NHTSA lists 189 complaints for the 2021 Hyundai Sonata, 8 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 4 complaints mention an injury, with 15 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-09.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as HYUNDAI SONATA.
Model-generated complaint tags
These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.
Failure modes| Label | Count | Share of tagged | Mean confidence |
|---|
| electrical electronic | 49 | 25.9% | 0.90 |
|---|
| mechanical failure | 37 | 19.6% | 0.71 |
|---|
| loss of control | 36 | 19.0% | 0.74 |
|---|
| fluid or fuel leak | 23 | 12.2% | 0.78 |
|---|
| unclear | 14 | 7.4% | 0.81 |
|---|
| fire or overheating | 12 | 6.3% | 0.79 |
|---|
| structural or corrosion | 6 | 3.2% | 0.51 |
|---|
| restraint or airbag | 5 | 2.6% | 0.96 |
|---|
| visibility or lighting | 5 | 2.6% | 0.83 |
|---|
| noise or comfort | 2 | 1.1% | 0.77 |
|---|
Severities| Label | Count | Share of tagged | Mean confidence |
|---|
| moderate | 135 | 71.4% | 0.83 |
|---|
| low | 44 | 23.3% | 0.71 |
|---|
| high | 5 | 2.6% | 0.99 |
|---|
| none | 4 | 2.1% | 0.93 |
|---|
| critical | 1 | 0.5% | 0.41 |
|---|
Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 189 tagged complaints of 189 complaints (100.0%).
Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.
Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.
Recalls
See new recalls and investigations this week.
4 recalls.
Date: 2025-11-17. Systems: 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. (excerpt)
Consequence: A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire. (excerpt)
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. Hyu (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2022-10-06. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2021-12-28. Systems: VISIBILITY.
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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2021-07-09. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
2 investigations; 0 open.
DP22005
Opened: 2023-01-27. Closed: 2023-08-07.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele
Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Linked campaign numbers: 22V063000.
DP22003
Opened: 2022-09-12. Closed: 2023-12-12.
Loss of Motive Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints i
Systems: ENGINE.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
Manufacturer communications
107 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system| System | Count |
|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 32 |
|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 26 |
|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 24 |
|---|
| EQUIPMENT | 9 |
|---|
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 8 |
|---|
| ENGINE | 6 |
|---|
| STEERING | 6 |
|---|
| STRUCTURE | 3 |
|---|
11033840
Date: 2026-06-05. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
This bulletin provides information related to a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software update for some vehicles equipped with an 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT). The software update revises the touch point learning variation, improving drivability and judder symptoms. Some 8WDCTs (ind
11031400
Date: 2026-04-18. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE.
Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather. This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an inspection on the starter magnetic switch for potential freezing and, if necessary, replace the starter magnetic switch (solenoid) assembly.
11032522
Date: 2026-04-10. Type: Other. Systems: AIR BAGS.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit drivera side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been identified in U.S. vehicles following prio
11032523
Date: 2026-04-10. Type: Other. Systems: AIR BAGS.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous drivera s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the ve
11029937
Date: 2026-03-03. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
Some Santa Cruz (NXT), Santa Fe (TMA, MX5A), and Sonata (DN8A) models may require replacement of the 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT) when the vehicle sets one of the high pressure electric oil pump (HP EOP) DTCs listed below. This bulletin provides instructions to replace the 8WDCT.
11029906
Date: 2026-02-25. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE, LANE DEPARTURE.
Some 2019MY and newer vehicles equipped with a front view camera may illuminate certain warning lights and trigger DTC C272246 fault code for the front camera. In the following cases, the front camera auto-calibration range may be exceeded while driving: a ? If the front camera is not properly insta
11028666
Date: 2026-02-05. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.
Some Sonata (DN8, DN8A) vehicles may have DTCs P218100, P2181F0, and/or P2181F1 (Cooling System Performance) set in the Engine Control Module, resulting in an illuminated Check Engine warning lamp. Follow the procedure in this TSB to replace the Integrated Thermal Management (ITM) module and update
11027589
Date: 2026-01-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Some vehicles equipped with a 2.5L GDI Theta III engine (non-Turbo) may exhibit one or more misfire DTCs due to the GDI fuel injectors leaking internally. This may be caused by internal filter breakage in the injector. Follow the procedure in this TSB to replace all 4 injectors on affected vehicles,
11027036
Date: 2025-12-18. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.
Some Elantra (CN7, CN7A), Kona (OS, SX2), and Sonata Hybrid (DN8 HEV) vehicles equipped with 2.0L engines may illuminate a warning lamp for DTC P218100 (Cooling System Performance) related to the Integrated Thermal-Management Module (ITM). Follow the service procedure in this bulletin to install a s
11025476
Date: 2025-11-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary