Your vehicle report
2018 Hyundai Sonata
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 375
- Received Dec 2017 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Engine burns excessive oil between changes70 complaints · 19% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Engine stalls and loses power while driving39 complaints · 10% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Headlights dim or fail at night17 complaints · 4.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #21V619000Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera 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."
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Engine burns excessive oil between changesFirst signal: Aug 2021
- Engine stalls and loses power while drivingFirst signal: Mar 2019
- Paint peels off roof and hoodFirst signal: Nov 2022
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 18 crashes, 13 fires, 20 people injured, 1 death.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
1 more problem
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 61 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2022 | 37 |
| 2023 | 55 |
| 2024 | 44 |
| 2025 | 82 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 38 |
| Total | 375 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 70 | 19% | 21.7× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Aug 2021 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.6% |
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 39 | 10% | 6.8× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Mar 2019 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.4% |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 17 | 4.5% | – | |
| Paint peels off roof and hood | 13 | 3.5% | 6.2× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Nov 2022 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.3% |
| Engine won't start or cranks intermittently | 13 | 3.5% | 12.3× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Nov 2022 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.1% |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 12 | 3.2% | 1.8× | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 10 | 2.7% | 1.4× | |
| Engine knocking from rod or main bearings | 10 | 2.7% | 2.3× | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 9 | 2.4% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 8 | 2.1% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 8 | 2.1% | 1.3× | |
| Tailgate or trunk latch fails | 7 | 1.9% | – | NHTSA recall #21V619000 |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 7 | 1.9% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 7 | 1.9% | 1.8× | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 4 | 1.1% | – | |
| Electronic throttle body fails and cuts power | 4 | 1.1% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 3 | 0.8% | – | |
| Fuel pump fails and engine stalls | 3 | 0.8% | 1.7× |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #21V619000August 6, 2021348,158 vehicles affected
latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: latch
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera 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."
A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the trunk latch base, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 208.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN