AI Damage2019 Hyundai Sonata Plug-IN Hybrid reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Plug-IN Hybrid filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel/propulsion system and electrical system. The maker issued 58 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 58
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel/propulsion system 60% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 40% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 40% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 20% of all complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system: 3 complaints (60% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (40% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 10.
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (40% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Engine: 1 complaints (20% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Tires | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Air bags | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
There are warning lights saying the inverter coolant is low but the reservoir is at the proper level. I suspect the coolant for the Hybrid charging inverter is bad and crystalizes causing blockages in the inverter coolant system. My car refuses to charge for the last 2 years.
While driving the car it suddenly decelerated and multiple warning errors on electronics, driver assist, braking started going off then the error message of Check Hybrid Turn Engine Off came on. I was able to coast into a parking lot as the car could only go around 5 miles an hour.
Every dashboard warning light illuminated. The car began to lose power. I exited the highway immediately and the car began to have sporadic power and was "lurching." I immediately pulled onto the shoulder and at that time another warning on the dash appeared within a minute or two of the first warning that said "shut…
The message "hybrid system failure" suddenly displayed and the vehicle lost power and stalled. This occured on hyw (65mph) and nearly caused wreck from behind
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 13,113 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (top 41% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sonata Plug-IN Hybrid has 16 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 5, below average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this…
- Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety…
- This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s…
This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H-2 (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine Replacement) or the…
- This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s…
This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine Replacement) or the latest…
- This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the…
This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of…
- Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink Service…
Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink Service functions. This may be due to an irregular disconnection on Verizon’s communication network. Follow the…
- This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover…
This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. If the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert…
- This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services
- Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships
It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid rain, and industrial fallout. In rare cases, the paint can become clouded under the PPF. These spots are the result of moisture trapped…
- Certain vehicles may experience the Check Engine warning lamp illuminated with DTC P1326 and/or engine may…
Certain vehicles may experience the Check Engine warning lamp illuminated with DTC P1326 and/or engine may exhibit abnormal noise, or no crank/no start condition related to connecting rod bearing wear or damage. This…
NHTSA lists 58 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Plug-IN Hybrid?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel/propulsion system, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: infotainment or screen glitches (40%), warning lights, check engine (40%), jerking, harsh shifts (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 Hyundai Sonata Plug-IN Hybrid?
NHTSA lists 58 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 2019 Hyundai Sonata Plug-IN 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 2019 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 2026-11-06.