The 2018 Hyundai Sonata has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 348,158 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 540 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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…
Consequence
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE
204
3crashes8fires2injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
58
1crashes2fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
56
2crashes4fires2injuries
POWER TRAIN
39
2crashes1fires1injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
29
1fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
21
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
17
5crashes1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES
14
4crashes1fires13injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY
12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
11
Total complaints540
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Check engine light solid/engine failure while driving. 2018 sonata se purchased new in fall 2018. Around 50,000 miles started noticing oil level drop and had to add more before next scheduled change. Dealership service center said I just had to shorten the mileage between changes which didn't seem…”
“Check engine light solid/engine failure while driving. 2018 sonata se purchased new in fall 2018. Around 50,000 miles started noticing oil level drop and had to add more before next scheduled change. Dealership service center said I just had to shorten the mileage between changes which didn't seem…”
“I was only in the car for about 4 minutes then came to a stop light. Once the light had turned green I pressured down on the gas, my car rolled for a second then died on me, causing it to go into accessory mode. Instantly three lights came on: the check engine light, battery light, and low oil…”
“The contact the contact stated that when taken the vehicle for a service campaign repair and shortly after went for recall r the vehicle does not run properly on cold starts, the rpms increase rapidly and slow down, vehicle jerks forward once beginning to drive.. The vehicle does not have this…”
“The contact the contact stated that when taken the vehicle for a service campaign repair and shortly after went for recall r the vehicle does not run properly on cold starts, the rpms increase rapidly and slow down, vehicle jerks forward once beginning to drive.. The vehicle does not have this…”
“The trunk latch on the hyundai sonata malfunctioned, and our safety was put at risk when the trunk malfunctioned while driving on the freeway, obstructing the back view. After several attempts to try to close the trunk and after doing some research, I learned it had a vehicle recall, 21v619000. An…”
“Engine blown out malfunction took two dealer hyundai folsom lake stated rings are bad sludge buildup in engine and stayed at hyundai motor america denied engine replacement due to knowledge under theta two engine extended warranty settlement of 150,000 mi 15 years I'm still within warranty but are…”
“Engine blown out malfunction took two dealer hyundai folsom lake stated rings are bad sludge buildup in engine and stayed at hyundai motor america denied engine replacement due to knowledge under theta two engine extended warranty settlement of 150,000 mi 15 years I'm still within warranty but are…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP22003 Opened 2022-09-12 · closed 2023-12-12
Loss of Motive Power
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…
InvestigationEA19001 Opened 2019-04-19 · closed 2024-09-19
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.