2020 Hyundai Sonata
The Verdict
The 2020 Hyundai Sonata has 182 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (81 complaints) and body (54 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 58/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Hyundai Sonata, consider the 2025 model year which has 90% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2025 has 90% fewer complaints
View the 2025 Hyundai Sonata dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 4
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
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, ...
Risk
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 uni...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Sonata and Sonata Hybrid, and 2019 Genesis G70 vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the ...
Risk
A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the trunk latch and replace the trunk latch base, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer servi...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Sonata vehicles produced between October 22, 2019 and February 13, 2020. The tire pressure label inside the driver's door and the owner's ...
Risk
The incorrect tire information may mislead the vehicle owner to install the wrong tire size, potentially affecting vehicle handling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install new label stickers over the tire pressure label and in the owner's manual, free of charge. The recall began April 22, 2020. Owners may contact...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Nexo and Sonata vehicles. The Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) software may fail to prevent vehicle movement upon detection of an RSPA s...
Risk
Unintended vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the RSPA software, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's ...
Reported Sep 4, 2020
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 159 | 11 | 61 | 35 | 15 |
| 2001 | 105 | 18 | 48 | 32 | 19 |
| 2002 | 177 | 25 | 66 | 46 | 11 |
| 2003 | 85 | 14 | 56 | 35 | 9 |
| 2004 | 108 | 14 | 54 | 17 | 9 |
| 2005 | 62 | 11 | 72 | 16 | 4 |
| 2006 | 370 | 74 | 492 | 93 | 17 |
| 2007 | 241 | 98 | 291 | 57 | 9 |
| 2008 | 146 | 55 | 161 | 55 | 8 |
| 2009 | 181 | 93 | 74 | 80 | 31 |
| 2010 | 224 | 28 | 35 | 39 | 19 |
| 2011 | 1304 | 114 | 739 | 1096 | 118 |
| 2012 | 431 | 118 | 306 | 647 | 51 |
| 2013 | 511 | 109 | 331 | 908 | 48 |
| 2014 | 120 | 44 | 174 | 375 | 31 |
| 2015 | 251 | 51 | 99 | 696 | 55 |
| 2016 | 120 | 35 | 87 | 465 | 18 |
| 2017 | 261 | 15 | 60 | 412 | 17 |
| 2018 | 83 | 15 | 36 | 231 | 10 |
| 2019 | 31 | 1 | 30 | 98 | 2 |
| 2020 | 54 | 3 | 30 | 81 | 14 |
| 2021 | 38 | 4 | 15 | 59 | 18 |
| 2022 | 21 | 4 | 11 | 45 | 14 |
| 2023 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 63 | 8 |
| 2024 | 19 | 2 | 18 | 3 | 4 |
| 2025 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
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Complaints
The car has strong fuel smell in the cabin when tank is full, It is especially strong after car sits. I have taken to hyundai several times for this problem. They say the computer says nothing is wrong. They refuse to investigate as they dont smell the odor.
Upon arriving home I noticed that the paint was missing from the back passenger side & when I left the parking lot before heading home there was no paint missing.
Vehicle experienced intermittent, severe powertrain defect resulting in a critical safety hazard. Between 30K and 36K miles, the vehicle underwent 3 violent highway deceleration episodes. During these events, the engine began shaking, escalating to violent shaking; with deceleration and coming to a stop, it would shake, then sputter as if it would die. Coming to a complete stop, a total stall was prevented only by the ECM forcing a limp mode lock at 1200 RPMs. When Auto Hold was engaged at this point and my foot was removed from the brake pedal, the mechanical surge caused the vehicle to unexpectedly lurch forward, fighting against and nearly overriding the factory Auto Hold braking safety feature before finally holding. Luckily, no pedestrian was walking in front of my car when this occurred. No check engine light (CEL) or dashboard warning ever illuminated. This safety compromise is directly tied to an ineffective or adjacent remedy involving Service Campaign 9B1 (Opcode 40D219R0) and Safety Recall 286. Under this Opcode, a factory software flash deleted the standard OBD-II trouble code P0451and substituted it with a manufacturer-specific shadow code P14EE00. This software manipulation suppressed universal emission/pressure sensor faults, masking a volatile physical defect within the high pressure fuel delivery and ignition systems. Dealer diagnostics on a running, compromised engine flagged an improper fuel injector pulse and subsequently a failing Cylinder 3 ignition coil. All four injectors were replaced but only one coil, leaving 3 non-updated , factory defective coils in the engine. The vehicle remains an ongoing highway stalling and brake-override hazard due to an incomplete field remedy of a recall-adjacent system. I've filed a Hyundai Complaint with assigned case number 43394228 regarding Safety Recall 286. (Two episodes of the attempted Auto Hold override occurred - first 09/09/2026 and second 09/29/2026.)
Fuel system recall (NHTSA 25V796; Hyundai 286/23HYZ2 "Fuel Tank Expansion") on a 2020 Hyundai Sonata, plus the fuel-tank heat shield and rear floor pan area. On 4/21/2026 (110,423 mi.) a Hyundai dealer's recall test FAILED; no warning lamps or symptoms beforehand. The repair order says Hyundai "is declining the repair at this time and is calling the customer to offer assistance." Hyundai's advisory: "Do Not Drive, Park Outside." Hyundai's recall filing says heat shield/exhaust contact "could contribute to fuel tank damage" (a fuel-leak/fire risk, I understand). The dealer also noted structural damage at the rear. On 8/1/2026 Hyundai Consumer Affairs confirmed in writing the repair was denied "to provide Consumer Affairs time to contact you to discuss a possible repurchase" ("standard practice"): about 102 days for a business reason, not a technical one. I elected repair 8/4. Every completion date since passed (8/26 "2-3 weeks"; 9/7 "end of this month"; 9/18 "end of next week"). On 10/5 Hyundai emailed that the car "has since been picked up... post repairs"; it had not (the dealer says its manager told Hyundai the work was done "at the body shop"). On 10/6 the dealer said the repair is complete but unverified, the repair order is "partially closed," and the car was jumped and driven in; the body-shop work is a roughly $15,000 warranty repair with no paperwork. Sitting damaged the car: rusted brake rotors and a failed battery that was recorded "OK" at intake; the dealer first asked me to pay for a new one, then reported Hyundai's approval on 10/6. 168 days; the remedy is not verified complete, and no pickup date or advance notice has been agreed. Not asking NHTSA to resolve a financial dispute. Vehicle and removed parts may be available for inspection per dealership. Documents (repair order, Hyundai's written correspondence) are available on request.
A/C blower motor fan would stop working. Happened twice within less than a year apart. Upon further inspection, multi fuse wiring overheated and melted, ruining fuse and making A/C stop working during 100 temperatures outside. Apparently this is a well known issue with this make and model Sonata. Electrical failure.
I am submitting a safety complaint regarding a recurring, unresolved electrical defect in my 2020 Hyundai Sonata SEL. The vehicle fails to recognize when the ignition is switched off, leaving core vehicle systems active and causing severe parasitic battery drain that leaves the car immobilized. Description of the Problem: False "On" Status: After parking, turning off the engine, and exiting the vehicle, the car continues to register as though the ignition is still active/on (accessories, cluster, or vehicle network remain awake). Severe Parasitic Draw: Because the vehicle fails to shut down its electrical circuits, the 12-volt battery repeatedly discharges overnight or while parked for short durations. Battery Replacement Did Not Resolve Issue: The 12-volt battery was replaced with a brand-new unit to eliminate typical wear, yet the drain and false "on" behavior persisted immediately. Frequency: The vehicle frequently fails to start, requiring constant jump-starts or roadside assistance to operate. Safety Hazard: This defect creates a direct safety risk by repeatedly stranding the driver without warning in public locations, traffic stops, or remote areas. In addition, an electrical system that fails to enter a sleep state creates a potential hazard for component overheating, failure of electronic security and locking systems, or total electrical failure while attempting to restart or operate auxiliary safety equipment. Other Hyundai owners have reported identical issues where the body control modules or ignition logic fail to power down. Corrective Action Requested: I request that the NHTSA investigate this electrical shutdown defect across the 2020 Hyundai Sonata model year to identify whether a faulty Body Control Module (BCM), smart key receiver, or ignition switch relay requires a safety recall and software or hardware remediation. Battery replaced on 09/04/2026 Car inspected/diagnosed by Hyundai Dealership on 09/03/2026
The A/C evaporator core and the core seal needs replacing on 2020 Hyundai Sonata. Car is 6 years old. I already have a confirmed diagnosis with a PPM refrigerant leak tester at the condensate drain line The diagnosis is 100% confirmed. The evaporator is leaking heavily—we pulled 274 PPM at the drain tube and 177 PPM inside the cabin behind the glove box so refrigerent has been leaking out of the vents. My wife and I were getting headaches for no reason. Our AC has failed and this problem was discovered as the issue and I am paying out of pocket to fix something that should not have failed and has leaked out refrigerent.
Parking malfunction. Parked, running car moved itself to reverse and backed up a driveway crossing a dirt road and hitting a fence and post. This car could have hit and severely injured anyone who was in the path while it was reversing on its own. Car was in reverse and all parking sensors were blaring when the car was found minutes later.
Blower motor malfunction at night. Smelled something burning. Extremely hot and humid outside. Windows fogged up inside which greatly reduced visibility. Checked the multifuse which controls the ABS, oil pump, cooling fan, & Blower. I discovered a burnt connection on one of the terminals for the blower. This is a huge safety and fire risk and needs to be addressed ASAP!!!! Upon my research, I’m finding several Hyundai Sonata vehicles having this same exact issue. Kia vehicles are being recalled for this same exact issue. Why isn’t the Hyundai Sonata??
The reverse camera only shows a black screen and will put drivers in danger while not being able to see behind them while reversing. This needs to be recalled and repaired. Especially in situations where a person is reversing out of a driveway onto a major/busy road. Sometimes it works, but a lot of the time it is just a black screen with the green, yellow, and red lines to indicate how far your wheel is turned. But it doesn’t allow you to actually SEE where you’re backing up into or the cars coming from either side of you while trying to back out. It’s very dangerous and it seems to a be manufacturer’s defect that needs to be addressed by the company itself, since they’re the ones who made and installed the product incorrectly.
The driver's power seat track master assembly (Part#88500-L0030) on my 2020 Hyundai Sonata suffered a catastrophic structural failure while operating. The black plastic bracket housing and aligning the electric drive motor fractured. This caused the motor to pull out of alignment, twisting the driver's seat violently sideways and permanently jamming the tracking rails. This is a chronic, repeat safety component failure on this specific VIN. The original factory seat track assembly suffered an identical mechanical failure and was replaced by warranty on 10/3/2023 at 46,369 miles. This second factory replacement unit failed in exactly the same manner on 8/13/2026 at 82,271 miles-lasting only 35,902 miles under normal operating conditions. I weigh 95 pounds. A driver's seat structurally shifting sideways dynamically presents an immediate, severe crash hazard. It instantly alters driver ergonomics, compromises the structural crash-anchoring performance of the seat frame, and potentially restricts pedal access to the brake and accelerator. The manufacturer is actively denying product liability by classifying internal structural breakages of shielded components beneath the cushion as user "damage" rather than an engineering or climate-related material defect. This tracking component must be formally investigated for systemic failure patterns to prevent accidents.
The AC/heating blower motor circuit on my 2020 Hyundai Sonata failed intermittently due to extreme electrical resistance overheating and melting the terminal pins inside the engine fuse box. I took it to the dealership and they inspected it said it was out of warranty but it needed part number 18980-09910-FFF and wiring kit 91300L1000-FF to repair at a cost of 780.00 including parts, tax, and labor. This matches the severe design defect acknowledged in Hyundai TSB #25-EE-002H or alternative TSB-24-EEOO-1H. I filed case number 43138757 with Hyundai corporate. For now this just affects my air conditioning. However, the root failure is a known design defect that presents a severe vehicle fire hazard and potential loss of windshield defrosting capability, lights, etc. if the whole electrical system should fail. As you should know the engine bay fuse box (which currently has melted parts) is the "brain" for the car's electrical distribution. It doesn't just power my AC fan; it holds the fuses and relays for the cars fuel pump, engine control module (ECM), headlights, and electronic power steering. If left unfixed and over time as the plastic melts, copper wires will cross and touch each other, causing a massive short circuit. My engine could suddenly cut out and stall while I am traveling at 70 mph on the highway, instantly killing my power steering and power brakes and putting me in extreme danger. Again not to mention the fire hazard this situation is likely to cause. This should be addressed via a mandatory safety recall, so that I don’t have to pay for a known engineering design defect and in case the TBS bulletin fails or further unknown damage has already occurred.
Car was taken to dealership for inspection. Upon inspection, it was determined that the fuel tank had expanded and pushed towards the heat shield, and expanded upward pushing up the back seats of vehicle. It was determined to not safe to drive. Manufacturer contacted me and offered a buyback. Upon their offer of a buyback, it was determined that I would owe the manufacturer approximately $2,000. I have requested that they fix it, and they have refused to give me the paperwork I requested about the car's condition and fixability. I am in the process of negotiating and am filing this complaint for the record.
Fan motor fuse box quit working and ac/heat no longer operational. First time was around October 21, 2025.
My vehicle while driving, it is jerking and shaking. When I come to a stop, the cars rpms go up and down while the car is shaking. When I pressed the gas pedal to accelerate the car will not accelerate as normal and the car jerks as I’m driving it. The RPMs rev up and down without any pressure placed on the gas pedal. The check engine light came on.The miles per hour only allows me to put one digit. I wanted to clarify that the problem is occurring anywhere between 0 mph to 65 mph when these the car jerks and shakes and the RPMs go up and down without me pressure on the gas pedal.
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil warning light illuminated. The contact added oil to the engine. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times, and several oil consumption tests were performed. The contact was informed that the oil consumption test results did not indicate excessive oil consumption. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the oil level was a half quart low. The contact was informed that no repair options were available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The seat belt latches do not latch or will spontaneously unlatch. This has been a problem for about 4 years. I have checked for recalls and not seen any for my car. I will check with the dealer but have tried vacuuming the latches without effect. I have never experienced anything like this in any previous vehicle. The warning buzzer lets me know when the seatbelt unlatches, but I seriously doubt the belt would hold in case of an accident.
No air coming from cabin, upon further inspection found melted multifuse with melting terminal pin area in fuse box. No prior signs of warning, leaving vehicle without operable air condition for high temperatures.
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the family inside the vehicle, a strong gasoline odor was inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the fuel gauge was lowering quickly. Upon exiting the vehicle, the contact became aware of gasoline gushing heavily out of the vehicle onto the ground. Two months prior to the failure, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer due to an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V796000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the recall repair was not performed because the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was determined that the gas valve was not properly fixed. The abnormal sound in the rear of the vehicle was due to the fuel expansion, which caused the tank to rupture and melt. The melting caused the fuel pump to expand and melt, causing structural damage to the body of the vehicle. The structural expansion caused the rear passenger seats to raise up. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000.
My 2020 Hyundai Sonata 2.5L is experiencing excessive engine oil consumption. At approximately 88,063 miles, Great Lakes Hyundai documented that the engine oil level was 1.30 quarts below full after an oil-consumption check. The dealer topped off the oil, submitted photos and a prior-authorization/goodwill request to Hyundai, and Hyundai declined assistance. The dealer recommended combustion chamber cleaning with an estimate of $979.76. I am concerned that this excessive oil consumption could lead to sudden engine damage, loss of power, stalling, or engine failure if the oil level drops between checks. The vehicle is only a 2020 model year, and this level of oil consumption appears abnormal. I am also concerned about possible emissions/catalytic converter damage from oil burning.
182 total