The Lemon IndexAll cars · Hyundai Sonata · 2020
2020 Hyundai Sonata. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 3
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (S8) | FWD | 27 / 36 / 31 | Regular | $2,000 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid | Auto (AM-S6) | FWD | 45 / 51 / 47 | Regular | $1,300 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Auto (S8) | FWD | 27 / 37 / 31 | Regular | $2,000 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 900 and 46,800 miles. Median 2,800, from 56 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical | 12,000 | 600–19,000 | 7 |
| Engine | 30,800 | 1,300–80,000 | 10 |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 16,600 | 2,200–20,500 | 8 |
| Body structure | 600 | 500–57,500 | 6 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 78,800 | 47,000–91,600 | 10 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | 24% |
| Electrical | 18% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 14% |
| Body structure | 9% |
| Steering | 9% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 197 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 9 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 4
25V796000 Nov 2025 Fuel System, Gasoline
Defect. 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.
Risk. A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy. 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. Hyu
22V196000 Mar 2022 Latches/Locks/Linkages / Trunk Lid / Latch
Defect. 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."
Risk. A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy. 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.
20V213000 Apr 2020 Electrical System / Software
Defect. 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.
Risk. Unintended vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy. 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.
20V122000 Feb 2020 Equipment / Other / Labels
Defect. 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."
Risk. 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.
Remedy. 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.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | Pedestrian alert sounds | 2023 | 2023 |
| Closed | Loss of motive power | 2022 | 2023 |
Manufacturer communications 126
Hyundai filed 126 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a Check Engine light on and one or more of the…
- Grease leak coming from the right side, inner CV axle boot
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Sonata 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Hyundai Sonata HEV 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Standard | Standard |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
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