"How reliable is the 2021 Hyundai Sonata?"

"Based on 156 NHTSA complaints, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata has a median complaint mileage of 24725 miles. The most common issue is Engine."

"What are common problems with the 2021 Hyundai Sonata?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Hyundai Sonata is Engine, accounting for a significant portion of the 156 total complaints filed."

2021 Hyundai Sonata: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 156 complaints

156

Total Complaints

24,725mi

Median Mileage

Engine

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

7,402 25th Percentile

24,725 Median Mileage

46,250 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Engine

Unknown Or Other

Power Train

Electrical System

Fuel/Propulsion System

Visibility/Wiper

Fuel System, Gasoline

Air Bags

Warnings

Body

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLOSION. HAPPENED ON OPEN HIGHWAY ROAD WITH NO CAR IN NEAR VICINITY OR SIGN OF ANY KIND OF DEBRIS HITTING THE VEHICLE."

"SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE WIRELESS APPLE CAR PLAY. REGARDLESS IF THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR NOT IT LOSES CONNECTIVITY. WHILE DRIVING THIS CAUSE YOU TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD AS MESSAGES APPEAR ON THEIR INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM. CALLS ARE DROPPED, NAVIGATION STOPS SO WHILE YOU ARE LOOKING AT..."

"Excessive wind noise is coming from the driver side window when speeds are over 55mph+. A lot of other owners on the forums are experiencing the same problem."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Engine 29 complaints

25th: 4,875 mi Median: 24,800 mi 75th: 44,750 mi

Power Train 19 complaints

25th: 15,000 mi Median: 28,000 mi 75th: 35,000 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

FL: 35 TX: 18 AZ: 12 CA: 9 PA: 6 WA: 5 AL: 5 NY: 5 NC: 4 IL: 4

Hyundai Sonata — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1990	25	-	Automatic Transmission	0
1991	41	-	Seat Belts	3
1992	43	-	Automatic Transmission	1
1993	46	-	Automatic Transmission	1
1995	93	107,263	Frontal	17
1996	37	-	Gasoline	0
1997	74	86,000	Tank Assembly	6
1998	68	80,000	Automatic Transmission	3
1999	187	95,000	Frame And Members	25
2000	378	108,000	Frame And Members	22
2001	293	89,863	Frame And Members	34
2002	407	94,724	Frame And Members	50
2003	247	70,178	Air Bags	28
2004	285	91,138	Suspension	36
2005	217	80,000	Air Bags	44
2006	1422	73,838	Air Bags	55
2007	905	67,000	Air Bags	45
2008	554	65,000	Air Bags	24
2009	610	68,783	Service Brakes	29
2010	415	65,000	Body	23
2011	4582	75,702	Steering	194
2012	2254	80,000	Engine	86
2013	2602	79,000	Engine	138
2014	1061	70,000	Engine	48
2015	1611	53,758	Engine	60
2016	960	62,100	Engine	37
2017	964	53,900	Engine	46
2018	519	19,862	Engine	26
2019	182	23,000	Engine	11
2020	236	2,700	Fuel/Propulsion System	8
2022	123	13,500	Power Train	14
2023	130	11,000	Fuel/Propulsion System	12
2024	61	2,000	Electrical System	3

Active Recalls (4)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Campaign 21V524000 | 09/07/2021

A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 207.

Windshield

Campaign 21V00M000 | 28/12/2021

A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.

Automatic Transmission

Campaign 22V746000 | 06/10/2022

Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.

Fuel System, Gasoline

Campaign 25V796000 | 18/11/2025

A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Dealers will inspect and replace the check valve. The fuel tank assembly will be inspected for damage and replaced if necessary. Additionally, dealers will inspect and update the engine control unit software. All repairs will be performed as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were

Extend Your Engine Life

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Change oil on schedule — this is the single most important thing you can do
Use the manufacturer-recommended oil weight and type
Replace the air filter every 15,000-30,000 miles
Don't ignore the check engine light — small issues become expensive fast
Let the engine warm up for 30 seconds before driving hard in cold weather
Address coolant leaks immediately to prevent overheating damage

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28