2021 Hyundai Sonata problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (21) · Fuel/Propulsion System (14) · Engine (14)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Sonata model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
25 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Fuel System, Gasoline 2025-11-17 · campaign 25V796000 · 85,043 vehicles
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.
Risk: A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2022-10-06 · campaign 22V746000 · 56,148 vehicles
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.
Risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 2021-12-28 · campaign 21V00M000 · 26,413 vehicles
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.
Risk: A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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 2021-07-09 · campaign 21V524000 · 15,752 vehicles
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.
Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (92)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2026-10-27 · 26-GI-003H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information related to the navigation and head unit software changes introduced in the 2026 2nd navigation map and software update. the changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and navigation system. refer to the 2026 2nd navigation map and software update key improv
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2026-10-15 · 26-GI-004H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (pdw) sensor(s) that may trigger various dtcs and display warning messages on the instrument cluster, resulting in the pdw sensor(s) failing to detect nearby objects or triggering multiple false alarms. this condition may be a res
Engine 2026-10-08 · 26-EM-016H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. all internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operatio
Engine 2026-10-07 · 26-EM-015H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. all internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operatio
Power Train 2026-06-05 · 26-AT-005H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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
Engine 2026-04-18 · 26-EE-003H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
Showing the 6 most recent of 92 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-23 · Electrical System“the left turn signal works intermittently. it has now stopped working about 90% of the time. the multi-function switch was replaced 3 times and i am still having the issue. the signal won't work on the exterior and it won't light up on the interior dash either. this is creating an unsafe driving environment which increases crash rates. multiple veh…”
2026-09-28 · Power Train“my 2021 hyundai sonata n line suffered a catastrophic, sudden total loss of drive power while operating at speed on a public roadway, creating an immediate crash hazard. the vehicle lost forward propulsion and the gear selector flashed a blinking 'r' when reverse was attempted. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer, [xxx] hyundai southtowne…”
2026-09-23 · Fuel/Propulsion System“description of safety defect & immediate hazard:my 2021 hyundai sonata sel is currently exhibiting the most severe, catastrophic symptoms of the fuel tank expansion defect covered under nhtsa campaign 25v796000. the fuel tank has expanded so drastically that it physically warped the structural interior of the cabin, violently popping the rear passe…”
2026-09-17 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 100,000 mi“the contact owns a 2021 hyundai sonata. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign: 25v796000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, parts were on back order. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked with an abnormal gasoline odor inside the vehicle. an unknown warning light was temporarily illuminated. …”
2026-09-15 · Power Train“transmission replaced twice and all of them continue to fail. several hyundai service centers are unable to determine the cause and are only able to update/relearn and replace whenever they are able to replicate the issue. the issue is that at a cold start, the car makes a popping sound, jerks and shakes. the car hesitates to accelerate. you can he…”
2026-08-26 · Unknown Or Other“massive loss of coolant in closed loop cooling system heat soak. fail safe mode…”
2026-08-21 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 55,000 mi“the contact owns a 2021 hyundai sonata. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 25v796000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle independently accelerated and decelerated while the accelerator pedal was d…”
2026-08-16 · Fuel/Propulsion System“i took my vehicle in for the safety recall due to an expanding fuel tank on 08/03/2026. i received my vehicle back on 8/12/2026. hyundai performed an improper repair on the vehicle that will not correct the fuel tank expansion. they replaced the same check valve that was replaced last time i brought the vehicle in for recall on 11/20/2024 repair o…”
2026-08-07 · Electrical System“the left blinker switch keeps going in and out, working about 50% of the time. both the light and the blinker sound do not turn on. when getting it checked out at an auto repair shop, the maintenance tech said this was more and more common for 2021 sonatas and it was not due to anything i did. it was a multifunction switch problem.…”
2026-08-07 · Fuel/Propulsion System“gas tank expansion and pcv melted. car smells like gas when i was driving earlier, and my garage was flooded with the fumes of gasoline. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.