Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
The vehicle’s ABS system is engaging autonomously, causing the car to brake without any driver input. The dealer stated it was: BRAKE ACTUATION UNIT AND HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT BLEEDING AND PROGRAMING
WHILE DRIVING AND USING THE ACCELERATOR , THE RPM WOULD REV UP BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CAR WOULD THEN JERK BACK AND FORTH. ONLY ABLE TO GO APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES PER HOUR, BUT THE RPM WOULD GO AS HIGH AS 6K OR 7K RPM. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WHEN IDLE, ALSO FELT RPM GO UP AND JERKING MOTION.
AROUND A YEAR AGO (FEB 14, 2018), I RECEIVED A MESSAGE "HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING, PLEASE STOP NOW". MY CAR SHUT DOWN AND THANK GOD, I WAS PULLING INTO MY APARTMENT COMPLEX. MY CAR WAS INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TPS SYSTEM. THAT WAS REPLACED AND I WAS ON MY WAY. OVER 7 MONTHS AGO (JULY 2018), I RECEIVED THE SAME MESSAGE; "HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING, PLEASE STOP VEHICLE NOW". AFTER THE WARNING, MY CAR STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND THIS TIME THE ROAD WAS CLEAR AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER THORNTON ROAD HYUNDAI INSPECTED MY CARE AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY STATED IT WAS THE MOTOR. AFTER OVER $5000 WORTH OF WORK HERE IT IS APRIL 2019 AND THE SAME WARNING. THIS TIME I WAS STRANDED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. ONCE THE TOW TRUCK GUY GOT THERE, HE ESCORTED ME TO HIS TRUCK TO BE SAFE. I HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS WARNING OVER A YEAR AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW THE PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND ALL HYUNDAI DEALERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF WHAT THIS WARNING IS. WE AS HYUNDAI OWNERS NEED ANSWERS AND HELP. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PUT MONEY INTO A CAR WHEN THE PROBLEM IS ONLY BEING PATCHED UP.
TAKATA RECALL, MY CAR WAS TOTALED OUT IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON JULY 24, 2018. AS THE RESULT OF THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME WAS DRIVING AND HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP MULTIPLE TIMES ATTEMPTING TO FIND THE TURN SHE WAS LOOKING FOR. IT WAS A UNIT IN BETWEEN US ALLOWING ME TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT HITTING HER. IN THE PROCESS OF ME HITTING BREAKS MY ENGINE REVED REALLY HIGH CAUSING MY CAR TO SPEED UP INSTEAD OF STOP. THE BACK TIRED WERE EVEN SPINNING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAKS. AS A RESULT MY CAR SLAMMED INTO HER REAR END WITHOUT ME HAVING ANY CONTROL PERIOD. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO HER VEHICLE OTHER THAN A SCRATCH FROM THE IMPACT OF MY CAR, HOWEVER MY CAR WAS TOTALED COMPLETELY OUT. I'M FAULTED FOR THE ACCIDENT BC I'M SUPPOSE TO HAVE CONTROL OVER MY OWN CAR. IN THIS CASE I DID NOT. I WAS TOLD BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO INVESTIGATE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES CAUSING MY ACCIDENT, AND SURE ENOUGH THERE IS 2 RECALLS I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT. THE ONLY ONE I KNEW ABOUT WAS THE SEATBELT AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALSHIP FOR THAT AND IT STILL DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. I NEED TO KNOW SINCE THESE RECALLS PLAY A PART IN MY ACCIDENT HOW I CAN BE COMPENSATED. IT CLEARLY WAS NOT MY FAULT THAT THE CAR HAD MANUFACTURE ISSUES I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT. IT'S HAD THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME NOW BUT I WAS TOLD IT'S BC IT'S A HYBRID ME KNOWING IT WAS SOMETHING NOT SAFE ABOUT IT. I WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET GETTING READY TO GET IN THE LEFT LANE ONCE THE LADY TURNED TO TAKE MY SON TO SCHOOL. SHE ALMOST MISSED HER TURN AND HIT HER BRAKES. MY CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO ME HITTING MY BRAKES IT JUST KEPT GOING. #162
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND "CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM" MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE CONSOLE. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, I COULD NOT ACCELERATE SO I HAD TO MANEVOUR TO THE FAR RIGHT OF THE FREEWAY TO COME TO A STOP. TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE THEN RE STARTED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN INTO THE GARAGE AND STOPPED FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS BEFORE EXPERIENCING AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHING INTO THE GARAGE WALL CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE HOME. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE DRIVER HAD DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD. ALSO, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE FRONT PASSENGER TO BECOME INJURED SUFFERING A MILD CONCUSSION THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 03/17/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED JUST PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE'S SUDDEN ACCELERATION THE ENGINE REVVED UP. NEITHER THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT NOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WERE OPERATIONAL. THE AIRBAGS DIS NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER'S HEAD HIT THE DASHBOARD CAUSING NECK AND HEAD INJURIES. UPDATED 09/18/2017*JS
CAR WAS PURCHASED ON 9/10/2016 USED. IT WAS DRIVEN FOR THREE DAYS. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK THIS WARNING MSG CAME UP "HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING SAFELY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE!". THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON 9/19. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE SO IT WAS RETURNED. I WAS INFORMED IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN TO BRING IT IN. THE WARNING CAME ON AGAIN SO IT WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON 10/09. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT AGAIN SO THEY HAD IT FOR A WEEK TESTED IT EVERY WAY POSSIBLE INCLUDING DRIVING IT FOR A WEEK. THEY CALLED A HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY INFORMED THEM OF WHAT TO WATCH AND OR LOOK FOR AND TO NO AVAIL NOTHING. IT WAS GIVEN BACK TO ME A WEEK LATER AND I WAS INFORMED IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN DO NOT TURN IT OFF BRING IT STRAIGHT THERE TO OBTAIN A CODE. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN PUTTING IT INTO PARK, AND A COUPLE OF TIMES IT WOULD NOT LET ME START THE CAR I HAD TO WAIT FIVE MIN OR SO, PUSH THE LOCK/UNLOCK ON THE FOB, ANOTHER TIME THAT DID NOT WORK I HAD TO GET OUT OF CAR LOCK IT GET IN CAR LOCK IT AND THEN LOCK/UNLOCK IT FROM WITH IN AND IT STARTED. NOT SURE IF ALL THAT CORRELATED WITH IT BUT IT WORKED. *TR
AS I STARTED TO SLOW DOWN FROM 75MPH THE CAR STARTED TO BEEP AND THE READY LIGHT WAS FLASHING. MANY INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON TO INCLUDE THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT, AND THE AMBER BOX WITH A WRENCH IN IT. IT SAID "CHECK HYBRID CHARGING SYSTEM" AND "SAFELY PULL OVER" AS THE CAR SLOWED DOWN THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER GO FORWARD, THE LIGHTS DIMMED AND WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE.
I BOUGHT THIS 2013 HYBRID NEW ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. THERE ARE 2 MAIN ISSUES I HAVE HAD WITH THE CAR. FIRST: THE PROBLEM IS THE CAR SOMETIMES GOES ABOUT 3 MPH FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET BEFORE LURCHING WITH GREAT ACCELERATION. I DROVE WITH THE 'ENERGY FLOW' MODE ON THE DISPLAY TO SEE WHAT WAS SHOWING WHEN THIS PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL THE DISPLAY WAS SHOWING THE "ENGINE GENERATION/MOTOR DRIVE" (TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE, ENGINE BRAKING IS USED WHILE THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING IS APPLIED AND ALSO CHARGES THE HYBRID BATTERY. [ENGINE>BATTERY>WHEEL]). THIS SOUNDS LIKE A DECELERATION MODE, BUT SHOULD THIS BE HAPPENING WHEN MY FOOT IS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL? IT HAS OCCURRED WHEN I HAVE SLOWED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND ALSO WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP. IT HAPPENS WHEN I AM APPLYING STEADY PRESSURE OR PUMPING THE PEDAL. THIS CAN BE A HUGE POTENTIAL PROBLEM/ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN IF I AM ATTEMPTING TO TURN OR CROSS A ROAD WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE I MAY NOT BE MOVING FAST ENOUGH TO CROSS BEFORE THE TRAFFIC GETS TO ME. EVEN IF THEY WERE OVER A HUNDRED FEET AWAY WHEN I STARTED THE TURN/TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION. SECOND: AS HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED BY OTHERS, THERE IS A 'THUMP' FELT AT TIMES WHILE BRAKING. IT IS FELT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THROUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ALSO FELT BY THE PASSENGER'S THROUGH THEIR SEATS. THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT WOULD BE THE FEELING OF BEING REAR-ENDED AND PUSHED FORWARD SEVERAL INCHES. AS DRIVER, MY HEAD IS USUALLY AN INCH OR TWO AWAY FROM THE HEAD REST AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS MY HEAD HITS THE HEADREST OR THE HEADREST HITS MY HEAD. THE BRAKE PEDAL ITSELF IS NOT AFFECTED, AS THERE IS NO FEELING OF LOSING THE BRAKE/NOT SLOWING DOWN. IT'S JUST A 'THUMP' FELT.
DAY AFTER PURCHASE, BEEPS AND NOTIFICATION TO PULL OVER AND CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM. HAD CAR TOWED ONE WEEK LATER CAR WAS RETURNED TO US. DEALER INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY. RUNNING FINE EXCEPT BRAKES MAKE A NOISE WHEN DEPRESSED QUICKLY. MARCH 28TH, 11 MONTHS LATER COMING HOME FROM FLORIDA, DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 LATE AT NIGHT IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC, BEEPS AND NOTIFICATION TO PULL OVER AND CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM. PULLED CAR OVER SHUT OFF. RESTARTED CAR AND CONTINUED DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR 24 HRS. RETURNED TO DEALER THAT WEEK COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH CHARGING SYSTEM. AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE BRAKING SOUND AT DEALERSHIP, BUT STILL MAKING NOISE SPORATICALLY. MAY 15TH, LATE ON A SATURDAY NIGHT, STOPPED TO MAKE LEFT HAND TURN, I STARTED TO ACCELERATE, HALF WAY INTO THE TURN, CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, BELLS AND NOTIFICATION TO CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM. WITH TRAFFIC COMING TOWARDS ME, I HAD TO SHUT DOWN ENGINE AND RESTART AGAIN. IF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS SLIGHTLY FASTER I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON OVERNIGHT BUT WENT OFF THE NEXT DAY. RETURNING TO DEALER THIS WEEK. DON'T EXPECT ANY POSITIVE RESULTS AS LAST TIME THEY SAID THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I LOVED MY CAR, HOWEVER DRIVING IT NOW MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS!
WHEN STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN OR GOING UP A SLIGHT DRIVEWAY THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER WHEN YOU APPLY THE GAS FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND THEN THE CAR SURGES. WE WERE STOPPED BEHIND A CAR AND WHEN WE WENT TO DRIVE AROUND THEM THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO APPROX 1 MPH WITH THE GAS PEDAL FLAT ON THE FLOOR, THEN THE CAR SURGES. THEN AT OTHER TIMES THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP IS TRYING TO TELL ME WE ARE DRIVING WITH ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND ONE FOOT ON THE GAS. I DO NOT USE MY LEFT FOOT FOR THE BRAKE. I TRIED TAKING THE CAR OUT OF BLUE MODE BUT STILL HAD THE PROBLEM. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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