MODELYEARINDEX

Which Hyundai Sonata years to avoid

Across 12 scored model years, the 2011, 2013 and 2015 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Hyundai Sonata Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2011 vs model median 4.0×
Model median3× median
Steering 421
Engine 154
Electrical 147
Avoid

2011 · 2013

Best

2010 · 2019

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.48× 143 B
2011
4.03× 1,247 F
2012
2.04× 587 F
2013
2.52× 694 F
2014
1.03× 268 C
2015
2.20× 576 F
2016
0.96× 277 C
2017
1.07× 307 C
2018
0.72× 211 B
2019
0.27× 70 A
2020
0.45× 160 B
2021
0.59× 177 B
2022 P
0.65× 171 B
2023 P
0.61× 160 B
2024 P
0.29× 84 A
2025 P
0.12× 35 A

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2011 F 1,247 reports · median 30,000 mi

  1. Steering 421

    My car has pulled to the right sine I got it, hyundai has checked the alignment and "cross rotated" the tires, his seemed to help a little, but the steering is still pulling intermittently. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 154

    Our 2011 hyundai sonata purchased 30 april 2010 could not be started on 4 occasions since date of purchase (keyless, pushbutton). Fortunately, the events occurred either in the garage or on a parking lot. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 147

    My 2011 sonata has 7600 miles on it. The problem began around 5000 miles, but has gotten progressively worse. Upon trying to turn the car off, the engine shuts off, but the key is stuck in the accesory position. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

68 crash · 20 fire · 49 injuries

2013 F 694 reports · median 34,000 mi

  1. Steering 157

    I purchased brand new 2013 hyundai sonata limited in august'12. After buying when I was riding back home on freeway(approx speed 60 MPH) the car tends to drift in either left or right and keep on wandering in the lane. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 148

    I was driving a new 2013 hyundai sonata in a parking area, approaching a parking space for a straight-in parking facing a building. My speed was about 10mph. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 56

    Air conditioner blew hard, intermittent and would not respond to controls. Car drifts left to right, have to fight to keep it on the road. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

72 crash · 13 fire · 39 injuries

The best year for the Sonata

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2019 is the best-scoring Sonata model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 93.2 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2019 0.27× 70 A
2010 0.48× 143 B
2018 0.72× 211 B

Recalls

40 campaigns on record, 3 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
13V113000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH 2010, 2011 1,712,336
17V152000 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE 2011–2014 977,778
14V434000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2011–2014 883,000
18V137000 SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER 2011–2013 580,058
17V226000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 2013, 2014 572,000
15V568000 ENGINE 2011, 2012 470,000
21V749000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL 2015–2017 469,377
17V617000 SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER 2011–2014 443,545
13V354000 SUSPENSION:REAR 2010 364,502
21V619000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH 2017, 2018 348,158
15V759000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH 2011, 2012 304,900
20V121000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS 2013, 2014 216,799

+ 28 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2011 were reported at a median of 30,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Hyundai Sonata years should you avoid?
2011, 2013, 2015 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Hyundai Sonata model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Hyundai Sonata?
2019 is the best-scoring Hyundai Sonata model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 93.2 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Sonata have?
40 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Hyundai Sonata model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2011 Sonata
Complaints in window
1,247
Severity-weighted
1,764.5
Model median (weighted)
438
vs model median
4.03×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
14
Open investigations
1
Score 6.7 F