YearToAvoid

2019 Hyundai Sonata Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

27/100

#12 most-complained of 16 Sonata years

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

The 2019 Hyundai Sonata ranks 12th out of 16 model years with a Complaint Index of 27 and a "Good" verdict, well below worse years like 2011 (100). NHTSA lists 161 complaints, no recalls, and the top problem area is Engine (58% of complaints, median mileage 85,000).

Complaints
161
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
8 / 6
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28.5
25.5 city / 34 hwy

Top 2019 Hyundai Sonata problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine94 (58%)
  2. Electrical System30 (19%)
  3. Other24 (15%)
  4. Fuel System12 (7%)
  5. Airbags9 (6%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain8 (5%)
  7. Structure & Body7 (4%)
  8. Steering6 (4%)
  9. Lane Departure5 (3%)
  10. Seat Belts5 (3%)

What owners report

  • Engine fires reported while driving or parked, with smoke and flames coming from under the hood, in some cases while refueling.
  • Owners describe heavy oil consumption, needing to add a gallon of oil weekly, along with frequent spark plug replacements.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in moderate-to-severe collisions, including one crash at highway speed.
  • Electrical system complaints include a vehicle that caught fire minutes after being parked and another that would not start before smoking and igniting.
  • A seat belt reportedly failed to retract properly after a rear-end collision, resulting in injury.
2019 Hyundai Sonata complaints: complaints filed per quarter212019 Q22020 Q22022 Q12023 Q12024 Q12025 Q12026 Q1
210 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q2 (21).

2019 Hyundai Sonata recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2019 Hyundai Sonata fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25.5 MPG
Highway
34 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.

2019 compared with other Sonata years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Caution60764328
2018Caution53373128.5
2019Good27161028.5
2020Good33178431
2021Good40133430.5

All Hyundai Sonata years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
Compared to other Sonata model years, the 2019 ranks 12th out of 16 with a Complaint Index of 27 and a "Good" verdict. It has far fewer complaints (161) than the worst years, like 2011 with 3,376 complaints.
What is the main problem area for the 2019 Hyundai Sonata?
Engine complaints make up 58% of all reports for the 2019 Sonata, including reports of fires, with a median mileage at failure of 85,000 miles.
Does the 2019 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2019 Sonata, compared to as many as 14 recalls on the 2011 model year.
Are there fire risks with the 2019 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA complaint data shows 6 fires reported for the 2019 Sonata, several tied to engine and electrical system issues, including cases where flames appeared from under the hood.
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Hyundai Sonata?
The 2019 Sonata is EPA-rated at 28.5 mpg combined (25.5 city / 34 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,275.

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.