDIATELY GRABBED THE DOG AND JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND CALLED 911. WITHINJUST A COUPLE MINUTES OF EXITING THE VEHICLE IT WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND EXPLODED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS FAILED TO PROPERLY RETRACT AND LOOSEN WHEN NECESSARY. THE SEAT BELTS RESTRICTED THE BREATHING AND BODIES OF THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS WHEN THE SEAT BELTS WERE SECURED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LUNGED, JERKED, AND ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE WAS MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE ECO AND CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTIONS WERE ACTIVATED. ECKERT HYUNDAI, INC. (4011 S INTERSTATE 35, DENTON, TX 76210, (940) 243-6200) STATED THAT THE ECO AND CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTIONS FAILED AND PROVIDED AN INTERIM REPAIR OF DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY TO CLEAR THE ECU AND ECM CODES, WHICH AFFECTED THE TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER DEALER (JAMES WOOD HYUNDAI, 2110 US-287, DECATUR, TX 76234, (940) 627-4600) ASKED THE FIRST DEALER TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO GENERATE THE CODES. THE SECOND DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE ECO FUNCTION ACTIVATED. BOTH DEALERS STATED THAT IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, IT MAY BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11172744

"TAKATA RECALL" AUGUST 25TH THE CAR WAS DRIVEN INTO SOME HIGH WATER AND WAS PARKED BY A GAS STATION NEAR GREEN ROAD AND ALDEAN WESTFIELD R. THE CAR WAS UNDERWATER FROM THE FRONT END. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR MULTIPLE TIMES FOR REPAIR. FROM WARRANTY ISSUES TO FLOOD REPAIR, BOTH CAN'T GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER TO WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CAR STOPS AND COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF HYBRID MALFUNCTION. WE DONT HAVE ANY DOCUMENTS, THE DEALERSHIP HAS COPYS OF ALL REPARS.

NHTSA ODI 11144863

TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITH THE TRIANGLE SHAPED (MASTER WARNING LIGHT) WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKE TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,600.

NHTSA ODI 11144245

VEHICLE STATIONARY. TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN WITH ELECTRIC SWITCH, USED VEHICLE KEY TO OPEN TRUNK, THEN TRUNK WOULD NOT LATCH CLOSED. INTERMITTENT AND OR UNRELIABLE TRUNK OPEN/CLOSED WARNINGS IN DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER... TRUNK LIGHT INTERMITTENT AND/OR UNRELIABLE, IRRESPECTIVE OF OPEN/CLOSED STATUS IN DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. DEALER SERVICE DETERMINED LATCH ASSEMBLY TRUNK LID HYUNDAI PART 81230 ' C1010 FAILURE OF DETENT SPRING INTERNAL OF LATCH, BROKEN AND LOOSE. DEALER RESOLUTION, REPLACE MENTIONED PART.

NHTSA ODI 11141130

I WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MPH IN FULL ELECTRIC MODE AND THE CAR REMOVED ALL POWER FROM MY GAS PEDAL, THERE WAS LOTS OF DINGING SOUNDS AND THE DASH SAID "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, TURN YOUR CAR OFF". LUCKILY I WAS ALREADY TO THE FAR RIGHT SO I COULD JUST PULL TOT HE SHOULDER AND STOP THE CAR, THE BREAKS AND STEERING WERE STILL WORKING. TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOPING THE MARCH 2018 RECALL IS THE FIX. I HAD TO CALL AAA, ALL BLUE LINK CAPABILITIES STOPPED WORKING AS WELL. 2016 PLUGIN WITH ABOUT 25,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11099959

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AND THE ENGINE AND HYBRID INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. BROWN'S MANASSAS HYUNDAI (8651 CENTREVILLE RD, MANASSAS, VA 20110, (703) 361-9600) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI 11098766

ON APPROXIMATELY APRIL 30, 2018, WHILE DRIVING MY HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID TO MONTGOMERY ALABAMA I STOPPED TO FILL UP ON GAS. AFTER FILLING UP I GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START MY CAR, THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE STEERING WAS LOCKED AND THE ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A GAS PUMP

NHTSA ODI 11093719

THIS IS 4TH TIME THE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" LIGHT CAME ON IN LAST 7,000 MILES OF DRIVING. HYUNDAI CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM THREE TIMES SO FAR BUT IT KEEPS HAPPENING AND SINCE THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY, THEY MUST BUY THE CAR BACK. ONE OUT OF THE FOUR TIMES, THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED ON THE ROAD PUTTING LIVES ON THE LINE. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED EARLIER (REF: HYUNDAI CASE #111109600, NHTSA COMPLAIN #11080680) BUT NO ACTIONS WERE TAKEN BY EITHER HYUNDAI OR NAHTSA. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD AND CAN NOT BE FIXED AFTER THREE TRIES WITHIN A YEAR.

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MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 16,500. ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 70 MPH, CAR SHUT DOWN WITH ALARM INFORMATION AND INTO A CONTROLLED GLIDE, NOT ALLOWING ACCELERATION. AFTER ALMOST BEING RUN INTO I WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND PER DIRECTIONS, SHUT OFF MOTOR. WAS ABLE TO RESTART. WENT THREE MILES TO MY DESTINATION AND CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THEY DID NOT KNOW THE PROBLEM, AND AFTER TWO DAYS I GOT THE CAR RETURNED. THEY SAID THEY HAD TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO FIND THE DEFECT. GOING HOME THAT EVENING AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT EIGHT MILES AND AGAIN ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 70 MPH, THE CAR AGAIN DID THE SAME THING ON THE FREEWAY. AGAIN STARTING IT, THE CAR WENT ANOTHER FIVE MILES ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT AGAIN HAPPENED. THREE TIMES, SAME THING!!! (MUCH LIKE WHAT I READ ABOUT THE PRIUS TWO DAYS AGO.) NO LONGER FEELING THE CAR WAS SAFE IN THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO DODGE VEHICLES ON A FREEWAY WHEN A CAR SHUTS DOWN THREE TIMES, I TRADED IT IN. ALL I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE HYBRID SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI 11091598

HEV CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. CAR WOULD NOT START. CAR DROPPED @ DEALER ON 4/16/18 @ 0830. TODAY IS 4/24/18. CAR STARTED AFTER WAITING 15-20 MINS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON WHEN DROPPED AT DEALER.

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WARNING LIGHT SAYING "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" COMES ON AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START IF THE CAR IS PARKED. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO PULL OVER AT A SAFE LOCATION. IT HAPPENED TO ME THREE TIMES SO FAR, TWICE UNDER 18,000 MILES AND ONCE AT 24,600 MILES. THE DEALER IS NOT SURE WHAT IS CAUSING IT AND GIVES IT BACK TO ME AFTER SOME TWEAKING TO GET RID OF THE WARNING LIGHT. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAIN WITH HYUNDAI (CASE # 11109600) REGARDING THIS. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP AND I WILL NOT EITHER DRIVE OR RIDE IN THIS CAR EVER. I WILL NOT BE SATISFIED IN ANYTHING LESS THAN A COMPLETE BUY BACK. I AM ASKING NHTSA TO FORCE A RECALL AND HAVE THEM FIX THE PROBLEM WITH CONFIDENCE OR DO BUY BACKS. IT'S A DEATH TRAP AND CAN NOT BE ALLOWED TO EXIST ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11080680

ON 1/7/2018 WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID WITH APPROXIMATELY 41,100 MILES IN IT TO LOS ANGELES, CA WITH MY 82 YEAR OLD FATHER ON OXYGEN FROM SAN JOSE WHICH IS ABOUT 370 MILES AWAY ON HIGHWAY I5 WITH THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH. WHEN WE EXPERIENCED ENGINE PROBLEM. WHILE EXITING TO OUR DESTINATION ON HIGHWAY 118 DE SOTO EXIT, THE ENGINE HAD SLOWED DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AND BARELY TURNED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR SAFELY .WE WERE UNABLE TO START THE CAR AND DASHBOARD HAD INDICATED TO CHECK HEV . SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO START THE CAR, TO NO SUCCESS. LIGHTS WILL COME ON DASHBOARD, STILL ABLE TO CONNECT TO BLUELINK TO CALL FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE BUT THERE WAS A LONG WAIT BEFORE A CUSTOMER SERVICE ANSWERED UNTIL THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED AND STALLED. WE WERE STRANDED WITH AN 82 YEAR OLD MAN WHO HAS RESPIRATORY ILLNESS AND WE HAVE FINALLY CALLED AN UBER TO HIS HOME BEFORE OXYGEN RUNS OUT. ROAD ASSISTANCE FINALLY CAME AFTER 2 HOURS OF WAITING AND THE CAR WAS FINALLY TOWED TO THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALER IN WOODLAND HILLS 20539 VENTURA BLVD WOODLAND HILLS .THE CAR IS BEING SERVICED AND HAS NO UPDATE YET. I CALLED HYUNDAI USA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-855 671 3059 THIS AM 1/8/2018 AND CLAIMED THERE HAS BEEN NO REPORT OF RECALL TO THIS SORT OF PROBLEM AND HAS THEREFORE GAVE ME A REFERENCE CASE #10911352 .

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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT 68 MPH IN HOV LANE, HYBRID SYSTEM ALERT LIGHT UP AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND LUCKY ABLE TO DIRECT THE CAR TO RIGHT SIDE AND STOP AND WAIT FOR TOWING. THIS HAPPEN DURING TRAFFIC WAS SLIGHTLY JAM SO ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN OTHER CARS ARE SLOWING DOWN IN REGULAR LANE. CANNOT IMAGINE IF THERE IS NO TRAFFIC JAM, HIGH POTENTIAL TO GET INTO ACCIDENT AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. WITH THE DEALER FOR FIVE DAYS AND THEY CANNOT PINPOINT THE EXACT PROBLEM AND KEEP ON SAYING IS SLIGHT PROBLEM. HOW CAN THIS BE SLIGHT PROBLEM WHEN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN?? NEED TO HAVE MAJOR RECALL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. THERE ARE SIMILAR PROBLEMS FROM OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. I HOPE THIS WILL BE ADDRESS AND RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GET INTO MAJOR INJURY OR LOST OF LIFE.

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VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE PHEV WARNING ILLUMINATED AND THE GASOLINE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL PROPULSION. IT REFUSED TO ENGAGE THE GASOLINE OR ELECTRIC MOTOR TO MOVE OUT OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED HYBRID BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI 11044785

MY SONATA PHEV HAD HYBRID SYSTEM FAILED NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE WITHIN A SPAN OF 1.5 MONTHS. IT'S BEEN HARDLY 1.5 YEARS SINCE I HAD BOUGHT THIS CAR. IN BOTH CASES THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING COMES UP AND ENGINE LOOSES TOTAL POWER. THE 1ST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY 405 FREEWAY AND WAS LEFT ALL OF A SUDDEN WITH NO POWER ON THE ENGINE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM TO FACE WITH. WITH WHATEVER POWER WAS LEFT, WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE RAMP ON THE RIGHT. STOPPING ANYWHERE IN 405 FREEWAY IS ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS, EVEN ON THE SHOULDER (MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING COPS HAS BEEN REAR ENDED). THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED IT WAS ON A 3 LANE LOCAL PARKWAY STILL DANGEROUS AS I AM LEFT WITH NO POWER TO CONTROL THE CAR. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN BOTH CASES.THE DEALERSHIP TOOK 1 MONTH TO FIX THE CAR THE 1ST TIME. THEY ENDED UP REPLACING THE POWER RELAY ASSEMBLY WHICH HAD TO BE SHIPPED FROM SOUTH KOREA. IT RAN FOR CLOSE TO 1.5 MONTHS AND AGAIN THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING AND IT'S BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE POWER RELAY HAS GONE AGAIN AND HYUNDAI NOW WANTS TO SEE IF REPLACING THE HYBRID BATTERY WILL FIX IT. AS OF TODAY AFTER 18 DAYS THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SERVICE CENTRE.

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ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION I HAVE ALMOST HAD A COLLISION BECAUSE THE OTHER DRIVER WAS COMING INTO MY LANE AND I HONKED MY HORN, BUT IT ISN'T LOUD ENOUGH TO BE HEARD. APPARENTLY THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE SONATA SINCE 2011.

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