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2021 Hyundai Sonata

HybridGas
Large Cars
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
54 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls2 critical4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA183
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA52 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large car with 6 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, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 183 complaints, most often about the engine. 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 turbo273730$2,100
SonataGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl turbo233327$2,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42789, 42788, 42797, 42796, 42790, 43456.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 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
▲high

Power Train

236
56,148 vehicles
ProblemHyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.RiskLoss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.FixDealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 236.
NHTSA campaign 22V746000reported Oct 6, 2022Hyundai Motor America
▲high

Visibility

216
26,413 vehicles
ProblemHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.RiskA windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.FixDealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.
NHTSA campaign 21V00M000reported Dec 28, 2021Hyundai Motor America
!critical

Fuel System, Gasoline

207
15,752 vehicles
ProblemHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe and Sonata vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.RiskA fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.FixDealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 207.
NHTSA campaign 21V524000reported Jul 9, 2021Hyundai 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
183complaints filed

8 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 14 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 10 · 2022: 18 · 2023: 38 · 2024: 37 · 2025: 39 · 2026: 41

Most-cited components

Engine55
Electrical System43
Unspecified39
Power Train23
Fuel/Propulsion System23
Fuel System, Gasoline12

What owners describe

“Hyundai 2021 Sonata Hybrid. Blown head gasket. Reported 1,000 miles after warranty expired. Car was in the shop for Hybrid battery issues. Repair completed. 2 weeks later smoke coming from the exhaust. Hyundai says blown head gasket - will not honor warranty as I was just a few thousand miles over warranty. Seems to be…”Jan 16, 2024 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“Antifreeze is coming out of the exhaust. Heater is only blowing cold air. Repair shop said it is a common problem with the Hyundai hybrids. Was told I had to take it back to the dealership. The y repair shop said this is very common and is wondering why a recall has not been issued by the NTHSB. Dealership has been unr…”Dec 30, 2023 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“The vehicle has been turning completely off after use for over a year now. At first it would happen every now and then at the beginning and all you'd have to do was restart the car manually. Now every time the car is turned off it needs to be restarted manually now. The car will also shut itself off while you are drivi…”Dec 19, 2023 · 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%
4 DR FWDnot ratednot rated★★★★★★★★★★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

C

2020 Hyundai Sonata

4 recalls · 194 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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