Complaint volume
168 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2020 Hyundai Sonata Complaints
168 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Hyundai Sonata, grouped by component category.
168 Total complaints
4 Crash reports
1 Fire reports
4 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are fuel/propulsion system, unknown or other, electrical system. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 4 crash reports, 1 fire report, 4 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 54 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 26,013 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to fuel/propulsion system, unknown or other, electrical system?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2020 Hyundai Sonata?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2020 Hyundai Sonata
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2020 Hyundai Sonata complaints?
4 Crash
1 Fire
4 Injury
0 Fatality
8 Towed
3 Medical attention
What are the most common 2020 Hyundai Sonata complaint categories?
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 30
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 11
ENGINE 10
POWER TRAIN 9
STRUCTURE 6
AIR BAGS 5
BACK OVER PREVENTION 5
STEERING 5
168 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2025 | SEATS | The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the frame on the front driver's seat was cracked. The contact inspected the seat. The contact lifted the cushion and became aware that the bolts were cracked. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 34,458. | Crash: No Fire: No | 34,458 |
| Apr 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | My 2020 Hyundai Sonata has a recurring and dangerous defect involving sudden deceleration while driving. Without warning, the car abruptly slows to ~10 mph—often on the highway—while numerous dashboard warning lights activate. This poses an extreme safety risk to me, my passengers, and other drivers, as it forces me to maneuver off the road to avoid being hit. The issue began in January 2021, still with less than 4,000 miles and just five months after I purchased the car new. It has occurred repeatedly and unpredictably since then. I have taken the vehicle to a Hyundai-authorized dealer for repair on five occasions (January 2021; December 2021; January 2022; November 2024; and February 2025), but the problem has never been properly diagnosed or fixed. In November 2024, the issue occurred immediately as I drove off the dealer's lot, having been assured the vehicle was repaired and safe to drive. The most recent visit lasted over a month, yet the dealer could not replicate the problem and returned the car to me in early April 2025, without a clear resolution. The vehicle is currently in my possession and available for inspection. Each incident is accompanied by multiple warning lights (e.g., check engine, ESC, etc.) but no consistent diagnostic codes have been found. I’ve also found multiple similar complaints from other Sonata owners on the NHTSA site, suggesting this may be a broader issue. This unresolved defect has made the vehicle unsafe to drive and caused significant emotional distress. I no longer trust the car or the assurances from Hyundai or the dealer that it is fixed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | My 2020 Hyundai Sonata has a recurring and dangerous defect involving sudden deceleration while driving. Without warning, the car abruptly slows to ~10 mph—often on the highway—while numerous dashboard warning lights activate. This poses an extreme safety risk to me, my passengers, and other drivers, as it forces me to maneuver off the road to avoid being hit. The issue began in January 2021, just five months after I purchased the car new. It has occurred repeatedly and unpredictably since then. I have taken the vehicle to Hyundai-authorized dealers for repair on five occasions (January 2021; December 2021; January 2022; November 2024; and February 2025), but the problem has never been properly diagnosed or fixed. In November 2024, the issue occurred immediately after I picked the car up from the dealership when they told me it was fixed and ready to drive. This most recent occurrence (February 2025) before tonight's incident on April 6, 2025, the dealer had my vehicle for over a month. During this time, communication was seldom initiated by the dealer. Now the problem recurred less than 55 hours after picking the vehicle up from the Hyundai certified dealer, who told me the issue was fixed and the car looks and runs great. Unfortunately I found myself in this dangerous situation despite the dealer's reassurances and Hyundai's involvement overseeing the repair process. The unsafe, defective Sonata is currently in my possession as I figure out next steps. Each incident is accompanied by multiple warning lights (e.g., check engine, ESC, etc.) but the dealer represents that no consistent diagnostic codes have been found. I’ve also found multiple similar complaints from other Sonata owners on the NHTSA site, suggesting this may be a broader issue. This unresolved defect has made the vehicle unsafe to drive and caused significant emotional distress. I no longer trust the car or the assurances from Hyundai or the dealer that it is fixed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | On or about November 13, 2024 our Hyundai Sonata 2020 gas tank almost exploded. We drove our vehicle to a dealership so that it could be checked because we kept hearing something that sounded like a loud pop / thumb underneath our vehicle. We had already been receiving notifications of a powertrain issue with the vehicle for years (without the dealership resolving the issue). So we were taking the vehicle in for numerous reasons when, the minute we drove our vehicle into the service bay (of a new and unrelated dealership) we were told that Hyundai's Corporate branch has ordered our vehicle grounded and told us we COULD NOT LEAVE with our vehicle or drive our vehicle off the dealership's lot. We were advised that our vehicle had almost exploded and that we were lucky to have brought the vehicle in. We were told that our vehicle should have never left the lot the day we purchased it brand new. We were told that our vehicle's backseats had detached and separated away from the frame of the vehicle. Our vehicle has been at the dealership since the day of the incident (e.g., on or about November 13, 2024). Our vehicle is still under factory warranty and powertrain warranty and Hyundai was not given us an end in sight or advised the public of the issue with their vehicles. WE were told that the vehicles needs repairs such as: 1. The vehicle needs the fuel tank assy and all of the parts for the tank, check valve, and campaign sticker: Please see TSB: 24-01-02OH | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | STRUCTURE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Service Campaign 9B1 That my gas tank has explanded/exploded due to the issue noted in the subject line. As you can see the whole bottom of the backseats have been raised up imcluding the part that connects to the gas tank itself. My car is immobilized and not drivable during this time. What is the next step to take? | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Fuel system expanded back seat | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle made a booming sound. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact then started to hear the sound outside the vehicle and noticed that the vehicle was losing gasoline very quickly. The vehicle started to stall, and the gas tank was almost empty when the contact arrived home. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with floor damage, and the floor damage showed deformation on the rear passenger’s seat, and the fuel cover had popped off due to the deformation, which caused the noise in the cabin. The vehicle was towed to another dealer where the vehicle was repaired, with a new fuel pump cover, and the rear seats were replaced. On another occasion, the fuel pump failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,524. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 77,524 |
| Mar 2025 | STRUCTURE:BODY | I took my car in for a standard oil change and tune up. They found out that the fuel tank had expanded to the point where it caused significant damage to the metal frame. The Hyundai dealership sent it to the local body shop for an estimate for the frame, they sent it back because the dealership hadn't removed the gas tank, then the dealership sent it back to the body shop. It's been 3+ weeks, my car is still in the shop, and I haven't received any indication of whether my car is able to be fixed. The dashboard never displayed any warning messages and there were no symptoms of the problem. I had no idea the gas tank had expanded and could've caused an explosion or fire. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | My 2020 Hyundai Sonata SE (82931 miles at the time) has experienced repeated issues with the front passenger window. The window would get stuck while attempting to operate it, accompanied by a loud, crushing noise. Upon visiting the dealership, I was informed that the issue stemmed from the window regulator, which had failed internally and required replacement. Additionally, my girlfriend, who owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata SEL with approximately 31,000 miles, is now facing the exact same problem with her vehicle’s front passenger window. After conducting research on online forums, I discovered that several other 2020 Hyundai Sonata owners are reporting similar issues with their window regulators. This suggests that the problem may not be isolated to just one or two vehicles but could point to a potential widespread defect. Although this issue primarily affects the operation of the window, it could lead to safety risks if the window gets stuck in an open position, exposing occupants to potential theft, weather elements, or other hazards. I am requesting the NHTSA investigate this matter to determine if the window regulator failure in 2020 Hyundai Sonata models is a systemic defect that warrants further action, such as a recall or manufacturer response. I am happy to provide additional information or documentation, such as repair invoices, dealership statements, or records of the issue. Thank you for addressing this concern. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Been having an issue with a check engine light and a popping noise in the from the front of the vehicle for about two years. Took it to the dealership more than 3 times over that span and every time they discovered it was caused by something different..during the July of 2024 while driving on the interstate a loud pop noise was made from the back and my children complain about the seat lifting…shortly after I went to get gas and a full tank was more gallons than usual 14 increased to 17g…. I once again took it to the dealer for the issue of the gas tank expansion and pop but found nothing. No more than a week later my car would hesitate to accelerate and progressively got worse. On 12/27/24 I took it to the dealer and they discovered my gas tank was expanded and was unsafe to drive leaving me without a vehicle.as of 1/04/2025 I still have no solution. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | SEATS | Heated seat burned through causing smell and potential burn of driver. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | My Passenger window fell down and will not go up, It is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk is that the window is being help up by tape and if it falls all of a sudden while driving could break the glass and spread inside as well as cause object to fly out of the vehicle. This has not been inspected by the manufacturer or anyone No warning lamps or messages. I put my window down and then it never went back up and motor was just running and probably made it worse | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I took my vehicle in for an oil change and was advised that my car failed a recall. The PCV valve failed. After the dealership, explain this problem to me I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle. Imagine being told that the fuel tank can expand and pop up the backseat of your vehicle at any given moment or even cause the car to blow up and no warning lights coming on to alert you that this part had a defect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | while driving my car on 3 different days the car slowed down, and the lights came EPB on, on the dashboard the EPB light came on the check engine light came on , forward collision light, auto hold light, slippery road light , and caution light with a ! mark. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The Fuel Tank expanded, was leaking gas from the gas tank opening. The expansion of the tank caused the metal plates/panel under the back seat to popup, where my child sits. Which caused a gap in the door. ir seepage from the back seat passenger door to where the fuel was leaking out the gas tank and also the fuel gauge on the dash was fluctuating. People on the highway was flagging me to let me know fuel was leaking. The fire department had to come and clear it. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My child and I could have been seriously injured or killed. As well as people on the highway. It could have exploded. You can smell the gas in the car. The gas was coming out the gas tank on the side. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, it was confirmed by Hyundai of North Charleston 8485 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston SC, 29406 and it was also checked by the insurance adjustor. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? It was inspected by the Insurance representatives State Farm Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No I took it into the dealer and they said it was fixed and it did not fix the gas coming out the tank. And the same issue happened again on [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | POWER TRAIN | I believe the transmission malfunctioned as I reached 60 MPH / 4000 RPMs on the highway when it suddenly did not want to accelerate past that. The more I stepped on the gas pedal, the more it slowed down. I attempted to use the paddle shifters to shift up or down, but I was unable to shift up and shifting down did not allow me to accelerate past 4000 RPMs. The flow of traffic was faster than I could keep up with, and not being able to accelerate made it unsafe to be on the highway. I had to pull over, and get off of the highway. I found that others have reported this same issue online with the same make/model/trim, but I have not had time to take it in to be looked at. No warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to failure. I only noticed when I got on the highway and needed to reach speeds greater than 60 MPH. Turning the car off, waiting a bit, then starting it again seems to have resolved the issue, but I am still uneasy with this having happened so suddenly. I fear the issue may return in the future based on what I have read online. The car is available for inspection upon request. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | I have the Chicco Fit360 and the magnetic chest clip is no longer magnetic it was coming apart with little to no movement. I would buckle the chest clip and then move it to put it in position and it would come apart. I know this is a common problem with this particular car seat and something needs to be done before a child dies or gets seriously injured because the chest clip comes apart while driving! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while the contact was refueling the vehicle, the fuel was coming back out of the fuel tank onto the ground surface. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while traveling out of town. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had occurred several times and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed a failed fuel tank sensor. The contact was informed that the fuel tank sensor light. The contact stated that when the independent mechanic pulled out the rear seat to perform the repair, the mechanic noticed that the metal sheet under the rear seat was fractured due to the pressure of the fuel tank. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, however the dealer declined the repair. The contact was advised not to drive the vehicle and informed that the vehicle was a ticking bomb. In addition, the contact was advised to take the vehicle to a collision shop, prior to the repair being performed. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact's insurance declined the repair stating that the failure was due to a manufacturer defect. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. In addition, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty because the contact was the second owner of the vehicle. In addition, the contact's vehicle mileage was above the 60,000 mileage warranty coverage. The failure mileage was approximately 99,230. | Crash: No Fire: No | 99,230 |
| Oct 2024 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I was driving back from Atlanta, GA to Pensacola, FL when we noticed our fuel level dropping significantly. We stopped in West Point, GA to see what was going on. We turned the car off and back on after 3 minutes and car made a weird vibration. Then the fuel level was rising back to normal but my wife was in the backseat with our [XXX] and she noticed the seat was rising and creating a lot of heat. We pulled over again and noticed it wasn't going down. Luckily there was a mechanic at this gas station and he informed us that the fuel tank expanded and to NOT drive the vehicle. We we're driving alongside my parents so we got in their car and drove back to Pensacola to get a truck and tow attachment cause a tow truck would've costed us $2,500 to tow back to Pensacola. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | The component that failed is the fuel tank system. While driving, the fuel tank expanded, causing significant damage to the rear section of the vehicle. This issue resulted in the rear seat rising up, and the bottom rear seat cushion detaching from its securing clamps. The check engine light came on, and gas started leaking from the fuel cap. The fuel tank has moved upward by about 3 to 5 inches, no longer resting on the factory fuel tank straps. The sheet metal underneath the rear seat was crumpled, and the fuel pump access cover bent. The vehicle is currently at College Park Hyundai and is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of my children were significantly compromised. The loud popping noise startled us, and the fact that the rear seat lifted and detached posed a serious risk to the passengers in the back seat. Additionally, the gas leak created a fire and explosion hazard, putting all occupants of the vehicle and other drivers on the road at serious risk. This incident potentially violates the Fuel System Integrity (49 CFR 571.301) regulation, which ensures that a vehicle's fuel system is designed to prevent leaks and fire hazards. Moreover, the unexpected movement and detachment of the rear seat could be a breach of Occupant Protection (49 CFR 571.207 and 571.208), which govern the safety of seating systems and occupant crash protection. The issue has been confirmed by the service center at College Park Hyundai, where the vehicle is currently being inspected and evaluated. The vehicle is being inspected by the manufacturer’s authorized service center at College Park Hyundai. It has not yet been inspected by police or insurance representatives at this time. The check engine light came on immediately after the loud popping noise and the detachment of the rear seat cushion. Additionally, the gas gauge suddenly dropped to empty after the incident, even though the tank was not empty prior to the malfunction. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Gas tank replaced three times and failed each installation (excess pressure)leaked gas with riders in car. I was a LYFT driver .YES car can be seen at MAUI HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPT 260 HANA Highway. Kahului, HI. 96732 Car needs another gas tank and Manager at Service Dept tells me there is only one gas tank available, the type we installed. FARMERS INSURANCE HAS SEEN PHOTOS OF THE BAD GAS TANK. Service department was not aware of this gas tank issue...told me you must have run over some debris (not true) HYUNDAI has received my complaint but not replied yet.Engine warning light came on went off came on Took car to dealer for service | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal gasoline odor inside the vehicle, after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway, moved the rear seat, and observed that the fuel pump was protruding upwards. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the purge valve, resulting in damages to the fuel pump and fuel tank. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 47,000 |
| Sep 2024 | SEATS | I had the check engine light come on about 4 times in my 2020 Hyundai Sonata 1.6L this year in 2024. I took the car to a technician to get looked at each time it came on. The codes and bulletins kept pointing to fuel system issues. Each time, every service tech said it was a small issue and claimed to fix the issues. The final time a tech seen it lifted the rear seat and found out that the gas tank expanded and the back seat buckled up. The backseat metal frame is bent and messed up. I was flagged down by several drivers ?that noticed gasoline leaking from my driverside rear. My child and I were in dang? er and had to pull on the side of a major highway and stay several hours until someone picked us up. The problem has been confirmed by the hyuandi service center. They said another vehicle experienced this same issue. I was in fear for my life and my child's life because it could have caught fire and/or exploded. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Blower motor stopped working. Same issue has now happened on my 2021 Hyundai Sonata Limited. I have been waiting now three months to have my 2020 Sonata to be fixed. Hyundai technician said the wiring harness had a crack and it’s why my 2020 Sonata’s Blower motor stopped working. It’s now three months since they diagnosed and ordered the wiring harness but supposedly it’s still on back order and I’m left with a hot car this entire summer and possibly a cold car come this winter. Now it looks like I will have the same issue with my 2021 Hyundai Sonta Limited leaving me with two cars without A/C or Heat. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | There is an issue with the 2020+ Hyuandai sonatas and Kia K5 models. The valves in my gas tank had failed. Causing pressure and gas vapors to be trapped inside the tank. The pressure in my tank has swollen my gas tank to the point where it’s bent the metal frame underneath my backseat, lifting my backseat off its base. My car is a literal tricking time bomb because the tank will eventually burst. There’s also a strong smell of gas coming from underneath the backseat. There’s been a new story on this issue already. Kia has acknowledged the issue and did recalls. Hyundai has not. Many owners of the Sonata are having this same exact issue according to Reddit posts. I took my vehicle to the dealer, got it diagnosed, was quoted $2900+. I was told it was an extreme safety hazard due to the pressure in the tank and the gas leak. The tank has swollen so much that it’s pressing against the exhaust. I’m out of warranty and they expect me to pay out of pocket. I have no where near $3000. I use my car for work and have no choice but to drive it. Please help. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |