The Verdict
Worst problem area
Fuel System
Fuel System leads by volume: 60 of 199 complaints (30%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 172 in 2019 to 199 in 2020.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 199
- Recall campaigns
- 4
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,200–$2,000
- Combined MPG
- 31–52
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | vs. 2020 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,500–2,400 | 1,500–2,400 | 1,200–2,000 | 1,200–2,300 | 1,200–2,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 26–42 | 26–42 | 31–52 | 27–52 | 27–52 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 23–40 / 32–46 | 23–40 / 32–46 | 27–50 / 36–54 | 23–50 / 33–54 | 23–50 / 33–54 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 212–342 | 212–342 | 172–293 | 172–335 | 172–335 | |
| Complaints filed | 384 | 172 | 199 | 190 | 115 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 18 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 13 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 21 | 7 | 5 | 15 | 5 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2020 Hyundai Sonata have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2020 Hyundai Sonata?
Fuel System: 60 of 199 NHTSA complaints (30%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Hyundai Sonata get?
EPA rates it 31–52 MPG combined across 5 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Hyundai Sonata?
EPA estimates $1,200–$2,000 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (5)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 27 mpg (low) | 37 mpg | 31 mpg (low) | $2,000 (high) | 293 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 28 mpg | 38 mpg | 32 mpg | $1,950 | 282 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 27 mpg (low) | 36 mpg (low) | 31 mpg (low) | $2,000 (high) | 291 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 45 mpg | 51 mpg | 47 mpg | $1,300 | 189 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 50 mpg (high) | 54 mpg (high) | 52 mpg (high) | $1,200 (low) | 172 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 40 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 60 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 47 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 26 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 34 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Sonata vehicles. A damaged check valve can allow air to enter the fuel tank, causing it to expand and contact hot exhaust components, melting the tank.
- Consequence
- A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- 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 mailed beginning March 13, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 286. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 19, 2025.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Sonata and Sonata Hybrid, and 2019 Genesis G70 vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
- Consequence
- A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the trunk latch and replace the trunk latch base, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 221/010G.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Nexo and Sonata vehicles. The Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) software may fail to prevent vehicle movement upon detection of an RSPA system malfunction.
- Consequence
- Unintended vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the RSPA software, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 191.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Sonata vehicles produced between October 22, 2019 and February 13, 2020. The tire pressure label inside the driver's door and the owner's manual state an incorrect tire size. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
- Consequence
- The incorrect tire information may mislead the vehicle owner to install the wrong tire size, potentially affecting vehicle handling, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install new label stickers over the tire pressure label and in the owner's manual, free of charge. The recall began April 22, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 190.