2019 Hyundai SONATA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11196591 · 2019-04-15 (April 15, 2019)
I HAVE LEASE THIS CAR SINCE 1/16/2019 UNTIL 4/14/19 . START FIRST WITH LOWER THE SPEED AND POWER JUST A LITTLE BIT. THEN 4/14/19 THE CAR LOWER THE SPEED BY ITSELF,START SHAKING UP,LIMP,SHOWS THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE SPEED CONTROL LIGH IN CONJUNCTION WITH SLIPPERY CONTROL LIGH THEN STAY AT "TEMPORARY ENGINE PROTECTION MODE" LOSSING SPEED AND CANT DRIVE SAFELY. JUST PARK THE CAR AT THE SAFE PARKING LOT TO TOW AT THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALER FOR INSPECTION O REPAIR. IT CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR OTHERS DRIVERS. WHEN I GET THE REPORT OF THE ISSUE AND RECE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,786 miles reported. Look up ODI 11196591 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11207218 · 2019-05-13 (May 13, 2019)
I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND WHEN I MOVED THE CAR IT TOOK OF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED , FLEW PASSED 5 OTHER PARKING SPACES AND CAUSED ME TO HIT A PARKED VEHICLE
Owner-reported narrative. 1,804 miles reported. Look up ODI 11207218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11207515 · 2019-05-14 (May 14, 2019)
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE AN AREA UP TO ABOUT 1 TELEPHONE POLE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE (APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET). WHEN DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT, I CANNOT SEE FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE SAFELY. IT IS ONLY WHEN THE AUTO HIGH BEAMS TURN ON THAT THE ROAD AHEAD IS SUFFICIENTLY ILLUMINATED. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO CHECKED OUT THE HEADLIGHTS AND WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS ACCORDING TO HYUNDAI SPECIFICATIONS.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11207515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11217421 · 2019-06-02 (June 2, 2019)
HEADLIGHTS PROJECT BRIGHT LIGHT ABOUT 20-30 FEET OUT ONLY UP TO ABOUT HOOD LEVEL THEN CUT OFF IN A STRAIGHT LINE COMPLETELY DARK ABOVE THAT AREA AND TO THE SIDE. TWO BLACK OUT SPOTS IN LINE OF VISION MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WELL ENOUGH TO DRIVE SAFELY IN THE DARK. AFTER MUCH ONLINE RESEARCH HAVE DISCOVERED HYUNDAI CLAIMS THIS IS NOT A DEFECT AND NEEDS NO REMEDY. SO VERY SAD TO SEE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS BUT NOT A SINGLE CONSUMER RATING RECOGNIZES THIS IN ANY REVIEW. HAS NO ONE DRIVEN THIS CAR AFTER DARK UNTIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11217421 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 11253012 · 2019-09-03 (September 3, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE PROJECTOR BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NICHOLAS PARKS HYUNDAI KIA (1066 MARINA BLVD, SAN LEANDRO, CA 94577, [phone removed]) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND REFEREED THE CONTACT TO THEIR REPAIR CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR CENTER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LIGHTS MET HYUNDAI STANDARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF…
Owner-reported narrative. 68 miles reported. Look up ODI 11253012 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 ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.