Hyundai Sonata Hybrid transmission failure problems

Filed Jun 16, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · AZ

2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid well maintained by original owner, under 130,000 miles. May of 2025 AC stopped working intermittently (Hyundai dealer replaced AC hose). Aug 2025 AC stopped working AGAIN (same dealer could NOT identify problem). Car has consistent Hybrid System Warning! Safely Stop and Do not Drive messages lights and sirens when braking. Code PA186 comes up (low state of charge code for hybrid battery). December 2025 brought car back to SAME Hyundai dealer who NOW says car suddenly needs a 10k transmission (BUT still no idea what PA186 code is related to). Got transmission drained at different shop and NO NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED! Every repair shop OUTSIDE OF HYUNDAI who has scanned for codes gets the PA186 error and say it is related to HYBRID BATTERY LOW STATE OF CHARGE (I am the original owner THUS lifetime hybrid battery warranty). June 2026 different Hyundai dealer for repair of AC and PA186 code. NEW Hyundai dealer says AC issue is NOT related to the PA186 code. They still dont know what PA186 code is but want to charge me $5100 for engine wiring harness electrical short. SIDE NOTE!! Engine wiring harness electrical short is known issue for ABS module recall 251 for this car. Hyundai has denied the engine wiring harness electrical short repair as part of ABS recall 251 warranty and STILL cant tell me why Hybrid System Warning Lights and PA186 code is come on. Is electrical issue really harness or HYBRID battery?? Car is currently at Hyundai dealer.

Filed Apr 29, 2024 · Transmission · 76,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle lunged forward. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with automatic transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

Filed Nov 27, 2023 · Transmission · 74,680 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal went to the floorboard. The contact stated that the warning light to turn off the vehicle was illuminated. The contact turned the vehicle off and the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the dealer refused to service the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed to the residence. The vehicle was towed to another Hyundai dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a failed transmission and battery. The contact was informed that the transmission and battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated while driving away from the dealer, she heard an unusual knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The service technician accompanied the contact for a test drive and confirmed the knocking coming from the engine compartment. The contact was informed that the new transmission that was installed was defective, and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,680.

Filed Apr 20, 2023 · Fuel system · VA

Incident sounds similar to those experienced with the dual clutch transmissions. November 2022, all of the vehicle warning lights were on and remained on. The vehicle would not move and the transmission selector/shifter was locked in place. Working with the local service/dealership, the vehicle was repaired after 3 weeks with a new transmission shift actuator (or possibly other part). Similarity in the experience and possibility of risk with little information about trends or others in similar situations or resolution. We've had another (Same make/model/year) vehicle present similar circumstances.

Filed Nov 3, 2021 · Electrical, Transmission · MO · crash

The parking mechanism in the transmission failed. The car was parked in my garage . The lever was in the "Park" position when the car drove backwards out of my garage and crashed into the fence. It continued driving into the street and into the neighbors yard. Two people were out walking and saw it happen. I know I did not leave my car in neutral or reverse when I parked it in my garage. When I tested this later sitting in my car, in my garage, the car immediately began moving backwards instantly, while i was still at the wheel. Had the car been in neutral or reverse at the time this incident occurred, I would have known it was moving immediately and shifted it into park right away. When this incident happened I put the car into park, and I got out of my car , I got things from my trunk and went inside the house. Then I went back to the car to get more things. This is when I witnessed it driving out of my garage backwards. I was standing on my back step. Then I ran across the street to my car and got in the drivers seat to attempt driving it back to my garage. I had to yank it out of park and then shove it back into park to get it to start correctly. Then I was able to get it running again and drove it back across the street to my house. thank God no one including myself got hurt. The possibility of this happening shook me up for days. I reported this to Hyundai and waited 3 months for them to make a determination, they said they cant prove it , that it is my word against theirs. I looked online , and saw reports of this happening to other vehicles as late as 2017 even tho the recall for this was 2011-2014. I started using the electronic parking brake because i read online that other people who have had this happen said to do it. I need to buy a new car dont feel safe in this one.

Filed Oct 13, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 117,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai sonata hybrid. The contact stated that while driving, an unknown warning light illuminated indicating to stop the vehicle do not drive. The vehicle was taken to clay cooley hyundai of mesquite (16230 lyndon b johnson fwy, mesquite, tx 75150) and was diagnosed that the fuel pump that go to the transmission failed and was replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was picked up at the dealer and while leaving the dealer, the vehicle stalled. No warning light was illuminated. Additionally, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

Filed Dec 16, 2019 · Transmission · 42,000 miles · MD

The automatic transmission on the 2016 hyundai sonata hybrid went out on the car oct 31, 2019. My wife was driving the car, when she lost drivability of the car. The car would not go, she was able to park it on a side street. She restarted the car but would not go into gear, the engine was running. The car was towed to the closest dealership, when scanned, indicating of a transmission problem. The car has been at the dealership since oct 31, 2019 with no eta of when a new transmission will be available to repair the car. At this point I can not sale the car because it needs a transmission. Hyundai needs to give a date when the transmission will be available. The dealership has no time frame when they will get a transmission from hyundai.

Filed Oct 16, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 150,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai sonata hybrid. While driving, the transmission failed and the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to bob brady hyundai (4025 e boy rd, decatur, il 62526, (217) 876-3800) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken approximately seven times to the same dealer, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The contact stated that the dealer previously replaced the electrical component and the engine. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. *dt

Filed Jan 21, 2019 · 87,500 miles · FL

Vehicle began loosing acceleration from a stop position. Check engine light came on. Code read (p0a2d). Faulty hybrid motor or associated wiring. Dealer says need new transmission according to tsbs. No warranty. Not covered under hybrid 10yr./100,000 warranty for subsequent owners. Manual clearly includes transmission as part of hybrid system. Don't know what to believe. If the hybrid motor is at fault, why won't hyundai honor their warranty. If it's the transmission and manual states as part of hybrid system, why don't they honor warranty.

Filed Jan 15, 2019 · Electrical, Transmission · 57,334 miles · CA

Major failure occurred. I was driving my car when I heard sharp bells ringing from the car dash. Check hybrid systems lights illuminated on dash. The car was in motion when it just stopped. I had no time to pull to the side of the road. I turned it off and on again. I was in the center of the road and it would not move. Good samaritan pushed my car to side of the road. The check brakes light came on. Then the car would not turn on at all. The car would not recognize the key pad light came on. Locks would not operate. The window was stuck in the open position. The internal car lights were on and would not go off. The key pad could not lock/unlock the car. Luckily this happened on a side road. 1 mile earlier I was on a freeway that had no shoulder. If it had happened there, it could have been catastrophic. Numerous systems failed. I took it to they dealer. They had to wait for the hybrid specialist. He said the transmission fluid was very dirty and ordered a new transmission. My question, why would check hybrid systems come on and so much electrical failure if it was the transmission. I have read in forums that this has happened to several other hybrid sonata owners. Even after the transmission repaired, I still feel very unsafe in the car now. If it had happened just 1 mile earlier, my car stopping immediately on the freeway with no shoulder could have caused a major accident and been life-threatening.