This page covers 6 recalls, 172 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2020 Hyundai Sonata.
31–47 mpg combined
5–7.6 L/100km
Large Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2020 Sonata centers on the fuel system and engine. Owners frequently report fuel delivery problems, including difficulty getting fuel into the tank, gauges dropping unexpectedly from full to empty, and in some cases raw fuel odors entering the cabin while driving. Engine-related complaints are nearly as common, with owners describing stalling, check engine lights, and in a smaller number of reports, smoking from the engine compartment. The electrical system rounds out the top three, where owners describe the backup camera intermittently showing a black screen, a problem that tends to clear on its own after restarting the vehicle. Fuel gauge irregularities and stalling appear across multiple reports and seem to be the most consistently described symptoms in this model year.
172
Total Complaints
5
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
5
With Injuries
By System
The 2020 Hyundai Sonata has 6 recalls, the most serious being a fuel tank that can expand, contact hot exhaust components, and melt, allowing fuel to leak and creating a fire risk. This fuel system issue appears across two related recalls: one affecting vehicles with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, where a worn purge control check valve allows the tank to swell, and a broader filing where a damaged check valve lets air into the tank with the same result. There is also a software defect in the Remote Smart Parking Assist feature, where the vehicle can continue moving in its last commanded direction even after the system detects a malfunction, raising the risk of striking a bystander. On the hardware side, the trunk latch can become damaged and prevent the trunk from opening from the inside, trapping anyone inside the compartment. A label recall also affects vehicles built during a specific production window, where the tire pressure label and owner's manual list an incorrect tire size, which can lead to installing the wrong tires and affect handling.
At a glance
What can fail
The check valve in the purge control system can wear out, allowing the fuel tank to expand. This may cause the tank to touch hot engine parts, risking fuel leakage.
What the fix does
The dealer will inspect and replace the check valve if needed, update the engine control software, and inspect and repair the fuel tank and nearby components as necessary.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A damaged check valve allows air into the fuel tank, causing it to expand and touch hot exhaust parts, which can melt the tank.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the check valve, inspect and replace the fuel tank if damaged, and update engine control software.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The trunk latch may become damaged, which could prevent the trunk from being opened from inside the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the trunk latch and replace the trunk latch base if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Remote Smart Parking Assist software may malfunction, causing the vehicle to keep moving in its last commanded direction instead of stopping when a system error is detected.
What the fix does
Hyundai will mail you instructions to bring your vehicle to a dealer for a software update to the Remote Smart Parking Assist system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Remote Smart Parking Assist software may fail to stop the vehicle from moving when the system detects a malfunction.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the Remote Smart Parking Assist software at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure label on the driver's door and the owner's manual list an incorrect tire size for these vehicles.
What the fix does
Dealers will install corrected tire pressure label stickers and update the owner's manual at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
