Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Hyundai Sonata owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed while he was at a complete stop at the stoplight, but it failed to respond. The battery warning light and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact turned off and attempted to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle would not start. The contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the driver's side hood. The contact was able to push the vehicle to the side of the road with some assistance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer called the contact and advised that he would be responsible for the cost of the repair as he failed to complete an unknown recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. …
I drove a mile from my house and the vehicle stalled at a turn. The engine shut off. I tried to turn it back on and it did not. I have an electrical push button and it did not work. My passenger and I pushed the car out of the road into the back area of an HEB. We then opened the hood and the engine started smoking. I had called my boyfriend who then arrived. The engine continued to smoke and an HEB driver saw the incident. He came over with a fire extinguisher and sprayed it because they could see flames starting under the car. The fire department and police had been called. The car engine then went up in flames and my boyfriend used the fire extinguisher. The fire department arrived and went over to the car and cut the wires. Nothing on the car works. It has not been assessed because I only had collision insurance and my company would not come to assess it. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. While driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was shaking and jumping, with the headlights flickering, and the steering wheel lost resistance, and became easier to maneuver. While turning the vehicle either to the left or the right, there was a vibrating sound coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. After the sound occurred, the contact noticed that after turning off the vehicle and then attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact manually moved the serpentine belt first to successfully start the vehicle. The exterior lights failed to illuminate intermittently. The air bag and battery failure warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V226000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); and the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the engine was replaced. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH at nighttime, the turn signal switch was engaged, and the headlights inadvertently turned off. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that he was able to turn on the high beams by engaging the high beam switch. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that they would be able to diagnose the vehicle in four weeks. The dealer also advised the contact that the turn signal switch needed to be replaced. The contact also contacted a second unknown dealer who also advised the contact that the turn signal switch needed to be replaced; however, the earliest availability was in a couple of weeks. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the turn signal switch was replaced. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the engine seized. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact and several nearby drivers pushed the vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway. The contact started the vehicle; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact researched and discovered a reported failure that identified the rearview camera as the source of the failure. The contact stated that the article instructed to disconnect the rearview camera to stop the electrical failure. The contact disconnected the rearview camera. The contact stated that there were no more failure occurrences after the rearview camera was disconnected. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact heard a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. In addition, the instrument panel was lit up with unknown warning lights, and the exterior lights were blinking off and on. The contact stated that the failure began when the anti-theft software was installed. The dealer was informed of the failure; however, the contact was quoted a diagnostic test fee. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
We were driving and the engine just quit. We were able to safely get to the median. The minute the car was stopped we smelled something burning. We got the kids out of the car and to the other side of the road. We looked under the hood and could smell the burning but didn't see where it was coming from. Soon we were back on the side of the road waiting for our ride to pick us up. About 20 to 25 min later we saw smoke coming out of the hood. My husband called the fire dept and just as they arrived the whole thing lit on fire under the hood. The fire dept was able to put out the fire. Now we are waiting to have it appraised by our insurance company.
Left driver side rear and front headlamps would burn out, after time noticed the left headlamp flickering 9n and off while driving at night in auto mode, also inside dash lights dimming, also left driver side seat will not adjust, this is a Hazzard for myself and others while driving at night, with lights malfunctioning, was pulled over by highway patrol, and given a warning to fix headlamp.Issue has not been inspected by anyone and the vehicle can be inspected upon request, no dash or warning lights have came on.
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the horn independently beeped. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
I was driving and my car started beeping and the wheel jerked to the left and my car slowed down from 65mph to 20mph and almost caused me to have an accident. After I replaced the breaking module, my battery started shorting out and my car once again jerked off to the side and then slowed down abruptly from 65 mph to 20mph.
NHTSA investigations
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
During this Preliminary Evaluation (PE), the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) assessed the scope, frequency and potential safety-related consequences of non-crash vehicle fires caused by both engine failures and failures of other vehicle systems/components in model year (MY) 2011-2014 Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe vehicles equipped with Theta II and Lambda II engines (approximately 1.3 million vehicles).
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
In a letter dated June 11, 2018, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a safety defect investigation into non-collision related fires on model year (MY) 2011-2014 Kia Optima and Sorento, and Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe vehicles. In a letter dated July 24, 2018, CAS requested that MY 2010-2015 Kia Soul vehicles be added to the petition.
Electrical complaints in other Sonata years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2014 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA has 135 complaints about the electrical system of the 2014 Hyundai Sonata, 18% of the model year's 750 complaints. The component named most often is 12v/24v/48v battery (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2014 Hyundai Sonata electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2014 Hyundai Sonata, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2014 Hyundai Sonata electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 9 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.