NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 382 owner complaints for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata (including the hybrid).
2Safety recalls
382Owner complaints
18Complaints citing a crash
13Complaints citing a fire
Data: NHTSA recall and complaint filesUpdated Sep 27, 2026
Recalled components: latches, locks and linkages and hybrid propulsion system. Most-reported area: engine (216 complaints, 57%; median mileage when it happened: 19,800). Includes the Sonata Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid.
2 safety recalls for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata
Newest first. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for the fix and the full notice.
The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 208.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera vehicles.
These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently.
Risk: If the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will remove the VPD switch and install a new Battery Management System (BMS) that contains an Overvoltage Protection Device (OPD). The recall is expected to begin May 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 175.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid vehicles.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
The areas named in the 382 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Sonata. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Engine216 · 57%
Median 19,800 miles at failure (60 reports)
Electrical system62 · 16%
Median 20,500 miles at failure (27 reports)
Powertrain41 · 11%
Fuel and propulsion system32 · 8%
Exterior lighting24 · 6%
Median 300 miles at failure (16 reports)
Speed control19 · 5%
Brakes17 · 4%
Unknown or other59 · 15%
Median 16,000 miles at failure (19 reports)
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Hyundai Sonata recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2018 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2017 Sonata drew the most (132) and the 2018 drew 101.
Owner complaints
2018: 382 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
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
Safety recalls
2018: 2 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Hyundai Sonata
Model year
Recalls
2016
9
2017
5
2018
2
2019
0
2020
4
2021
4
2022
3
2023
2
2024
1
2025
0
2026
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
Tested version
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Hyundai Sonata 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk 10.5%
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk 10.5%
Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid 4 DR FWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Questions
What are the most common 2018 Sonata problems?
The areas owners name most often in NHTSA complaints: engine (216), electrical system (62), powertrain (41). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can name several areas.
Is the 2018 Hyundai Sonata safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2018 Hyundai Sonata earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
How do I check if my Sonata has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Hyundai dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Sep 27, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Sep 26, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: SONATA, SONATA HYBRID, SONATA PLUG-IN HYBRID.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.