MYRModel Year Report

Hyundai Sonata — years to avoid

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

9 model years to avoid, 5 to watch and 13 best bets. Tap a year to see its problem areas, recalls and buy-smart checklist.

Avoid9 years

Caution5 years

Best bets13 years

Complaint history

1986: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1986 1987: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1988: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1989: 11 complaints, Not enough data 1990: 16 complaints, Not enough data 1991: 29 complaints, Not enough data 1992: 22 complaints, Not enough data 1992 1993: 26 complaints, Not enough data 1994: 3 complaints, Not enough data 1995: 68 complaints, Recommended 1996: 23 complaints, Not enough data 1997: 49 complaints, Recommended 1998: 49 complaints, Recommended 1998 1999: 124 complaints, Recommended 2000: 276 complaints, Recommended 2001: 205 complaints, Recommended 2002: 319 complaints, Caution 2003: 199 complaints, Recommended 2004: 202 complaints, Recommended 2004 2005: 165 complaints, Recommended 2006: 1,047 complaints, Avoid 2007: 696 complaints, Avoid 2008: 425 complaints, Caution 2009: 460 complaints, Caution 2010: 345 complaints, Caution 2011: 3,377 complaints, Avoid 2011 2012: 1,557 complaints, Avoid 2013: 1,912 complaints, Avoid 2014: 746 complaints, Avoid 2015: 1,148 complaints, Avoid 2016: 726 complaints, Avoid 2017: 764 complaints, Avoid 2018: 374 complaints, Caution 2019: 162 complaints, Recommended 2020: 178 complaints, Recommended 2021: 133 complaints, Recommended 2022: 93 complaints, Recommended 2022 2023: 87 complaints, Recommended 2024: 46 complaints, Recommended 2025: 17 complaints, Not enough data 2026: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2011 · 3,377
1986: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1986 1987: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1988: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1989: 11 complaints, Not enough data 1989 1990: 16 complaints, Not enough data 1991: 29 complaints, Not enough data 1992: 22 complaints, Not enough data 1992 1993: 26 complaints, Not enough data 1994: 3 complaints, Not enough data 1995: 68 complaints, Recommended 1995 1996: 23 complaints, Not enough data 1997: 49 complaints, Recommended 1998: 49 complaints, Recommended 1998 1999: 124 complaints, Recommended 2000: 276 complaints, Recommended 2001: 205 complaints, Recommended 2001 2002: 319 complaints, Caution 2003: 199 complaints, Recommended 2004: 202 complaints, Recommended 2004 2005: 165 complaints, Recommended 2006: 1,047 complaints, Avoid 2007: 696 complaints, Avoid 2007 2008: 425 complaints, Caution 2009: 460 complaints, Caution 2010: 345 complaints, Caution 2011: 3,377 complaints, Avoid 2011 2012: 1,557 complaints, Avoid 2013: 1,912 complaints, Avoid 2014: 746 complaints, Avoid 2015: 1,148 complaints, Avoid 2016: 726 complaints, Avoid 2016 2017: 764 complaints, Avoid 2018: 374 complaints, Caution 2019: 162 complaints, Recommended 2019 2020: 178 complaints, Recommended 2021: 133 complaints, Recommended 2022: 93 complaints, Recommended 2022 2023: 87 complaints, Recommended 2024: 46 complaints, Recommended 2025: 17 complaints, Not enough data 2025 2026: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2011 · 3,377
1986: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1986 1987: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1988: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1988 1989: 11 complaints, Not enough data 1990: 16 complaints, Not enough data 1990 1991: 29 complaints, Not enough data 1992: 22 complaints, Not enough data 1992 1993: 26 complaints, Not enough data 1994: 3 complaints, Not enough data 1994 1995: 68 complaints, Recommended 1996: 23 complaints, Not enough data 1996 1997: 49 complaints, Recommended 1998: 49 complaints, Recommended 1998 1999: 124 complaints, Recommended 2000: 276 complaints, Recommended 2000 2001: 205 complaints, Recommended 2002: 319 complaints, Caution 2002 2003: 199 complaints, Recommended 2004: 202 complaints, Recommended 2004 2005: 165 complaints, Recommended 2006: 1,047 complaints, Avoid 2006 2007: 696 complaints, Avoid 2008: 425 complaints, Caution 2008 2009: 460 complaints, Caution 2010: 345 complaints, Caution 2011: 3,377 complaints, Avoid 2011 2012: 1,557 complaints, Avoid 2013: 1,912 complaints, Avoid 2014: 746 complaints, Avoid 2014 2015: 1,148 complaints, Avoid 2016: 726 complaints, Avoid 2016 2017: 764 complaints, Avoid 2018: 374 complaints, Caution 2018 2019: 162 complaints, Recommended 2020: 178 complaints, Recommended 2020 2021: 133 complaints, Recommended 2022: 93 complaints, Recommended 2022 2023: 87 complaints, Recommended 2024: 46 complaints, Recommended 2024 2025: 17 complaints, Not enough data 2026: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2026 2011 · 3,377
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Recommended
  • Not enough data

Every year, ranked

Newest first. Find your year, then open it for the full report.

YearRankingComplaintsCompared with a typical year
2026 ○ Not enough data 3 Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2025 ○ Not enough data 17 Only 17 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2024 ▲ Recommended 46 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2023 ▲ Recommended 87 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2022 ▲ Recommended 93 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2021 ▲ Recommended 133 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2020 ▲ Recommended 178 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2019 ▲ Recommended 162 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2018 ◆ Caution 374 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2017 ■ Avoid 764 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2016 ■ Avoid 726 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2015 ■ Avoid 1,148 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2014 ■ Avoid 746 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2013 ■ Avoid 1,912 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2012 ■ Avoid 1,557 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2011 ■ Avoid 3,377 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2010 ◆ Caution 345 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2009 ◆ Caution 460 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2008 ◆ Caution 425 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2007 ■ Avoid 696 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2006 ■ Avoid 1,047 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2005 ▲ Recommended 165 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2004 ▲ Recommended 202 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2003 ▲ Recommended 199 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2002 ◆ Caution 319 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2001 ● Recommended 205 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2000 ● Recommended 276 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1999 ▲ Recommended 124 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1998 ▲ Recommended 49 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1997 ▲ Recommended 49 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1996 ○ Not enough data 23 Only 23 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1995 ▲ Recommended 68 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1994 ○ Not enough data 3 Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1993 ○ Not enough data 26 Only 26 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1992 ○ Not enough data 22 Only 22 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1991 ○ Not enough data 29 Only 29 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1990 ○ Not enough data 16 Only 16 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1989 ○ Not enough data 11 Only 11 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1988 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1987 ○ Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1986 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
How the rankings work

Each model year’s distinct NHTSA complaint count is compared with the median of the same model’s other eligible years.

  • ▲ Recommended

    At least 30% fewer complaints than the model’s typical year.

  • ● Recommended

    Within 30% of the model’s typical year.

  • ◆ Caution

    30% to 100% more complaints than the typical year.

  • ■ Avoid

    More than double the complaints of the typical year.

  • ○ Not enough data

    Fewer than 30 complaints on file, or too few other years to compare with — too few for a fair verdict.

Recalls

68

recalls on file across every Hyundai Sonata model year.

Open a year above to see that year’s own recalls, investigations, and remedies.

Other Hyundai models