2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: jerking or lurching

Filed Jul 24, 2026 · Transmission · MN

While driving and everything is going along fine it will suddenly jerk and make a sound as if I've been hit behind. I'm not sure if it's part of the detached shift cables or transmission or something else. Sometimes it will jerk violently while going uphill also.

Filed Aug 11, 2023 · Engine, Transmission · AL

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the message "Pull Over. Stop the Vehicle" was displayed, and the vehicle failed to respond upon depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact veered to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle became drivable after waiting 30 minutes to an hour. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that while reversing and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle jerked, made an abnormally loud sound, and failed to respond. The contact shifted into park(P) and shifted back into reverse(R), and the vehicle jerked and responded. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle jerked and hesitated to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where a diagnostic test was performed. The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Jul 14, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 165,000 miles · CA

While driving the car on the freeway, it will jerk forward and then shortly after lose power. The car shows the battery as being barely charged. I pull over (luckily haven't been killed yet) on the side of the freeway. Let the car sit for a few minutes, restart it and the battery is half full and the car is driveable. I've read online that this is a common issue with 2012 hyundai sonata hybrids. I've taken my car to a hyundai dealership twice, and they can't find anything wrong, diagnostics show its fine. The second time I took it in they replaced the battery located in my trunk for $485. That did nothing, as the car is still randomly shutting off, and most times in the most dangerous areas of the road. I don't think hyundai will do anything about this until numerous people are killed. Forgot to mention that sometimes when it shuts down the check oil light comes on. I've had the oil replaced and the oil sensor, so thats not the issue.

Filed Jan 24, 2019 · Acceleration, Electrical · 151,000 miles · SC

Yesterday the car drove fine untill about an hour before I went home. Then it started with the bumping/jerking when switching from electric to gas. Worse than it has ever been. Then the revving started, more than usual, and wouldn't accelerate. Then it was like the throttle stuck. Got the revving noice, but the eco wasn't burried at red, for about 1/4 mile before I was able to pull over into a parking lot. Shut off the car. Restarted and drove 1 mile to home. Revved a few times in that period.

Filed Jan 5, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 131,000 miles · CA

The car began lurching forward intermittently at highway speeds (65+ MPH) when travelling in a straight line on a flat highway on day 1, after 30 minutes of driving. On day 2, the car failed to shift gears at low speeds (<40 MPH) while decelerating downhill on a city street, after running normally for 30 minutes at highway speeds. It coasted slightly uphill in first gear to the destination on a city street, unable to accelerate from 5mph. It was towed ($88) to a mechanic where it failed a road test, and the transmission and clutch assembly were pronounced dead. A new transmission and clutch assembly were installed and the engine (odo 131,000+) failed to turn over. $650 in labor to diagnose and attempt repair/replacement. Repairs were estimated at $8,100 and the kbb value was less than $3,200. The car is otherwise in excellent condition and is being sold to a junk yard with new tires under it.

Filed Dec 8, 2018 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · SC

This has been happening on a daily basis for at least the last 4 months, some days are worse than others. Seems like the trans computer cannot make up its mind to engage or disengage and create a 'power loss' or acceleration loss. The car then bucks and clunks for a few seconds until it figures out what its going to do. Happens in low engine temps, car has not reached 1/2 way temp for several months, always runs 1, 2, or 3 bars from cold, replaced thermostat, radiator fan stopped working and replaced that. Sometimes the car will over rev and then catch making the car lurch forward or backward. This happens usually at stop signs or stop lights, but the RPM have been buried at high while driving then drops rapidly.

Filed Dec 4, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 61,000 miles · CA

After I exited the freeway while traveling to my mothers on thanksgiving day I was stopped at a light to turn left onto a street and when I tried to go the car would not move I had to push the gas peddle all the way down and when it finally went it jumped/jerked really bad which almost caused me to hit the car in front of me and after that it was going really slow. 2 days prior the car was lagging while slowing down to break seemed like the system wasn't reading that I want to slow down and stop which again almost caused me to have an accident. This car is a safety hazard and I only have 61,000 miles and I only had the car for 9 months. I was told it was the transmission and the car is still in the shop trying to figure out what is wrong.

Filed Sep 12, 2018 · Acceleration · 117,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai sonata hybrid. While the vehicle was in reverse, it jerked and an abnormal noise was heard coming from the rear end. When the contact depressed the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate and then accelerated independently. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

Filed Oct 16, 2017 · Transmission · 107,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai sonata hybrid. The contact stated that the vehicle did not register the correct gear after it was shifted into reverse. The vehicle also jerked in the opposite direction it was shifted. The failure occurred without warning. Norm reeves hyundai superstore (18900 studebaker road cerritos, ca) was contacted and the vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

Filed Mar 15, 2016 · Engine, Fuel system · 51,000 miles · IN

This is my second 2012 sonata hybrid. The first one had so many engine issues that hyundai replaced it with another 2012 sonata hybrid. I have taken it in 5 times.for the same issue. Around 20mph the car will not accelerate then it jerks forward. I almosy got hit on the highway because it wont accelerate. Several weeks ago the stop safely do not drive hybrid warning came on and thr car wouldnt go. Had ot towed. They found code p0717. They replaced input output speed sensors but the problem continues still. It also jerks when it changes from hybrid to gas. This car is dangerous. They cannot seem to find the problem. Mileage 51000-55000.

Filed Jul 27, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 71,415 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai sonata hybrid. When shifting into reverse or drive, the vehicle jerked violently. In addition, while driving 15-20 MPH, a chime sounded and the 'safely stop and do not drive' warning message appeared on the message board. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil pump or the computer module failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in a manufacturers recall that was related to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 71,415.

Filed Oct 22, 2014 · Transmission · CA

Recently my hybrid sonata car would not pickup speed especially between 10 and 40 miles per hour. It would also badly jerk while trying to accelerate or make high pitch sound without picking up speed. I had to pull to the side of the road couple of times and bit scared in driving it. Had the car towed to the dealer. The dealer after looking at the issue agreed to completely replace the transmission with the refurbished (from hyundai) transmission :(.