Vehicle Data Hub

2021 Hyundai Sonata problems

Owners have filed 188 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Sonata. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 19% of complaints. Next are fuel system (18%) and drivetrain & axles (13%).

At a glance

Complaints
188 filed with NHTSA
Most reported
Engine 19% of complaints
Crashes and fires
11 and 0
Injuries and deaths
25 and 0
Typical mileage
41,000 miles 29 complaints with mileage

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

Where the complaints are

Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.

When problems show up

Complaints by mileage, 2021 Hyundai Sonata Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 41,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 9 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 5 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 7 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 1 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 3 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 1 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 1 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 2 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 41,000 miles
Based on 29 complaints that include mileage. 72% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles9
20k to 40k miles5
40k to 60k miles7
60k to 80k miles1
80k to 100k miles3
100k to 120k miles1
120k to 140k miles1
140k to 160k miles2
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 29 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 41,000 miles.

Safety-related details: 11 complaints mention a crash; 25 injuries reported.

Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2021 ranks 15th most-complained-about out of 34 model years of the Hyundai Sonata with enough data (188 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.

What owners wrote

A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.

During a front end collision the car did not auto brake and the air bags did not deploy. The car has been totaled and is currently at a dealership for insurance appraisal.

August 2025 CrashInjury

I bought this car in June 2013 for its safety and its Amazing warranty and all the features that it has Hyundai manufacture had an obligation as a consumer service and failed to send notification of any recalled to us in regards to a recall High pressure, fuel pump, and fuel rail Fuel system engine, gas tank This is a product of liability and negligence on time but they failed to take responsibility and comply with federal laws.

June 2025 Injury

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the oil warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V746000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall.

Reported at 41,000 miles, August 2023

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that the fuel level indicated empty, and the low fuel warning light was illuminated. The passenger seated in the rear seat noticed that the rear seat was out of place and that the seat was very hot. The vehicle was refueled prior to the failure.

Reported at 130,000 miles, March 2026

Other model years of the Sonata

Best and worst years for the Hyundai Sonata