NHTSA vehicle safety data
2018 Hyundai Sonata Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2018 Hyundai Sonata has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 375 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Hyundai dealer.
NHTSA also files the 2018 Hyundai Sonata separately as Sonata Hybrid — 1 recall campaign, Sonata Plug-In Hybrid — 1 recall campaign.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2018 Hyundai Sonata owner complaints
Owners have filed 375 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Hyundai Sonata, describing incidents dated October 1, 2017 to October 5, 2026.
Most-cited components
- Engine 224 complaints
- Electrical System 60 complaints
- Unknown or Other 58 complaints
- Power Train 40 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 34 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 22 complaints
Of the 375 complaints on file, 18 report a crash and 13 a fire; across all 375 complaints, owners report 20 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11772916 · Filed
The vehicle experiences a severe delayed start/extended crank condition before finally starting. This is caused by a loss of fuel pressure prime due to the defective fuel filter housing leaking internally, creating an unpredictable and unsafe vehicle operation hazard. The dealership is denying…
ODI #11769166 · Filed
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The paint is peeling off the car, when I went to the dealership they said this is a known problem for 2015-2018, but they can't fix it there is no recall. It is causing rust. The valve cover gasket…
ODI #11765780 · Filed
Hyundai dealership confirms I am in need of a new engine due to large oil consumption which is a known issue on 2018 Hyundai Sonata engines. Hyundai will not approve repairs because I am the second owner and vehicle is out of the 5 year warranty period. I only have 52K miles on my vehicle.
Owner-reported
2018 Hyundai Sonata mileage at failure
139 of the 375 complaints on file for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.
| Component | Median | Middle half | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Median 65,000 miles | Middle half 35,000–105,000 miles | Based on 66 complaints |
A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.
Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.
These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.
Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.
Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2018 Hyundai Sonata in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Engineering Analysis EA19-001: Electrical overstress
Closed September 19, 2024
- Defect Petition DP22-003: Loss of Motive Power
Closed December 12, 2023
Trunk Emergency Release May Fail/FMVSS 401
NHTSA #21V619000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages — Trunk Lid — Latch · NHTSA notice
Reported August 6, 2021 · Hyundai Motor America
Potentially affected: 348,158 vehicles
Repair completion: 77.63% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Hyundai campaign 208 · Owners notified December 4, 2021
Defect description
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 Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Safety consequence
A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Other Hyundai Sonata model years
Check your 2018 Hyundai Sonata VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Hyundai Sonata at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Check a Hyundai VIN