2019 Hyundai SONATA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
160 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
23,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 45 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 85 of 160 complaints (53.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 16 | 10.0% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 7.5% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 2.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 85 |
| Unknown Or Other | 23 |
| Exterior Lighting | 17 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
Engine: 85; Unknown Or Other: 23; Exterior Lighting: 17; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Electrical System: 11; Air Bags: 9; Power Train: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 115 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 23 |
| 2024 | 39 |
| 2025 | 34 |
| 2026 | 27 |
2019: 12; 2020: 12; 2021: 3; 2022: 10; 2023: 23; 2024: 39; 2025: 34; 2026: 27
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11221514 · 2019-06-20 (June 20, 2019)
2019 SONATA 2.0T WITH JUST OVER 11K MILES ON IT BEGAN TO SUDDENLY STUDDER AND WANT TO STALL AT LOW RPM OR AT THE STOP. OBDII ERROR CODE P0302. DEALERSHIP SAID CYLINDER 2 HAD LITTLE TO NO COMPRESSION AND NEEDED REPAIR. COULD BARELY LIMP VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND SMELL THE UNBURNED FUEL BEING PORTED OUT OF THE EXHAUST.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11221514 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11297029 · 2020-01-03 (January 3, 2020)
TWICE WITHIN TWO MONTHS MY VEHICLE THAT I AM CURRENTLY LEASING HAS STALLED AND NOT ACCELERATED AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. BOTH TIMES WITH TAKING THE CAR TO GET LOOKED AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS PUSHED ME OUT THE DOOR WITHOUT TRULY TAKING AMPLE TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ISSUE IS AND MORE DISAPPOINTING AND DISTURBING THE 2ND TIME THEY ONLY SOLUTION TO ME TELLING THEM I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT WITHOUT FINDING A SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE AND FIXING IT WAS FOR ME TO START AN ENTIRELY NEW 3 YEAR LEASE WITH THE SAME YEAR MODEL AND MAKE BUT U…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11297029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11309986 · 2020-02-18 (February 18, 2020)
WHILE TRAVELING IN ONE DIRECTION, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO U-TURN IN AN INTERSECTION WITH NO TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS. THEY HIT MY CAR IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE, CAUSING ENOUGH DAMAGE FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED AWAY AND TOTALED. IN THIS CRASH THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS INDICATION THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE FAULTY, NO RECALL, AND THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW AT TIME OF PURCHASE 7 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT INJURED ALTHOUGH MY HAND DID HIT THE STEERING WHEEL OR WINDOW (OR SOMETHING IN THAT VICINI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11309986 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11426678 · 2021-07-27 (July 27, 2021)
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while she was at a red light, another vehicle crashed into the back of her vehicle however, the seat belt failed to retract, causing the contact to suffer whiplash and a bump to her knees against the dashboard behind the steering wheel. A police report was filed. The contact stated she was able to drive the vehicle to her residence, where she noticed she had sustained injuries on her legs and her right leg was swollen, as well as multiple other injuries. The contact sought medical atten…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11426678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11246204 · 2019-08-24 (August 24, 2019)
THE LEFT HEADLIGHT HAS A LARGE BLACKOUT AREA THAT CREATES A SHADOW ON THE ROAD. WHEN DRIVING ON ANY STREET AND ESPECIALLY ON WINDING ROADS IT'S VERY DISTRACTING AND MAKES US THINK THAT THERE IS SOMETHING MOVING ACROSS THE ROAD. I AM DISTRACTED WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND SOMETIMES HIT THE BRAKES. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT HAS A SIMILAR ISSUE BUT NOT NEARLY AS PRONOUNCED. IT'S AN ASYNCHRONOUS SITUATION WITH ONE HEADLIGHT DISTORTED LIKE THAT. IT'S DANGEROUS IN OUR OPINION. WE DON'T DRIVE AT NIGHT MUSH AND NOTICED THIS RECENTLY BUT WERE WAITING UNTIL THE FI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11246204 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11271719 · 2019-10-28 (October 28, 2019)
WHILE DRIVING MY 2019 HYUNDAI SONATA AFTER DARK I SUDDENLY VIEWED A RATHER LARGE BLACK MASS AND THINKING IT COULD BE A PERSON I JAMMED ON THE BRAKES. WITH THE CAR NOW IN PARKED STATUS I REALIZED THAT THE BLACK MASS WAS CREATED BY THE HEADLIGHTS A FRIGHTENING EVENT AND IF A CAR WAS IN BACK OF ME A SEVERE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11271719 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11479438 · 2022-08-15 (August 15, 2022)
In September 2021 my power steering went out at highway speed making it unsafe and difficult to steer. The power steering ECU was replaced. The same thing happen again in June 2022 this time more parts were replaced position / torque sensors and wiring harness. The same issue happened again in 8/2022 the steering wheel was jerking and trying to make corrections (I don't have lane keep assist on any type of steering assistance in my vehicle. This in an ongoing problem and I can't trust that the vehicle is sage
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11479438 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11481071 · 2022-08-24 (August 24, 2022)
Unknown. This has happened a couple times now. I am driving and the HEV light, engine light and battery light turn on, car won’t brake properly and almost cause me to hit other cars and will shut off on its own on the highway. It will accelerate on its own even when trying to brake. Extremely dangerous.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11481071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11530046 · 2023-07-03 (July 3, 2023)
Car has issues with fuel pump with only 64k miles. I was told by Hyundai that I need a new fuel pump. With such low mileage this appears most likely to be a manufacturing defect. Hyundai Sonata has had recall issues regarding this part in the past.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11530046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11584529 · 2024-04-22 (April 22, 2024)
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while parked and powered off, the vehicle was being refueled and connected to the fuel pump when she observed smoke coming from vents and from the engine compartment. The contact opened the hood of the vehicle and she observed fire emanating from the engine compartment. The gas station attendant extinguished the fire with an extinguisher. A police report was filed. The fire department was not called. The vehicle was towed to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufact…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11584529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11455749 · 2022-03-08 (March 8, 2022)
The transmission in my vehicle makes a whine when shifting at about 35-40 miles per hour. No other car I ever drove made that noise. Hyundai has replaced the transmission 3 times and they still could not fix it. After the third replacement they said it's normal and that other Sonatas make that noise. That cannot be true. They did not replace the transmission 3 times if that noise is normal. If it IS true and other Sonatas make that noise, there may be a defect that will turn dangerous in other Sonatas. The second time the transmission was repl…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11455749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11745390 · 2026-06-20 (June 20, 2026)
The engine is the component or system failed or malfunctioned, and it is available for inspection upon request. Sudden loss of engine power while driving, including during highway speeds or intersections, increasing the risk of a crash. Engine stalling or failure to accelerate, preventing me from safely maneuvering away from hazards. Overheating events, which resulted in complete engine seizure and an unexpected loss of vehicle control, all which can potentially causing catastrophic incident without warning. To include, the increased risk of co…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11745390 at NHTSA ↗