Hyundai Sonata Reliability
Quick answer
The Hyundai Sonata has 3.81 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold across the 2015–2022 model years. In CarWhere's ranking of 18 sedans by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Sonata places 16th: one of the highest complaint rates in that group. Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 12,637 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and steering, and NHTSA lists 43 recall campaigns. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2011–2017 as years to avoid and rates 2019 as a better year. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
By CarWhere Research · Last reviewed 2026-11-10 · Source: NHTSA
3.81
Complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022)
12,637
NHTSA owner complaints (2008–2026)
43
Recall campaigns
7
Years to avoid
Most-reported Hyundai Sonata problems
NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, by the component owners named, filed 2007–2026. A complaint can name more than one component. The last three columns count complaints that report a crash, a fire or an injury.
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crash | Fire | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4,619 | 37% | 76 | 331 | 50 |
| Steering | 2,237 | 18% | 53 | 12 | 20 |
| Electrical system | 1,693 | 13% | 43 | 132 | 33 |
| Air bags | 1,006 | 8% | 181 | 11 | 128 |
| Service brakes | 916 | 7% | 87 | 34 | 39 |
| Exterior lighting | 900 | 7% | 9 | 37 | 4 |
| Powertrain / transmission | 896 | 7% | 43 | 14 | 21 |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 741 | 6% | 18 | 68 | 17 |
Of all 12,637 complaints, 485 (4%) report a crash, 478 (4%) a fire and 290 (2%) an injury.
For 2020-and-newer models (610 complaints), the most-reported areas are the engine (140), the fuel system (135), the electrical system (117), the transmission (103).
Hyundai Sonata complaints by model year
Where problems concentrate. Year flags come from CarWhere's years-to-avoid analysis, which compares each Sonata model year with the model's other years. The full year-by-year verdicts are on the years-to-avoid page.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 425 | 5 | Air bags | — |
| 2009 | 460 | 2 | Service brakes | — |
| 2010 | 345 | 2 | Body structure | — |
| 2011 | 3,380 | 14 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2012 | 1,559 | 8 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2013 | 1,917 | 9 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2014 | 751 | 7 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2015 | 1,156 | 9 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2016 | 728 | 6 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2017 | 769 | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2018 | 375 | 1 | Engine | — |
| 2019 | 162 | 0 | Engine | Better year |
| 2020 | 199 | 4 | Fuel / propulsion system | — |
| 2021 | 135 | 3 | Engine | — |
| 2022 | 96 | 3 | Engine | — |
| 2023 | 103 | 2 | Fuel / propulsion system | — |
| 2024(new) | 57 | 1 | Electrical system | — |
| 2025(new) | 17 | 0 | Service brakes | — |
| 2026(new) | 3 | 1 | Tires | — |
Raw counts are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and older years have had longer to collect complaints. Years marked "new" have had less than three years on the road. — = not flagged either way.
Hyundai Sonata recalls
NHTSA lists 43 recall campaigns across Hyundai Sonata model years 2008–2026. The ones below cover the most model years (campaigns with a park advisory first). Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Model years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23V526000Jul 27, 2023 | 2023 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / fluid/lubricant / pump | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Palisade Tucson, 2023 Sonata, Elantra, and Kona vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 14V368000Jun 24, 2014 | 2015 | Service brakes — foundation components / disc / caliper | Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured April 25, 2014, through June 16, 2014. Due to a manufacturing error, one or both of the front brake calipers may fracture.NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 14V325000Jun 12, 2014 | 2015 | Steering | Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 2, 2014, through May 23, 2014. A poor connection within the vehicle's wiring harness may result in a reduction of steering assist from…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 25V796000Nov 18, 2025 | 2020–2023 | Fuel system | 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. |
| 18V934000Dec 28, 2018 | 2011–2014 | Engine | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2013-2014 Santa Fe Sport vehicles previously repaired under recall numbers 15V-568 and 17V-226. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may… |
Best and worst Sonata years
- Years to avoid: 2011–2017.
- Better years: 2019.
- 2024–2026: too new to judge fully; complaint counts are still building.
Hyundai Sonata years to avoid: the verdict for every model year →
What to inspect on a used Hyundai Sonata
Based on the components owners report most. None of these replaces an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: check the VIN for open recalls; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any Hyundai Sonata can be better or worse than the model's record. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
Hyundai Sonata reliability FAQ
Is the Hyundai Sonata reliable?
The Hyundai Sonata has 3.81 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold across the 2015–2022 model years. In CarWhere's ranking of 18 sedans by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Sonata places 16th: one of the highest complaint rates in that group. Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 12,637 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and steering, and NHTSA lists 43 recall campaigns. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2011–2017 as years to avoid and rates 2019 as a better year. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
What are the most common Hyundai Sonata problems?
In NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, the most-reported areas are the engine (4,619), steering (2,237), the electrical system (1,693) and air bags (1,006). For 2020-and-newer models, the most-reported areas are the engine, the fuel system and the electrical system. One complaint can name more than one component, and complaints are unverified owner reports.
What years of the Hyundai Sonata should you avoid?
CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2011–2017 as years to avoid and rates 2019 as a better year. Each model year is compared only with other Sonata years: complaints are adjusted for time on the road, and serious ones (engine, transmission, brakes, steering, fuel system, or a reported crash, fire or injury) count double, with a smaller adjustment for recall campaigns.
How long does a Hyundai Sonata last?
In CarWhere's lifespan study, 2% of 14,861 used Sonata listings in the US had passed 200,000 miles and 10.1% had passed 150,000. Among those 10+ years old, 5.6% are past 200,000 miles. Maintenance history matters more than the model average for any one car.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Sonata have?
NHTSA lists 43 recall campaigns covering Hyundai Sonata model years 2008–2026. The one covering the most model years is 23V526000 (powertrain / transmission, 2023). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How do I check a specific used Hyundai Sonata?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
How we measure Sonata reliability
- Complaints are every NHTSA owner complaint filed for the Hyundai Sonata, model years 2008–2026, across all the body-style and trim names NHTSA files them under, de-duplicated by complaint number. They are unverified owner reports.
- Complaints per 1,000 sold divides the 3,620 complaints for the 2015–2022 model years by 949,669 vehicles sold in the US in those calendar years (published sales figures), times 1,000.
- The sedans ranking uses the same complaints and sales, weights serious complaints double and adjusts for vehicle age, then compares 18 models. See the full ranking.
- Year flags compare each Sonata model year only with other Sonata years, so they say which years to prefer, not how the Sonata compares with other models.
- This is federal complaint and recall data, not a survey and not comparable to Consumer Reports or J.D. Power ratings. It does not estimate repair costs.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints and NHTSA recall campaigns (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-11-10; published U.S. sales figures; CarWhere years-to-avoid analysis.
More Hyundai Sonata research
Hyundai Sonata reliability by model year: