Is the Dodge Charger more reliable than the Hyundai Sonata?

Yes, the Charger has a clear edge. Owners filed 369 complaints on it against 1,050 on the Sonata, and its rate per 10,000 sold is lower. Both models still rate good. The Charger's main risks are air bags and touchscreen failure, while the Sonata's are fuel injectors and lost power.

Which has more recalls, the Charger or the Sonata?

The Charger has more. Federal recall records show 25 across its nine model years, against 20 for the Sonata. One Sonata recall, 22V746000, covers a transmission oil pump fault that can disable limp-home drive mode. Check any car's VIN for open recalls before buying.

What goes wrong with the Hyundai Sonata most often?

Engine trouble leads, with 239 complaints. Owners describe fuel injector failures, with the engine jerking, losing power or shutting off at highway speed. Injectors sometimes get replaced more than once. Electrical complaints come next, mostly dead 12-volt batteries on the hybrid, followed by sudden loss of drive power.

Are Dodge Charger air bag problems serious?

They can be. Air bags are the Charger's largest problem area, with 98 complaints and 19 crash-linked. In two crashes some bags stayed stowed, including the knee and steering wheel bags in a rollover. Those crashes account for 3 injuries. The Sonata has no crash-linked air bag area.

What is the weakest model year for each car?

For the Charger, 2018 and 2019 are the weakest years. For the Sonata, they are 2018 and 2023. Avoid those years when you can. The newest years of both cars look better partly because they have had less time to collect complaints, so do not treat them as proven.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Dodge Charger vs Hyundai Sonata: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Dodge Charger

Good

Hyundai Sonata

Good

On reliability, the Dodge Charger comes out clearly ahead of the Hyundai Sonata, with 2.2 complaints per 10,000 sold against 3.7. The Charger's weak spots are air bag reports and failing touchscreens. The Sonata's are fuel injectors and sudden power loss.

How Do the Dodge Charger and Hyundai Sonata Generations Compare?

Cars from 2018 to 2023 on the Charger side belong to the seventh generation, which ran from 2011 and had a facelift in 2020. The eighth generation began in 2024, so those cars have had little time to collect complaints. The Sonata's 2018 and 2019 cars are seventh generation (LF), which had a facelift in 2017. The eighth generation (DN8) began in 2020 and received a facelift in 2023, and 2023 is one of its weakest years. Newer years of both cars have fewer complaints mostly because they have been on the road less.

Verdict

The Dodge Charger is more reliable than the Hyundai Sonata, scoring 74/100 vs 68/100.

Owners file far fewer complaints on the Charger, and that is what gives it a clear edge. It drew 369 complaints against 1,050 for the Sonata, and the rate per 10,000 sold is lower too. The Sonata's trouble hits the drivetrain and fuel system, and it stalls or loses power on the road. The Charger has more recalls, 25 against 20, and its air bag complaints carry real crash weight. Still, both rate good, and the Charger's problems show up less often.

Key Differences

1Dodge Charger scores 6 points higher in reliability
2Hyundai Sonata has 5 fewer total recalls
3Dodge Charger has 1.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

2Dodge Charger

—

1Hyundai Sonata

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Dodge Charger vs Hyundai Sonata: Which Is More Reliable?

Dodge Charger vs Hyundai Sonata at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Dodge Charger	Hyundai Sonata
Reliability Score	74/100	68/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	25	20
Complaints per 10k Sold	2.2	3.7
Year Wins	6 (2 tied)	1 (2 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Dodge Charger and Hyundai Sonata?

Air bags and the Uconnect 8.4 touchscreen dominate Charger complaints. Air bag reports include 19 crash-linked ones, with some bags staying stowed in a rollover and a pole impact. Screens delaminate, register phantom touches and can cost over $2,000 to replace. The Sonata has no crash-linked air bag area. Its problems are injectors that fail and return, engines that jerk or shut off at highway speed, dead 12-volt batteries on the hybrid, and sudden loss of drive power. Crash links appear in four Sonata areas, with power train the highest at 7.

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

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

How Does Dodge Charger vs Hyundai Sonata Reliability Compare by Year?

Dodge Charger vs Hyundai Sonata year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Dodge Charger	Hyundai Sonata	Edge
2026	82/1000R / 0C	75/1002R / 0C	Dodge Charger
2025	71/1002R / 10C	76/1000R / 16C	Hyundai Sonata
2024	73/1002R / 4C	73/1001R / 41C	Tie
2023	76/1002R / 22C	62/1002R / 87C	Dodge Charger
2022	74/1003R / 11C	65/1003R / 95C	Dodge Charger
2021	76/1002R / 29C	64/1004R / 151C	Dodge Charger
2020	75/1003R / 54C	62/1005R / 163C	Dodge Charger
2019	71/1005R / 118C	71/1000R / 144C	Tie
2018	69/1006R / 121C	61/1003R / 353C	Dodge Charger

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Dodge Charger scored 76/100 and the 2024 Hyundai Sonata scored 73/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Dodge Charger vs the Hyundai Sonata?

Pick the Charger if you want the lower complaint count and can live with a screen that may fail. Look at 2021, which ranks among its strongest years, and avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest. Check the touchscreen for phantom touches and the door panels for peeling before you buy. Ask whether any air bag recall work was done, and look for a warning light that stays on. Pick the Sonata if you want a midsize car and accept a higher chance of trouble. Avoid 2018 and 2023, its weakest years. Skip any car with a history of repeated injector replacements, since owners report the jerking and poor fuel economy coming back. If you look at the hybrid, test the 12-volt battery and key fob after the car sits for a few days. Check that recall 22V746000, the transmission oil pump fix, was completed.

Dodge Charger vs Hyundai Sonata: Common Questions

Is the Dodge Charger more reliable than the Hyundai Sonata?: Yes, the Charger has a clear edge. Owners filed 369 complaints on it against 1,050 on the Sonata, and its rate per 10,000 sold is lower. Both models still rate good. The Charger's main risks are air bags and touchscreen failure, while the Sonata's are fuel injectors and lost power.
Which has more recalls, the Charger or the Sonata?: The Charger has more. Federal recall records show 25 across its nine model years, against 20 for the Sonata. One Sonata recall, 22V746000, covers a transmission oil pump fault that can disable limp-home drive mode. Check any car's VIN for open recalls before buying.
What goes wrong with the Hyundai Sonata most often?: Engine trouble leads, with 239 complaints. Owners describe fuel injector failures, with the engine jerking, losing power or shutting off at highway speed. Injectors sometimes get replaced more than once. Electrical complaints come next, mostly dead 12-volt batteries on the hybrid, followed by sudden loss of drive power.
Are Dodge Charger air bag problems serious?: They can be. Air bags are the Charger's largest problem area, with 98 complaints and 19 crash-linked. In two crashes some bags stayed stowed, including the knee and steering wheel bags in a rollover. Those crashes account for 3 injuries. The Sonata has no crash-linked air bag area.
What is the weakest model year for each car?: For the Charger, 2018 and 2019 are the weakest years. For the Sonata, they are 2018 and 2023. Avoid those years when you can. The newest years of both cars look better partly because they have had less time to collect complaints, so do not treat them as proven.

More Dodge Charger comparisons

Dodge Charger vs Chrysler 300 reliability Dodge Charger vs Buick LaCrosse reliability Dodge Charger vs Toyota Camry reliability Dodge Charger vs Nissan Maxima reliability Dodge Charger reliability by year Dodge Charger years to avoid

More Hyundai Sonata comparisons

Hyundai Sonata vs Kia Optima reliability Hyundai Sonata vs Toyota Camry reliability Hyundai Sonata vs Nissan Altima reliability Hyundai Sonata vs Honda Accord reliability Hyundai Sonata reliability by year Hyundai Sonata years to avoid

Decided between Dodge Charger and Hyundai Sonata? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the Dodge Charger 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.

See incorrect data? Report an issue