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Hyundai Sonata slipping problems

39 of the 16,117 owner complaints about the Hyundai Sonata describe transmission slipping, most of them for the 2011 model year.

owner complaints
39
worst model year
2011
typical mileage
56,000
Is there a fix? There are 4 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2017
    1
  • 2016
    1
  • 2015
    5
  • 2014
    2
  • 2013
    4
  • 2012
    3
  • 2011
    13
  • 2006
    2
  • 2004
    2
  • 2003
    1
  • 1999
    1
  • 1997
    1
  • 1995
    1
  • 1991
    1
  • 1990
    1

What owners say

Filed Oct 12, 2026 · Transmission · GA

I had my engine replaced under the Theta Engine lawsuit and I was due for the 9C2 service campaign and it was installed...ever since I picked up my car it shifts weird between 1st and 2nd. I brought it back to a different Hyundai dealer as the warranty work was done at another location and they recommended a transmission flush and relearn. They can feel it slipping and the other dealership noted no problems, which leads me to believe it was because of the service campaign. I also called corporate and the customer service rep had heard of this before as well as a bunch of forums online.

Filed May 14, 2026 · Engine · TX

After completion of Hyundai Service Campaign 9C2, my 2016 Hyundai Sonata SE is very difficult to drive at low RPMs. Cold start its sluggish and jerks and driving uphill feels like transmission slipping but is not. An additional update to the ECM needs to be conducted ASAP.

Filed Jul 7, 2023 · Transmission · 82,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while his wife was driving 10-15 MPH, the vehicle jolted, and the transmission slipped into 1st and 2nd gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that his wife veered to the side of the road, shifted into neutral(N), and then shifted back into drive(D), and the vehicle responded as needed. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to tow the vehicle to their location because the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

Filed Feb 8, 2022 · Transmission · OH

The vehicle's transmission seems to be slipping or something. As you begin to come to a stop, the vehicle bogs down and you can not accelerate. There is a long hesitation and then suddenly it kicks in and jars the car. This happens on a daily basis. The vehicle is also burning through oil at an unprecedented rate.

Filed Aug 24, 2021 · Engine · 187,479 miles · TX · fire

The contact owned a 2011 Hyundai Sonata The contact stated that while driving, the accelerator pedal locked up and the transmission was slipping. Smoke was detected and fire emerging from the engine. The check engine warning indicator light was illuminated. There were no reported injuries. A Police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. The failure mileage was 187,479. The VIN was not available.

Filed Jul 14, 2021 · Engine, Transmission · MN

Entered a freeway on-ramp, the engine started to make a slapping noise. I thought it was the fan belt slipping. We began to lose acceleration, had a burning smell We pulled off and had the vehicle towed. Subsequently we discovered that the issue was exactly that which appeared in a published recall notice: Symptoms of the problem can include abnormal knocking noises from the engine; reduced power or hesitation; illumination of the “check engine” light or the engine oil-pressure warning light; or a burning smell, oil leaks, or smoke. In discussing with Hyundai, it was stated that my VIN does not meet a full reimbursement due to the VIN not being included. How is that possible, when the symptoms match the year, Make, model. https://driving.ca/auto-news/news/hyundai-recalls-almost-129000-cars-in-u-s-for-possible-premature-engine-wear

Filed Jan 21, 2021 · Electrical, Transmission · CA

My 2013 hyundai sonata issues: 1. My horn & left side of my steering wheel buttons doesn't work. I was told it could be related to fuses or clockspring replacement. Trip a/b and other buttons doesn't work , I've been driving for over a year without a horn because this isn't a recall. This is a huge safety issue. 2. My gears are start to slip in the transmission. I was told it could be two things it's either the transmission or speed quality censor. These cars were made either very fast or very poorly or both and this is another safety issue. 3. Electrical issues. I have to manually adjust by back light/break lights daily because they never stay in place. The whole wiring for this vehicle is horrible. Sometimes while driving the car suddenly starts to slow down. Every once in a while my radio is on but doesn't light up. Light bulbs are melting into light sockets. Electrical issues that are a safety issue for many with these model cars. Eitherway none of these issues were a problem until after hyundai performed all of the recalls on my vehicle. They charge $200 for a diagnostic that I'm not willing to pay , theses issues came from the makers of this vehicle, these should also be added to the recall list. I'm sure if you look around online there's others who's dealing with these issue from 2013 - 2021 today. I don't think it's fair that I purchased a vehicle and have to come out of pocket for all of these repairs that should have been repaired from the beginning. These are safety issues that should be taken more serious. I've almost got into multiple accidents because my horn doesn't work. My vehicle worked fined before all of the previous recall repairs.my transmission slipping left me in the middle of nowhere until my car started functioning properly to get home.the electrical on this car is costing me money non stop. Hyundai needs to fix this! 2.

Filed Sep 13, 2020 · Transmission · 65,000 miles · IL

My transmission appears to be slipping. Really scared to drive it far but can't afford to replace the transmission.

Filed Mar 12, 2020 · 188,000 miles · AL

Every time I stop and start to go again in first and second gear it feels like my car is slipping and not wanting to catch the gear seems to me like it's going to stall in the middle of the road one day

Filed Jun 26, 2019 · Transmission · FL

The car slips out of gear with changing the shifter from park to reverse. The selector will be in reverse and as the car is moving it slips out and goes neutral

Related recalls

Power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: pumpReported July 27, 2023 · 52,109 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Palisade Tucson, 2023 Sonata, Elantra, and Kona vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump controller to overheat.
Risk
An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting September 7, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 246.

Recall number 23V526000 · Recall details

Power train: automatic transmissionReported October 6, 2022 · 56,148 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Risk
Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 236.

Recall number 22V746000 · Recall details

Power train: axle assembly: axle shaftReported December 9, 2014 · 208 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 1.6 liter model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured August 29, 2014, to October 28, 2014. The affected vehicles may have been assembled with an incorrect left axle shaft which may result in the shaft separating from the transaxle differential.
Risk
If the left axle shaft separates from the transaxle, the vehicle may stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, a separated axle shaft may allow the vehicle to roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, dealers will inspect and replace the axle shaft, as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑800‑633‑5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 126.

Recall number 14V784000 · Recall details

Power train: automatic transmissionReported July 18, 2014 · 883,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, through May 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from from the shift lever pin.
Risk
If the transmission shift cable detaches, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver parks the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position and the parking brake is not applied, there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, repair the connection between the shift cable and shift lever, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑800‑633‑5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 123.

Recall number 14V434000 · Recall details

Questions about the Hyundai Sonata slipping

Which Hyundai Sonata years have transmission slipping problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2011 (13 complaints), 2015 (5 complaints) and 2013 (4 complaints).

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