2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: common problems

Owners of the 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid filed 28 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 28
involving a crash: 3

What fails most often

1 Engine 43% of all complaints
2 Electrical system 39% of all complaints
3 Service brakes 39% of all complaints
4 Seat belts 7% of all complaints
5 Electronic stability control 4% of all complaints
6 Engine and cooling 4% of all complaints
7 Exterior lighting 4% of all complaints
8 Hybrid propulsion system 4% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Engine: 12 complaints (43% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Electrical system: 11 complaints (39% of all).
Service brakes: 11 complaints (39% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Seat belts: 2 complaints (7% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Electronic stability control: 1 complaints (4% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 28 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

knocking, grinding or other noise4 · 14%
stalls while driving4 · 14%
warning lights, check engine4 · 14%
won't start2 · 7%
infotainment or screen glitches2 · 7%
seat belts2 · 7%
brake failure1 · 4%
engine failure or replacement1 · 4%
loss of power / limp mode1 · 4%
smoke, burning smell, fire1 · 4%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Engine	12	1
Electrical system	11	0
Service brakes	11	2
Seat belts	2	1
Electronic stability control	1	0
Engine and cooling	1	0
Exterior lighting	1	1
Hybrid propulsion system	1	0
Powertrain	1	0
Steering	1	0
Other	1	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

Additionally the seat belt restraint did not lock upon impact. Only minor injuries were sustained such as whiplash and a bumped head. These injuries were not documented, yet I do feel that it is important to mention them for general public awareness and a genuine concern for my fellow drivers.
Seat belts · crash · 2015-05-10 · NHTSA complaint #10715536
I drove the car for approximately two weeks, during this time I noticed and felt when I braked the car did not stop immediately, there was a delayed effect. At this time the break light illuminated.
Service brakes · crash · 2015-03-21 · NHTSA complaint #10700848
The independent scan confirmed codes P136 (engine knock signal) U2093/U1004 ( hybrid control module communication loss) and C1614 (ABS CAN TIMEOUT). The vehicle is fully available upon request.
Engine · 2026-10-07 · NHTSA complaint #11769494
The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. Several unknow warning lights were illuminated.
Engine and cooling · 2024-06-28 · NHTSA complaint #11597490
The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle the brake pedal went to the floorboard. The contact replaced the brake pads; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired.
Service brakes · 2024-05-01 · NHTSA complaint #11586391
The contact received notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
Service brakes · 2024-03-27 · NHTSA complaint #11579721
The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not able to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to an independent dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery fuse needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired.
Electrical system · 2024-02-06 · NHTSA complaint #11570339
The contact stated while driving onto an on-ramp at an unknown speed, an abnormal knocking noise was heard. The vehicle was able to accelerate to approximately 40 MPH. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven home and then to a dealer.
Engine · 2023-01-11 · NHTSA complaint #11501288

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20142
20153
20162
20173
20182
20196
20232
20246
20262

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 7,081 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 19% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Sonata Hybrid has 50 complaints (16 years in the data). This year has 28, below average.

What to check before buying

Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, service brakes. Total complaints: 28. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (14%), stalls while driving (14%), warning lights, check engine (14%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2014 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.