Cars Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited
- Thread starter Griz3752
- Start date
feralferret
Veteran Member
With the battery life issues and the related expense, I am leery of any hybrid. The fuel mileage is a plus, nut the downstream cost of the limited life of the battery pack to me more than offsets the mileage.
The hybrids go dirt cheap on the used market and the replacement packs are exorbitantly priced. When I get a vehicle, I expect to get at least 15 years of service from it. My truck is a 1991 with 300,000+ miles. My older car is a 1997, and less than a year ago I bought a 2004 with low mileage. I've had the 1997 for eleven years now.
You will have to assess the pluses and minuses for your self, but be sure to look at the long term costs.
The hybrids go dirt cheap on the used market and the replacement packs are exorbitantly priced. When I get a vehicle, I expect to get at least 15 years of service from it. My truck is a 1991 with 300,000+ miles. My older car is a 1997, and less than a year ago I bought a 2004 with low mileage. I've had the 1997 for eleven years now.
You will have to assess the pluses and minuses for your self, but be sure to look at the long term costs.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
My wife parses code for a living.
My life has revolved around ROI, Cost Avoidance, planned maint. and any way one could save to a profit or extend serviceable life and increase performance and profits..
I think you and I are pretty much on the same page and she's just naturally frugal but has a weakness for a dressy GMC; I share that to some degree but that comes from being on the road for so long.
I completely get what you're talking about when it comes to hybrids and their batteries; it's why there's a couple of outfits I've found who special ise in retrofitting gas vehicles to hybrid by fitting recycled Tesla power/batteries to other vehicles.
Apparently they're booked 3-4 yrs out.
Buick Electra
TB2K Girls with Guns
I have a 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid that has been in the family since new. It has 315K miles on the original battery.
feralferret
Veteran Member
Mecoastie, I'm glad you are having such good service from this vehicle.
A lot of the hybrids for sale have bad batteries and have less than 125K miles. As with many things, the care and maintenance provided by the owner make a big difference in longevity. I suspect that you have been diligent in this area and that you have been careful about not over-discharging the battery.
A lot of the hybrids for sale have bad batteries and have less than 125K miles. As with many things, the care and maintenance provided by the owner make a big difference in longevity. I suspect that you have been diligent in this area and that you have been careful about not over-discharging the battery.
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
What year Sonata Hybrid?
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Ok. Two issues to look out for.
1. The Theta 2 litre motor family. There's been a LARGE recall of the entire family of Theta motors. Plugged oil passages blowing the rods outside the block, mainly in #3 cylinder. If you get one, make sure you run the VIN on the recalls.gov website. Many of these motors have been replaced (under warranty) by Hyundai; but only if the car has 100K miles or less. They had issues with the motor, but Hyundai has done right by their customers. A hustle I've been seeing is-dealers will buy up the affected model year Hyundais (wasn't just the sonata, it was everything they produced from 2011-2018 or so) . Get them on their lots, abuse the motors (if there weren't already issues with them) and take them to the local Hyundai dealer. Dealer installs a brand new motor, and dealer gets the car back. Dealer jacks up retail price because of the new motor.
2. The braking system. It's brake by wire and has been known to go out due to bad sensors in the system. Not as prevalent as the motor issues but it happens.
If you're wanting a Sonata Hybrid, go for a 2018 or newer one. Virtually trouble free in my experience.
If you're looking at a specific vehicle, send me the VIN and I'll backtrace it for you. Sometimes I get lucky with a detailed history, sometimes not. If it's been run through our company I can get info on it easily.
1. The Theta 2 litre motor family. There's been a LARGE recall of the entire family of Theta motors. Plugged oil passages blowing the rods outside the block, mainly in #3 cylinder. If you get one, make sure you run the VIN on the recalls.gov website. Many of these motors have been replaced (under warranty) by Hyundai; but only if the car has 100K miles or less. They had issues with the motor, but Hyundai has done right by their customers. A hustle I've been seeing is-dealers will buy up the affected model year Hyundais (wasn't just the sonata, it was everything they produced from 2011-2018 or so) . Get them on their lots, abuse the motors (if there weren't already issues with them) and take them to the local Hyundai dealer. Dealer installs a brand new motor, and dealer gets the car back. Dealer jacks up retail price because of the new motor.
2. The braking system. It's brake by wire and has been known to go out due to bad sensors in the system. Not as prevalent as the motor issues but it happens.
If you're wanting a Sonata Hybrid, go for a 2018 or newer one. Virtually trouble free in my experience.
If you're looking at a specific vehicle, send me the VIN and I'll backtrace it for you. Sometimes I get lucky with a detailed history, sometimes not. If it's been run through our company I can get info on it easily.
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
You might also consider an '18 or newer Kia Optima hybrid. A little different styling but the same underneath.