2019 Hyundai Sonata
Plug-in hybrid Hybrid Gas Large car
The 2019 Hyundai Sonata is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas large car with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sonata Hybrid SE, is EPA-rated at 42 mpg combined. NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year so far (Safety Signal A). Owners have filed 169 complaints, most often about engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| 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 | $1,600 |
| Sonata Hybrid SE | Hybrid | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl + 270V Li-Ion | 40 | 46 | 42 | — | — | — | $1,500 |
| Sonata Hybrid | Hybrid | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl + 270V Li-Ion | 39 | 44 | 41 | — | — | — | $1,500 |
| Sonata | Gas | FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 28 | 37 | 31 | — | — | — | $2,000 |
| Sonata SE | Gas | FWD | 2.4L 4-cyl | 26 | 35 | 29 | — | — | — | $2,150 |
| Sonata | Gas | FWD | 2.4L 4-cyl | 25 | 33 | 28 | — | — | — | $2,250 |
| Sonata | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 23 | 32 | 26 | — | — | — | $2,400 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
Out of factory warranty soon?
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Recalls (0)
No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for the 2019 Hyundai Sonata. New campaigns appear here within a week of NHTSA posting them.
NHTSA 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 matt
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005
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
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
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · closed Sep 19, 2024 · action EA19001
Owner complaints
169 complaints filed
9 involved a crash, 6 a fire, 7 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2019: 13 · 2020: 14 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 12 · 2023: 24 · 2024: 39 · 2025: 35 · 2026: 29
Most-cited components
- Engine — 88
- Unknown Or Other — 25
- Exterior Lighting — 18
- Fuel/Propulsion System — 17
- Electrical System — 15
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.
Crash ratings
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 10% |
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 10% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Other Sonata model years
2027 Sonata
0 recalls · 0 complaints
A2026 Sonata
1 recalls · 5 complaints
A2025 Sonata
0 recalls · 27 complaints
A2024 Sonata
1 recalls · 54 complaints
C2023 Sonata
2 recalls · 100 complaints
D2022 Sonata
3 recalls · 110 complaints
F2021 Sonata
4 recalls · 183 complaints
C2020 Sonata
4 recalls · 194 complaints
B2018 Sonata
2 recalls · 380 complaints
D2017 Sonata
5 recalls · 874 complaints
F2016 Sonata
9 recalls · 880 complaints
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). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 41144, 41050, 41049, 40534, 40532, 40531, 40533). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.