2020 Hyundai Sonata Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
33/100
#11 most-complained of 16 Sonata years
The 2020 Hyundai Sonata has 178 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 33, and ranks 11th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Sonata years. It has 4 recalls, none marked do-not-drive, with Fuel System issues the top complaint area.
- Complaints
- 178
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 5 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 31
- 27 city / 37 hwy
Top 2020 Hyundai Sonata problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System57 (32%)
- Electrical System41 (23%)
- Engine37 (21%)
- Other30 (17%)
- Structure & Body30 (17%)
- Transmission & Powertrain24 (13%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras18 (10%)
- Airbags7 (4%)
- Steering7 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers7 (4%)
What owners report
- Vehicle stalls or shifts into safe mode while driving at highway speed, sometimes losing motive power at around 55 mph.
- Engine idles roughly, shudders to a stop, or shuts down while driving, with mpg dropping and the check engine light coming on.
- Doors have opened on their own while the vehicle was moving, without the unlock button being pressed.
- Owners report rust forming in the frame near the driver's side shortly after purchase.
- Remote Smart Parking Assist has moved the vehicle unexpectedly, in one case backing it into a fence while unattended.
- Windshield wipers reportedly perform poorly in heavy rain, reducing visibility on the highway.
2020 Hyundai Sonata recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V796000Nov 17, 2025Fuel System85,043 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Sonata vehicles. A damaged check valve can allow air to enter the fuel tank, causing it to expand and contact hot exhaust components, melting the tank.
Risk: A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the check valve. The fuel tank assembly will be inspected for damage and replaced if necessary. Additionally, dealers will inspect and update the engine control unit software. All repairs will be performed as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning March 13, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 286. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 19, 2025.
- 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.
- NHTSA 20V213000Apr 9, 2020Electrical System11,870 vehicles
Electrical system:software
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Nexo and Sonata vehicles. The Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) software may fail to prevent vehicle movement upon detection of an RSPA system malfunction.
Risk: Unintended vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the RSPA software, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 191.
2020 Hyundai Sonata fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 27 MPG
- Highway
- 37 MPG
- Combined
- 31 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,100
- 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 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
- Relative to other Sonata model years, the 2020 is rated "Good." It has a complaint index of 33 and ranks 11th worst out of 16 years tracked, meaning most other Sonata years have more reported problems.
- What problems does the 2020 Hyundai Sonata have?
- NHTSA data shows 178 complaints for the 2020 Sonata, led by Fuel System issues (57 complaints, 32% share), followed by Electrical System (41 complaints) and Engine (37 complaints).
- Does the 2020 Hyundai Sonata have a fuel system recall?
- Yes. Recall 25V796000 covers 2020-2023 Sonata vehicles where a damaged check valve can let air into the fuel tank, causing it to expand and contact hot exhaust parts, which can melt the tank.
- How many recalls does the 2020 Hyundai Sonata have?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2020 Sonata, covering the fuel system, structure/body (trunk latch), electrical system (parking assist software), and a tire pressure label error. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2020 Sonata compare to other years?
- The 2020 Sonata's complaint index of 33 is far lower than the worst years, 2011 (100) and 2013 (93), both rated "Avoid," but higher than 2022-2025, which range from complaint index 0 to 20 and are rated "Best."