Last updated: 2026-04-20

RELIABILITY SCORE: 75/100 (GOOD)

2026 Hyundai Sonata Reliability Report

Name: 2026 Hyundai Sonata
Brand: Hyundai

The 2026 Hyundai Sonata scores 75/100 ("Good"). With 2 recalls and 0 owner complaints, reliability is acceptable but not class-leading.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

0per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

N/A

Annual Fuel Cost

$1,850–$2,200

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity70/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs60/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact88/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity100/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

Acceptable reliability — worth considering with a pre-purchase inspection.

Should You Buy the 2026 Hyundai Sonata?

At 75/100, the 2026 Hyundai Sonata lands in "Good" territory — acceptable, but not class-leading.

Owners log 0 complaints on this model year — enough to suggest attention is needed, but no single failure mode dominates yet.

Get a pre-purchase inspection on any used example, with extra attention to reported problem areas. An extended warranty is worth pricing out.

See also the 2025 Hyundai Sonata for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Acceptable reliability score
+Low recall count
+Below-average complaint rate for Sedan
+5-star NHTSA crash rating

Cons

No recurring complaint themes yet.

Compare 2026 Hyundai Sonata With

2026 Toyota Camry

Reliability: 88/100

Excellent

2026 Nissan Altima

Reliability: 88/100

Excellent

2026 Honda Accord

Reliability: 87/100

Excellent

2026 KIA K5

Reliability: 83/100

Excellent

2026 Tesla Model 3

Reliability: 59/100

Mixed

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK

2 manufacturer recalls issued

Recall Overview

recalls on record

The 2026 Hyundai Sonata carries 2 recalls — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 0.3

LowAvgHigh

Very Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2026 Hyundai Sonata Recall Details

2 recalls have been issued for the 2026 Hyundai Sonata. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

26V0470002026-01-27

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."

Consequence

An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 27, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 293. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 28, 2026.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2026 Hyundai Sonata? Check its history first

Every 2026 Hyundai Sonata has a different past. A VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2026 Hyundai Sonata NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

BEV / Gas Powertrain

Driver: 4/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 9.7%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Knee (Driver)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Driver Monitoring System (No)Automatic High Beams (Standard)

BEV / HEV Powertrain

Driver: 4/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 9.7%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Knee (Not Available)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Driver Monitoring System (No)Automatic High Beams (Standard)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Hyundai SonataRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

Hyundai Sonata Resale Value

The Hyundai Sonata is estimated to retain about 56% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.

This benchmark covers the Hyundai Sonata model overall and is not specific to the 2026 model year.

Value Retained: 56%
Depreciation: 44%
Listings Analyzed: 359

Listings observed in May 2021. This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.

Explore Hyundai Sonata depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.com

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

27–32 MPG

Fuel cost: $1,850–$2,200/yr

Fuel only

23–28 city / 32–38 hwy MPG

Hybrid

47–51 MPG

Fuel cost: $1,150–$1,250/yr

Fuel only

44–47 city / 51–56 hwy MPG

Based on EPA fuel-cost estimates. Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2026 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Sonata FWD w/Stop-Start 2.5L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S8)	28	38	32	$1,850
Sonata FWD 2.5L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S8)	25	36	29	$2,050
Sonata AWD 2.5L 4-cyl	All-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S8)	24	33	27	$2,200
Sonata FWD 2.5L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AM-S8)	23	32	27	$2,200

Hybrid trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Sonata Hybrid Blue 2.0L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AM-S6)	47	56	51	$1,150
Sonata Hybrid 2.0L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AM-S6)	44	51	47	$1,250

Best & Worst Hyundai Sonata Years

Comprehensive reliability analysis based on NHTSA data, owner complaints, and historical performance.

Best Hyundai Sonata Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

The best Hyundai Sonata year is 2025 with a reliability score of 76/100, rated good. Other strong picks include 2026 (75/100) and 2024 (73/100).

Top Pick

Good

2025

0Recalls

16Complaints

Good

2026

(Current Model)

2Recalls

0Complaints

Good

2024

1Recalls

41Complaints

Hyundai Sonata Years to Avoid

The worst Hyundai Sonata year is 2018 with a score of 61/100, primarily due to engine (116) issues. Also avoid 2023 (62/100).

Good

2018

3Recalls

353Complaints

Good

2023

2Recalls

87Complaints

See full Hyundai Sonata years-to-avoid analysis

Hyundai Sonata Reliability Score Trend

Hyundai Sonata reliability has improved in recent years, with newer models scoring an average of 70/100 compared to 65/100 for older years.

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Hyundai Sonata reliability scores by year
Year	Score	Rating
2018	61/100	Good
2019	71/100	Good
2020	62/100	Good
2021	64/100	Good
2022	65/100	Good
2023	62/100	Good
2024	73/100	Good
2025	76/100	Good
2026	75/100	Good

Hyundai Sonata Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026(selected)	75/100	-1	Good	2	0
2025	76/100	+3	Good	0	16
2024	73/100	+11	Good	1	41
2023	62/100	-3	Good	2	87
2022	65/100	+1	Good	3	95
2021	64/100	+2	Good	4	151
2020	62/100	-9	Good	5	163
2019	71/100	+10	Good	0	144
2018	61/100	—	Good	3	353

2026 Hyundai Sonata Reliability by Powertrain

The 2026 Hyundai Sonata is available with 2powertrain options. Here's how they compare on reliability.

Reliability comparison across powertrain options
Powertrain	Recalls	Crash Rating
BEV / Gas	1	5 out of 5
BEV / HEV	1	5 out of 5
Total	2

NHTSA tracks complaints by vehicle configuration when that detail is available. Model-level reports that do not identify a specific powertrain are included in Total but not assigned to a row. A plus sign indicates a confirmed minimum; — means no complaints could be attributed to that specific powertrain. N/T = Not tested by NHTSA.

* Incidents = crash + fire reports. A single complaint can include multiple incident types.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2026 Hyundai Sonata reliable?

The 2026 Hyundai Sonata has a "Good" reliability rating with a score of 75/100. It is reasonably reliable with 2 recalls and 0 owner complaints, though some issues have been reported.

What are the most common problems with the 2026 Hyundai Sonata?

There aren't enough owner complaints to establish common problem patterns yet for the 2026 Hyundai Sonata. Based on available data, the main item to verify is recall completion.

How many recalls does the 2026 Hyundai Sonata have?

The 2026 Hyundai Sonata has 2 recalls on record. Recalls are safety or compliance fixes issued by the manufacturer and repaired at no cost at authorized dealerships.

Is the 2026 Hyundai Sonata expensive to maintain?

The 2026 Hyundai Sonata should have average maintenance costs for its class. With a reliability score of 75/100, some repairs may be needed, but overall ownership costs are manageable.

Don’t buy a 2026 Hyundai Sonata without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Look Up a VIN →

How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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