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2026 Hyundai Sonata

Hybrid Gas

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

Safety Signal

94 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 1

Complaints2 crash · 2 injured reported 6

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 51 mpg

Starting MSRP7 trims · manufacturer $27,450

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

The 2026 Hyundai Sonata is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large sedan with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sonata Hybrid Blue, is EPA-rated at 51 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 6 complaints, most often about the forward collision avoidance. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall. Manufacturer pricing runs from $27,450 to $38,250 across 7 trims.

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

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitWhich trim should I buy? → Compare a trim →

Trim	Powertrain	Drive	MSRP	HP	Torque	MPG comb	Seats	Cargo (2nd row)	Wheels
SE	Gas	FWD	$27,450	191 hp	181 lb-ft	32 mpg	5	15.6 cu-ft	16 in
SEL Sport	Gas	FWD	$29,150	191 hp	181 lb-ft	29 mpg	5	15.6 cu-ft	18 in
SEL Sport AWD	Gas	AWD	$30,650	191 hp	181 lb-ft	27 mpg	5	15.6 cu-ft	18 in
N Line	Gas	FWD	$36,050	290 hp	311 lb-ft	27 mpg	5	15.6 cu-ft	19 in
HEV Blue	Hybrid	FWD	$29,200	192 hp	139 lb-ft	51 mpg	5	15.6 cu-ft	16 in
HEV SEL	Hybrid	FWD	$32,450	192 hp	139 lb-ft	47 mpg	5	15.6 cu-ft	17 in
HEV Limited	Hybrid	FWD	$38,250	192 hp	139 lb-ft	47 mpg	5	15.6 cu-ft	17 in

MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Sonata Hybrid Blue	Hybrid	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	47	56	51	$1,300
Sonata Hybrid	Hybrid	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	44	51	47	$1,450
Sonata FWD w/Stop-Start	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	28	38	32	$2,100
Sonata FWD	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	25	36	29	$2,300
Sonata AWD	Gas	AWD	2.5L 4-cyl	24	33	27	$2,500
Sonata FWD	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl turbo	23	32	27	$2,500

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 49322, 49321, 49319, 49318, 49317, 49320.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

●moderate

Electrical System

293

41,651 vehicles 93% reported repaired built Jul 8, 2025 – Sep 23, 2025

Problem Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays." Risk An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash. Fix The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 293. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 28, 2026.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V047000 reported Jan 26, 2026 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.

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 2026 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 2026 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

6complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

1.2 per 10,000 built · Hyundai reported 49,177 Sonata built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2026: 6

Most-cited components

Unspecified 3

Forward Collision Avoidance 2

Tires 1

Power Train 1

Service Brakes 1

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 through a high school pick-up line where traffic was moving slowly. My vehicle was operating on adaptive cruise control, and I had my foot resting on the brake in case I needed to stop. A woman was about to cross the street, so I tapped the brakes.

Service Brakes Aug 30, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11760790

The contact owns a 2026 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while the vehicle door was open, the vehicle shifted into reverse and accelerated in reverse at 30 MPH. The vehicle traveled into a wooded area and the rear of the vehicle struck a tree.

Power Train Aug 28, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11760447

When backing into my parking spot the front driver side tire blew at the side wall. Then a few weeks late the Rear driver side tire started to bubble at the same spot and was showing signs that it was getting ready to blow. The first one was immediately replaced under Kumho's warranty and then the second one was replaced on my dime.

Tires Jun 23, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11746007

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

Source: NHTSA NCAP

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

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 5 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Hyundai warranty extension LA15Certain Sonata (DN8) vehicles may exhibit a transmission oil leak at the bottom of the valve body cover due to a loose oil level plug that could potentially lead to a total failure of the automatic…
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Hyundai warranty extension LA31Certain 2026MY Sonata (DN8) and 2026MY Sonata Hybrid (DN8 HEV) vehicles may exhibit a fuel filler door that is difficult to open due to the push-type opener mechanism.
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Hyundai warranty extension LA29 / LA30Certain 2024-2026MY Sonata (DN8) and 2024-2026MY Sonata Hybrid (DN8 HEV) vehicles may exhibit intermittent battery discharge condition due to the air conditioning controller not fully powering down…
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Hyundai warranty extension LA30Certain Sonata Hybrid (DN8 HEV) vehicles may exhibit intermittent battery discharge conditions due to the air conditioning controller not fully powering down after the vehicle is turned off and…
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Hyundai warranty extension LA29Certain Sonata (DN8) vehicles may exhibit intermittent battery discharge condition due to the air conditioning controller not fully powering down after the vehicle is turned off and parked.

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 31

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-08

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 10 warranty extensions, 9 service bulletins, 8 service campaigns

Most often about: Electrical System, Air Bags, Power Train, Exterior Lighting, Forward Collision Avoidance.

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
26-01-060H WebDCS Warranty extension
2026-07-27 · Power Train
Certain Sonata (DN8) vehicles may exhibit a transmission oil leak at the bottom of the valve body cover due to a loose oil level plug that could potentially lead to a total failure of the automatic transmission. Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 26-01-060H instructions to inspect the oil level plug and transmission oil level and, if necessary, replace the automatic transmission.
26-01-057H DCS Warranty extension
2026-07-21 · Structure — Body
Certain 2026MY Sonata (DN8) and 2026MY Sonata Hybrid (DN8 HEV) vehicles may exhibit a fuel filler door that is difficult to open due to the push-type opener mechanism. Technical Bulletin (TSB) 26-01-057H provides instructions to inspect the fuel filler door push opener and, if necessary, replace the component to restore proper operation.
LA29-LA30 DCS Warranty extension
2026-07-14 · Electrical System
Certain 2024-2026MY Sonata (DN8) and 2024-2026MY Sonata Hybrid (DN8 HEV) vehicles may exhibit intermittent battery discharge condition due to the air conditioning controller not fully powering down after the vehicle is turned off and parked. Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) 26-01-051H & 26-01-052H provide the procedure to update the ATCU (Air Temperature Control Unit) software; the revised logic
26-01-052H TSB Warranty extension
2026-07-13 · Electrical System
Certain Sonata Hybrid (DN8 HEV) vehicles may exhibit intermittent battery discharge conditions due to the air conditioning controller not fully powering down after the vehicle is turned off and parked. This bulletin provides the procedure to update the Air Temperature Control Unit (ATCU) software; the revised logic improves controller shutdown to prevent battery drain and corrects a condition wher
7/13/2026 TSB Warranty extension
2026-07-13 · Electrical System
Certain Sonata (DN8) vehicles may exhibit intermittent battery discharge condition due to the air conditioning controller not fully powering down after the vehicle is turned off and parked. This bulletin provides the procedure to update the ATCU (Air Temperature Control Unit) software; the revised logic improves controller shutdown to prevent battery drain and corrects a condition where the HVAC c
26-AT-005H TSB Service bulletin
2026-06-05 · Power Train
This bulletin provides information related to a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software update for some vehicles equipped with an 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT). The software update revises the touch point learning variation, improving drivability and judder symptoms. Some 8WDCTs (indicated by a new part number) received an updated clutch spring. The correct TCU software update must

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.

Compare the 2026 Sonata with

Any vehicle, your weights →

Head-to-head	Verdict
2026 Honda Accord · Large Sedan · grade B	Sonata +5.5
2026 Kia K5 · Large Sedan · grade A	Sonata +6.7
2026 Dodge Charger · Large Sedan · grade A	Charger +4.6
2026 Lucid Air · Large Sedan · grade C	Sonata +3.3
2026 Genesis G80 · Large Sedan · grade A	G80 +15.4

Sonata by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A^* 0 0 51 mpg 2026 this page 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 B 2 384 42 mpg 2017 C 5 879 42 mpg 2016 D 9 887 41 mpg

Common questions about the 2026 Sonata

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

How much does the 2026 Hyundai Sonata cost?

Manufacturer pricing runs from $27,450 for the SE FWD to $38,250 for the HEV Limited FWD, across 7 trims. Those are MSRPs from the manufacturer's own press material; they exclude destination, options, taxes and whatever the dealer adds. Every trim and price is listed above.

Does the 2026 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2026 Hyundai Sonata. The most serious on file is 26V047000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2026 Hyundai Sonata?

NHTSA gave the 2026 Hyundai Sonata 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it A (94/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2026 Hyundai Sonata?

Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2026 Hyundai Sonata, the best EPA combined figure is 51 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2026 Hyundai Sonata?

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Hyundai Sonata, most often about unspecified, forward collision avoidance, tires. Of those, 2 involved a crash, 2 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

Are there service bulletins for the 2026 Hyundai Sonata?

The manufacturer has filed 31 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2026 Hyundai Sonata, most often covering electrical system, air bags, power train. 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.

Which 2026 Hyundai Sonata trim is the best value?

$10,800 separates the cheapest of the 7 trims from the most expensive, so the answer depends on which of the differences you would actually use. Every trim has its own page here with the manufacturer's full specification and equipment list, plus a short summary of exactly what it adds over the base trim — worth reading before a dealer frames the walk-up for you. The trim-by-trim ladder shows what every step up costs and what it makes standard.

Is the 2026 Hyundai Sonata better than the 2026 Honda Accord?

The Hyundai Sonata edges it, 98.8 to 93.3, on safety, tech & comfort, fuel & range. The Honda Accord is ahead on space & cargo and performance. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2026 Hyundai Sonata against the 2026 Honda Accord — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.

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	6 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	none	EPA emission certificates	The EPA published no certificate we could match to a configuration on this page.
Recalls	1	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	6	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	3 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	31	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
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	none	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment	7 trims	Manufacturer press kit	Transcribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from.

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. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.

JSON for this page · API