The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 59 of 190 complaints (31%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Driver Assistance & Speed Control include more reported injuries (9) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 199 in 2020 to 190 in 2021.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 190
- Recall campaigns
- 4
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,200–$2,300
- Combined MPG
- 27–52
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | vs. 2021 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,500–2,400 | 1,200–2,000 | 1,200–2,300 | 1,200–2,300 | 1,200–2,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 26–42 | 31–52 | 27–52 | 27–52 | 27–52 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 23–40 / 32–46 | 27–50 / 36–54 | 23–50 / 33–54 | 23–50 / 33–54 | 23–50 / 33–54 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 212–342 | 172–293 | 172–335 | 172–335 | 172–335 | |
| Complaints filed | 172 | 199 | 190 | 115 | 103 | |
| Recalls issued | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 7 | 5 | 15 | 5 | 2 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 5 | 6 | 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 2021 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 2021 Hyundai Sonata?
Engine: 59 of 190 NHTSA complaints (31%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Hyundai Sonata get?
EPA rates it 27–52 MPG combined across 6 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Hyundai Sonata?
EPA estimates $1,200–$2,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 45 mpg | 51 mpg | 47 mpg | $1,300 | 189 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | 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) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 27 mpg | 37 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,100 | 293 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 27 mpg | 37 mpg | 31 mpg | $2,000 | 293 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 28 mpg | 38 mpg | 32 mpg | $1,950 | 282 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (AM-S8) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 23 mpg (low) | 33 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | $2,300 (high) | 335 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 59 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 39 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Electrical | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 6 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 15 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 39 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
- Consequence
- Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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. Hyundai's number for this recall is 236.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.
- Consequence
- A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe and Sonata vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
- Consequence
- A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- 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.