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2021 Hyundai Sonata

The Verdict

70 Solid Pick

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata has 119 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (50 complaints) and body (36 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 70/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Hyundai Sonata, consider the 2025 model year which has 86% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2025 has 86% fewer complaints

View the 2025 Hyundai Sonata dashboard →

70

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

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 2

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

22V746000 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 ...

Risk

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...

Reported Jun 10, 2022

21V524000 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 ...

Risk

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 a...

Reported Sep 7, 2021

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200015911613515
200110518483219
200217625664611
2003851456359
20041081454179
2005621172164
2006370744929317
200724198291579
200814655161558
200918193748031
201022428353919
201113031137371090118
201243111830464251
201351010732989447
20141174417337030
2015247509767355
2016120358645518
2017260155940716
201881153622110
201930130902
2020512267413
2021364145015
202219494214
2023934607
20241721534
202563142

By Category

Engine
50
Body
36
Transmission
15
Electrical
14
Brakes
4

By Severity

1
51
2
60
3
1
4
7

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2021 Hyundai Sonata stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Brakes 2

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH and attempting to make a right turn, the brakes independently activated. Neither the dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.

18d ago
Engine 1

At approximately 130,000 miles, vehicle developed and internal coolant leak caused by a failed Exhaust Heat Recovery System (EHRS) in the center muffler assembly, matching TSB 23-EM-009H - a known manufacturing defect documented by Hyundai. Coolant has been slowly leaking internally into the exhaust system. The authorized Hyundai dealership initially failed to diagnose the internal leak and told me there was no leak and wanted to send me home. After pushing back, the internal leak was confirmed. If not caught, this defect could result in engine overheating or complete engine failure without warning. Hyundai Motor America has denied goodwill coverage despite this being a documented manufacturing defect.

24d ago
Engine 1

The car will idle high around 1200 rpms. The car will most of the times fix the issue when you turn the car off and back on but it will start again after driving. This is a known issue with the car. I have had the egr valve replaced since it will pop up the codes P240F and P049 for egr slow response and control position exceeded learning limit but the problem came back within two days. I did find a forum that deals with the joint connector repair but this needs to be a recall as I have come across many people who have this problem and paying out of pocket to fix it.

1mo ago
Transmission 2

The vehicle has experienced repeated transmission and Electronic Oil Pump (EOP) failures resulting in loss of propulsion, loss of acceleration, and transmission-related malfunctions. The vehicle currently has approximately 69,000 miles. On September 3, 2022, the vehicle lost propulsion while traveling approximately 31 MPH in traffic and would not respond normally to accelerator input. This created a dangerous situation and increased the risk of a collision. On the same date, while backing out of a parking space, the vehicle displayed a "Shifter System Malfunction" warning message and unexpectedly stopped while in reverse. The vehicle had to be powered off before it would operate again. Following these incidents, the vehicle was towed to a Hyundai dealership and the transmission was replaced in September 2022. Despite the transmission replacement, the vehicle continued experiencing issues involving the same system. The Electronic Oil Pump (EOP) was replaced in 2023 and again in 2024 due to recurring transmission-related concerns and diagnostic codes. In 2026, the check engine light returned and the vehicle was again diagnosed with a transmission-related failure. The dealership determined that the transmission requires replacement for a second time despite the previous transmission replacement and two separate EOP replacements. Internally, Hyundai has since revised its repair guidance for this condition, suggesting that prior repair procedures may not have fully addressed the underlying defect. The repeated failures of the transmission and EOP system despite multiple repairs suggest an underlying defect that has not been corrected. These failures create a significant safety risk because the vehicle can unexpectedly lose propulsion or fail to accelerate while operating in traffic. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

1mo ago
Engine 1

I took my car to dealer to repair recall. Dealer told me if it failed they would keep car and report stolen if I tried to take it. They failed it. I didn't trust them based on their report it stolen statement. I had the police get my car back. I took it to another dealer where it passed recall easily. I believe they wanted my car for a customer, and tried to get away with this ruse.

1mo ago
Engine 2

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine shuddered and the engine stalled. In addition, the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was seized in the middle of the road. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle started. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

2mo ago
Engine 2

The Exhaust Heat Recovery System (EHRS) has failed for the second time on this vehicle. The first failure occurred at approximately 35,000 miles and was repaired under Hyundai Technical Service Bulletin 23-EM-009H, which Hyundai issued to address this exact defect across 2020-2023 Sonata Hybrid models. The vehicle has now reached 71,000 miles and is experiencing the identical symptoms: coolant loss, overheating, and white exhaust smoke. The EHRS shares a coolant loop with the hybrid battery thermal management system. Coolant loss from this failure puts the hybrid battery and power electronics at risk of overheating, creating a potential fire and safety hazard. The recurring nature of this failure following an official TSB repair suggests the root cause has not been adequately addressed by Hyundai's current repair protocol.

3mo ago
Body 2

• I experienced trouble with my splash guard being damaged from hanging and scraping the ground about a month after purchasing the vehicle. Also, my hood paint started chipping after a recent cold front experienced in my state earlier this year. Yes it is available for inspection upon request. Regarding the splash guard, not applicable. • It’s was very inconvenient to drive with a portion of my car scraping the ground. I had to be more mindful of my driving in the higher speed limit areas incase the splash guard detached. I had it re-attached multiple times. Regarding the chipped paint, not applicable. • It it counts, for my splash guard, during a servicing, I asked Hyundai to re-attach it. For the chipped paint, no. • The splash guard has during a past servicing. The chipped paint is more recent so it hasn’t • No. Splash guard, a month after purchasing vehicle. The chipped paint, earlier this year, January-February 2026.

3mo ago
Engine 1

I was notified of a recall on my from vehicle by Hyundai via email some time in March of 2026. The message said mentioned my vehicle may have a defective/worn purge control check valve that would cause the fuel tank to deform. Potentially leading to a release of fuel over time, which then could ignite. NHTSA Recall #25V796000 My car showed now signs of problems, but I brought it into a Hyundai dealership on March 13th where they confirmed my vehicle had the issue. They said the situation required I not drive my vehicle and gave me a rental in the meantime. I assumed it would be a simple swap of the fuel tank and everything would be fine. I was offered a buyback from my Hyundai claims manager over the situation, but I figured since its a simple fix, I'd keep my car and have it fixed. Two weeks went by with no update from the dealership, so I walked in for answers. Turns out, the subframe of my car has been damaged by the expanding fuel tank and they are still waiting for updates from Hyundai on how to proceed as they themselves don't know how to fix my vehicle. My Hyundai claims manager did not mention this when we talked over the phone and he offered a buyback. None of their recall notices mention structural damage anywhere or even as a possibility. I asked the dealership again on April 1, 2026, and they are still waiting on guidance on how to proceed. Neither does my Hyundai claims manager handling this situation on their end.

3mo ago
Engine 1

The internal core of the Exhaust Heat Recovery System (EHRS), part of the center muffler/front pipe assembly (#28600-L5210), suffered a catastrophic failure. This allowed approximately 9 gallons of engine coolant to leak directly into the hot exhaust stream. Safety Risk: This failure creates a severe visibility hazard. During acceleration from stop lights and stop signs, the vehicle emits massive, thick clouds of white glycol smoke. The smoke is so dense that it completely obscures the driver's view of trailing vehicles and prevents following drivers from seeing the roadway or my vehicle's brake lights, creating a high risk of rear-end collisions. Additionally, the rapid loss of coolant caused the engine to overheat and lose power while in motion, nearly causing a stall in active traffic. Confirmation: The failure was confirmed by the service department at Washington Hyundai (Invoice #174281). This is the second failure of this specific component (previously failed in Jan 2025). The manufacturer issued TSB 23-EM-009H for this defect, acknowledging it affects 2020-2023 Sonata Hybrids, but no safety recall has been issued. Symptoms: The issue was preceded by a "sweet" burning smell and a sudden "Engine Overheating" warning on the dashboard. The failed component has been replaced by the dealer, but the manufacturer refused to replace the coolant-poisoned Oxygen (O2) sensors, leaving the vehicle in a technically compromised state. The failed unit is likely held by the dealer for warranty parts return.

3mo ago
Engine 2

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V796000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was unrepairable, and there was no further information provided. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, and a case was filed. The manufacturer informed the contact that the field engineers had reviewed the vehicle and advised that a buyback was the best option. Additionally, the manufacturer offered an 8 percent discount on the purchase of a new vehicle. The contact declined the offer because the vehicle had not experienced a failure, and the vehicle would be paid off after two additional payments.

4mo ago
Engine 2

Hyundai technical service bulletin 23-EM-009H (EHRS COOLANT LEAK) - AKA a faulty heat exchange that causes the coolant to leak into the exhaust and burn away. Resulting in a very hard to diagnose coolant disappearance. This should be a recall. They have literally already acknowledged a manufacturer defect with the service bulletin. The problem is that in most cases, it occurs out of the 60k or 100k warranty. The dealer seems to have discretion as to which of the mileage limits apply. One dealer in NC told me 60k and my local in SC told me 100k. My problem started at 90k, but was just topped off on fluid and repaired as "normal evaporation". Now 12k later at 102k, they acknowledged the TSB but claimed I was out of warranty. With me being out of warranty, they claimed that Hyundai would not send them tsb parts and that I would need to replace the whole system with the normal skus around 3k.

4mo ago
Engine 2

P0471 code before 55k miles even after repair is made

4mo ago
Engine 2

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that the fuel level indicated empty, and the low fuel warning light was illuminated. The passenger seated in the rear seat noticed that the rear seat was out of place and that the seat was very hot. The vehicle was refueled prior to the failure. The contact and the other occupants in the vehicle exited the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the failure was like the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V796000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact was unaware of the open recall because a recall notification was not received. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

4mo ago
Engine 1

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 local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

4mo ago
Engine 2

On i believe 1/14/26, my check engine light came on. Scheduled appt.for 1/16/26 for diagnostic. Several things were wrong. I decided to come back due to not having the money at the time. Over the wked, I remembered a recall notice i received around November that I asked about in November during my oil change & was told the parts aren't in & they'd give me a call. Upon viewing the recall it seemed some things I was told on 1/16/26 could be a result of the recall. I called my service person Linda on 1/20/26, she spoke to her supervisor & they informed me some of the issues seem to stem from the recall. Linda gave me the manufacturer recall contact information. I contacted them on 1/20/26. She explained there was indeed a recall, there wasn't a remedy yet, it was safe to drive & if something changes, to call back. On 1/28/26 around 5:30am I left home for work & my car all of a sudden experienced a loss of power. It wouldn't go past 30mph. I returned back home & called out of work. I called the manufacturer recall & informed them. She made an appt. to take my car in the follow day, 1/29/26. I decided to drop it off that same day, 1/28/26. I had someone follow me being i could only go 30mph on a flat road & 10mph on a slight hill. I found out my service person Linda was no longer employeed there. I spoke with another employee. He said they would have to do another diagnostic. I left my car. I called the dealership on 1/29/26 for an update, they had not looked at my car. I called the manufacturer recall, they assigned a case manger to my case. Jay from the NCA, called me on 1/30/26 I believe. We've communicated several times without me receiving a adequate update. He's saying the issue seems to be steamed from the recall, there is now remedy yet, & they are still investigating. I've been without a car since 1/28/26, still making payments, missing work, haven't been offered a loaner & have no idea when or if I will get my car back.

4mo ago
Engine 1

The EHRS coolant system failed and had a leak causing the coolant to be excessively burned off as thick white smoke. This caused me to not be able to see anything behind me and forced others to stop or slow down dramatically to avoid colliding with me. I had my engine overheat and force me to pull over on the side of an unsafe road because the exhaust system burned off my entire tank of coolant in less than a mile. I have taken this to a Hyundai dealership and they confirmed it was the EHRS system failure and told me it was a fairly known issue with the 2020-2023 Sonata Hybrids. I was told that even if I get it replaced the possibility of having it happen again are pretty high. This seems extremely unsafe to myself and others.

4mo ago
Engine 2

Vehicle suddenly lost heat in 30 degree weather. No warnings, check engine light, or temperature gauge indicators came on. Lucky made it to a parts store and found out I was extremely low on coolant. Bought coolant and put it in. Made it back to the house and was immediately low again. No visible leaking. Oil was completely fine (1 gallon of coolant would have have left some kind indicator). Realized it was more than likely the ehrs. If this happened during the summer, my engine could have blown due to a poor design causing a major accident.

5mo ago
Engine 2

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly shut off without warning. There was an abnormal popping sound coming from the vehicle with an abnormally strong fuel odor inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of fuel. 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 local dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

5mo ago
Engine 2

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact was informed that the part was not available to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V796000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part was not available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

5mo ago

119 total

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