Is the Hyundai Sonata more reliable than the Chrysler 300?

No, the Chrysler 300 has a slight edge. Both stand well, but the 300 draws fewer owner complaints per car sold, at 2.3 per 10,000 against 3.7 for the Sonata. It also has fewer recalls. The gap is small, so condition and service history matter more than the badge.

Which has more recalls, the Sonata or the 300?

The Sonata has more. Federal recall records show 20 recalls across 9 model years for the Sonata and 13 across 6 model years for the 300. The Sonata also covers more years, so part of the difference comes from its longer run on the road.

What are the most common Sonata problems?

Engine and electrical trouble lead. Owners report fuel injectors failing repeatedly, with jerking, power loss and stalling at highway speed. Hybrid owners report dead 12-volt batteries and cars that go dark after sitting. Some owners also report a sudden loss of drive power, where the engine revs but the car will not accelerate.

What goes wrong most often on the Chrysler 300?

The Uconnect touchscreen is the most common problem. It freezes or goes dark, often after a failed update showing error code 20, and takes the backup camera and climate controls with it. The most serious reports involve air bags that did not deploy in crashes.

Which model years should I avoid on each car?

Avoid 2018 and 2023 on the Sonata, and 2018 and 2019 on the 300. Those are the weakest years in owner complaint data. Newer years may look better, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so check the car's own history.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chrysler 300 vs Hyundai Sonata: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Chrysler 300

Good

Hyundai Sonata

Good

On reliability, the Chrysler 300 holds a slight edge over the Hyundai Sonata because owners file fewer complaints per car sold. The Sonata brings injector failures and sudden power loss, while the 300's worst reports involve air bags that did not deploy.

How Do the Chrysler 300 and Hyundai Sonata Generations Compare?

Most of the Sonata years you will see in this range come from two generations. The seventh generation (LF) ran from 2015 to 2020 and was facelifted in 2017, which covers 2018 and 2019. The eighth generation (DN8) began with the 2020 model year and was facelifted for 2023. The 300 is simpler. Every year from 2018 to 2023 belongs to the second generation (LD), which began in 2011 and was updated in 2015. The 2023 model year closed that generation. Because the car changed little across these years, its problems tend to carry from one year to the next.

Verdict

The Chrysler 300 is more reliable than the Hyundai Sonata, scoring 72/100 vs 68/100.

Reliability favors the Chrysler 300, but only slightly. Both cars stand well, so this is not a clear win. The deciding fact is complaint volume relative to sales. Owners filed fewer complaints per car sold on the 300 than on the Sonata, and the 300 has fewer recalls. The Sonata's problems are more mechanical, with injector failures and sudden loss of drive power. The 300's biggest concern is air bag reports, which are rarer but more serious. That keeps the gap narrow.

Key Differences

1Chrysler 300 has 7 fewer total recalls
2Chrysler 300 scores 4 points higher in reliability
3Chrysler 300 has 1.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

3Chrysler 300

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1Hyundai Sonata

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Chrysler 300 vs Hyundai Sonata: Which Is More Reliable?

Chrysler 300 vs Hyundai Sonata at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chrysler 300	Hyundai Sonata
Reliability Score	72/100	68/100
Years Tracked	6	9
Total Recalls	13	20
Complaints per 10k Sold	2.3	3.7
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2023 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	5 (1 tied)	0 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Chrysler 300 and Hyundai Sonata?

Mechanical failures dominate the Sonata's record. Owners report fuel injectors failing again and again, an engine that jerks or shuts off at highway speed, and drive power that cuts out while the engine revs. Its power train area has 7 crash-linked complaints. Hybrid owners add dead 12-volt batteries. The 300's complaints lean toward electronics and safety gear: Uconnect screens that freeze after a failed update, and air bags that did not deploy in serious crashes or went off in parked cars. That air bag area has 9 crash-linked complaints. The Sonata's main areas include no air bag category. The 300's power train complaints are mostly harsh shifting.

Chrysler 300 vs Hyundai Sonata common problem areas comparison
Component	Chrysler 300	Hyundai Sonata
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.7Very Low	0.6Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.4Very Low	0.4Very Low
ENGINE	—None	0.8Very Low
POWER TRAIN	0.2Very Low	0.4Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.5Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	0.2Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.1Very Low
STEERING	—None	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	0.1Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
WHEELS	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Chrysler 300 vs Hyundai Sonata Reliability Compare by Year?

Chrysler 300 vs Hyundai Sonata year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chrysler 300	Hyundai Sonata	Edge
2023	75/1001R / 5C	62/1002R / 87C	Chrysler 300
2022	73/1002R / 5C	65/1003R / 95C	Chrysler 300
2021	73/1002R / 18C	64/1004R / 151C	Chrysler 300
2020	74/1002R / 10C	62/1005R / 163C	Chrysler 300
2019	71/1002R / 59C	71/1000R / 144C	Tie
2018	66/1004R / 151C	61/1003R / 353C	Chrysler 300

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Chrysler 300 scored 75/100 and the 2019 Hyundai Sonata scored 71/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Chrysler 300 vs the Hyundai Sonata?

Pick the Chrysler 300 if you want fewer complaints and recalls overall and can live with an infotainment system that sometimes fails. Target 2020 or 2023, its strongest years, and note that 2023 has had the least time to collect complaints. Avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest. Before buying, confirm the Uconnect screen works and has no update errors, and check that air bag recall work is complete. Pick the Sonata if you want a midsize car with a long run of recent model years to choose from. Avoid 2018 and 2023, its weakest years. The newest years, 2025 and 2026, rate best, but they have had little time to collect complaints, so treat that as incomplete. Ask whether the injectors were ever replaced, and test drive at highway speed for jerking or lost power. If you are looking at a hybrid, ask about the 12-volt battery and have it tested.

Chrysler 300 vs Hyundai Sonata: Common Questions

Is the Hyundai Sonata more reliable than the Chrysler 300?: No, the Chrysler 300 has a slight edge. Both stand well, but the 300 draws fewer owner complaints per car sold, at 2.3 per 10,000 against 3.7 for the Sonata. It also has fewer recalls. The gap is small, so condition and service history matter more than the badge.
Which has more recalls, the Sonata or the 300?: The Sonata has more. Federal recall records show 20 recalls across 9 model years for the Sonata and 13 across 6 model years for the 300. The Sonata also covers more years, so part of the difference comes from its longer run on the road.
What are the most common Sonata problems?: Engine and electrical trouble lead. Owners report fuel injectors failing repeatedly, with jerking, power loss and stalling at highway speed. Hybrid owners report dead 12-volt batteries and cars that go dark after sitting. Some owners also report a sudden loss of drive power, where the engine revs but the car will not accelerate.
What goes wrong most often on the Chrysler 300?: The Uconnect touchscreen is the most common problem. It freezes or goes dark, often after a failed update showing error code 20, and takes the backup camera and climate controls with it. The most serious reports involve air bags that did not deploy in crashes.
Which model years should I avoid on each car?: Avoid 2018 and 2023 on the Sonata, and 2018 and 2019 on the 300. Those are the weakest years in owner complaint data. Newer years may look better, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so check the car's own history.

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More Hyundai Sonata comparisons

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How we score the Chrysler 300 and Hyundai Sonata

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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