Hyundai Sonata Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 16,108 consumer complaints across the 36 model years of the Hyundai Sonata (1989–2025) that have at least 5 complaints. 2011 has the most, with 3,379. Across all years, the part named most often is engine (4,704 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Sonata model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | 19,025 | 0 | 29 | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 47 | 2,000 | 1 | 34 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 88 | 18,500 | 2 | 52 | 18 · Fewer | Too new |
| 2022 | 95 | 31,000 | 3 | 80 | 20 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2021 | 135 | 41,000 | 4 | 90 | 28 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2020 | 182 | 2,778 | 4 | 101 | 49 · Typical | Rising |
| 2019 | 162 | 24,000 | 0 | 169 | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2018 | 375 | 21,250 | 1 | 207 | 39 · Typical | Rising |
| 2017 | 767 | 55,000 | 3 | 230 | 59 · Typical | Stable |
| 2016 | 728 | 63,000 | 6 | 230 | 69 · More | Rising |
| 2015 | 1,153 | 56,000 | 9 | 253 | 100 · More | Stable |
| 2014 | 750 | 70,000 | 7 | 180 | 69 · More | Falling |
| 2013 | 1,917 | 78,000 | 9 | 184 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2012 | 1,558 | 80,000 | 8 | 182 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2011 | 3,379 | 75,000 | 14 | 232 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2010 | 345 | 65,000 | 2 | 52 | 18 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2009 | 460 | 68,000 | 2 | 63 | 51 · Typical | Falling |
| 2008 | 425 | 62,000 | 3 | 55 | 45 · Typical | Falling |
| 2007 | 696 | 64,000 | 5 | 60 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 1,047 | 70,000 | 9 | 89 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 165 | 80,000 | 1 | 48 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 202 | 85,500 | 1 | 46 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 199 | 65,252 | 6 | 47 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 320 | 89,288 | 7 | 45 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 205 | 86,000 | 3 | 38 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 276 | 104,696 | 4 | 37 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 124 | 98,723 | 4 | 42 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 49 | 80,000 | 1 | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 49 | 72,000 | 2 | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 23 | — | 1 | 17 | — | Stable |
| 1995 | 66 | 125,000 | 2 | 9 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 26 | — | 1 | 7 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 22 | 94,600 | 1 | 7 | — | Stable |
| 1991 | 29 | — | 1 | 7 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 16 | — | 3 | 7 | — | Stable |
| 1989 | 11 | — | 3 | 7 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Engine4,704 30%
- Steering2,369 15%
- Air bags2,046 13%
- Electrical system1,994 13%
- Other or unknown1,365 8.6%
- Brakes1,245 7.8%
- Fuel system1,085 6.8%
- Transmission and drivetrain1,081 6.8%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2016: “I changed out every cylinder, axel, within 6 months and now on March 22, 2023, they said I needed a new engine. P0300, P0303 MISFIRE. They said the car misfired. I thought that's why they changed all the cylinders. WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? My car has been parked in the garage. Why do I have to fix a problem that was just fixed? Still confused”
NHTSA complaint #11567391, filed 2024-01, 195,533 miles2018: “During the drive, check engine lights on then suddenly, HEV warning lights with turn off the engine with critical alert sound. I was drove again after attempting to start several times then again & again... It freaked me out when I drove on the highway, and yet to fixed & afraid to go to the dealer becase of cost & uncertain reasons. This could be big accidents on the highway.”
NHTSA complaint #11514538, filed 2023-03, 111,325 miles2011: “My hood to my car keeps failing down on my head each and every time I look under the hood . It just recently start to happen as I never experienced this before . My local Hyundai dealership said they are pistons that needs to be replaced . If this is a deflect as a consumer should I be subjected to pay to replace the cost to fix defected product .,”
NHTSA complaint #11404724, filed 2021-03, 80,735 milesOther Hyundai models
8,731 complaintsHyundai Santa FE
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6,323 complaintsHyundai Palisade
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1,348 complaintsHyundai Veloster
1,296 complaintsHyundai Genesis
1,240 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology