NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 172 owner complaints for the 2019 Hyundai Sonata (including the hybrid).
Most-described problem: excessive oil consumption (48 complaints, 28%). Most-reported area: engine (91 complaints, 53%; median mileage when it happened: 90,000).
The 2019 drew 30 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 72 for a typical Sonata year since 2016. No open NHTSA investigation names it, and it has no recall telling owners not to drive or to park outside.
Years to avoid: 2011 to 2013 and 2015; best year: 2019. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
Includes the Sonata Hybrid and the Sonata Plug-in Hybrid.
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2019 Hyundai Sonata in its recall file dated Nov 12, 2026. Recalls can still be issued later, so check your VIN from time to time.
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation that names the 2019 Hyundai Sonata; it is closed. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.
NHTSA listings: SONATA, SONATA HYBRID. Component: Air bags (air bag/restraint control module). This investigation names 46 models.
An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
Owners have filed 172 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Sonata. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Counted from the complaint text: a complaint counts once for each problem it describes (how we match them). Some complaints describe none of these. Compare other models in the problem owners report most for every model year.
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
The highlighted bars are the 2019 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2011 Sonata drew the most (624) and the 2019 drew 30.
Owner complaints
2019: 172 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
| Model year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 345 |
| 2011 | 3,476 |
| 2012 | 1,714 |
| 2013 | 2,029 |
| 2014 | 778 |
| 2015 | 1,211 |
| 2016 | 889 |
| 2017 | 882 |
| 2018 | 384 |
| 2019 | 172 |
| 2020 | 199 |
| 2021 | 190 |
| 2022 | 117 |
| 2023 | 103 |
| 2024 | 58 |
| 2025 | 28 |
| 2026 | 6 |
Safety recalls
2019: 0 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
| Model year | Recalls |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 |
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Tested version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Hyundai Sonata 4 DR FWD Rollover risk 10.5% |
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Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 4 DR FWD Rollover risk 10.5% |
||||
Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid 4 DR FWD |
Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
In the 172 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Hyundai Sonata, the problems described most are excessive oil consumption (48), engine failure or replacement (21), and stalling or shutting off (18). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2019 Hyundai Sonata earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no open investigations for the 2019 Hyundai Sonata. It lists one closed investigation, which closed on Sep 19, 2024.
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Hyundai dealers.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.