NHTSA has received 383 owner complaints about the 2018 Hyundai Sonata, or 43.6 per year on the road — a typical number of complaints (complaint index 1.08, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 76 model-year 2018 vehicles we track, it ranks #50 of 76 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Hyundai models its rate is 19% lower; against other Midsize sedans it is 15% higher.
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
Complaints filed between 2017-12-31 and 2026-10-05. Median delay from incident to filing: 23 days.
383Complaints
43.6Complaints per year on the road
1.08Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
1Recalls
7.8%Share involving a crash or fire
52Last 12 months
Analysis
The following model year (2019) drew 22.1 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2018 model collected 83 complaints, about the same than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (59.8% of complaints), followed by Unspecified or other (8.6%) and Electrical (6.0%). Engine complaints are 2.7 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 30 reports (7.8%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 21 injuries and 1 death.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 61 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was after five years (51% of incidents). In the last 12 months 52 new complaints were filed, versus 80 in the 12 months before — down 35%.
NHTSA lists 1 safety recall for this model year. 3 NHTSA investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (defect petition, opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles1.08
vs. other Hyundai models0.81
vs. other 2018 models0.92
vs. other Midsize sedans1.15
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (83)0.97
Vehicle caught fire after repeatedly taking it to Hyundai for service . I complained about the oil consumption and knocking noises while the vehicle was still under warranty and it was denied.
Engine · 2026-06-19 · ODI 11745212 · Fire
The vehicle had safety and mechanical problems shortly after purchase, even with low mileage. The issues included warning lights, abnormal noises, repeated mechanical failures, and poor performance that affected the safe operation of the vehicle.
Engine · 2026-03-15 · ODI 11724392 · Crash
Vehicle has been making a clunking noise (front passenger area). Brought to independent service center where they determined that the strut tower is failing. Current mileage 66000. Appt set for Checkered Flag Hyundai to evaluate on 9/11/2026.
Wheels, tires & suspension · 2026-09-08 · ODI 11762770
My car stalls while driving and then I try to restart it but nothing happens. After reading online about the fuel pump issues and extended warranty related to the fuel pump I took the car in for repair.
Fuel system · 2026-09-04 · ODI 11762281
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was diagnosed with an inoperable low-pressure fuel pump.
Fuel system · 2026-07-24 · ODI 11752670
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Summary: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 208.
DP22005 · defect petition · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM · Opened 2023-01-27 · Closed 2023-08-07 · Campaign 22V063000 · Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
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 PowerClosed
DP22003 · defect petition · ENGINE · Opened 2022-09-12 · Closed 2023-12-12 · Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
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 overstressClosed
EA19001 · engineering analysis · AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE · Opened 2019-04-19 · Closed 2024-09-19 · Campaign 20V024 · Model years: 2018, 2019
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…
