2020 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Fuel/propulsion system is the leading concern among 178 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 19th highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 5 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 4 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasolineNov 18, 2025
Hyundai 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.
A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Dealers 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 became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 19, 2025.
Campaign 25V796000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, trunk lid, latchMar 28, 2022
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Sonata and Sonata Hybrid, and 2019 Genesis G70 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.
Dealers will inspect the trunk latch and replace the trunk latch base, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 221/010G.
Campaign 22V196000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, softwareApr 9, 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Nexo and Sonata vehicles. The Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) software may fail to prevent vehicle movement upon detection of an RSPA system malfunction.
Unintended vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the RSPA software, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 191.
Campaign 20V213000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsFeb 28, 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Sonata vehicles produced between October 22, 2019 and February 13, 2020. The tire pressure label inside the driver's door and the owner's manual state an incorrect tire size. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
The incorrect tire information may mislead the vehicle owner to install the wrong tire size, potentially affecting vehicle handling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install new label stickers over the tire pressure label and in the owner's manual, free of charge. The recall began April 22, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 190.
Campaign 20V122000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: forward collision avoidance
12 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Aug 26, 2026, crash
Parking malfunction. Parked, running car moved itself to reverse and backed up a driveway crossing a dirt road and hitting a fence and post. This car could have hit and severely injured anyone who was in the path while it was reversing on its own. Car was in reverse and all parking sensors were blaring when the car was found minutes later.
Forward collision avoidance, May 29, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced phantom braking and nearly came to a complete stop. The contact stated that the automatic emergency braking system unexpectedly engaged while there were no roadway obstacles or vehicles near the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that they would need to verify whether the repair would be covered under the active warranty. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.
Power train, Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, May 4, 2025
My 2020 Hyundai Sonata has a recurring defect in its engine or transmission, causing sudden deceleration to ~10 mph without warning, often on major highways, with warning lights (check engine, ESC, traction control, etc.) flashing seconds before the car decelerates. This forces me to swerve off busy roads, endangering me, my passengers, and other drivers. Near-misses with traffic pose an extreme safety risk, causing significant emotional distress. The car, at a Hyundai dealer since April 21, 2025, is available for NHTSA inspection. The issue began in January 2021, five months after purchase, with all the warning lights appearing during incidents along with rapid deceleration. The Hyundai dealer confirmed the problem in seven repair attempts (January 2021, December 2021, January 2022, November 2024, February 2025, and twice in April 2025) but never properly diagnosed or fixed it, citing no consistent diagnostic codes. Only the dealer assessed it; no inspections by Hyundai’s manufacturer, police, or insurance occurred. In November 2024, the defect recurred immediately after pickup, despite false assurances it was fixed. In February 2025, the dealer kept the car over a month with minimal communication, yet it failed again. I picked up the car on April 4, 2025, but it broke down on April 6, less than 55 hours later. I returned it April 7 and picked it up April 17, and it failed again on April 21, 2025 with the vehicle remaining at the dealer since. The dealer and Hyundai offer no solution and this dangerous issue keeps recurring. Similar NHTSA complaints suggest a broader issue. Rapid recurrences—hours after April 4 and four days after April 17—prove the car is unsafe and assurances of repairs are untrustworthy. I no longer trust the Sonata or Hyundai’s repairs, as the defect persists.
Power train, Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 6, 2025
My 2020 Hyundai Sonata has a recurring and dangerous defect involving sudden deceleration while driving. Without warning, the car abruptly slows to ~10 mph—often on the highway—while numerous dashboard warning lights activate. This poses an extreme safety risk to me, my passengers, and other drivers, as it forces me to maneuver off the road to avoid being hit. The issue began in January 2021, just five months after I purchased the car new. It has occurred repeatedly and unpredictably since then. I have taken the vehicle to Hyundai-authorized dealers for repair on five occasions (January 2021; December 2021; January 2022; November 2024; and February 2025), but the problem has never been properly diagnosed or fixed. In November 2024, the issue occurred immediately after I picked the car up from the dealership when they told me it was fixed and ready to drive. This most recent occurrence (February 2025) before tonight's incident on April 6, 2025, the dealer had my vehicle for over a month. During this time, communication was seldom initiated by the dealer. Now the problem recurred less than 55 hours after picking the vehicle up from the Hyundai certified dealer, who told me the issue was fixed and the car looks and runs great. Unfortunately I found myself in this dangerous situation despite the dealer's reassurances and Hyundai's involvement overseeing the repair process. The unsafe, defective Sonata is currently in my possession as I figure out next steps. Each incident is accompanied by multiple warning lights (e.g., check engine, ESC, etc.) but the dealer represents that no consistent diagnostic codes have been found. I’ve also found multiple similar complaints from other Sonata owners on the NHTSA site, suggesting this may be a broader issue. This unresolved defect has made the vehicle unsafe to drive and caused significant emotional distress. I no longer trust the car or the assurances from Hyundai or the dealer that it is fixed.
Power train, Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 6, 2025
My 2020 Hyundai Sonata has a recurring and dangerous defect involving sudden deceleration while driving. Without warning, the car abruptly slows to ~10 mph—often on the highway—while numerous dashboard warning lights activate. This poses an extreme safety risk to me, my passengers, and other drivers, as it forces me to maneuver off the road to avoid being hit. The issue began in January 2021, still with less than 4,000 miles and just five months after I purchased the car new. It has occurred repeatedly and unpredictably since then. I have taken the vehicle to a Hyundai-authorized dealer for repair on five occasions (January 2021; December 2021; January 2022; November 2024; and February 2025), but the problem has never been properly diagnosed or fixed. In November 2024, the issue occurred immediately as I drove off the dealer's lot, having been assured the vehicle was repaired and safe to drive. The most recent visit lasted over a month, yet the dealer could not replicate the problem and returned the car to me in early April 2025, without a clear resolution. The vehicle is currently in my possession and available for inspection. Each incident is accompanied by multiple warning lights (e.g., check engine, ESC, etc.) but no consistent diagnostic codes have been found. I’ve also found multiple similar complaints from other Sonata owners on the NHTSA site, suggesting this may be a broader issue. This unresolved defect has made the vehicle unsafe to drive and caused significant emotional distress. I no longer trust the car or the assurances from Hyundai or the dealer that it is fixed.
Vehicle speed control, Forward collision avoidance, Dec 9, 2024
while driving my car on 3 different days the car slowed down, and the lights came EPB on, on the dashboard the EPB light came on the check engine light came on , forward collision light, auto hold light, slippery road light , and caution light with a ! mark.
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 14, 2024
While driving at about 45mph a warning flashed on my dash. I couldn't read it before it disappeared, but it was something about front collision., contact dealer. the car immediately lost all power. Everything was still running, but I had no acceleration. I had to back down a busy road into a vacant lot. I had just come off of the highway when this happened, if I had still been driving on the Highway, I would have been hit by a car from behind, since there was no warning at all. The car was towed to a Hyundai dealership. After a diagnosis, it was said to be the Throttle body. I had to wait for the repair because the part was on back order. I was told that there was another car there waiting on the same part. I am afraid to drive the car now, even though the repair was made. I feel this is a safety hazard, and that someone could be injured or killed because of this issue with the car.
Air bags, Forward collision avoidance, Oct 27, 2023, crash
I was driving Home from work and I fell a sleep behind the wheel and Hit a park car. The police report states that my impact speed was 50mph. My insurance company is very concerned that my Air Bags or sensors are defective and that I contact you immediately. Due to the damage and impact of the accident.
Forward collision avoidance, Jul 30, 2023
Tonight on 7/29/2023 after driving between 5-10 miles at night with very light traffic, my dashboard flashed a message telling me "Forward Safety system disabled. Radar blocked." After receiving this message and it clearing from the digital instrument cluster, a small triangle appeared with a exclamation mark. After driving between 1 to 5 miles further down the interstate the triangle cleared from the screen. There is no damage to the grill, or sensor, and no indication of mechanical issues as I was driving down the road. The grill and sensor both also have little to no dirt as I routinely wash my car each weekI have read through multiple other comments like me stating nothing whatsoever is on the front grill that could be obstructing the sensor. And like the other complaints, if there is no warning light, there is no code stored!
Electrical system, Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Jul 25, 2022
I first begin having an issue with the idle speed. It would jump up to 1,500 RPM, which is twice the normal 750 RPM level It started almost from the very beginning when I purchased this car new in early 2020. I mentioned it at first oil change at dealer at 3,500 miles. I was told it was normal. In the beginning it would come and go. Sometimes not happening for weeks in-between episodes. Then it started to have the check engine light come on after it would happen and stay on. I took it back while light was still on and they kept the car for several days. Said it was the EPV valve and replaced it. Car operated fine for a few days then started up again. It also started to idle up and down from 1500 down to 500 in a rapid succession. I was able to get it to stop sometimes by turning engine off and them back on. Again I contacted dealership and took car back in. They gave me a loaner car and kept my car for over a month. This time they replaced the computer they told me. I did not have car for more than a week before it started doing it again. It has gradually gotten worse and happens more often now. It has also started to have the Forward Collision Avoidance warning come on in addition to check engine light as well. Just this week it actually just died on me while driving and forced me to pull to side of road. Turn off the engine and restart the engine. This happen 3 times in succession. Dealership does not seem to have any idea on what is going on and have been not very helpful. 3 week wait to get an appointment to bring in and no loaner cars available. This problem with the 2020 vehicle is very dangerous. It can idle up at anytime and car will lurch, requiring forceful brakeing . Car dying while driving and losing power as well.
Forward collision avoidance, Dec 10, 2021
The contact leased a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact state that the radar in the vehicle interacted with the radar in Ford vehicles. While parking in a parking spot there was a beeping sound detected. While at a stoplight with a vehicle in front to the side, the radar engaged when a Ford vehicle drove up. The contact stated while turning nearby another Ford vehicle the radar engaged and the driver applied the brakes. The Forward Collision-Avoidance warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 6.
Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure, Nov 4, 2020
GASES FROM THE DASHBOARD HEATING CAUSE A FILM TO FORM BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CAMERA. BECAUSE OF THIS, IN HEAVY DIRECT SUNLIGHT, LANE KEEP ASSIST TOGGLES ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING UNINTENDED LANE DEPARTURES WITH OUT WARNING. ALSO, WHEN USING SMART CRUISE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE SLOWS TO A STOP BUT MAY CONTINUE MOVING SLOWLY EVEN AFTER DISPLAYING THE PRESS GAS TO CONTINUE SCREEN. THE AUTO HOLD LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE.