the car has two issues. brake issue (gas pedal is soft and sinks) and engine power ( gas pedal is soft and not responsive) Brakes are soft and spongy some times and sometimes hard. even you push the brake pedal twice or three time it takes long distance to stop. some times the brake looks good but for short period of time. the brakes inconsistent. I took to the dealer where I bought it hey refuse to repair it. then i took it to another dealer. first time they said no issue with car then second time they they replace the vacuum pump and they found out one of the piston is not firing. they replace the ignition coil. the car still has issue and not fixed. I filed case with the manufacturer but the manufacturer closed the case. After that I file lemon law case.
Hyundai Sonata spongy pedal problems
16 of the 16,121 owner complaints about the Hyundai Sonata describe soft or spongy brake pedal, most of them for the 2013 model year.
- owner complaints
- 16
- worst model year
- 2013
- typical mileage
- 13,500
By model year
- 20251
- 20191
- 20161
- 20151
- 20142
- 20135
- 20123
- 20111
- 19921
Often reported together
ABS 3Brake failure 2Won't start 1Sudden acceleration 1Fire or smoke 1Engine failure 1Check engine light 1
What owners say
Vehicle doesn’t stop hard pedal and brake light came on 144k
When driving my 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, it will randomly start flashing and beeping at me with the saying "check brakes" Also my ABS Brake light comes on. This function only happens at random causing me to shut off my car completely and restart. It has really become a problem after I reached 112000 miles on the vehicle. I bought the vehicle with 80,000 miles. Anyone driving in my car is put at risk due to brakes not working accurately and are spongy feeling when pressed down. If I were to have to slam on brakes, I would ultimately run into another vehicle or object since the braking system during this issue does not work correctly. I have called the dealership to ask about the recall. No recall on this issue but online, similar issues have been documented.
2016 Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0, 62,000 miles Ive had my vehicle to the dealers 3 times for a soft pedal /no brakes. They said they cant fix it . The said they replaced the entire abs system but there is no record of it. They said they put all new brakes lines on. They gave me my car back both times and I avoided a few major accidents. They have had my vehicle for 4 months. The owner will not respond to my call or email. They said an engineer from the factory was coming wendnesday 10/6/2021 and I'm not sure I believe them.
When I purchased the vehicle in september of 2020 I noticed every once in awhile when I push on the brake the brake light would come on and the panel felt very spongy. I took it to the dealership and they fix the light they told me the brake pedal feel was normal. But kia and hyundai have a recall out right now it does not cover my car but from what I've read of the recall it sounds like that's what's happening to my car. The pedal feels very spongy it always feels like it's going down to the floorboard when you press the brake
Newly leased vehicle. Within the first two weeks and less than 300 miles the vehicle failed to start on two different days in the morning. The brake pedal was hard and car would not start. After more than 5 attempts it finally started. It was parked in the garage. Vehicle has been at the service department for 3 days and have not been able to diagnose since they can't replicate it.
Tl* the contact owned a 2014 hyundai sonata. The contact received a recall notice for the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v934000(engine, fuel system, gasoline). The contact took the vehicle to norm reeves hyundai superstore (18818 studebaker rd, cerritos, ca 90703, (562) 353-4062) where the engine was replaced per the recall. While driving 65 MPH, the brake pedal was hard and difficult to depress. The contact was alerted by another driver that her vehicle was smoking and the engine caught fire without warning. The contact was able to pull over and all the occupants exited the vehicle. The entire vehicle became engulfed in flames. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A fire report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and deemed destroyed. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact to call the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered the contact a new vehicle. The failure mileage was 200,009.
The low tire pressure came on, so I went home told my husband about the tire we was on our way to putting air in the tire. I went to push on the brake to start the car and noticed the brake pedal was hard(stiff), I went to pull off and really noticed that I was not able to push on the brake pedal to stop the car. I have taken the car to the shop to see what is wrong with it
My daughter was driving on the highway in the 2nd to left lane about 65 MPH, check engine light was on and all of the sudden she lost complete control of the accelerator pedal. She say's she pushed it all the way down to the floor several times, no pressure, no control and obviously slowed down. She moved over to get to the right shoulder to stop and see what is the issue, luckily the brakes worked (hard pedal), but many cars were dodging her trying not to hit her. She didn't get in an accident, but sure close to being in one and high speeds. Frightening to say the least. I has about 87,000 miles on the car. I am still concerned if I put another engine should I worry about this happening again? It could happen again unless it's recalled and the problem fixed! I am just glad she didn't get seriously injured or killed. I am very concerned knowing that this could happen to anyone with the 2011-2015 2.4l engine. I tried to be proactive therefore I'm posting this complaint for others. I guess it takes collateral damage of people losing life for car companies and the wonderful federal government to take notice. Beware most 2011-2015 hyundae sonata cars have this problem from what I am told.
I having a spongy brake pedal and my ABS,brake, traction control light keep coming on the dash. Then they will disappear.this happened about six times in one day.what may be the problem.I took it to dealer and they could not pull up a code.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2006-2011 Hyundai Azera and 2006 Hyundai Sonata vehicles. Water may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short .
- Risk
- An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began on February 19, 2018. Owners may call Hyundai at 1‑800‑633‑5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 172.
Recall number 18V026000 · Recall details
Parking brake: indicator light
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Sonata and Genesis vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the warning light to indicate that the parking brake is applied may intermittently not illuminate in the dash due to corrosion in the switch.
- Risk
- If the parking brake indicator is not illuminated when the parking brake is applied, the driver may operate the vehicle with the parking brake partially engaged, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the parking brake switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑671‑3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 164.
Recall number 17V359000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011 Sonata vehicles manufactured from December 11, 2009, through September 1, 2010. The affected vehicles may experience a brake fluid leak from the two brake lines that connect the brake system's master cylinder to the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) due to insufficient seal between the inner brake hose and metal brake line fitting.
- Risk
- If the brake lines leak brake sufficient fluid, the brake warning lamp in the instrument cluster will illuminate and longer stopping distance will be required, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake hoses with a revised service part, 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 122.
Recall number 14V433000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured April 25, 2014, through June 16, 2014. Due to a manufacturing error, one or both of the front brake calipers may fracture.
- Risk
- If a brake caliper fractures, brake effectiveness would be reduced, lengthening to distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai contacted the affected owners on June 19, 2014 and instructed them not to drive their vehicles. Hyundai dealers will replace the affected brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑800‑633‑5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 120.
Recall number 14V368000 · Recall details
Questions about the Hyundai Sonata spongy pedal
Which Hyundai Sonata years have soft or spongy brake pedal problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2013 (5 complaints), 2012 (3 complaints) and 2014 (2 complaints).
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