2019 Hyundai SONATA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2019 Hyundai SONATA has 205 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (44% of all complaints), specifically: i have lease this car since 1/16/2019 until 4/14/19 . start first with lower the speed and power just a little bit. then 4/14/19 the car lower the speed by itself,start shaking up,limp,shows the engine light and the speed control ligh in conjunction with slippery control ligh then stay at "temporary. ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.

8 fire reports 9 crash reports 6 injuries

205

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

90 complaints

44%

• I HAVE LEASE THIS CAR SINCE 1/16/2019 UNTIL 4/14/19 . START FIRST WITH LOWER THE SPEED AND POWER JUST A LITTLE BIT. THEN 4/14/19 THE CAR LOWER THE SPEED BY ITSELF,START SHAKING UP,LIMP,SHOWS THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE SPEED CONTROL LIGH IN CONJUNCTION WITH SLIPPERY CONTROL LIGH THEN STAY AT "TEMPORARY
• 2019 SONATA 2.0T WITH JUST OVER 11K MILES ON IT BEGAN TO SUDDENLY STUDDER AND WANT TO STALL AT LOW RPM OR AT THE STOP. OBDII ERROR CODE P0302. DEALERSHIP SAID CYLINDER 2 HAD LITTLE TO NO COMPRESSION AND NEEDED REPAIR. COULD BARELY LIMP VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND SMELL THE UNBURNED FUEL BEING PORT
• I PURCHASED A 2019 SONATA DEMO VEHICLE WITH 5,020 MILES IN JUNE 2019. I REMOVED THE TEMPORARY TAG AND REPLACED WITH PERMANENT TAG ON JULY 16. ON JULY 20, WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, THE ENGINE OVERHEATING ALERT CAME ON AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS ON HOT. I PULLED OVER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“I HAVE LEASE THIS CAR SINCE 1/16/2019 UNTIL 4/14/19 . START FIRST WITH LOWER THE SPEED AND POWER JUST A LITTLE BIT. THEN 4/14/19 THE CAR LOWER THE SPEED BY ITSELF,START SHAKING UP,LIMP,SHOWS THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE SPEED CONTROL LIGH IN CONJUNCTION WITH SLIPPERY CONTROL LIGH THEN STAY AT "TEMPORARY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

24 complaints

12%

• I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND WHEN I MOVED THE CAR IT TOOK OF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED , FLEW PASSED 5 OTHER PARKING SPACES AND CAUSED ME TO HIT A PARKED VEHICLE
• 2019 HYUNDAI SONATA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE KEY FOB. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ELECTRONIC FOB EASILY AND UNITENTIONALLY DETACHES FROM THE EMERGENCY KEY. *JS
• I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 18 ACTUAL MILES ON THE CAR AROUND 6/14/19. DURING A CALL TO DEALERSHIP CUSTOMER SERVICE CALL I WAS ADVISED THERE WAS A SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT NEEDED TO BE COMPLETED (SERVICE CAMPAIGN 953 - ECM & CLUSTER UPDATE-ENGINE MONITORING LOGIC PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT).

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND WHEN I MOVED THE CAR IT TOOK OF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED , FLEW PASSED 5 OTHER PARKING SPACES AND CAUSED ME TO HIT A PARKED VEHICLE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

18 complaints

• THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE AN AREA UP TO ABOUT 1 TELEPHONE POLE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE (APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET). WHEN DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT, I CANNOT SEE FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE SAFELY. IT IS ONLY WHEN THE AUTO HIGH BEAMS TURN ON THAT THE ROAD AHEAD IS
• HEADLIGHTS PROJECT BRIGHT LIGHT ABOUT 20-30 FEET OUT ONLY UP TO ABOUT HOOD LEVEL THEN CUT OFF IN A STRAIGHT LINE COMPLETELY DARK ABOVE THAT AREA AND TO THE SIDE. TWO BLACK OUT SPOTS IN LINE OF VISION MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WELL ENOUGH TO DRIVE SAFELY IN THE DARK. AFTER MUCH ONLINE RESEARCH HAVE D
• THE LEFT HEADLIGHT HAS A LARGE BLACKOUT AREA THAT CREATES A SHADOW ON THE ROAD. WHEN DRIVING ON ANY STREET AND ESPECIALLY ON WINDING ROADS IT'S VERY DISTRACTING AND MAKES US THINK THAT THERE IS SOMETHING MOVING ACROSS THE ROAD. I AM DISTRACTED WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND SOMETIMES HIT THE BRAKES. THE RIG

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE AN AREA UP TO ABOUT 1 TELEPHONE POLE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE (APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET). WHEN DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT, I CANNOT SEE FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE SAFELY. IT IS ONLY WHEN THE AUTO HIGH BEAMS TURN ON THAT THE ROAD AHEAD IS ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

12 complaints

• NEWLY LEASED VEHICLE. WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS AND LESS THAN 300 MILES THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON TWO DIFFERENT DAYS IN THE MORNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD AND CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER MORE THAN 5 ATTEMPTS IT FINALLY STARTED. IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICE DEP
• My vehicle was stolen from in front of my home. The "alarm" did not sound or go off at all. The area where my key should enter was removed, vandalized, and then an iphone charger was used to start my car via a USB port that is located somewhere within that area. Apparently, this is a tictok trend t
• The issue is UNKNOWN. On may 23,2023 I exited my car… maybe less than 10 minutes returned to car to go on with my day pressed the start button and it burst into flames.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“NEWLY LEASED VEHICLE. WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS AND LESS THAN 300 MILES THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON TWO DIFFERENT DAYS IN THE MORNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD AND CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER MORE THAN 5 ATTEMPTS IT FINALLY STARTED. IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICE DEP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

10 complaints

• 2019 SONATA 2.0T WITH JUST OVER 11K MILES ON IT BEGAN TO SUDDENLY STUDDER AND WANT TO STALL AT LOW RPM OR AT THE STOP. OBDII ERROR CODE P0302. DEALERSHIP SAID CYLINDER 2 HAD LITTLE TO NO COMPRESSION AND NEEDED REPAIR. COULD BARELY LIMP VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND SMELL THE UNBURNED FUEL BEING PORT
• Car has issues with fuel pump with only 64k miles. I was told by Hyundai that I need a new fuel pump. With such low mileage this appears most likely to be a manufacturing defect. Hyundai Sonata has had recall issues regarding this part in the past.
• What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Since april 2025 i’ve been having low oil readings in my vehicle despite regular oil changes I took it into the dealer since my vehicle was still under warranty, which they stated only one part was und

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“2019 SONATA 2.0T WITH JUST OVER 11K MILES ON IT BEGAN TO SUDDENLY STUDDER AND WANT TO STALL AT LOW RPM OR AT THE STOP. OBDII ERROR CODE P0302. DEALERSHIP SAID CYLINDER 2 HAD LITTLE TO NO COMPRESSION AND NEEDED REPAIR. COULD BARELY LIMP VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND SMELL THE UNBURNED FUEL BEING PORT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~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 205 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: I HAVE LEASE THIS CAR SINCE 1/16/2019 UNTIL 4/14/19 . START FIRST WITH LOWER THE SPEED AND POWER JUST A LITTLE BIT. THEN 4/14/19 THE CAR LOWER THE SPEED BY ITSELF,START SHAKING UP,LIMP,SHOWS THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE SPEED CONTROL LIGH IN CONJUNCTION WITH SLIPPERY CONTROL LIGH THEN STAY AT "TEMPORARY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND WHEN I MOVED THE CAR IT TOOK OF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED , FLEW PASSED 5 OTHER PARKING SPACES AND CAUSED ME TO HIT A PARKED VEHICLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE AN AREA UP TO ABOUT 1 TELEPHONE POLE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE (APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET). WHEN DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT, I CANNOT SEE FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE SAFELY. IT IS ONLY WHEN THE AUTO HIGH BEAMS TURN ON THAT THE ROAD AHEAD IS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: NEWLY LEASED VEHICLE. WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS AND LESS THAN 300 MILES THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON TWO DIFFERENT DAYS IN THE MORNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD AND CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER MORE THAN 5 ATTEMPTS IT FINALLY STARTED. IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICE DEP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)