Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2021 Hyundai Sonata
NHTSA data on file today
The 2021 Hyundai Sonata has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 135 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #25V796000 Fuel Tank May Leak NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V746000 Loss of Drive Power NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V00M000 Inadequate Windshield Bonding NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V524000 Fuel Leak at Pipe Connection NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 34 complaints
- Unknown or Other 32 complaints
- Power Train 25 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 21 complaints
- Electrical System 18 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 13 complaints
Of the 135 complaints on file, 7 report a crash; across all 135 complaints, owners report 13 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2021 Hyundai Sonata has an average reliability rating due to several recalls and complaints, particularly involving the fuel system, powertrain, and windshield bonding concerns. However, it doesn't show excessive or highly unusual patterns of failure compared to peers.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| fuel system | 20,000–40,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | very common |
| transmission | 30,000–50,000 miles | $1,200–$3,000 | common |
| windshield bonding | 10,000–30,000 miles | $500–$1,000 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Tire rotation
- Coolant checks
- Transmission fluid change
- Brake pad replacement
- Air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Fuel smell or leaks
- Loss of drive power
- Windshield rattling or detaching
- Warning lights on dash
- Unusual transmission noises
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2021 Hyundai Sonata at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.