Complaint volume
115 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
2021 Hyundai Sonata Complaints
115 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Hyundai Sonata, grouped by component category.
115 Total complaints
7 Crash reports
0 Fire reports
2 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 unknown or other, power train, engine. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 7 crash reports, 0 fire reports, 2 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 20 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 42,019 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to unknown or other, power train, engine?
- 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 2021 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.
2021 Hyundai Sonata
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Hyundai Sonata complaints?
7 Crash
0 Fire
2 Injury
0 Fatality
5 Towed
1 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Hyundai Sonata complaint categories?
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 20
POWER TRAIN 12
ENGINE 10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 7
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 4
VISIBILITY/WIPER 4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 3
115 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 140,000 |
| Apr 2026 | ENGINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | • 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | P0471 code before 55k miles even after repair is made | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 130,000 |
| Feb 2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | ENGINE,VISIBILITY/WIPER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 70,000 |
| Feb 2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 92,000 |
| Feb 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Will be driving the car and suddenly hear a beep. Then the dashboard will flash with the ABS light engine light tire pressure light check Blindspot sensors, forward collision sensors. once all the lights appear on the dashboard, I can no longer accelerate. i’ve cleaned the throttlebody. I’ve replaced the gas pedal and it’s still kicking back the same code it still does it the same identical thing. It’s given out on me three times since December with an infant in the car. We are now in February. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I took my car to the dealer on [XXX] with concerns about the strong gas smell that I have been smelling. The Hyundai dealership kept my car for 3 days and stated they could not smell the gas after driving the vehicle themselves. They did repair a cracked cylinder head however they did tell me that it wouldn't have been the cause of the fuel smell. They stated next time I am out driving, and I notice the smell to "pop" into the dealership to have it checked again. While this is good in theory, it is not something I am just able to do. I am [XXX], one of which is still in a car seat and unable to unbuckle themselves to get out if something terrible like a fire was to arise. This was the 2nd time taking my car in, as it was previously fixed in Feb 2025 due to another recall on the gas tank expanding. I do not feel safe transporting my children in a vehicle that is still reeking of gas and a possible hire hazard with no resolution. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Component or system involved and availability for inspection: The issue involves the transmission / drivetrain system. When I entered my VIN on Hyundai’s official dealership website, a safety recall related to the transmission appeared. I took a screenshot of this recall. When I later contacted Hyundai Motor America and spoke with my assigned case manager, I was told that no such recall existed for my VIN. A few days after that call, the recall no longer appeared when checking the VIN online. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How safety was put at risk: A transmission-related safety recall presents a risk of loss of power, inability to accelerate, or sudden mechanical failure, which could increase the risk of a crash, especially during normal driving conditions such as merging, accelerating, or driving at highway speeds. The uncertainty and inconsistency regarding whether a safety recall applies to my vehicle has put my safety and the safety of others at risk. Confirmation by dealer or service center: The problem has not been repaired by a dealer, as Hyundai denied that a recall existed despite it previously appearing under my VIN on their official website. Independent service centers that recently serviced the vehicle did not identify or report any transmission warnings or failures. Inspection by manufacturer or others: The vehicle has not been physically inspected by Hyundai for this recall issue. My only interaction with the manufacturer was a phone call + email with a Hyundai case manager, who stated that no recall applied to my VIN. Warning lamps, messages, or prior symptoms: There were no warning lights, messages, or symptoms prior to this issue. The vehicle recently received routine maintenance, including an oil change, tire balancing, and tire rotation, and none of the service providers reported any problems or concerns related to the transmission or overall vehicle condition. I am 34 weeks pregnant with no way to the hospital. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I was driving my 2021 Hyundai Sonata at approximately 3:00 AM when the vehicle suddenly began shaking and vibrating. While stopped at a traffic light, the check engine light illuminated, and the engine was shaking severely. I immediately pulled over and shut off the engine. After waiting approximately one hour, I restarted the vehicle, but it was only able to drive very slowly. The following day, the vehicle was towed to a local repair shop. Diagnostic testing showed a cylinder 3 misfire, along with EVAP system errors and faulty fuel injector issues. This failure occurred without warning and created a potential safety risk while driving. I am concerned this may be related to a defective fuel system. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | SUSPENSION,ENGINE,LANE DEPARTURE | Engine makes rattling and knocking noises. Transmission hesitates and jerks Suspension front struts and rear shocks are bad. Possible the isolators. Having horrible back pain when riding in car. Starter intermittently doesn't work Lane keep assistance goes over small bump in road will make car drive in opposite lane into on coming traffic. Took car to Tameron hyundai in Birmingham on the 29th of December 2025. Told them everything thats going on with the car. They did nothing about any of the issues. Car has 55,000 miles on it as that is when all problems have incurred. 60000 mile Warranty expires in February of this year. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | Please see Attachment To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally notify you under the Virginia Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act (Virginia Lemon Law, Va. Code §§ 59.1-207.9 to 59.1-207.16) that my 2021 Hyundai Sonata, has a nonconformity that substantially impairs its use, value, or safety. On June XX, 2025 I delivered my vehicle to Pearson Hyundai for repair due to the fuel pump recall. As of today September XX, 2025 the vehicle has been out of service for more than 89 days, well beyond the 30-day threshold set by Virginia law. Despite this, the manufacturer has failed to complete the required recall repair in a reasonable amount of time. This constitutes a violation of my rights under Virginia’s Lemon Law. Therefore, I am formally demanding relief as provided by law: Repurchase of my vehicle for the full contract price, including taxes, fees, and incidental charges, less a reasonable allowance for use, OR Replacement with a comparable new vehicle acceptable to me. Please respond in writing within 15 days of receipt of this letter. If this matter is not resolved, I will be forced to escalate through the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and, if necessary, legal action. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I own a 2021 Hyundai Sonata 1.6T, which has an open NHTSA safety recall (25V796000) related to fuel tank pressurization and fire risk. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Hyundai dealership due to a check engine light, reduced performance, and DTC P14EE, which aligns with the recall condition. The dealership refused to treat the concern as recall-related unless I paid a diagnostic fee and later attempted to reclassify the issue as a customer-pay fuel pump repair. During this visit, the dealership replaced a fuel system sensor without my authorization, which I did not approve or consent to. The dealership has not provided documented test results explaining how the recall condition was ruled out and has not documented recall inspection on the repair order. I expressed that I do not feel safe driving the vehicle due to the fuel system recall and drivability issues. The dealership also refused to provide alternate transportation. I am concerned the recall is not being handled in compliance with NHTSA requirements and that unauthorized repairs were performed while attempting to shift a recall-related condition to the customer. I am requesting review of recall handling and dealer compliance. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Recall number (25V796000) There is No remedy available. I am Experiencing fuel system issues that may relate. Dealer and corporate refusing meaningful support and expecting me to pay $1,600 to replace fuel assembly. I feel unsafe driving my vehicle at this time. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | NHTSA: #25V796000 Recall: #286 2020-23MY SONATA (DN8/DN8A) FUEL TANK Issued on 11/18/2025 and there is no remedy yet for this issue. Hyundai of Ocala has not issued me a loaner car. What am I supposed to do? It’s been over a month since the recall was posted and still no remedy. I’m concerned for mine and my families safety. This car is our only means of transportation. I need a solution | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |