2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
21/100
#12 most-complained of 15 Sonata Hybrid years
The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid ranks 12th worst out of 15 model years, with a complaint index of 21 and a Best verdict relative to other Sonata Hybrid years. NHTSA lists 16 complaints, 1 crash, 1 injury, and 1 recall for this year.
- Complaints
- 16
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 49.5
- 47.5 city / 52.5 hwy
Top 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine8 (50%)
- Electrical System6 (38%)
- Other4 (25%)
- Fuel System1 (6%)
- Steering1 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (6%)
What owners report
- Owners report the 12V battery going dead repeatedly after parking, sometimes requiring the manual key and a reset button to regain access.
- Some describe the vehicle continuing to run even after pressing the power button while parking, with no warning light illuminated.
- Engine problems include check engine lights tied to a module replacement, overheating with coolant smell and steam from the exhaust, and a burning smell described as similar to maple syrup with stuttering acceleration.
- One owner reported repeated overheating episodes across two 2020 Sonata Hybrids, leading to vehicles becoming inoperable.
- A steering-related complaint described sudden rear tire failures at highway speed at 2,300 miles that caused the vehicle to swerve into another lane and resulted in a crash.
2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V196000Mar 28, 2022Structure & Body63,461 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:latch
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Sonata and Sonata Hybrid, and 2019 Genesis G70 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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the trunk latch and replace the trunk latch base, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 221/010G.
2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 47.5 MPG
- Highway
- 52.5 MPG
- Combined
- 49.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,325
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2020 compared with other Sonata Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid reliable?
- Compared to other Sonata Hybrid model years, 2020 has a Best verdict with a complaint index of 21, ranking 12th worst out of 15 years tracked. It has fewer complaints (16) than several earlier years like 2011-2016.
- What problems does the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid have?
- NHTSA complaints for 2020 are led by the Engine category (8 complaints, 50% share) followed by Electrical System (6 complaints, 38% share), including 12V battery drain issues and overheating reports.
- Does the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid have a recall?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 22V196000) covers the trunk latch, which may become damaged and prevent opening the trunk from inside. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
- What is the complaint index for the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?
- The complaint index is 21, which is low relative to other Sonata Hybrid years such as 2013 (100) and 2012 (93).
- What year Sonata Hybrid should I avoid instead of 2020?
- Based on complaint index, 2013 (100), 2012 (93), and 2016 (86) are the years with Avoid verdicts, all much higher than the 2020 index of 21.