Eighth generation (DN8)
2020 Hyundai Sonata
The most reported problem on the 2020 Hyundai Sonata is misfire, with 25 complaints, usually around 47,000 miles.
- 178owner complaints
- 4recalls
- 5involved a crash
- 12,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 7, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Sonata doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2020 model year.
Is the 2020 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
The 2020 Hyundai Sonata has 178 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 201 for 2020 sedans on this site. Of the 12 Sonata model years since 2014, it has the 6th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2019 and 2021
- At 25 complaints for each year on the road, the 2020 runs above the 2019 (20) and close to the 2021 (22).
- Top problem
- No problem dominates. The largest, misfire, covers 25 of the 178 complaints (14%), and stalling is next with 18 (one complaint can fall under more than one problem, so these overlap). A quarter of the 10 owners who gave a mileage for misfire saw it by about 4,000 miles, and half by about 47,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 7 of the 178 complaints (4%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, a little under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 5 reports mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire and 4 people were hurt.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as misfire. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2024 at 40 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 33. So far in 2026, 37 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: check engine light or misfire, 25 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
178 complaints is 1.2 times fewer than the median 2020 model on this site and about the median for a 2020 sedan. Among the 11 Sonata model years here it ranks 6th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2020 Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai filed 99 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2020 Hyundai Sonata. 21 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Check engine light or misfire 13 bulletins · 25 complaints
Some Sonata (DN8, DN8A) vehicles may have DTCs P218100, P2181F0, and/or P2181F1 (Cooling System Performance) set in the Engine Control Module, resulting in an illuminated Check Engine warning lamp.
Certain 2021-2023MY Sonata (DN8) and 2020-2022MY Sonata (DN8A) vehicles may have DTC P0451 stored in the ECU. Follow this bulletin to inspect the check valve, fuel pump cover and fuel tank, and update the ECU.
11 more on this problem
Certain 2021-2023MY Sonata (DN8) and 2020-2022MY Sonata (DN8A) vehicles may have Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0451 (also known as DTC P14EE00) stored in the Electronic Control Unit (ECU).
The subject vehicles may have Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0451 stored in the ECU, which could cause the Check Engine Lamp to come on.
Certain 2021-2023MY Sonata (DN8) and 2020-2022MY Sonata (DN8A) vehicles may have Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0451 stored in the Electronic Control Unit (ECU).
This bulletin provides warranty procedure for EGR Valve replacement related to DTC P0401 EGR Flow Insufficient on 2020 and 2021MY Sonata (DN8a) equipped with 2.5 GDI Vehicles.
If you are servicing an 8-speed vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed, follow the service procedure and replace the related solenoid and harness.
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related input/output speed sensor and harness.
Certain 2020-2021 Sonata (DN8a) vehicles with 1.6T engines may exhibit a check engine light in conjunction with a popping noise, abnormal smell from the engine compartment, rough running, or reduced power due to a misfire.
This service campaign information is related to an Electronic Control Module (ECM) software update to revise the logic for DTC P030X: Cylinder âXâ Misfire Detected and P0456: EVAP System Leakage Detected â Very Small Leak.
This bulletin provides information related to an Electronic Control Module (ECM) software update to revise the logic for DTC P030X: Cylinder âXâ Misfire Detected and P0456: EVAP System Leakage Detected â Very Small Leak.
This bulletin provides information related to an Electronic Control Module (ECM) software update to revise the logic for DTC P0456: EVAP System Leakage Detected Very Small Leak.
Plus 1 older ones not listed here.
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 2 bulletins · 14 complaints
Certain Sonata (DN8) and Sonata (DN8A) vehicles may experience issues with the air conditioning due to damaged wiring in the engine room junction box.
Certain 2020MY Sonata vehicles (DN8A) may experience an inoperative air conditioning system with cold air not blowing from the vents. This condition may be caused by an electrical terminal connection in the engine room junction box.
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 3 bulletins · 9 complaints
This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and replace, if necessary, an automatic transmission with Incorrect Ratio DTC (transmission clutch slip in gear above limit) listed on Page 2.
If you are servicing any of the vehicles listed below with a harsh and/or delayed shift, use the GDS as shown in the Service Procedure to measure shift engagement time.
1 more on this problem
This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and repair a transaxle for the following Incorrect Ratio DTC (transaxle clutch slipping more than 200 rpm in gear).
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 3 bulletins · 9 complaints
Some vehicles equipped with the AVN 5th Gen Wide system may exhibit a condition where the radio app crashes frequently when entering radio mode and/or displays a message that reads “Uneven Road Ahead, Drive carefully” on the cluster along with a warning ...
When using Wireless CarPlay, the system may intermittently auto disconnect. When Wireless CarPlay is disconnected, a pop up message âPhone Not Responding. Please reconnect it and try againâ will appear on the radio screen.
1 more on this problem
This bulletin provides guidelines to inspect the USB, head unit, and multi-box for common connection conditions. 2. This bulletin presents guidelines to inspect for common Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connection conditions. 3.
Complaints filed by year
40 complaints came in 2024, 3.3 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2020 Hyundai Sonata
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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 and remedy
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.
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 and remedy
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.
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 and remedy
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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Sonata vehicles produced between October 22, 2019 and February 13, 2020. The tire pressure label inside the driver's door and the owner's manual state an incorrect tire size. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install new label stickers over the tire pressure label and in the owner's manual, free of charge. The recall began April 22, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 190.
All 4 recalls on the 2020 Hyundai Sonata, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2020 Hyundai Sonata?
Misfire, with 25 of the 178 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 47,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2020 Hyundai Sonata problems start?
Of the 61 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 2,000 miles and half by about 12,000.
Is the 2020 Hyundai Sonata better or worse than the 2019 and 2021?
Counted per year on the road, the 2020 has more complaints than the 2019 and about as many complaints as the 2021: 25 a year against 20 and 22.
How many 2020 Hyundai Sonata complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
7 of them (4%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for misfire on the 2020 Hyundai Sonata?
No recall on file for the 2020 Hyundai Sonata is on the same system as misfire. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.