Hyundai Sonata problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 1,243 owner complaints and 11 safety recalls for the Hyundai Sonata. That averages 24.3 complaints per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (index 0.60 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Midsize sedans segment it ranks #2 of 5 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 37.8.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is flat. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models are within 10% of the 2018 and 2019 models (45 early complaints per model year versus 55).
The 2018 model year has the highest rate (43.6 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (19.7). The 2018 model year runs at least 50% above this model's average of 24.3 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (39.8% of complaints), followed by Electrical (12.4%) and Fuel system (10.7%). Engine complaints are 1.8 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 81 complaints (6.5%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 59 injuries and 1 death.
In the last 12 months owners filed 300 complaints versus 263 in the previous 12 months — up 14%. The 2021 model year generated the most recent reports (56). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 44 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 11 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2021 (3), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning, 1 fixable over the air. 3 NHTSA investigations have covered this model; the latest is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (defect petition, opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Nissan Altima, but fewer than Chevrolet Malibu, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 ▲50%+ | 383 | 43.6 | 1.08 | 52 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2019 | 172 | 22.1 | 0.55 | 41 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 195 | 28.7 | 0.71 | 44 | 4 | Fuel system | View › |
| 2021 | 189 | 32.7 | 0.81 | 56 | 4 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 | 113 | 23.6 | 0.58 | 31 | 3 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 102 | 26.9 | 0.67 | 32 | 2 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2024 Fewest complaints | 55 | 19.7 | 0.49 | 21 | 1 | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 28 | 15.7 | 0.39 | 17 | 0 | Electrical | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 6 | 6.0 | 0.15 | 6 | 1 | Unspecified or other | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 300 · Previous 12 months: 263 Within ±30% year on year
Problem areas
Engine ›
495 · 39.8% · 1.79 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Electrical ›
154 · 12.4% · 0.79 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Fuel system ›
133 · 10.7% · 2.47 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Unspecified or other ›
117 · 9.4% · 1.05 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Transmission / powertrain ›
87 · 7.0% · 0.6 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Body & structure ›
68 · 5.5% · 0.6 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
39 · 3.1% · 2.02 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Airbags & seat belts
36 · 2.9% · 0.76 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Brakes
32 · 2.6% · 0.43 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
28 · 2.3% · 0.39 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
26 · 2.1% · 1.13 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
14 · 1.1% · 0.45 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
14 · 1.1% · 0.18 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 44 months
What owners report
Fuse for A/C was blown, caught on fire, and melted components.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign: 25V796000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, parts were on back order.
Fuel system recall (NHTSA 25V796; Hyundai 286/23HYZ2 "Fuel Tank Expansion") on a 2020 Hyundai Sonata, plus the fuel-tank heat shield and rear floor pan area.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The paint is peeling off the car, when I went to the dealership they said this is a known problem for 2015-2018, but they can't fix it there is no recall.
My car's engine is burning oil. I have maintained service of oil changes and fluids, etc. since I purchased my car. It is not that old in my opinion.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Midsize sedans
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nissan Altima | 807 | 14.0 | 0.35 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 14 | Electrical |
| 2 | Hyundai Sonata | 1,243 | 24.3 | 0.6 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 11 | Engine |
| 3 | Chevrolet Malibu | 1,416 | 26.4 | 0.65 | Improving | Rising | 10 | Engine |
| 4 | Toyota Camry | 1,981 | 44.2 | 1.1 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 21 | Engine |
| 5 | Honda Accord | 4,373 | 79.6 | 1.97 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 19 | Engine |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 11
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 1
- Over-the-air fix: 1
Safety recalls: 2018 (1) · 2019 (0) · 2020 (4) · 2021 (4) · 2022 (3) · 2023 (2) · 2024 (1) · 2025 (0) · 2026 (1)
Investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
- Loss of Motive Power Closed
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints i…
- Electrical overstress Closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicle…