2021 Hyundai Sonata: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 119 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 4 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
119
Complaints
4
Recalls
7
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
12
Injuries
104.2
Severity index
Severity index 104.2 - High. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 90 2021 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata ranks 13 of 90 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 86% of its model-year peers. See the full 2021 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 33 | 27.7% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 29 | 24.4% |
| POWER TRAIN | 21 | 17.6% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 17 | 14.3% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 16 | 13.4% |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 9 | 7.6% |
| GASOLINE | 9 | 7.6% |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 8 | 6.7% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 33 of 119 complaints (27.7%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 22 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 29 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 26 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 2.4x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V524000 | 09/07/2021 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 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. |
| 21V00M000 | 28/12/2021 | VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 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. |
| 22V746000 | 06/10/2022 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 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 re |
| 25V796000 | 18/11/2025 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 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. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.