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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | SEAT BELTS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | P0471 error comes up off and on, this is recall related but the dealership refuses to address it. The seatbelt has to be clicked 2x in order to stick. Happens with driver side. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | My 2021 Hyundai Sonata Limited Hybrid 12v battery has started to die randomly. My car is currently with the Hyundai dealer to confirm if this will be a warranty claim. Searching online, I have found other posts of people complaining about a similar issue with their 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | SEATS | The driver seat motor malfunctioned when pennies got jammed iin the unprotected/exposed seat tracks. Hyundai would not cover the warranty and charged me $2000.00 for repair. After complaining to the Hyundai National customer service they would not consider my point of contention that the unproteted/exposed tracks contributed to the failure. A professional mechanic stated that a fuse should have failed before the motor malfunctioned. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,VISIBILITY/WIPER | The vehicle's HVAC (heating) system failed. It stopped producing heat on one side of the vehicle. My mechanic/dealer diagnosed the issue as a broken component within the HVAC case under the dashboard, requiring full dashboard removal and a repair estimated at over $3,000. This failure prevents the defroster from working properly, which is a major safety hazard as it cannot clear fog or frost from the windshield. A search of online forums and owner communities shows this is a widespread complaint from many other Hyundai owners, often identified as a failed blend door or blend door actuator, which requires the same expensive dashboard removal to repair. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond and lost power. The vehicle was coasted over to the right side of the road, turned off, restarted, and returned to normal functionality. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed; however, the diagnosis was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V746000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 35,000 |
| Oct 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Car sits several days at a time. Door locked. 12 volt auxiliary battery goes dead within 60 minutes after driving 60 miles. Happened 6 times in last 6 weeks. Battery is lithium. Dealer looked at car Sept 8. They did cursory check and said my rodent deterrent caused issue. After driving 60 miles. Turned rodent deterrent off. Still have issue. Car resets the 12 volt battery nearly daily. Lithium battery if bad can blow up and cause vehicle fire. Car is parked in car port next to house. If fire, it burns up my house also. This is fire hazard. If the battery is bad, it must be fixed. Car under 10 year 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. I need car fixed. NOT just looked at. This is fire hazard till it is fixed, | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2021 Hyundai Sonata with approximately 39,000 miles. On [XXX], the dashboard displayed the following message "Shifter system malfunction! Service immediately" When the warning appeared, the vehicle shifter button would not function, creating a traffic safety risk. History: Dealer service history shows the transmission was replaced on the vehicle under warranty on 08/30/2021 with 2,212 miles with no campaign/recall issued. Dealer states there is no recall campaign on this vehicles specific VIN # and NHTSA currently shows no open recalls for this vehicle. However, Hyundai advertises an 8-Speed DCT Safety Recall for the same year, make and model, and describes this identical issue, but has left this vehicle's VIN# out of scope for this recall, which is continuing to demonstrate the same issues. Current dealer/manufacturer response: On 9/4/2025, the dealer declined warranty or recall repair unless the fault was active on their diagnostic scan at the moment the scan was performed. A photo was provided to the mechanics of the dashboard showing the transmission service warning, with current mileage. The dealer advised there were no diagnostic log history showing the transmission error code even with photographic proof and attempted to return the vehicle to me. I have rejected the return of the vehicle and advised that this needs to be escalated, because if logs are not appearing, this is even a bigger cause for concern and that the vehicle is a safety hazard. Concern: Because this vehicle required an early transmission replacement and is now exhibiting new transmission/shifter warnings, I am concerned the failure relates to the known transmission/shifter recall on this model and that the recall scope and/or remedy is incomplete for the affected vehicles including my vin #. It is also possible the dealership is attempting to run out the warranty which expires in 3 months. Vehicle, photo of the warning, and service records are available for inspection. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The parking assistant camera on the front of the car is loose, which means that the bracket is broke. I took my car into Hyundai and they could not explain to me how it got broke or came loose and this is a safety issue because this helps you park and see what’s in front of you when parking. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | During a front end collision the car did not auto brake and the air bags did not deploy. The car has been totaled and is currently at a dealership for insurance appraisal. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 7 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding Hyundai’s Recall Campaign 216, which involves a safety defect related to the windshield assemblies of certain Hyundai vehicles. Despite the recall being issued to address the risk of inadequate windshield adhesion due to non-conforming clear coat paint, I have been unable to get my vehicle repaired. I contacted my local Hyundai dealership promptly after learning about the recall; however, they informed me that they were unable to perform the repair at the time due to not having a glass technician on staff/on site. I made multiple phone calls after anticipating the service manager’s follow up, as she promised, with dates a glass technician could be on site. I never heard back after leaving various voicemails or being put through to the wrong departments. This delay is concerning because the recall notice specifically outlines the increased risk of injury in a crash if the windshield is not adequately retained. As a concerned vehicle owner, I am left driving a potentially unsafe vehicle without any clarity on when a proper remedy will be available. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter and ensure that Hyundai and its dealerships are prepared and properly equipped to carry out the necessary recall repairs in a timely manner, in alignment with their safety responsibilities. I have attached the email received 7/31 from Hyundai following my customer service complaint I submitted 7/9. Please let me know if any additional documentation or vehicle information is required. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | After initial startup and drive for a short time, I come to a stop. Then after vehicle doesn’t want to accelerate as it normally would. Vehicle struggles to gain speed but, the engine revs excessively. I pull off the road and come to a stop and try to accelerate again and the same thing happens. I shut the vehicle off and wait a few minutes,then restart and the vehicle accelerates normally again. There were no check engine lights the when this has happened. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The moon roof made a very loud noise as I was driving down the interstate. It sounded like a loud bang. The safety risk was that I could have jerked the wheel from the scare of the loud sound. My moon roof then shattered and began to fly off. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I bought this car in June 2013 for its safety and its Amazing warranty and all the features that it has Hyundai manufacture had an obligation as a consumer service and failed to send notification of any recalled to us in regards to a recall High pressure, fuel pump, and fuel rail Fuel system engine, gas tank This is a product of liability and negligence on time but they failed to take responsibility and comply with federal laws. I was driving with my family in the car when this car was a ticking Time bomb not even being aware of the Death trap on wheels. We ended having towed our home and then to then had to make a call next day and have it towed to Hyundai service center While we were driving this happen, where we heard two loud pops the gas gauge went down from 200 something to 80 engine lights came right up the backseats were heating up under my son seat in the back stated he felt waves as the backseat was getting hotter, we pulled over to a gas station and that’s when we had to call called O’Reillys and then we called a mechanic friend which stated that he ended up looking up the car and stated please pull over and get out car and called the Hyundai manufacture that there was a recall that’s the only way we found out other than that no prior incidents, then called the service technician of Hyundai i called amd complaint with the Honda manufacture corporate. They have failed to take the responsibility for this and they should be ashamed and take their accountability for this we could’ve died and anyone else around us on road as we drive this car daily The car was a higher risk of a ticking time bomb stated by the Hyundai service center technicians. this is an nere to miss accident narrowly avoid catastrophe | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 5 | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Rearview camera fails to display an image. It does work sometimes but then most of the times the rearview camera does not display any image as seen in the images attached. This issue started occurring recently, that is when I reverse the car, the rearview camera image is not displayed at all. Earlier the rearview camera was working with out any issue when I reverse the car. Issue seems to be same as campaign number: 24V879000 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | P0741 code tcc solenoid | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The buttons to the door locking and unlocking don't work unless I open and close my door a few times. The same thing with the back windows. But after you do the trick and use the intended button once, it stops working and have to repeat the entire process over again. Which is not safe especially when the car is in motion, I am not able to use those buttons at all. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | The car would excelerate while in park. While I was pressing the brakes the car would jerk forward, it would not just quietly idle. While driving the car would randomly speed up or slow down. Sometime it would sound like it was going to shut off and start vibrating. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | POWER TRAIN | My transmission on my 21 Hyundai sonata n line has failed. It began when the car needed to emergency brake when someone jump into my lane on the road. There’s grinding, and whining in the transmission along with delayed shifts, jerking and a burning smell that comes through the vents of my car upon start up. The recall on this transmission is because it may become defective. I bought the vehicle from a Honda not a Hyundai dealer in March of 2023 the recall campaign closed out Jan of 2023. According to Hyundai records show that the TCU update remedy was performed Jan of 23. However, even though that TCU update was performed, 2 years later my transmission began to fail. I brought it to my local dealer for a transmission drain and refill not a flush. Per the service manual it’s a drain and refill however they flushed it which caused the transmission to worsen. I took it back to have it diagnosed and I was told I needed my transmission replaced. Didn’t even explain why or go into further detail what was wrong with the transmission. I brought up the recall on the transmission and they did nothing to honor it. Now I’m stuck with a car with a broken transmission i can’t afford to fix and I’m gonna be forced to hand the car over to the bank. If this recall can still be honored please help. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while pulling out of a parking lot, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended and started shaking abnormally. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel injector needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that all four fuel injectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 47,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 47,000 |
| Feb 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My car is giving a p0741 code and I was told has something to do with transmission and my car has been jerking. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | A semi truck passed me from the opposite direction and caused a gust of wind to be generated diagonally across the car. Both of us were traveling at highway speeds. The gust of wind caused the undercarriage retainers\clips to completely fail. The undercarriage folded back on itself and was pinned on both sides against each tire beneath the car. On the left side, the tire tore part of the undercarriage off as if it had came between the tire and the pavement. I believe this has the potential to cause a loss of control given ideal circumstances. Luckily, neither tire failed and I was able to safely pull to the side of the road to zip tie the undercarriage in place. However, part of the wheel well was shredded. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | On 5 separate occasions the car has shut itself off while driving. After the first 2 times the car was taken to the dealership where they found nothing wrong and told us to replace the battery. The battery was replaced by the dealer and within the next two weeks the car shut itself off while driving 3 more times. The car will always start back up again right away. This is a very dangerous situation. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | STRUCTURE | Sunroof exploded on the highway with no one in-front of me to kick up any rocks or debris. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I live northern suburbs of Illinois. I was backing out of a parking spot when I couldn’t switch gears from Reverse to Drive. My car showed flashing lights and said system malfunction and service immediately. I had to put the safety brake and turn of my car. It took a couple minutes to reset and turn on my car for me to move it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Was driving in reverse out of garage and ABS brakes were applied like I hit a patch of ice stopping the car. Released when applied pressure to brake. Then while on highway going 60 miles an hour the emergency brake system went on for no reason applying pressure and red light came on the dash with a left facing arrow. System released within a few seconds but scared me and I still have to drive this car on highway. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |