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2018 Hyundai Sonata

Plug-in hybrid Hybrid Gas

Large Cars
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

85 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 2

Complaints18 crash · 13 fire · 21 injured · 1 died reported 384

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 42 mpg

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2018 Hyundai Sonata is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas large sedan with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sonata Hybrid SE, is EPA-rated at 42 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 384 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Hyundai Sonata — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Hyundai Sonata · Photo: © M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Range	kWh/100mi	Charge (240V)	Annual fuel*
Sonata Plug-in Hybrid	Plug-in hybrid	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl + 50 kW IPMSM	37	42	39 (59 MPGe blended)	28 mi electric	34	2.7 h	$1,700
Sonata Hybrid SE	Hybrid	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl + 270V Li-Ion	40	46	42	—	—	—	$1,600
Sonata Hybrid	Hybrid	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl + 270V Li-Ion	39	44	41	—	—	—	$1,650
Sonata	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	28	37	31	—	—	—	$2,150
Sonata SE	Gas	FWD	2.4L 4-cyl	25	36	29	—	—	—	$2,300
Sonata	Gas	FWD	2.4L 4-cyl	25	35	28	—	—	—	$2,400
Sonata	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	23	32	26	—	—	—	$2,600

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 40066, 39899, 39898, 39063, 38664, 38663, 38719.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Sonata Plug-in Hybrid	7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay Elite
Sonata Hybrid, Sonata Hybrid SE	7 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Sonata	5 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Sonata SE	5–7 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Sonata	5–7 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III SULEV30 / California LEV-III ULEV70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Sonata	5 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Sedan/Saloon
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	1.6 L
Engine configuration	In-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower

178 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seating capacity

5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	FWD/Front-Wheel Drive
Transmission	Automatic
Transmission speeds	6

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Automatic emergency braking, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: SE (HEV), SE, Eco, SEL, SEL w/ Tech, Limited, Limited w/ Ultimate, Sport ,Sport 2.0T, Limited 2.0T, Sport Base). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	191.3 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	73.6 in
Height	58.3 in
Wheelbase	110.6 in
Track, front	63.0–63.4 in
Track, rear	63.0–63.8 in
Curb weight	3,252–3,807 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	59/41 to 61/39

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 5 configurations: 4-door Sedan Gl, 4-door Sedan Hybrid, 4-door Sedan Hybrid Limited/Ultimate, 4-door Sedan PHEV, 4-door Sedan Sport/Gls/Limited. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Latches/Locks/Linkages

208

348,158 vehicles 75% reported repaired

Problem Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release." Risk A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury. Fix Dealers will replace the trunk latch base, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 208.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 21V619000 reported Aug 6, 2021 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Hybrid Propulsion System

175

2,840 vehicles 93% reported repaired built Jul 31, 2015 – Aug 31, 2017 Plug-in hybrid only

Problem Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently. Risk If the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will remove the VPD switch and install a new Battery Management System (BMS) that contains an Overvoltage Protection Device (OPD). The recall is expected to begin May 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 175.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 18V166000 reported Mar 12, 2018 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Engine — Loss of Motive Power closed

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023 · action DP22003 · the investigation’s page →

Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module — Electrical overstress closed

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. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with ma

Opened Apr 19, 2019 · closed Sep 19, 2024 · action EA19001 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Sonata

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Hyundai publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Hyundai’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2018 Hyundai Sonata, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

384complaints filed

18 involved a crash · 13 a fire · 21 injuries · 1 deaths reported

30 per 10,000 built · Hyundai reported 127,472 Sonata built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 18 · 2019: 64 · 2020: 18 · 2021: 22 · 2022: 41 · 2023: 55 · 2024: 45 · 2025: 82 · 2026: 38

Most-cited components

Engine → 231

Electrical System → 62

Unspecified 58

Power Train 41

Fuel/Propulsion System 34

Exterior Lighting 24

In depth: engine problems → · electrical problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

I was driving on the freeway and my car lost all power. My indicator dash board flashed lights and a loud beeping sound. The warning lights flashed to check my hybrid system and turn engine off, HEV. My car immediately lost power and turned off. I was on the freeway, I almost got into an accident, cars were honking at me.

Electrical System Jan 11, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11564994

Same problem with this 2018 Hyundai Sonata Limited Hybrid engine as the already recalled 2017 Sonata’s with the same 4 liter/direct fuel injection engines. At approximately 69,000 miles the problems and check engine light analyzed was done by Auto Zone and Brandon Hyundai (3 times each and finding additional problems each time).

Engine Apr 30, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11462848

I just bought this car and the low-beam headlights are set way too low and there is a definite line between the lit and unlit upper area. . It is not possible to see more than 1/2 of a city block ahead. It is a great concern to me because I could easily hit or run over something that appears to late to react to.

Exterior Lighting at 9,500 miles Oct 15, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11268725

Driving on Interstate 10 westbound at about 0700. Clear day. No adjacent vehicles. The frontal crash avoidance alert suddenly went off and automated emergency braking activated as I approached an underpass. There were some slightly harsh shadows, but not the worst I have seen and I drive this segment every day.

Forward Collision Avoidance Jun 9, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11468532

My 2018 Hyundai Sonata hybrid limited was involved in a mva on 4:19/19. It was a front right impact that included the passenger side, right front tire and rim and the passenger door. It was a hard impact. None of the airbags deployed. I was driving straight at about 45 miles per hour on an 8 lane divided city highway.

Air Bags May 13, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11207275

Since the year 2017 when using a portable audio device connected to the power outlet the system turns on and off. Drivers fog light been repaired twice in july 2018. Left fog bulb been removed previously installed found burned grease was added to socket grease was also put on sensor on driver door because radio system was staying on…

Electronic Stability Control Nov 29, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11154848

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Hyundai itself: 30 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 5 killed, 37 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 24 per 100,000 built. Every Sonata model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 23k

miles, typically

Half the 135 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 8,000 and 64,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 43

10k–20k 18

20k–30k 15

30k–40k 9

40k–50k 9

50k–60k 6

60k–70k 3

70k–80k 7

80k–90k 3

90k–100k 4

100k–150k 16

150k + 2

Median mileage by component

Component	Reports	Median miles	Vs same age
Engine	70	24,600	0.49×
Electrical System	27	20,500	0.91×
Unspecified	19	16,000	—
Vehicle Speed Control	12	8,916	0.64×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2018-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported earlier than same-age vehicles: engine (0.49×), vehicle speed control (0.64×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2018–2020 model years the Hyundai Sonata ranks 31 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 0.78× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 20,000 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 4 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

3 years or 36,000 miles · Hyundai warranty extension Z05Certain 2015 – 2018 model year Elantra, 2015 – 2019 model year Sonata, 2017 – 2021 model year Tucson, 2017 – 2018 model year Santa Fe Sport, 2019 model year Santa Fe, 2021 – 2023 model year Santa Fe…
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Hyundai warranty extension T6G TXXMThis TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine…
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Hyundai warranty extension T6GThis TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H-2 (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine…
15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Hyundai bulletin 23-FL-004HCertain 2015-2019MY Sonata (LFA) vehicles may intermittently exhibit reduced engine power, a “Crank/No Start” condition, and/or have DTC P1233 stored in the ECM due to an internally leaking fuel pump…

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Hyundai warranty extension (62) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 366

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-08

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 317 service bulletins, 24 service campaigns, 16 others

Most often about: Engine, Electrical System, Equipment, Power Train, Steering.

26-EM-016H TSB Service bulletin
2026-10-08 · Engine
Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. All internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operation, depending on driving conditions and mileage, and this procedure should only be performed when dee
26-EM-015H TSB Service bulletin
2026-10-07 · Engine
Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. All internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operation. Oil consumption rates may vary based on mileage, operating conditions, driving habits, and mainte
Z05 OL Warranty extension
2026-08-26 · Unknown Or Other
Certain vehicles may exhibit excessive paint peeling or bubbling of the primer/paint film on the exterior metal body panels: hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. This warranty extension only applies to factory-applied paint and does not cover collision-related paint repairs or vehicles with a salvaged title. Hyundai is extending the warranty coverage for certain wh
26-01-013H-2 DN Service campaign
2026-05-21 · Electrical System
Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II engines may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions. The California Air Resources Board has determined that these vehicles may be releasing air pollutants which exceed Federal and California standards.
26-EE-003H TSB Service bulletin
2026-04-18 · Engine
Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather. This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an inspection on the starter magnetic switch for potential freezing and, if necessary, replace the starter magnetic switch (solenoid) assembly.
11032523 Other
2026-04-10 · Air Bags
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehicle manufacturers and have primarily been found in vehicles that previously experienced a crash and
11032522 Other
2026-04-10 · Air Bags
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been identified in U.S. vehicles following prior crashes, theft, or non‑certified airbag replacements. These inflators are not approved for use, may
26-01-033H TSB Warranty extension
2026-03-26 · Engine
This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H-2 (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine Replacement) or the latest version.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P1326 P1326 on Hyundai →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	32 bulletins · 4 owner reports
P0705 P0705 on Hyundai →	A fault in the transmission range sensor — the module cannot tell which gear position is selected.	Electrical System · Battery →	4 bulletins
P0706 P0706 on Hyundai →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	4 bulletins
P0707 P0707 on Hyundai →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	4 bulletins
P0708	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	4 bulletins
C120B	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Lane Departure	3 bulletins
C160A	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Lane Departure	3 bulletins
P0880 P0880 on Hyundai →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	3 bulletins
P2600	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	2 bulletins · 1 owner report
C1360	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unspecified	2 owner reports
C1741	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unspecified	2 owner reports
C2402	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unspecified	2 owner reports

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 3.7%

failed emissions

3,540 initial inspections of 3,466 vehicles.

Measure	The 2018 Sonata	Every 2018 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	3.7%	3.0%	3,528
Failed the safety inspection	1.9%	1.9%	3,540
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.17%	0.22%	3,540
Miles driven a year	9,108	10,002	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	75,384	82,833	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Sonata by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A^* 0 0 51 mpg 2026 A 1 6 51 mpg 2025 A 0 28 47 mpg 2024 A 1 55 47 mpg 2023 C 2 103 Park outside 2022 D 3 114 52 mpg 2021 D 4 189 52 mpg 2020 C 4 197 52 mpg 2019 A 0 172 42 mpg 2018 this page B 2 384 42 mpg 2017 C 5 879 42 mpg 2016 D 9 887 41 mpg

Common questions about the 2018 Sonata

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The most serious on file is 21V619000, covering Latches/Locks/Linkages. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 Hyundai Sonata?

NHTSA gave the 2018 Hyundai Sonata 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (85/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Hyundai Sonata?

Across the 7 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 Hyundai Sonata, the best EPA combined figure is 42 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2018 Hyundai Sonata?

Transport Canada measured it at 191.3 in long, 73.6 in wide (body, without mirrors), 58.3 in tall, on a 110.6 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,252–3,807 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2018 Hyundai Sonata?

Owners have filed 384 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Hyundai Sonata, most often about engine, electrical system, unspecified. Of those, 18 involved a crash, 13 a fire, 21 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2018 Hyundai Sonata?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata runs 5 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata?

The manufacturer has filed 366 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata, most often covering engine, electrical system, equipment. The most recent is dated 2026-10-08. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2018 Hyundai Sonata do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Hyundai Sonata failed the emissions check on 3.7% of first inspections — close to the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.9% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	7 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	7 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	2	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	384	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	366	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	3	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	12 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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