Hyundai Sonata Problems by Year
Years with far more complaints than usual:
NHTSA has 15,987 owner complaints and 63 safety recalls on file for the Hyundai Sonata, across 32 model years (1995–2026). The 2011 model year has the most complaints (3,377). The most reported problem area overall is engine.
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Hyundai Sonata years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Sonata year: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2011 Sonata: 3,377 complaints, 14 recalls
- 2013 Sonata: 1,915 complaints, 9 recalls
- 2012 Sonata: 1,557 complaints, 8 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2026 Sonata: 3 complaints, 1 recall
- 2025 Sonata: 17 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1996 Sonata: 23 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Hyundai Sonata problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 4,698 | 25 | 80 |
| Steering problems | 2,363 | 29 | 65 |
| Air Bags problems | 2,044 | 29 | 345 |
| Electrical System problems | 1,974 | 31 | 49 |
| Structure problems | 1,066 | 29 | 48 |
| Power Train problems | 1,050 | 31 | 47 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 1,013 | 27 | 13 |
| Service Brakes problems | 900 | 26 | 91 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 765 | 26 | 21 |
| Suspension problems | 689 | 27 | 18 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 623 | 30 | 127 |
| Seat Belts problems | 545 | 25 | 57 |
| Visibility problems | 472 | 26 | 7 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 386 | 26 | 11 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems | 374 | 16 | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 312 | 25 | 31 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 304 | 26 | 6 |
| Visibility/wiper problems | 187 | 18 | 0 |
| Wheels problems | 184 | 23 | 15 |
| Tires problems | 142 | 26 | 3 |
| Latches/locks/linkages problems | 129 | 22 | 3 |
| Seats problems | 123 | 22 | 5 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 98 | 14 | 13 |
| Equipment | 66 | 22 | 2 |
| Lane Departure | 32 | 13 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 22 | 12 | 3 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 18 | 9 | 2 |
| Traction Control System | 16 | 9 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 11 | 5 | 2 |
| Parking Brake | 10 | 6 | 1 |
| Firerelated | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Hyundai Sonata problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2019: engine (87)
- 2018: engine (212) · electrical system (60)
- 2017: engine (384) · steering (173) · electrical system (65) · power train (56)
- 2016: engine (452) · electrical system (89) · power train (59)
- 2015: engine (628) · electrical system (167) · power train (135) · fuel/propulsion system (76) · steering (74) · service brakes (73) · vehicle speed control (61) · structure (52)
- 2014: engine (302) · electrical system (135) · exterior lighting (120) · steering (65) · service brakes (57) · power train (55)
- 2013: engine (738) · steering (342) · electrical system (261) · exterior lighting (197) · service brakes (143) · fuel/propulsion system (135) · air bags (103) · power train (94) · vehicle speed control (86) · fuel system, gasoline (73) · seat belts (62) · structure (50)
- 2012: engine (567) · steering (301) · electrical system (234) · air bags (170) · service brakes (151) · exterior lighting (141) · fuel/propulsion system (99) · power train (97) · vehicle speed control (84) · seat belts (75)
- 2011: steering (1,171) · engine (967) · electrical system (443) · air bags (419) · exterior lighting (248) · power train (173) · suspension (148) · service brakes (145) · seat belts (106) · fuel/propulsion system (105) · vehicle speed control (95) · structure (73) · electronic stability control (esc) (62)
- 2010: structure (164)
- 2009: service brakes (64) · electrical system (61) · engine (56) · electronic stability control (esc) (51)
- 2008: air bags (137) · visibility (67)
- 2007: air bags (257) · visibility (107) · service brakes, hydraulic (62) · seat belts (60) · electrical system (51)
- 2006: air bags (435) · visibility (156) · seat belts (102) · electrical system (86) · suspension (86) · electronic stability control (esc) (57) · service brakes (51)
- 2005: air bags (55)
- 2004: suspension (56)
- 2002: structure (88) · suspension (62) · air bags (51)
- 2001: structure (69)
- 2000: structure (109) · suspension (64)
All Hyundai Sonata model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sonata | 3 | 1 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | |
| 2025 Sonata | 17 | 0 | 5★ | Service Brakes | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Sonata | 46 | 1 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 Sonata | 87 | 2 | 5★ | Fuel/propulsion System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 Sonata | 94 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2021 Sonata | 134 | 4 | 5★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2020 Sonata | 179 | 4 | 5★ | Fuel/propulsion System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2019 Sonata | 162 | 0 | 5★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2018 Sonata | 374 | 1 | 5★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2017 Sonata | 765 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2016 Sonata | 727 | 6 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2015 Sonata | 1,151 | 9 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2014 Sonata | 749 | 7 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2013 Sonata | 1,915 | 9 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 Sonata | 1,557 | 8 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 Sonata | 3,377 | 14 | 5★ | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2010 Sonata | 345 | 2 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 2009 Sonata | 460 | 2 | — | Service Brakes | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 Sonata | 425 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 Sonata | 696 | 5 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 Sonata | 1,047 | 9 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 Sonata | 165 | 1 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2004 Sonata | 202 | 1 | — | Suspension | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2003 Sonata | 199 | 6 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2002 Sonata | 319 | 7 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 2001 Sonata | 205 | 3 | — | Structure | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2000 Sonata | 276 | 4 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 Sonata | 124 | 4 | — | Structure | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1998 Sonata | 49 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1997 Sonata | 49 | 2 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1996 Sonata | 23 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1995 Sonata | 66 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
More from Hyundai: all Hyundai models · Hyundai VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Sonata years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2006 (1,047), 2007 (696), 2008 (425), 2009 (460), 2011 (3,377), 2012 (1,557), 2013 (1,915), 2014 (749), 2015 (1,151), 2016 (727), 2017 (765) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Sonata year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Hyundai Sonata?
Engine, with 4,698 complaints across 25 model years.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Sonata have?
63 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.