Eighth generation (DN8)
2021 Hyundai Sonata
The most reported problem on the 2021 Hyundai Sonata is stalling, with 17 complaints.
- 134owner complaints
- 4recalls
- 7involved a crash
- 41,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Problem sheets
No single problem on the 2021 Hyundai Sonata has enough owner reports for a sheet of its own yet. The counts below still cover every complaint on file.
Is the 2021 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
The 2021 Hyundai Sonata has 134 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 145 for 2021 sedans on this site. Of the 12 Sonata model years since 2014, it has the 8th 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 2020 and 2022
- At 22 complaints for each year on the road, the 2021 runs close to the 2020 (25) and above the 2022 (19).
- Top problem
- No problem dominates. The largest, stalling, covers 17 of the 134 complaints (13%), and misfire is next with 12 (one complaint can fall under more than one problem, so these overlap). Too few of the stalling reports give a mileage to say when it starts.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 9 of the 134 complaints (7%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, about the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 7 reports mention a crash and 13 people were hurt.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- 4 recalls are on file, but no problem here has enough reports to set against them.
- When owners filed
- Complaints are still climbing. 2025 brought 29, the most of any year so far. So far in 2026, 41 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: engine stalls or loses power while driving, 17 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
134 complaints is 1.4 times fewer than the median 2021 model on this site and about the median for a 2021 sedan. Among the 11 Sonata model years here it ranks 8th 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 2021 Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai filed 88 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2021 Hyundai Sonata. 17 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 12 bulletins · 12 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.
Some vehicles equipped with a 2.5L GDI Theta III engine (non-Turbo) may exhibit one or more misfire DTCs due to the GDI fuel injectors leaking internally. This may be caused by internal filter breakage in the injector.
10 more on this problem
Some vehicles equipped with a 2.5L GDI Theta III engine (non-Turbo) may exhibit one or more misfire DTCs due to the GDI injectors leaking internally. This may be caused by internal filter breakage in the injector.
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.
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.
This bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for the GDI injector(s) in certain 21-23MY Sonata, 21-22MY Santa Fe, certain 22MY Santa Cruz, and certain 21-23MY Tucson equipped with 2.5L GDI engines with one or more misfire DTC(s) due to internally leaking ...
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.
This bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for the GDI injector(s) in certain 21-22MY Sonata, Santa Fe, and certain 22MY Santa Cruz, and Tucson equipped with 2.5L GDI engines with one or more misfire DTC(s) due to internally leaking GDI injector(s).
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.
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 ...
This bulletin is issued to provide the extended battery diagnosis procedure using GDS-M. This battery diagnosis function displays the various battery-related faults such as: ⢠Internal short circuit ⢠Battery deterioration ⢠Malfunction of electronic ...
1 more on this problem
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.
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 2 bulletins · 5 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.
This bulletin provides the procedure for updating the automatic transmission TCU and ECU software (Santa Fe ONLY) to improve shift quality, judder with ISG enabled and hesitation when accelerating.
Complaints filed by year
41 complaints came in 2026. 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 2021 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 Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 236.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe and Sonata vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 207.
All 4 recalls on the 2021 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 2021 Hyundai Sonata?
Stalling, with 17 of the 134 complaints.
At what mileage do 2021 Hyundai Sonata problems start?
Of the 40 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 17,000 miles and half by about 41,000.
Is the 2021 Hyundai Sonata better or worse than the 2020 and 2022?
Counted per year on the road, the 2021 has about as many complaints as the 2020 and more complaints than the 2022: 22 a year against 25 and 19.
How many 2021 Hyundai Sonata complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
9 of them (7%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for stalling on the 2021 Hyundai Sonata?
No recall on file for the 2021 Hyundai Sonata is on the same system as stalling. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.