Midsize sedans · model years 2014 to 2024
Hyundai Sonata vs Toyota Camry: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Camry looks better on 4 and the Sonata on 3.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2014 to 2024 | Sonata | Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 3.6% | 10% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 3.3% | 0.9% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 2.1% | 6.1% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 58,000 | 35,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 2 | 1 |
| NHTSA investigations | 9 | 0 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Sonata owners complain about most is engine; for the Camry it is transmission and drivetrain. Complaints citing engine make up 49% of all Sonata complaints, against 14% on the Camry. The Camry leans the other way on transmission and drivetrain: 20% of its complaints, against 9.9% for the Sonata.
Hyundai SonataToyota Camry
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Sonata is engine failure (19% of its complaints). On the Camry it is brake wear (13% of its complaints), against 5.0% on the Sonata.
| Problem | Sonata | Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 18% 806most in 2015 · 68k mi | 7.3% 201most in 2018 · 40k mi |
| Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing | 19% 829most in 2015 · 84k mi | 0.7% 2015k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 5.0% 223most in 2015 · 39k mi | 13% 359most in 2018 · 32k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 14% 619most in 2015 · 80k mi | 3.7% 101most in 2018 · 47k mi |
| Airbag warning light or recall | 2.6% 113most in 2014 · 60k mi | 11% 306most in 2021 · 45k mi |
| Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard | 2.1% 93most in 2015 · 46k mi | 9.0% 248most in 2018 · 56k mi |
| Burns oil or oil level rises | 11% 470most in 2017 · 62k mi | 0 |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 2.1% 9345k mi | 4.0% 11136k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Camry owners report problems earlier. Half the Camry complaints that give a mileage come before 35,000 miles; for the Sonata the halfway point is 58,000. 44% of Sonata reports and 61% of Camry reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Hyundai SonataToyota Camry
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 2,148 for the Sonata and 1,357 for the Camry.
Worst and best years
The 2015 Sonata draws 3.7 times the complaints of a typical Sonata year for its age. The 2018 Camry draws 3.7 times the complaints of a typical Camry year for its age.
Hyundai SonataToyota Camry
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Sonata draws more recalls: 2.5 campaigns per model year against 2.0 for the Camry. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Hyundai Sonata
28 recall campaigns and 9 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: transmission and drivetrain (4), fuel system (4) and seat belts (3).
- Do not drive 14V-368 (service brakes, hydraulic), model years 2015
- Do not drive 14V-325 (steering), model years 2015
- 25V-796 (fuel system) covers 4 model years
- 21V-749 (exterior lighting) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- EA25005: Dtn air bag inflator rupture (open)
- DP22003: Loss of motive power (closed)
- EA21003: Engine fires (closed, led to a recall)
Toyota Camry
22 recall campaigns and 0 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: fuel system (5), airbags (4) and equipment (3).
- Do not drive 23V-432 (wheels), model years 2023
- 19V-503 (equipment) covers 3 model years
- 20V-682 (fuel system) covers 3 model years
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Camry complaints report a crash: 10%, against 3.6% for the Sonata. Fire reports: 148 for the Sonata and 25 for the Camry. Complaints on file report 5 deaths in the Sonata and 3 in the Camry for these model years.
Hyundai SonataToyota Camry
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Hyundai Sonata or the Toyota Camry more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Camry looks better on 4 and the Sonata on 3. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Sonata has 4,426 complaints and the Camry 2,752 for model years 2014 to 2024, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Sonata or the Camry?
The Sonata has 28 recall campaigns and the Camry 22 across model years 2014 to 2024. The Sonata draws more recalls: 2.5 campaigns per model year against 2.0 for the Camry.
What are the most common problems on the Sonata and the Camry?
The most reported problem on the Sonata is engine failure (19% of its complaints). On the Camry it is brake wear (13% of its complaints), against 5.0% on the Sonata.
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