HyundaiSonata2015Overview/hyundai/sonata/2015/base/

2015 Hyundai Sonata

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2015 Sonata.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2015 Hyundai Sonata is a mid‑size passenger car built on Hyundai’s contemporary platform, powered by an engine that requires a 4.8‑quart oil capacity and accepts 5W‑20, 10W‑30, or 5W‑30 API‑rated oils. With its 2015 chassis, the Sonata delivers a smooth ride while meeting the brand’s efficiency standards, and its modest oil consumption reflects the engineering focus on reliability. In the broader reliability context, the 2015 model sits in the middle of Hyundai’s 1990‑2026 complaint timeline—after the 2011 peak of 3,368 complaints and well before the 2026 low of just two—indicating a relatively stable performance for owners and researchers alike.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182015

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI NS · NS CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI NS · NS CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnHEADOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205/65R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Spark plug1884911070
Battery37110C2800
Front wiper blades99H09AKA18H alt 99H09AKA26H

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length191.3 in
Overall width73.6 in
Overall height58.3 in
Wheelbase110.6 in
Curb weight3252 lb
Track (front / rear)63.4 / 63.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Sonata of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.7–9.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.70 sec — 2015 Eco
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2015Eco 1.6L Turbo I-46.70 sec15.30 sec177 hpFWD
2015Eco 1.6L Turbo I-47.80 sec16.10 sec177 hpFWD
2015Sport 2.4L I-47.90 sec16.20 sec185 hpFWD
2015Sport 2.0T 2.0L Turbo I-48.00 sec16.30 sec245 hpFWD
2015Sport 2.0T 2.0L Turbo I-48.00 sec16.20 sec245 hpFWD
2015Limited 2.4L I-48.40 sec16.50 sec185 hpFWD
2015Limited 2.4L I-49.30 sec17.20 sec185 hpFWD
2016Sport 2.0T 2.0L Turbo I-47.20 sec15.50 sec245 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.8 qt of 5W-20 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.0
Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity7.5
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity7.9
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts94-101 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts123-130 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts26
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts36
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts36

Chassis torques

Front Wheel Hub203-217 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159-188 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance0.50-0.62 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance1700-2300 ohms
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance0.50-0.62 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance1700-2300 ohms
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance0.50-0.62 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance1700-2300 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerHyundai

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity18.56-20.32 lbs
Oil GroupPOE
Oil Capacity3.89-4.56 oz
RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity17.77-19.19 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)70-73 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)48.3-51.2 psi
Engine Compression178 - 199 psi / Max Variation 15 psi
Engine Compression171 - 192 psi / Maximum Variation 15 psi
Engine Compressionpsi 171 - 192 / Max Variation 15 psi
Intake Valve Lash0.0008-0.0019 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.0012-0.0021 in
Intake Valve Lash0.0067-0.0009 in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront or rear: 16-23
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 58-; Rear: 58-
ABS Sensor Torque6.6-7.0
Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque16-23
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque58-72
Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque16-23
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 58-; Rear: 47-
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9013–16 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9013–16 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9013–16 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head bolts.

124.0-27.0 ft. lbs.24–27 ft. lbs
290 degrees-95 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees-95 degrees90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head bolts. Apply Loctite 5900H or equivalent on the front edge of the cylinder head gasket. Both the upside and the down side. Assembly of the cylinder head must be completed within five minutes of applying the liquid gasket compound.

124.0-27.0 ft. lbs.24–27 ft. lbs
290 degrees-95 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees-95 degrees90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head bolts. Apply Loctite 5900H or equivalent on the front edge of the cylinder head gasket. Both the upside and the down side. Assembly of the cylinder head must be completed within five minutes of applying the liquid gasket compound.

124.0-27.0 ft. lbs.24–27 ft. lbs
290 degrees-95 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees-95 degrees90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Do not reuse any bolts. Do not apply any oil to the cylinder head bolts. Apply a suitable liquid gasket compound to the top and bottom of the cylinder head gasket. Assemble the cylinder head within five minutes of the liquid gasket application

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees90 degrees
690 degrees90 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9013–16 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 22.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 122.511 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 20.0-23.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 122.511 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 3,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 3,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 6,200 miAir Intake Duct (inspect) · Intercooler (inspect)
Every 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Filter (inspect)
Every 37,500 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2015 model year registers 1,127 complaints, representing a significant rebound from 2014’s 742 complaints, though remaining below the generation’s peak of 3,368 complaints seen in 2011. While investigations declined from seven in 2014 to four, recalls held steady at nine and Technical Service Bulletins spiked to 250—the highest volume in the entire dataset—suggesting intensified manufacturer attention to emerging issues. Engine complaints dominate the 2015 docket with 383 filings, accompanied by 47 fire-related and 34 crash-related complaints, though the data does not specify root causes for these incidents. Positioned after the 2011–2013 high-water mark of complaints but before the 2016–2018 decline, 2015 sits in a volatile midpoint where complaint volume surged while regulatory scrutiny eased. Given the elevated complaint volume, record-high TSB count indicating ongoing technical issues, and significant engine and fire complaint filings compared to surrounding years, 2015 represents a less favorable acquisition than 2016–2018 alternatives and warrants thorough pre-purchase inspection.

9
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
250
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1,127
Owner complaints
34 involved a crash · 47 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,127 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine383
Unknown Or Other78
Steering43
Power Train39
Power Train,Engine37
Electrical System,Engine30
Structure28
Electrical System27

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 9 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V726000Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof AssemblyReported 11/10/2016

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles manufactured December 8, 2014, to August 18, 2015, and Hyundai Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to March 18… Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair the wind deflector anchor plate, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at…

17V359000Parking Brake:Indicator LightReported 05/06/2017

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 250 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
26-01-013H-2 DN2026-05-20Electrical SystemCertain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles…
26-01-013H-2 TSB2026-05-20Electrical SystemCertain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles…
9C2 0605182026-05-18Electrical SystemFollowing completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain…
9C2 DCS 2605182026-05-18Electrical SystemFollowing completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain…
26-BD-002H TSB2026-04-28Unknown Or OtherCertain Hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sonata. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2015 Sonata take?

4.8 qt of 5W-20 API certification, SL or SM-is preferred. Above 0 degreesF 10W-30 API certification, SL or SM, All temperatures 5W-20 or 5W-30 API certification, SL or SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2015 Sonata have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.