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2020 Hyundai Sonata

HybridGas
Large Cars
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
73 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA194
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA52 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large car with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sonata Hybrid Blue, is EPA-rated at 52 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 194 complaints, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Sonata Hybrid BlueHybridFWD2.0L 4-cyl + 270V Li-Ion505452$1,200
Sonata HybridHybridFWD2.0L 4-cyl + 270V Li-Ion455147$1,350
SonataGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl283832$1,950
SonataGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl273731$2,000
SonataGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo273631$2,000

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42476, 42475, 42245, 42244, 42246.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Fuel System, Gasoline

286
85,043 vehicles
ProblemHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Sonata vehicles. A damaged check valve can allow air to enter the fuel tank, causing it to expand and contact hot exhaust components, melting the tank.RiskA melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.FixDealers will inspect and replace the check valve. The fuel tank assembly will be inspected for damage and replaced if necessary. Additionally, dealers will inspect and update the engine control unit software. All repairs will be performed as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning March 13, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 286. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall
NHTSA campaign 25V796000reported Nov 17, 2025Hyundai Motor America
●moderate

Latches/Locks/Linkages

221/010G
63,461 vehicles
ProblemHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Sonata and Sonata Hybrid, and 2019 Genesis G70 vehicles. 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."RiskA person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.FixDealers will inspect the trunk latch and replace the trunk latch base, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 221/010G.
NHTSA campaign 22V196000reported Mar 28, 2022Hyundai Motor America
○minor

Electrical System

191
11,870 vehicles
ProblemHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Nexo and Sonata vehicles. The Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) software may fail to prevent vehicle movement upon detection of an RSPA system malfunction.RiskUnintended vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.FixHyundai will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the RSPA software, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 191.
NHTSA campaign 20V213000reported Apr 9, 2020Hyundai Motor America
○minor

Equipment

190
5,044 vehicles
ProblemHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Sonata vehicles produced between October 22, 2019 and February 13, 2020. The tire pressure label inside the driver's door and the owner's manual state an incorrect tire size. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."RiskThe incorrect tire information may mislead the vehicle owner to install the wrong tire size, potentially affecting vehicle handling, increasing the risk of a crash.FixHyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install new label stickers over the tire pressure label and in the owner's manual, free of charge. The recall began April 22, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 190.
NHTSA campaign 20V122000reported Feb 28, 2020Hyundai Motor America

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005

Engine — Loss of Motive Power closed

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023 · action DP22003

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
194complaints filed

6 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2020: 27 · 2021: 18 · 2022: 15 · 2023: 20 · 2024: 44 · 2025: 33 · 2026: 37

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System46
Electrical System46
Engine39
Unspecified32
Power Train24
Structure16

What owners describe

“Over the last 3 months at least a dozen times the 12v auxiliary battery is completely dead after parking the car outdoors for an hour or so. This poses a safety issue, especially at night because you cannot easily access the car. You have to fumble around trying to get the key hole cover off in order to use the key sup…”Oct 1, 2024 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“On July 15th I was driving away from work and my car suddenly stopped accelerating. I was able to get it towed to a body shop I previously had it repaired at. They said the battery system was blowing a fuse when it would become undrivable. They took it to the local Hyundai dealership where they applied a new software u…”Aug 22, 2024 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“Sudden failure of the electrical system with warning that the hybrid battery was in operable. I parked the car, turned it off, reset the 12 V battery, and the car restarted and operated normally. This problem with the 12 V battery needing reset has happened dozens of times while I was parked. This is the first time it …”Aug 19, 2024 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★10%
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Other Sonata model years

A

2027 Hyundai Sonata

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 Hyundai Sonata

1 recalls · 5 complaints

A

2025 Hyundai Sonata

0 recalls · 27 complaints

A

2024 Hyundai Sonata

1 recalls · 54 complaints

C

2023 Hyundai Sonata

2 recalls · 100 complaints

D

2022 Hyundai Sonata

3 recalls · 110 complaints

F

2021 Hyundai Sonata

4 recalls · 183 complaints

A

2019 Hyundai Sonata

0 recalls · 169 complaints

B

2018 Hyundai Sonata

2 recalls · 380 complaints

D

2017 Hyundai Sonata

5 recalls · 874 complaints

F

2016 Hyundai Sonata

9 recalls · 880 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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