Is the 2021 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID reliable?

The 2021 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID has 69 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.7x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: average. Most common issue: ELECTRICAL problems.

What are common problems with the 2021 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID?

Top problems: ELECTRICAL (25 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (23 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (7 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2021 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID?

No recalls have been issued for the 2021 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID?

The 2021 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID gets 47 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1021. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2021 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2021 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID is approximately $1,586/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2021 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2021 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID has 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.7x the segment average of 40. The most common issue is electrical problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: on wednesday, october 6th, i was driving full speed (65mph) on a major highway. multiple lights on the dashboard came on. the lcd display screen for music, apps, etc. went black. more lights came on and others went off on the dash display. i let off the accelerator and steered the car. the fuel effi.

3 crash reports 6 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

1.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ELECTRICAL

25 complaints

36%

• On Wednesday, October 6th, I was driving full speed (65mph) on a major highway. Multiple lights on the dashboard came on. The LCD display screen for music, apps, etc. went black. More lights came on and others went off on the dash display. I let off the accelerator and steered the car. The fuel effi
• My 2021 Sonata Hybrid Limited has been in the shop for over 3 months. At least 4 times while driving on city streets, I'd receive an error stating problem with hybrid system please turn off vehicle. Car would go into limp mode giving me just enough power to pull off to the side of the road (if possi
• The vehicle has been turning completely off after use for over a year now. At first it would happen every now and then at the beginning and all you'd have to do was restart the car manually. Now every time the car is turned off it needs to be restarted manually now. The car will also shut itself o

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“On Wednesday, October 6th, I was driving full speed (65mph) on a major highway. Multiple lights on the dashboard came on. The LCD display screen for music, apps, etc. went black. More lights came on and others went off on the dash display. I let off the accelerator and steered the car. The fuel effi”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2021 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,022

Per month

$85

Per mile

8.5¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$1,067/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$941/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2021 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,586

Full coverage / month

$132

Liability only / year

$574

vs US avg

-5%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age1.05x

= Full coverage estimate$1586

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Hyundai SONATA HYBRID Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

60K mi

Spark plugs

90K mi

Cabin air filter

15K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

60K mi

Turbo engines (1.6T, 2.0T) need premium fuel and more frequent oil (some owners service at 5,000 miles).

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Hyundai New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

5 yr / 60K mi

Powertrain

10 yr / 100K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

10 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

7 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / unlimited mi

10 years/100K powertrain warranty is transferable only to first purchaser after initial owner

These are the terms for a new Hyundai. If you're buying a used 2021 SONATA HYBRID, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Hyundai dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 69 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: On Wednesday, October 6th, I was driving full speed (65mph) on a major highway. Multiple lights on the dashboard came on. The LCD display screen for music, apps, etc. went black. More lights came on and others went off on the dash display. I let off the accelerator and steered the car. The fuel effi
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: Very loud car alarms sounded, e.g., it sounded like a something like a red alert in an old Star Trek episode. warning light indicated engine overheated, extreme exhaust/smoke bellowed out from rear of car while decelerating on highway exit ramp. My wife and I were inside the car during this event.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: On Wednesday, October 6th, I was driving full speed (65mph) on a major highway. Multiple lights on the dashboard came on. The LCD display screen for music, apps, etc. went black. More lights came on and others went off on the dash display. I let off the accelerator and steered the car. The fuel effi
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: The forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control failed as the first 2 activated when there were no oncoming collisions in front of me and the nearest cars around me were 1/4 of a mile away. The cruise control failed as it turned back on after the vehicle veered
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)