Hyundai SonataYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 16,133 NHTSA owner complaints across 38 model years, the Hyundai Sonata years to avoid are 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, and the strongest years are 1991, 1993, 1997 and 1998. The Sonata has 66 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoid'06 '07 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17Use caution: 2002, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2018 Best years'91 '93 '97 '98Fewest complaints for their age Owner complaints16,133Top: Engine Safety recalls661989–2026 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Hyundai Sonata years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sonata median. Tap a year for its full report.

11 16 29 22 26 3 66 23 49 49 1242762053201992021651,0476964254603453,3801,5591,9217501,15773076937516218313598 88 48 17 3

'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26

Avoid
Caution
Solid
Best
Not rated

2026Too new–/1003 complaints · 1 recall 2025Too new–/10017 complaints · 0 recalls 2024Solid63/10048 complaints · 1 recall 2023Solid55/10088 complaints · 2 recalls 2022Solid55/10098 complaints · 3 recalls 2021Solid53/100135 complaints · 4 recalls 2020Solid51/100183 complaints · 4 recalls 2019Solid54/100162 complaints · 0 recalls 2018Caution37/100375 complaints · 1 recall 2017Avoid25/100769 complaints · 3 recalls 2016Avoid26/100730 complaints · 6 recalls 2015Avoid18/1001,157 complaints · 9 recalls 2014Avoid24/100750 complaints · 7 recalls 2013Avoid11/1001,921 complaints · 9 recalls 2012Avoid13/1001,559 complaints · 8 recalls 2011Avoid7/1003,380 complaints · 14 recalls 2010Caution42/100345 complaints · 2 recalls 2009Caution34/100460 complaints · 2 recalls 2008Caution37/100425 complaints · 3 recalls 2007Avoid27/100696 complaints · 5 recalls 2006Avoid20/1001,047 complaints · 9 recalls 2005Solid53/100165 complaints · 1 recall 2004Solid50/100202 complaints · 1 recall 2003Solid50/100199 complaints · 6 recalls 2002Caution39/100320 complaints · 7 recalls 2001Solid50/100205 complaints · 3 recalls 2000Solid46/100276 complaints · 4 recalls 1999Solid63/100124 complaints · 4 recalls 1998Best83/10049 complaints · 1 recall 1997Best82/10049 complaints · 2 recalls 1996Not rated–/10023 complaints · 1 recall 1995Best72/10066 complaints · 2 recalls 1994Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall 1993Best91/10026 complaints · 1 recall 1992Not rated–/10022 complaints · 1 recall 1991Best85/10029 complaints · 1 recall 1990Not rated–/10016 complaints · 3 recalls 1989Not rated–/10011 complaints · 3 recalls

Complaints by system

Most common Hyundai Sonata problems

All model years combined: 16,133 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

4,711Engine419 crash/fire/injury

2,372Steering82 crash/fire/injury

2,046Air bags369 crash/fire/injury

1,997Electrical system207 crash/fire/injury

1,082Power train

1,073Structure

1,017Exterior lighting

902Service brakes

772Fuel/propulsion system

4,90130 other systems436 crash/fire/injury

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.

Complaints by system
System	Complaints	Crash, fire or injury
Engine	4711	419
Steering	2372	82
Air bags	2046	369
Electrical system	1997	207
Power train	1082	71
Structure	1073	113
Exterior lighting	1017	51
Service brakes	902	127
Fuel/propulsion system	772	93
30 other systems	4901	436

66 recalls

Hyundai Sonata recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel26V-047 · 2026 · Jan 26, 2026 · 41,651 vehicles Fuel system, gasoline25V-796 · 2020–2023 · Nov 17, 2025 · 85,043 vehicles Exterior lighting: brake lights24V-583 · 2024 · Aug 7, 2024 · 38,331 vehicles Fluid/lubricant: pump23V-526 · 2023 · Jul 27, 2023 · 52,109 vehiclesPark outside Power train: automatic transmission22V-746 · 2021–2022 · Oct 6, 2022 · 56,148 vehicles Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings22V-312 · 2013–2014 · May 6, 2022 · 215,171 vehicles Trunk lid: latch22V-196 · 2020 · Mar 28, 2022 · 63,461 vehicles Visibility: windshield21V00M000 · 2021 · Dec 28, 2021 · 26,413 vehicles Electrical system: software21V-749 · 2015–2017 · Sep 24, 2021 · 469,377 vehicles Trunk lid: latch21V-619 · 2017–2018 · Aug 6, 2021 · 348,158 vehicles Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings21V-524 · 2021–2022 · Jul 9, 2021 · 15,752 vehicles Electrical system: software20V-213 · 2020 · Apr 9, 2020 · 11,870 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 66 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

22 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Sonata

Oct 21, 2025
DTN Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA25005 · 2017 · still open
Open
Sep 12, 2022
Loss of Motive PowerDP22003 · 2006–2021 · closed Dec 12, 2023
No recall
Dec 22, 2021
Engine FiresEA21003 · 2011–2016 · closed Feb 5, 2024
Led to recall 23V-877
Nov 12, 2021
Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesDP21003 · 2006–2015 · closed Jun 20, 2023
No recall
Apr 19, 2019
Electrical overstressEA19001 · 2013–2019 · closed Sep 19, 2024
Led to recall 20V-024
Mar 29, 2019
Non-crash Vehicle FiresPE19003 · 2011–2014 · closed Dec 22, 2021
Led to recall 20V-061
Aug 21, 2018
Non-crash Vehicle FiresDP18003 · 2011–2014 · closed May 10, 2019
Led to recall 18V-907
Mar 16, 2018
Air bags may be disabled during crashPE18003 · 2011–2013 · closed Aug 30, 2019
Led to recall 18E-043
May 18, 2017
Scope and TimelinessRQ17004 · 2011–2014 · closed Dec 22, 2021
Led to recall 17V-226
Dec 27, 2016
Front Passenger Seat Belt Anchor FailurePE16018 · 2013 · closed Oct 23, 2017
Led to recall 17V-152