NHTSA has received 183 owner complaints about the 2021 Hyundai Sonata, or 32.3 per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.77, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #54 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Hyundai models its rate is 42% lower; against other Midsize sedans it is 19% lower.
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 2021-03-26 and 2026-08-26. Median delay from incident to filing: 11 days.
183Complaints
32.3Complaints per year on the road
0.77Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
4Recalls
4.4%Share involving a crash or fire
52Last 12 months
Analysis
The previous model year (2020) drew 28.6 complaints per year, fewer than this one. The following model year (2022) drew 23.5 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2021 model collected 28 complaints, 54% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (32.2% of complaints), followed by Electrical (17.5%) and Interior & equipment (13.1%). Within Engine reports, owners most often mention “ehrs”, “exhaust”, “engine”, “coolant” and “heat”. 8 reports (4.4%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 14 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 42 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was years three to five (43% of incidents). In the last 12 months 52 new complaints were filed, versus 40 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for this model year. 28% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses. 2 NHTSA defect investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles0.77
vs. other Hyundai models0.58
vs. other 2021 models0.85
vs. other Midsize sedans0.81
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (28)0.46
During a front end collision the car did not auto brake and the air bags did not deploy. The car has been totaled and is currently at a dealership for insurance appraisal.
I bought this car in June 2013 for its safety and its Amazing warranty and all the features that it has Hyundai manufacture had an obligation as a consumer service and failed to send notification of any recalled to us in regards to a recall High pressure…
Fuel system · 2025-06-22 · ODI 11668446
Massive loss of coolant in closed loop cooling system Heat soak. Fail safe mode
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-26 · ODI 11759867
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V796000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available.
Fuel system · 2026-08-21 · ODI 11758588
The Left blinker switch keeps going in and out, working about 50% of the time. Both the light and the blinker sound do not turn on.
Electrical · 2026-08-07 · ODI 11755451
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 2020-2023 Sonata vehicles. A damaged check valve can allow air to enter the fuel tank, causing it to expand and contact hot exhaust components, melting the tank.
Risk: A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the check valve. The fuel tank assembly will be inspected for damage and replaced if necessary. Additionally, dealers will inspect and update the engine control unit software. All repairs will be performed as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning March 13, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 286. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 19, 2025.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Campaign 22V746000 · 2022-10-06
Summary: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 236.
Summary: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.
Risk: A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS Campaign 21V524000 · 2021-07-09
Summary: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe and Sonata vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 207.
DP22005 · 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 · 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…
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2021 Hyundai Sonata?
183 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Hyundai Sonata, or about 32.3 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2021 Hyundai Sonata?
The most common category is Engine, accounting for 32.2% of complaints.
Does the 2021 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 safety recall(s) for this model year. 2 NHTSA defect investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Is the 2021 Hyundai Sonata still generating complaints?
In the last 12 months 52 new complaints were filed, versus 40 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
How does the 2021 Hyundai Sonata compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 183 owner complaints about the 2021 Hyundai Sonata, or 32.3 per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.77, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #54 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Hyundai models its rate is 42% lower; against other Midsize sedans it is 19% lower.