Acceleration complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 24% | — |
| 2024 | 6 | 13% | — |
| 2023 | 4 | 5% | — |
| 2022 | 9 | 10% | 4,000 miles |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2020 | 7 | 4% | 1,000 miles |
| 2019 | 3 | 2% | 3,000 miles |
| 2018 | 19 | 5% | 9,000 miles |
| 2017 | 20 | 3% | 26,000 miles |
| 2016 | 30 | 4% | 56,000 miles |
| 2015 | 61 | 5% | 50,000 miles |
| 2014 | 22 | 3% | 41,000 miles |
| 2013 | 86 | 4% | 35,000 miles |
| 2012 | 84 | 5% | 57,000 miles |
| 2011 | 95 | 3% | 60,000 miles |
| 2010 | 11 | 3% | 25,000 miles |
| 2009 | 31 | 7% | 51,000 miles |
| 2008 | 14 | 3% | 35,000 miles |
| 2007 | 20 | 3% | 70,000 miles |
| 2006 | 39 | 4% | 107,000 miles |
| 2005 | 6 | 4% | 70,000 miles |
| 2004 | 5 | 2% | 30,000 miles |
| 2003 | 3 | 2% | 90,000 miles |
| 2002 | 8 | 3% | 80,000 miles |
| 2001 | 13 | 6% | 63,000 miles |
| 2000 | 7 | 3% | 61,000 miles |
| 1999 | 4 | 2% | 89,000 miles |
| 1997 | 3 | 6% | — |
| 1996 | 1 | 4% | — |
| 1995 | 6 | 9% | 125,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The vehicle is stalling in the acceleration process. I can feel and hear the stall by the air conditioner going out or fading out when it happens while driving. Pressing the gas and it barely moves at times. Makes a noise now while running. Unknown to whether it's electrical or engine or transmission. Pull out in the traffic accelerating but the car wasn't moving at the pace it should have. Could have cause an accident when trying to cross on going traffic. Just got the vehicle 2 weeks ago. No one has inspected the vehicle yet. Going to have it looked at for recalls. No warning lights appeared to reflect an issue, but there clearly is.
I went into dealer was told there was a car recall for radio update which I later was not provided any documentation for on another visit I noticed a speedometer update was performed to vehicle since the speedometer does not match the actual speed of the vehicle as the other complaint in December 2024 by another same model vehicle owner
Vehicle suddenly accelerated after pulling out of store parking lot at low speed into side street behind vehicle stopped at light (less than a car length in front) while pressing hard on brake. Vehicle lurched forward incrementally during the braking process, but vehicle kept accelerating causing vehicle to hit stopped vehicle numerous times before vehicle engine was finally turned off. Driver of both vehicles could have been seriously hurt. Vehicle was driven home after this incident without incident but has only been driven out of garage and onto and off towing truck. Car has not been inspected except for damage to vehicle and is currently awaiting insurance rep inspection at vehicle repair facility. Once damage is repaired car will be towed to dealership for inspection. Because of the short distance vehicle traveled no warning lamps/messages were noted.
I purchased this vehicle brand new off of the lot February 2024. Since then, I have had two incidents where in the middle of driving my vehicle has completely shut off. The first experience, I was driving 50+ mph. First my headlights went out, my engine shut off, my dashboard shut off, and I was cruising without power or control over my vehicle for about 5 seconds before everything turned back on. I took my car to the dealership where they "could not confirm concern" after driving around for 15 miles trying to recreate the issue. They stated no codes or issues were shown on their end and returned the car to me. 6 months later during late October, my car did the same thing. I was driving 40+ mph and my car shut off in the middle of me driving. I contacted my dealership to inform them it happened again. They told me they did not have any available appointments to bring my car in. …
Car was parked, full stop, doors shut, seatbelt on. Foot on brake. Car then seemed to lurch forward by itself forward hitting parking cement block. Put in reverse to back away and car stayed still...then I tapped the gas again to back up and insted vehicle plowed forward.instead.of reverse ...went over the parking block and hit concrete beam in front, when the car should have backed up in reverse. I'm a person who drives speeed limits, and ulta careful when i drive, and parked at this place/spot for years. This has never happened not sure why it did. No injuries or other people involved thank god, but scared the heck out of me. Wracking my brain, my recalls and software and service appts are up ro date.Nothing out of ordinary that day. I'm confused and shaken, why the first lurch forward and why did going in reverse move it forward? ugh. It drove home fine. …
My concern is a potential unintended acceleration forward as. I was. parking vechicle. Sudden burst of speed, went thru shrubbery and off a 2 foot wall. Felt as if we were taking off a runway in a plane. Car went nose up over the wall and then dropped into a neighbor yard digging a divot, ripping rear left fender and bumper with some undercarriage problems. My spouse and I were seatbelted and not injured. I can not recall any safety warning until car stopped and then do recall a message being on dash but cannot presently recall what it said. Vehicle currently being worked on at collision center where Insurence Appraisor gave go ahead with estimate to repair damages
The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at a low speed pulling into a parking spot, the vehicle accelerated over two concrete stopping blocks and crashed into a parked unoccupied 2015 Toyota vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. A police report was filed. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment, or fire. The contact called the local dealer who informed him about obtaining the Event Data Recorder but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 1250.
The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V746000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 3,800.
NHTSA investigations
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003.
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Sonata years have acceleration problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2011 (95), 2013 (86), 2012 (84), 2015 (61) and 2006 (39) model years. Acceleration complaints make up 3% of all complaints for the 2011.
Is there a recall for Hyundai Sonata acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for any Hyundai Sonata model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Hyundai Sonata acceleration problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 54,000 miles; 47% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the accelerator pedal (14 mentions), followed by the cruise control (9).
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.