repaired · 2026 Q3
Fuel system, gasoline
NewRisk. A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
2020 Hyundai SonataProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 183 owner complaints about the 2020 Hyundai Sonata, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 22V-196 the manufacturer reports only 77% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 2, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2020 Hyundai Sonata has problems
183 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
47Fuel/propulsion system3 crash/fire/injury
41Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
32Engine2 crash/fire/injury
24Power train
17Structure
16Seats
13Forward collision avoidance
12Fuel system, gasoline
7Steering
4315 other systems3 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 47 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 41 | 2 |
| Engine | 32 | 2 |
| Power train | 24 | 0 |
| Structure | 17 | 0 |
| Seats | 16 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 13 | 2 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 12 | 0 |
| Steering | 7 | 0 |
| 15 other systems | 43 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2020 Hyundai Sonata recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2024 Q1
Trunk lid: latch
Risk. A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
repaired · 2022 Q1
Electrical system: software
Risk. Unintended vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2022 Q1
Other: labels
Risk. The incorrect tire information may mislead the vehicle owner to install the wrong tire size, potentially affecting vehicle handling, increasing the risk of a…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Hyundai.
Best & worst years
2020 vs. every other Sonata year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sonata median. How we score
11162922263662349491242762053201992021651,0476964254603453,3801,5591,9217501,157730769375163183135988848174
'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
NHTSA crash tests
2020 Hyundai Sonata safety ratings
2020 Hyundai Sonata 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 5 stars (9.7% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Standard
- Lane departure warning: Standard
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2020 Hyundai Sonata, and the recalls they led to.
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
In owners' words
What Sonata owners report
Recent fuel/propulsion system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The car has strong fuel smell in the cabin when tank is full, It is especially strong after car sits. I have taken to hyundai several times for this problem. They say the computer says nothing is wrong. They refuse to investigate as they dont smell the odor.
Vehicle experienced intermittent, severe powertrain defect resulting in a critical safety hazard. Between 30K and 36K miles, the vehicle underwent 3 violent highway deceleration episodes. During these events, the engine began shaking, escalating to violent shaking; with deceleration and coming to a…
Car was taken to dealership for inspection. Upon inspection, it was determined that the fuel tank had expanded and pushed towards the heat shield, and expanded upward pushing up the back seats of vehicle. It was determined to not safe to drive. Manufacturer contacted me and offered a buyback. Upon…
Own a 2020 Sonata?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.