Hyundai Sonata - Problems, Statistics, and Analysis

Hyundai Sonata owners have reported a total of 21,906 problems for their cars built in the 30 model years listed in the chart below. The chart shows the number of problems reported across all service years for each given model year of the Hyundai Sonata. The 2011 Hyundai Sonata cars have the most problems reported (4,552 problems).

Table 1. Total number of problems by model year for Hyundai Sonata

🔍 Common problems of Hyundai Sonata

The following chart shows the 34 most common problems for Hyundai Sonata cars. The number one most common problem is related to the vehicle's engine and engine cooling (5,008 problems). The second most common problem is related to the vehicle's steering (2,368 problems).

Table 2. Common problems of Hyundai Sonata

Problem Category Number of Problems
  Engine And Engine Cooling
5,008
  Steering
2,368
  Air Bag
2,041
  Electrical System
2,017
  Equipment
1,508
  Service Brakes
1,219
  Structure
1,032
  Power Train
1,015
  Exterior Lighting
990
  Other Fuel System
788
   
  Suspension
687
  Vehicle Speed Control
618
  Visibility
606
  Seat Belt
528
  Electronic Stability Control
373
  Gasoline Fuel System
256
  Wheel
189
  Latches/locks/linkage
119
  Tire
118
  Seats
116
  Forward Collision Avoidance
105
  Unknown Or Other
81
  Lane Departure
34
  Back Over Prevention
21
  Traction Control System
11
  Air Brake
11
  Diesel Fuel System
9
  Parking Brake
9
 
7
  Hybrid Propulsion System
7
  Firerelated
6
  Child Seat
5
  Interior Lighting
2
  Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
2

📉 Compare Reliability Across Model Years Using PPMY Index

It would not be fair to compare the Hyundai Sonata of an older model year to newer model years since older vehicles have been in service longer and thus are expected to have more problems. In order to compare the reliability across Sonata model years, we use the PPMY index which is defined as the problems reported per thousand vehicles per Year. A smaller PPMY index indicates greater reliability of the given model year cars.

    PPMY = P / S / Y * 1000,

where P = total problems reported during the life of a Hyundai Sonata model year; S = total units sold of the model year; Y = years since the debut of the model year (the age of the vehicle).

The results are shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Use PPMY Index to Compare Reliability Across Sonata Model Years

Sonata
Model Year
Problems Sales [1] Vehicle
Age
PPMY Index
  2022 14745,6424    
0.81
  2021 21877,6915    
0.56
  2020 25760,3856    
0.71
  2019 19190,6447    
0.30
  2018 535129,6538    
0.52
  2017 1,079151,8319    
0.79
  2016 1,083165,39910    
0.65
  2015 1,617242,13211    
0.61
  2014 1,046132,50712    
0.66
  2013 2,596287,91213    
0.69
  2012 2,271179,19014    
0.91
  2011 4,552289,96715    
1.05
  2010 41077,24216    
0.33
  2009 600159,85517    
0.22
  2008 54497,99518    
0.31
  2007 891125,18019    
0.37
  2006 1,389171,09420    
0.41
  2005 21979,94921    
0.13
  2004 282102,00722    
0.13
  2003 23976,19923    
0.14
  2002 40378,55524    
0.21
  2001 28946,27725    
0.25
  2000 37649,49626    
0.29

📊 Number of Problems Reported During the First Year

Another way to measure the reliability across the model years of the Hyundai Sonata is to use the total number of problems reported during the vehicle's first year in service, as shown in the Table 4.

Table 4. Number of problems in vehicle's; first service year

Model YearProblems Reported
  2025 Sonata
16
  2024 Sonata
36
  2023 Sonata
40
  2022 Sonata
42
  2021 Sonata
20
  2020 Sonata
46
  2019 Sonata
20
  2018 Sonata
40
  2017 Sonata
44
  2016 Sonata
44
  2015 Sonata
99
  2014 Sonata
44
  2013 Sonata
104
  2012 Sonata
91
  2011 Sonata
394
  2010 Sonata
28
  2009 Sonata
26
  2008 Sonata
32
  2007 Sonata
49
  2006 Sonata
81
  2005 Sonata
16
  2004 Sonata
9
  2003 Sonata
19
  2002 Sonata
30
  2001 Sonata
25
  2000 Sonata
36
  1999 Sonata
14
  1998 Sonata
1
  1997 Sonata
3
  1996 Sonata
4


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