2018 Hyundai Sonata problems and recalls

Owner complaints on the 2018 Hyundai Sonata include 1 fatality report, 18 crashes and 13 fires across 369 filings.

369
Complaints
1
Recalls
18
Crash reports
13
Fire reports
17
Injuries
82.5
Severity index

Severity index 82.5 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 82.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 21 of 122 by severity index among 2018 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 83% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2018 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 209 complaints (56.6%)209 57%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 60 complaints (16.3%)60 16%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 58 complaints (15.7%)58 16%Power TrainPower Train: 40 complaints (10.8%)40 11%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 30 complaints (8.1%)30 8%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 22 complaints (6.0%)22 6%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 19 complaints (5.1%)19 5%Service BrakesService Brakes: 17 complaints (4.6%)17 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE20956.6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6016.3%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5815.7%
POWER TRAIN4010.8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM308.1%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING226.0%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL195.1%
SERVICE BRAKES174.6%

Complaints filed per year

041822017: 12018: 172019: 612020: 182021: 222022: 372023: 552024: 442025: 822026: 32 (partial year)1718192021222324258226
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20171
201817
201961
202018
202122
202237
202355
202444
202582
2026 (year to date)32
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 2.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (181 against 77).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V61900006/08/2021LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCHHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with t

Other Hyundai Sonata model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-29. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.