Hyundai Sonata Best and Worst Years

Counting owner complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2017 Hyundai Sonata drew the most (132; most-reported area: engine) and the 2019 the fewest (30).

Data: US EPA and NHTSAUpdated Sep 27, 2026

Every model year since 2016 in one place: EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls, owner complaints and crash test ratings. The best fuel economy rating, 52 mpg combined, arrived in 2020. Includes the Sonata Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid.

Best and worst years, by owner complaints

Model years ranked by owner complaints filed with NHTSA in their first three years (model year Y: filed by the end of Y+2), so every year is measured over the same time on the road. Years without three full years of data, and launch or final years with very few sold, are left out. Counts are not adjusted for how many were sold.

Model year	First 3 years	All complaints	Recalls
2017 Sonata Most reported: engine	132	876	5
2016 Sonata Most reported: engine	111	883	9
2018 Sonata Most reported: engine	101	382	2
2023 Sonata Most reported: fuel and propulsion system	79	102	2
2021 Sonata Most reported: engine	66	188	4
2022 Sonata Most reported: electrical system	66	112	3
2020 Sonata Most reported: electrical system	60	194	4
2019 Sonata Most reported: engine	30	170	0

Year by year

Model year	Best rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026 MPG · Recalls and problems	51 mpg Hybrid	1	6
2025 MPG · Recalls and problems	47 mpg Hybrid	0	27
2024 MPG · Recalls and problems	47 mpg Hybrid	1	55
2023 MPG · Recalls and problems	52 mpg Hybrid	2	102
2022 MPG · Recalls and problems	52 mpg Hybrid	3	112
2021 MPG · Recalls and problems	52 mpg Hybrid	4	188
2020 MPG · Recalls and problems	52 mpg Hybrid	4	194
2019 MPG · Recalls and problems	42 mpg Hybrid	0	170
2018 MPG · Recalls and problems	42 mpg Hybrid	2	382
2017 MPG · Recalls and problems	42 mpg Hybrid	5	876
2016 MPG · Recalls and problems	41 mpg Hybrid	9	883

Owner complaints by model year

All complaints filed so far. Counts rise with sales volume and with time on the road, so recent years look better than they may turn out. The highlighted bar is the model year with the most complaints in its first three years.

2017: 876 complaints

Show as a table

Owner complaints by model year, Hyundai Sonata
Model year	Complaints
2016	883
2017	876
2018	382
2019	170
2020	194
2021	188
2022	112
2023	102
2024	55
2025	27
2026	6

Best combined rating by model year

The best-rated version in each model year. Gas: 29 to 32 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2026); highest in 2020. Hybrid: 41 to 52 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2026); highest in 2020.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2026: gas 32 mpg · hybrid 51 mpg

Show as a table

Hyundai Sonata best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2016	31	41
2017	31	42
2018	31	42
2019	31	42
2020	32	52
2021	32	52
2022	32	52
2023	32	52
2024	29	47
2025	32	47
2026	32	51

Comparisons

Hyundai Sonata vs Toyota CamryMPG, fuel cost, recalls and crash tests

Questions

Which Hyundai Sonata years have the most problems?

Counting owner complaints filed with NHTSA in each model year's first three years, the 2017 (132) drew the most, then the 2016 (111). Most-reported area for the 2017: engine.

Which Hyundai Sonata years have the fewest problems?

The 2019 (30) drew the fewest complaints in its first three years. The 2024, 2025, and 2026 are not ranked yet: they have had fewer than three full years on the road.

Which Hyundai Sonata years should you avoid?

Complaint counts can't tell you whether a particular car is sound, but they show where owners reported the most trouble: the 2017, against 72 complaints in a typical Hyundai Sonata year. Whatever the year, check the car's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy. Safety recall repairs are free at Hyundai dealers.

Which Hyundai Sonata years have the most recalls?

The 2016 has the most safety recalls in NHTSA's file (9), then the 2017 (5). A recall can cover a problem that affects only a few cars, so open a year's page to see what each one covers. One recall tells owners not to drive the car or to park it outside until it is repaired: NHTSA 23V-526 (2023 models).

What are the most common Hyundai Sonata problems?

Of the 2,995 owner complaints NHTSA lists for 2016 to 2026 models, the areas named most are engine (49%), electrical system (15%), and powertrain (10%). One complaint can name more than one area. The recalls and problems page for each year breaks this down further.

Which Hyundai Sonata year has the best MPG?

The best EPA fuel economy is 52 mpg combined, first reached by the 2020 hybrid version.

Sources and method

US EPA fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and owner complaint file dated Sep 26, 2026; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings.

Complaint counts are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.