Hyundai Sonata

Where it stands out against its peers

• Exterior lighting: more complaints than 94% of 2013 cars — 10% of its 1,903 complaints, where an ordinary 2013 car has 4%.
• Fuel system: more complaints than 92% of 2013 cars — 4% of its 1,903 complaints, where an ordinary 2013 car has 1%.
• Gasoline: more complaints than 94% of 2013 cars — 4% of its 1,903 complaints, where an ordinary 2013 car has 1%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• ENGINE — 484 owners reported this, 4 involving a crash, 32 involving a fire
• STEERING — 259 owners reported this, 5 involving a crash
• EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 99 owners reported this, 6 involving a fire
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 60 owners reported this, 5 involving a fire
• SERVICE BRAKES — 56 owners reported this, 4 involving a crash
• FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE — 53 owners reported this, 1 involving a fire
• FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 48 owners reported this, 2 involving a fire
• AIR BAGS — 43 owners reported this, 24 involving a crash
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 33 owners reported this, 1 involving a fire
• POWER TRAIN — 32 owners reported this, 6 involving a crash
• ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING — 29 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash, 3 involving a fire
• STRUCTURE — 29 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash
• VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — 29 owners reported this, 6 involving a crash
• ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 26 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash, 8 involving a fire
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — 25 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash, 4 involving a fire

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

49% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• Do not drive

  14V325000

  The reduction of power steering assist can increase the steering effort needed, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Hyundai notified dealers to suspend sales of affected Sonata vehicles and has published recall bulletin 14-01-024 providing a service procedure to repair the affected vehicles. On June 7, 2014 Hyundai began to contact the affected retail customers. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 119.

• Do not drive

  14V368000

  If a brake caliper fractures, brake effectiveness would be reduced, lengthening to distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Hyundai contacted the affected owners on June 19, 2014 and instructed them not to drive their vehicles. Hyundai dealers will replace the affected brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 120.

• 12V352000

  The curtain airbag may inflate without deployment command and increase the risk of injury to occupants of the vehicle. Additionally, an unexpected deployment would be a significant driver distraction and would limit the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Hyundai dealers will notify owners, and dealers will replace the curtain side airbags free of charge. This recall began on August 31, 2012. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.

• 14V434000

  If the transmission shift cable detaches, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver parks the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position and the parking brake is not applied, there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

  Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, repair the connection between the shift cable and shift lever, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 123.

• 14V784000

  If the left axle shaft separates from the transaxle, the vehicle may stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, a separated axle shaft may allow the vehicle to roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

  Hyundai will notify owners, dealers will inspect and replace the axle shaft, as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 126.

• 15V414000

  If the front passenger seat belt cannot be latched, an occupant sitting in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

  Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the front passenger seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 130.

• 15V568000

  Engine failure would result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace the engine assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Additionally, Hyundai Motor America will increase the warranty for the engine sub-assembly (short block) to 10 years/120,000 miles for both original and subsequent owners of 2011 and 2012 Sonatas manufactured at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama equipped with 2.0 liter and 2.4 liter Gasoline Direct injection engines. Interim notifications were mailed to owners starting on October 8, 2015. A second notification will be mailed when parts are available. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059 or by visiting www.HyundaiUSA.com/Campaign132. Hyundai's number for this recall is 132.

• 15V678000

  If the driver is alerted there is a brake system malfunction, but not specifically with the ABS system, the driver may operate the vehicle unaware that the vehicle's brakes may lock up during hard braking, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 134.

22 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• DTN Air Bag Inflator Rupture

  Engineering analysis, opened October 2025, still open.

• Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

  Audit query, opened November 2023, still open.

• Pedestrian alert sounds

  Defect petition, opened January 2023, closed August 2023.

• Loss of Motive Power

  Defect petition, opened September 2022, closed December 2023.

• Engine Fires

  Engineering analysis, opened December 2021, closed February 2024.

• Throttle control system vulnerabilities

  Defect petition, opened November 2021, closed June 2023.

• Electrical overstress

  Engineering analysis, opened April 2019, closed September 2024.

• Non-crash Vehicle Fires

  Preliminary evaluation, opened March 2019, closed December 2021.

• Non-crash Vehicle Fires

  Defect petition, opened August 2018, closed May 2019.

• Air bags may be disabled during crash

  Preliminary evaluation, opened March 2018, closed August 2019.

• Scope and Timeliness

  Recall query, opened May 2017, closed December 2021.

• Front Passenger Seat Belt Anchor Failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened December 2016, closed October 2017.

• Electronic Parking Brake

  Preliminary evaluation, opened September 2016, closed February 2017.

• Seat Belt Buckle Electrical Malfunction

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 2014, closed December 2014.

• Rear Control Arm Failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened March 2013, closed August 2013.

• Steering Shaft Separation

  Preliminary evaluation, opened August 2010, closed February 2011.

• Stop lamp switch failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened January 2009, closed April 2009.

• Interior door handle laceration hazard

  Preliminary evaluation, opened December 2008, closed May 2009.

• Front sub-frame corrosion

  Engineering analysis, opened August 2008, closed April 2009.

• Front sub-frame corrosion

  Preliminary evaluation, opened April 2008, closed August 2008.

• Tire valve stem failures

  Preliminary evaluation, opened November 2005, closed May 2006.

• Improper frontal air bag performance

  Defect petition, opened March 2003, closed August 2003.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Hyundai filed 18 bulletins about the 2026 Sonata.

• Electrical system: 8
• Power train: 3
• Air bags: 2
• Structure: 2
• Exterior lighting: 1
• Forward collision avoidance: 1
• Fuel/propulsion system: 1

• Certain Sonata (DN8) vehicles may exhibit a transmission oil leak at the bottom of the valve body cover due to a loose oil level plug that could potentially lead to a total failure of the automatic… · August 2026
• Certain Sonata (DN8) vehicles may exhibit a transmission oil leak at the bottom of the valve body cover due to a loose oil level plug that could potentially lead to a total failure of the automatic… · August 2026
• Certain 2026MY Sonata (DN8) and 2026MY Sonata Hybrid (DN8 HEV) vehicles may exhibit a fuel filler door that is difficult to open due to the push-type opener mechanism. Technical Bulletin (TSB)… · July 2026
• Certain Sonata (DN8) and Sonata Hybrid (DN8 HEV) vehicles may exhibit a fuel filler door that is difficult to open due to the push-type opener mechanism. This bulletin provides instructions to… · July 2026
• Certain 2024-2026MY Sonata (DN8) and 2024-2026MY Sonata Hybrid (DN8 HEV) vehicles may exhibit intermittent battery discharge condition due to the air conditioning controller not fully powering down… · July 2026
• Certain Sonata Hybrid (DN8 HEV) vehicles may exhibit intermittent battery discharge conditions due to the air conditioning controller not fully powering down after the vehicle is turned off and… · July 2026
• Certain Sonata (DN8) vehicles may exhibit intermittent battery discharge condition due to the air conditioning controller not fully powering down after the vehicle is turned off and parked. This… · July 2026
• This bulletin provides information related to a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software update for some vehicles equipped with an 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT). The software update… · June 2026

10 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.