YearToAvoid

2018 Hyundai Sonata Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2018 Hyundai Sonata has 373 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 50, and ranks 11th of 21 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Engine problems dominate, making up 62% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 21,250 miles.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
50/100
#11 of 21 Sonata years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
373
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
18
reported in complaints
Fires
13
Injuries
20
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2022
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28.5
25 city / 35.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
20 / 1

Top 2018 Hyundai Sonata problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine233 (62%)
  2. Electrical System78 (21%)
  3. Other59 (16%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain40 (11%)
  5. Fuel System33 (9%)
  6. Structure & Body26 (7%)
  7. Brakes19 (5%)
  8. Steering9 (2%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (2%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras8 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration or loss of braking response at low speeds, leading to crashes into objects or other vehicles.
  • Some vehicles reportedly rolled forward on their own after being parked and put in drive, even with the emergency brake engaged.
  • Owners describe brake pedals sinking to the floor with a maintenance warning message displayed, with dealers unable to identify a cause.
  • Several reports describe fires starting in the engine or rear of the vehicle, sometimes while driving or while parked overnight.
  • One owner reported airbags failing to deploy during a frontal collision.
  • A driver's side seatbelt reportedly failed to retract properly before a rear-end collision.
2018 Hyundai Sonata complaints: complaints filed per quarter302017 Q42019 Q12020 Q22021 Q32022 Q42024 Q12025 Q22026 Q3
373 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q3 (30).

2018 Hyundai Sonata recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V619000Aug 6, 2021Structure & Body348,158 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:latch

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

2018 Hyundai Sonata fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25 MPG
Highway
35.5 MPG
Combined
28.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,275
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.

2018 compared with other Sonata years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Avoid75725628
2017Caution70764328
2018Caution50373128.5
2019Good25161028.5
2020Good30178431

All Hyundai Sonata years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2018 Sonata a complaint index of 50 and a Caution verdict, ranking it 11th out of 21 model years for the Sonata. Engine complaints make up 62% of the total 373 complaints filed.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Hyundai Sonata?
Engine problems lead with 233 complaints (62% share), followed by electrical system issues (78 complaints, 21%) and transmission & powertrain issues (40 complaints, 11%).
Does the 2018 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall for the 2018 Sonata, covering a trunk latch that could become damaged and prevent the trunk from opening. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2018 Sonata compare to other Sonata years?
The 2018 Sonata's complaint index of 50 is lower than the worst years like 2011 through 2016, which carry Avoid verdicts with indexes from 75 to 100, but higher than newer years like 2019 through 2025, which score Good or Best.
At what mileage do 2018 Sonata engine problems typically appear?
NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 21,250 miles for engine-related failures in the 2018 Sonata.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.