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EnginePart report

2021 Hyundai Sonata Engine Problems

Complaints
34about this part
Share
25%of 135 total for the year
Median mileage
44,000miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 34 complaints about the engine of the 2021 Hyundai Sonata, 25% of the 135 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 44,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“On i believe 1/14/26, my check engine light came on. Scheduled appt.for 1/16/26 for diagnostic. Several things were wrong. I decided to come back due to not having the money at the time. Over the wked, I remembered a recall notice i received around November that I asked about in November during my oil change & was told the parts aren't in & they'd give me a call. Upon viewing the recall it seemed some things I was told on 1/16/26 could be a result of the recall. …”

NHTSA complaint #11719681, filed 2026-02

“After initial startup and drive for a short time, I come to a stop. Then after vehicle doesn’t want to accelerate as it normally would. Vehicle struggles to gain speed but, the engine revs excessively. I pull off the road and come to a stop and try to accelerate again and the same thing happens. I shut the vehicle off and wait a few minutes,then restart and the vehicle accelerates normally again. There were no check engine lights the when this has happened.”

NHTSA complaint #11676441, filed 2025-07

“At approximately 130,000 miles, vehicle developed and internal coolant leak caused by a failed Exhaust Heat Recovery System (EHRS) in the center muffler assembly, matching TSB 23-EM-009H - a known manufacturing defect documented by Hyundai. Coolant has been slowly leaking internally into the exhaust system. The authorized Hyundai dealership initially failed to diagnose the internal leak and told me there was no leak and wanted to send me home. After pushing back, the internal leak was confirmed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11746137, filed 2026-06

“I have a 2021 Hyundai Sonata SEL with a Smartstream 2.5L engine w/ GDI & MPI. I have have always heard a loud knocking noise coming from my engine since I got the vehicle when in park. When you are accelerating it hesitates and you can hear a knocking noise. I have taken it to the dealership multiple times and they were able to feel and hear what I was talking about but ensured me it was fine. Recently it has been a lot worse. On 10/18/2023 I was getting on to the highway from the feeder. …”

NHTSA complaint #11551474, filed 2023-10

“Vehicle suddenly lost heat in 30 degree weather. No warnings, check engine light, or temperature gauge indicators came on. Lucky made it to a parts store and found out I was extremely low on coolant. Bought coolant and put it in. Made it back to the house and was immediately low again. No visible leaking. Oil was completely fine (1 gallon of coolant would have have left some kind indicator). Realized it was more than likely the ehrs. If this happened during the summer, my engine could have blown due to a poor design causing a major accident.”

NHTSA complaint #11718194, filed 2026-02

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2025212%
202436%
20232832%
20222526%
20213425%
20203218%
20198754%
201821257%
201738550%
201645262%
201562955%
201430340%
201373939%
201256736%
201196829%
2010298%
20095612%
20084811%
2007416%
2006444%
200564%
200452%
200332%
200252%
200110%

Other parts of the 2021 Hyundai Sonata

Fuel system
34 complaints
Other or unknown
32 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
25 complaints
Electrical system
18 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
12 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
9 complaints
Air bags
4 complaints
Brakes
4 complaints
Body and structure
4 complaints
Lane departure
3 complaints
Seat belts
2 complaints
Seats
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2021 Hyundai Sonata

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.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology