YearToAvoid

2018 Hyundai Sonata Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#11 most-complained of 21 Sonata years

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

The 2018 Hyundai Sonata has 373 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 50 out of 100 — #11 highest of 21 Sonata model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is engine (233 complaints, 62% of the total). Complaints report 18 crashes, 13 fires, 20 injuries, and 1 death.

Complaints
373
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
18 / 13
Injuries / deaths
20 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28.5
25 city / 35.5 hwy

Top 2018 Hyundai Sonata problems

NHTSA owner 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%)
2018 Hyundai Sonata complaints: complaints filed per quarter442017 Q42019 Q12020 Q22021 Q32022 Q42024 Q12025 Q22026 Q3
535 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q3 (44).

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 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 Hyundai Sonata ranks #11 of 21 among Sonata model years (Complaint Index 50/100, verdict: Caution). It has 373 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Hyundai Sonata?
The most reported problem areas are engine (233 complaints), electrical system (78 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (40 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 21,250 miles.
Does the 2018 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata, most recently reported 2021, covering structure & body.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Hyundai Sonata?
EPA rates the 2018 Hyundai Sonata at 28.5 MPG combined (25 city / 35.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,275. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.