Hyundai Sonata Structure Problems
Owners have filed 1,066 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the Hyundai Sonata across 29 model years. The 2010 model year has the most (164). The words owners use most often: “door handle” (15% of reports).
- 1,066structure complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 48mention a crash
- 67mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $830typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Door handle: mentioned in 159 of 1,066 complaints (15%)
- Sub frame: mentioned in 94 of 1,066 complaints (9%)
- Control arm: mentioned in 54 of 1,066 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical structure repair on the Hyundai Sonata at $830, and half of them between $280 and $2,000.
Based on 59 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do structure problems happen?
Based on 787 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,066 complaints, 48 mention a crash, 25 a fire, 67 an injury.
Hyundai Sonata structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Sonata | 5 | 11% | 1,500 |
| 2023 Sonata | 4 | 5% | 140 |
| 2022 Sonata | 3 | 3% | 31,000 |
| 2021 Sonata | 4 | 3% | — |
| 2020 Sonata | 17 | 9% | 600 |
| 2019 Sonata | 7 | 4% | — |
| 2018 Sonata | 17 | 5% | 32,000 |
| 2017 Sonata | 37 | 5% | 51,700 |
| 2016 Sonata | 31 | 4% | 55,000 |
| 2015 Sonata | 52 | 5% | 23,800 |
| 2014 Sonata | 17 | 2% | 72,500 |
| 2013 Sonata | 50 | 3% | 51,500 |
| 2012 Sonata | 39 | 3% | 54,595 |
| 2011 Sonata | 73 | 2% | 65,000 |
| 2010 Sonata | 164 | 48% | 68,000 |
| 2009 Sonata | 40 | 9% | 72,115 |
| 2008 Sonata | 15 | 4% | 73,000 |
| 2007 Sonata | 21 | 3% | 82,000 |
| 2006 Sonata | 44 | 4% | 65,000 |
| 2005 Sonata | 30 | 18% | 105,000 |
| 2004 Sonata | 47 | 23% | 98,000 |
| 2003 Sonata | 38 | 19% | 93,500 |
| 2002 Sonata | 88 | 28% | 105,000 |
| 2001 Sonata | 69 | 34% | 114,000 |
| 2000 Sonata | 109 | 39% | 116,297 |
| 1999 Sonata | 36 | 29% | 105,000 |
| 1998 Sonata | 2 | 4% | — |
| 1996 Sonata | 2 | 9% | — |
| 1995 Sonata | 5 | 8% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists structure for the Hyundai Sonata. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Shortly after we bought the vehicle in 2021, my 7 year old daughter (who weighed about [XXX] at the time) got in the car through the driver side rear door and closed it normally. When we got home, the door would no longer open and has not opened now for 5 years. A mechanic said it would cost more…
Fuel system recall (NHTSA 25V796; Hyundai 286/23HYZ2 "Fuel Tank Expansion") on a 2020 Hyundai Sonata, plus the fuel-tank heat shield and rear floor pan area. On 4/21/2026 (110,423 mi.) a Hyundai dealer's recall test FAILED; no warning lamps or symptoms beforehand. The repair order says Hyundai "is…
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The paint is peeling off the car, when I went to the dealership they said this is a known problem for 2015-2018, but they can't fix it there is no recall. It is causing rust. The valve cover gasket…
Driving on road and hear grinding. Pull off and check underbody and see undercover dragging the pavement. Going speed limit prior to hearing noise of grinding undercover and no impacts or damage occurred to bumper or undercover prior to ripping and dragging the ground
The paint on all parts of the car is completely coming off down to bare metal. Itâs as if the car wasnât prepped to receive paint. Every Hyundai I pass thatâs white the paint is coming off. There is also an internal engine oil leak where Iâm losing 4qts of oil a week.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Hyundai Sonatas have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,066 owner complaints about structure for the Hyundai Sonata. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Hyundai Sonata structure?
No recall currently lists structure for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix structure problems on the Hyundai Sonata?
Owners report a typical cost of $830 (half paid between $280 and $2,000), from 59 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about structure problems on the Hyundai Sonata?
The most frequent phrase is “door handle”, in 159 of 1,066 complaints, followed by “sub frame” (94).
Other Hyundai Sonata problems
- Engine problems (4,698)
- Steering problems (2,363)
- Air Bags problems (2,044)
- Electrical System problems (1,974)
- Power Train problems (1,050)
- Exterior Lighting problems (1,013)
- Service Brakes problems (900)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (765)
See all Hyundai Sonata problems.