Is the Hyundai Sonata more reliable than the Ford Fusion?

No clear winner. Both hold a good standing and the comparison comes out effectively tied. The Sonata has fewer complaints per car sold, but it carries more recalls and a broader mix of problems. The Fusion's complaints are concentrated in engine and flex plate failures that can be expensive.

Which has more recalls, the Sonata or the Fusion?

The Sonata has more. Federal recall records show 20 recalls across 9 Sonata model years. The Fusion has 8 across 3 model years. The Fusion's data covers only 2018 to 2020, so the two counts span different lengths of time.

Which Fusion model years should I avoid?

Avoid 2018, which is listed among the weakest years. The 2019 year appears in both the strongest and weakest lists, so inspect any 2019 closely. The 2020 car ranks strongest, but check for flex plate noise and coolant loss on any Fusion with the 1.5L EcoBoost.

What is the cracked flex plate problem on the Ford Fusion?

It is the most common Fusion power train failure in owner complaints. It shows up as rattling or knocking at idle that gets louder with the air conditioning on, often with no warning light. Reports run from about 40,000 to 91,000 miles, and dealers often replace the torque converter and transmission pump too.

What goes wrong most often on the Hyundai Sonata?

Engine complaints lead, with fuel injectors that fail and come back, causing jerking, power loss and poor fuel economy. Electrical problems follow, mainly dead 12-volt batteries on the hybrid. Power train reports describe sudden loss of drive power, and that area has the most crash-linked complaints.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Ford Fusion vs Hyundai Sonata: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Ford Fusion

Good

Hyundai Sonata

Good

Reliability is effectively tied between the Hyundai Sonata and Ford Fusion. Fusion owners file far more complaints per car sold; Sonata has more recalls. The deciding factor is the type of failure: Fusion engines can need replacement, while Sonata problems are scattered across injectors, power loss and batteries.

How Do the Ford Fusion and Hyundai Sonata Generations Compare?

Generation lines matter most for the Sonata's older years here. The 2018 and 2019 cars belong to the seventh generation (LF), which was facelifted in 2017. The eighth generation (DN8) began with the 2020 model year and was facelifted in 2023, and 2023 is among the weakest years. For the Fusion, 2018 to 2020 all fall in the second generation, which started in 2013. It was facelifted in 2017 and again in 2019, so the 2019 and 2020 cars follow the second facelift and the 2018 car sits between the two.

Verdict

The Ford Fusion is more reliable than the Hyundai Sonata, scoring 69/100 vs 68/100.

Reliability is effectively tied. Both cars hold a good standing, and each has a different weak spot. The Fusion draws far more owner complaints for every car sold, and its cracked flex plates and coolant-in-cylinder failures often end in a new engine. The Sonata has more recalls and a wider spread of complaints, from injectors to lost drive power. Neither car pulls clearly ahead, so the model year and the engine matter more than the badge.

Key Differences

1Hyundai Sonata has 17.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Ford Fusion has 12 fewer total recalls
3Ford Fusion scores 1 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

2Ford Fusion

—

1Hyundai Sonata

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Ford Fusion vs Hyundai Sonata: Which Is More Reliable?

Ford Fusion vs Hyundai Sonata at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Ford Fusion	Hyundai Sonata
Reliability Score	69/100	68/100
Years Tracked	3	9
Total Recalls	8	20
Complaints per 10k Sold	21.1	3.7
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2020 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	2	1

What Are the Common Problems With the Ford Fusion and Hyundai Sonata?

Engine damage with a costly fix defines the Fusion, while the Sonata's trouble is scattered. A cracked flex plate rattles at idle with no warning light, and coolant leaking into the cylinders can mean a full engine replacement. Sonata owners report injectors that fail and return, sudden loss of drive power, and dead 12-volt batteries on the hybrid. Crash-linked reports are heavier on the Sonata's power train. Only the Fusion has crash-linked steering complaints, where front lower control arms snapped and two cars hit a utility pole. Only the Sonata has crash-linked engine and lighting complaints.

Ford Fusion vs Hyundai Sonata common problem areas comparison
Component	Ford Fusion	Hyundai Sonata
ENGINE	5.7Average	0.8Very Low
POWER TRAIN	5Average	0.4Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	2.6Low	0.6Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	2.9Low	0.1Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.5Low	0.4Very Low
STEERING	0.8Very Low	0.1Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.3Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.2Very Low	0.2Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
WHEELS	0.2Very Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.1Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	—None
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.1Very Low
SEATS	—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 Ford Fusion vs Hyundai Sonata Reliability Compare by Year?

Ford Fusion vs Hyundai Sonata year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Ford Fusion	Hyundai Sonata	Edge
2020	71/1003R / 176C	62/1005R / 163C	Ford Fusion
2019	68/1003R / 370C	71/1000R / 144C	Hyundai Sonata
2018	68/1002R / 429C	61/1003R / 353C	Ford Fusion

Best years to cross-shop: The 2020 Ford Fusion scored 71/100 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 Ford Fusion vs the Hyundai Sonata?

Pick the Sonata if you want more model years to choose from and can live with a few annoyances. Its worst reports involve injectors and sudden power loss, so check the service history for injector work and ask whether recall work was done. Skip 2018 and 2023, the weakest years. The newest years look cleaner, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so do not read that as proof. If you are looking at a hybrid, test how the car wakes after sitting a few days. Pick the Fusion if you want a used sedan from 2019 or 2020 and plan to keep it on a strict maintenance check. Avoid 2018. Be wary of the 1.5L EcoBoost, since owners tie it to flex plate cracks and coolant leaks, mostly between 65,000 and 96,448 miles. Ask for proof of engine and transmission work. Listen for rattling at idle with the air conditioning on. Have the front control arms inspected, because those failures caused the Fusion's crash-linked steering reports.

Ford Fusion vs Hyundai Sonata: Common Questions

Is the Hyundai Sonata more reliable than the Ford Fusion?: No clear winner. Both hold a good standing and the comparison comes out effectively tied. The Sonata has fewer complaints per car sold, but it carries more recalls and a broader mix of problems. The Fusion's complaints are concentrated in engine and flex plate failures that can be expensive.
Which has more recalls, the Sonata or the Fusion?: The Sonata has more. Federal recall records show 20 recalls across 9 Sonata model years. The Fusion has 8 across 3 model years. The Fusion's data covers only 2018 to 2020, so the two counts span different lengths of time.
Which Fusion model years should I avoid?: Avoid 2018, which is listed among the weakest years. The 2019 year appears in both the strongest and weakest lists, so inspect any 2019 closely. The 2020 car ranks strongest, but check for flex plate noise and coolant loss on any Fusion with the 1.5L EcoBoost.
What is the cracked flex plate problem on the Ford Fusion?: It is the most common Fusion power train failure in owner complaints. It shows up as rattling or knocking at idle that gets louder with the air conditioning on, often with no warning light. Reports run from about 40,000 to 91,000 miles, and dealers often replace the torque converter and transmission pump too.
What goes wrong most often on the Hyundai Sonata?: Engine complaints lead, with fuel injectors that fail and come back, causing jerking, power loss and poor fuel economy. Electrical problems follow, mainly dead 12-volt batteries on the hybrid. Power train reports describe sudden loss of drive power, and that area has the most crash-linked complaints.

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How we score the Ford Fusion 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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