Complaint volume
159 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
159 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Hyundai Sonata, grouped by component category.
159 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 50 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 22,514 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
7 Towed
3 Medical attention
What are the most common 2020 Hyundai Sonata complaint categories?
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 20
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 7
STRUCTURE 7
POWER TRAIN 6
AIR BAGS 5
BACK OVER PREVENTION 5
ENGINE 5
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 5
159 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2024 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Riding down the road June 30, 2024 and heard a loud boom coming from the back of my car. I pulled to the side of the road and walked around but saw no damage to outside of car. When I was approximately 30 miles from home my gas started dropping tremendously. Once arriving at home it was a rumble coming from rear of car after inspecting outside car and seeing no damage again, I looked in my back seat and the rear seat was lifted. If my kids or any other occupants would have been back there it could have possibly caused injuries. Upon my mechanic looking my car over they told me it was something to do with my fuel tank. My appointment is July 16, 2024 Hyundai of Dothan in Dothan al for farther diagnosis. My safety was in danger as explosion from the fuel tank could have cause serious damage and/or injury to car and self. Check engine light came on once the fuel consumption started dropping tremendously. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | SEATS,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | A week before my gas tank expanding I heard a loud popping noise. When driving from NC to DC, my gas tank refused to take gas and my car immediately went to empty. I was stranding on the highway and has my 2020 Hyundai towed to the Hyundai dealership in Chesterfield, VA. They told me that my gas tank expanded and my back seats had popped out of place. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I was on my way back home from Alexandria LA on [XXX] when I heard like the sound of an blow out tire but wasn’t happen to look in back of car and seen back seat was blown off the area of the car and proceeded to see that the gas tank was expanded like you would see a balloon and the me car started running funny and. Then a service code comes across the screen of the radio po45100 , so I pull over and look beneath the car and see that the gas tank is so expanded it’s now pressing against the exhaust pipe. So I turned car off and here we are now I’m without a car due to this. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | SEATS,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | It looks like the fuel tank has expanded. My back seats are now lifted & will not push down. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I have a 2020 Hyundai Sonata SEL Plus. For the past month I been dealing with my CEL regarding Fuel Tank Pressure sensor and I end up replacing one from hyundai itself. After doing that I notice my fuel tank has expanded and I’m currently dealing with Hyundai & the dealership to see if they can make a recall regarding this issue or just fix it period since it’s a big safety concern. This been happening since mid April. My back seat lifts up from time to time and my fuel pump cover is bent. Below I’ll add some pictures so you guys can see how my tank straps are actually bent which is very uncommon for it to happen. I recently took it to the dealer last week after reaching out to hyundai corporate and they took pictures and send it for prior approval to see if hyundai is willing to replace this. I can’t fill up my gas tank, I constantly have to out between $15-$25 the most due to fuel mileage issue since the tank has expanded I get fuel mileage inconsistency | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Driving 55mph on highway car slows down and make a pop nose and back seat comes up and I start to smell gas | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | An independent service center advise us that the gas tank had expanded which could have put my family at risk if exploding or catched on fired. This happend on June 15th 2024 while driving, a sudden explosion coming from the back of the car was heard. Little after the explosion like sound we perceived as if air was coming through the back as if we had a window rolled down. When pulled to check, i notice that the back seat was popped up. No warning on the car was giving prior to the incident. Will take car to Hyundai dealership to have it inspect by them and have a solution. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I was driving on the interstate when I heard a click from the back of the car. The gas gauge started to move downward as if I was losing gasoline. It eventually stopped and started moving back up, past where it was when it started decreasing. A little bit later the check engine light came on and the car started driving very sluggishly. I took the car into the Hyundai dealer and they found that the backseat was clicked out of place and a sensor was unplugged. This issue has since occurred multiple times. The back seat will pop out of place, the gas gauge will move beyond the gas that is in the tank, and finally the check engine light will come on and reduce the performance of the vehicle. The gas tank appears to be swelling and pushing up against the back seat which is causing it to pop. I had my girlfriend drive the car while I sat in the backseat and I could actually feeling something moving underneath the backseat. I have since gotten in contact with other sonata owners who have had the same thing happen with their vehicles. In other cases the backseat has exploded and flown completely off of the gas tank. I am very nervous to drive my car and think Hyundai should recall these vehicles before someone gets hurt. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Summary: The gas tank on this vehicle blew up/expanded rapidly to the point it could have erupted into a gasoline vapor fireball, killing the occupants of the vehicle or others. According to two Hyundai dealers, a failure in a check valve and the vehicle ECU programming caused pressurized air from the engine to be pumped into the gas tank, causing it to expand to the point of explosively popping out all of the sheet metal under the back seat. One Hyundai dealer service technician described the vehicle as, quote, 'a ticking time bomb'. There was no check engine light or warning at the time of this explosive event, although one occurred later. Hyundai has not offered to repair this vehicle. Please note that this potentially deadly issue is already well known to Hyundai/Kia. The Sonata has a sister vehicle from Kia that is the same vehicle platform called the K5. Kia issued a service campaign to address this extremely dangerous issue in April (TSB: SC288 K5 (DL3a) April 2024) which reads in part: "The subject vehicles may experience fuel tank swelling due to an issue with the PCSV check valve, which results in pressurized air to flow into the fuel tank." In addition, at last check an investigative reporter in Charlotte, NC has identified numerous Hyundai and Kia vehicles in which this has occurred. There's likely far more people who have already had this occur, and potentially thousands or hundreds of thousands of vehicles with this potentially deadly condition. (See: wsoctv.***/news/local/kia-acknowledges-gas-tanks-swelling-suddenly-offers-free-fix) As stated above, Hyundai has not offered to fix my vehicle. Please immediately take steps to force the manufacturer to remedy this extremely dangerous condition for all affected owners before someone is injured or killed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | The fuel tank under the backseat expanded forcing the backseat up and causing the muffler to scrape the ground. The expansion of the fuel tank could have exploded due to extreme pressure. Vandergriff Hyundai in Arlington, TX has inspected the vehicle and confirmed component failures in the fuel system. The vehicle has been inspected and currently in the process of being repaired at the dealership. The check engine light was illuminated to warn of component failures approximately six weeks ago. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | Vechile shut down completely on the highway, engine's been replaced twice, Catalytic converter, Turbo was replaced three times, Battery oxygen sensors, timing belt all have been replaced, Along with my wireless charger and Both heaterhouses and splash guard. I recently had my vehicle SERVICED Thirty five hundred miles after NEW engine install The dealership serviced my car didn't reset my service indicator 3 weeks later, my vehicle without warning said Engine overheated, so I pulled over immediately that display went off. My actual thermostat stayed under the center line in between cold and hot. I contacted the dealership and got my vehicle into BE inspected At that time, they said my coolant level was low and both heapeer. Hoses needed to be replaced and my engine needed to be flushed and refilled. I had those services completed. I picked up my car 5/24 it was OK on 5/25 My service indicator pop back on and at that time it was counting 58 days, so even after I brought it to the dealership's attention, they failed to reset it again. So I googled how to reset the service interval and did it myself. And about thirty minutes later, I was driving my car started shaking excessively And Woodin's accelerate, over 20 miles per hour in traffic. I had to put on my hazard lights and get me and my grandson to a safe place so that I could contact the dealership regarding this matter and they stated there was nothing they could do I had to wait until Tuesday I have put in a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, as well as consumer affairs. And also the county attorney's office for. Consumer fraud. This vehicle was misrepresented at the time of sale. It has countless safety issues. I need assistance | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | My vehicle is missing it's third brake light. We have confirmed that it was forgotten during manufacturing. The dealer won't cover it. They say call corporate. Corporate says dealer has to fix it. In the mean time I'm pulled over for improper equipment, and brake light being out. It's a serious safety issue, covered by federal law. They quoted over $1000 to have it fixed at my expense. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the shift assists malfunction warning light illuminated. The contact turned the vehicle off and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. 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 21,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 21,000 |
| Mar 2024 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While driving at about 45mph a warning flashed on my dash. I couldn't read it before it disappeared, but it was something about front collision., contact dealer. the car immediately lost all power. Everything was still running, but I had no acceleration. I had to back down a busy road into a vacant lot. I had just come off of the highway when this happened, if I had still been driving on the Highway, I would have been hit by a car from behind, since there was no warning at all. The car was towed to a Hyundai dealership. After a diagnosis, it was said to be the Throttle body. I had to wait for the repair because the part was on back order. I was told that there was another car there waiting on the same part. I am afraid to drive the car now, even though the repair was made. I feel this is a safety hazard, and that someone could be injured or killed because of this issue with the car. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | UNKNOWN | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | A lot of these models have wind coming through the door making a whistling noise, it’s very distracting to drivers and multiple people complaining about it online. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2023 | ENGINE | In May of 2023 my check engine light came on. Took the car to the dealer and the diagnosis was that the egr cooler was the culprit so they replaced it and everything was fine until 12/21/2023. I am driving on the highway and suddenly I hear a loud alarm and upon checking my instrument cluster I see a warning for engine overheating, the heat was on but suddenly the smell of something burning covered the entire cabin of the vehicle. I had to pull over to the side in the middle of a busy highway in freezing conditions and shut my engine down to avoid further damage. I believe the egr cooler has failed once again inly this time leading to a more terrifying experience. My car was towed to the dealership but I am worried for myself and others with similar vehicles I would not like anyone to experience what I did. I have seen multiple online forums with people complaining about the same situation. Mileage was around 57,900 miles when this occured. I bought the car with 30,000 miles as a certified preowned model. I kindly request for a recall for affected sonatas manufactured from the year 2020 to ensure our safety on the road. If it was not for warranty I would not be able to pay for the repairs | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I was driving Home from work and I fell a sleep behind the wheel and Hit a park car. The police report states that my impact speed was 50mph. My insurance company is very concerned that my Air Bags or sensors are defective and that I contact you immediately. Due to the damage and impact of the accident. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER | Defrost doesn’t work because harness melted and blew a fuse | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | SEATS | While exiting the vehicle there was a loud pop from under the drivers seat. Upon inspection the left front weld attaching the drivers seat to the positioning bar to raise and lower the seat bottom had failed and separated completely. This causes the front seat bottom to sit at an angle and not fully attached to the structure of the car, causing a severe safety issue in the event of an accident as the driver is not properly aligned for the airbag, the seat belt no longer aligns correctly on the body, and there is a greater risk of full seat detachment in a collision or while simply driving. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | Sunroof shattered/exploded for no known reason while driving. Resulted in glass falling towards cabin of vehicle as well as loud bang. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | malfunction cause unanticipated acceleration in sport driving mode. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Tonight on 7/29/2023 after driving between 5-10 miles at night with very light traffic, my dashboard flashed a message telling me "Forward Safety system disabled. Radar blocked." After receiving this message and it clearing from the digital instrument cluster, a small triangle appeared with a exclamation mark. After driving between 1 to 5 miles further down the interstate the triangle cleared from the screen. There is no damage to the grill, or sensor, and no indication of mechanical issues as I was driving down the road. The grill and sensor both also have little to no dirt as I routinely wash my car each weekI have read through multiple other comments like me stating nothing whatsoever is on the front grill that could be obstructing the sensor. And like the other complaints, if there is no warning light, there is no code stored! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2023 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | Engine leaks oil. I went to the dealer and they blamed the other Hyundai dealer saying they stripped out the drain bolt. After all the back and forth they told me they will replace the drain pan. I scheduled to have the car dropped off and wasn’t given a loaner. When I went to pick up the car they told me the ac bolt and bracket are broken and to come on Monday but the drain pan has been replaced. I went home and the car continued to leak oil and when I went back to the dealer and called them out they came up with every excuse in the books. Bolt is stripped, impact to pan, and so on. Long story short I went to fix the oil pan and they damaged the ac bolt so instead of telling me to come back to do everything they said they did the drain pan but the bolt would have to be done another day. I am waiting on a loaner car as I waisted a whole day without a car and the issue wasn’t fixed. I have a receipt showing the work was done but it never was. The dealer is dishonest and unprofessional. Not sure how they get away with this. They need to be held accountable. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Hyundai updated the software for the display and made the font smaller which makes it difficult to read and a safety issue especially when driving at night. I contacted Hyundai and they say that if it is not in the owners manual there is nothing they can do. I have tried to explain to them it is a software issue that came about when their software engineers updated the software and it makes this a safety issue and they have no way to revert back to previous versions. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |