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Hyundai Sonata vs Nissan Altima: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 683 complaints per model year about the Hyundai Sonata and 527 about the Nissan Altima.

Side by side

Hyundai SonataNissan Altima
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints14,34811,065
Complaints per model year683527
Recalls4943
Years to avoid2006201120122013201520172008200920132014
Best years201020182020201820192020
Most common problemEngineTransmission
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy27-51 mpg combined (2026)28-30 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Hyundai Sonata: 1,0472006 Nissan Altima: 82420062007 Hyundai Sonata: 6962007 Nissan Altima: 4712008 Hyundai Sonata: 4252008 Nissan Altima: 1,03120082009 Hyundai Sonata: 4602009 Nissan Altima: 1,5472010 Hyundai Sonata: 3452010 Nissan Altima: 38120102011 Hyundai Sonata: 3,3802011 Nissan Altima: 2422012 Hyundai Sonata: 1,5592012 Nissan Altima: 42620122013 Hyundai Sonata: 1,9212013 Nissan Altima: 2,3152014 Hyundai Sonata: 7502014 Nissan Altima: 1,11420142015 Hyundai Sonata: 1,1572015 Nissan Altima: 9562016 Hyundai Sonata: 7302016 Nissan Altima: 55520162017 Hyundai Sonata: 7692017 Nissan Altima: 3952018 Hyundai Sonata: 3752018 Nissan Altima: 22620182019 Hyundai Sonata: 1622019 Nissan Altima: 2352020 Hyundai Sonata: 1832020 Nissan Altima: 16220202021 Hyundai Sonata: 1352021 Nissan Altima: 712022 Hyundai Sonata: 982022 Nissan Altima: 3220222023 Hyundai Sonata: 882023 Nissan Altima: 302024 Hyundai Sonata: 482024 Nissan Altima: 4420242025 Hyundai Sonata: 172025 Nissan Altima: 72026 Hyundai Sonata: 32026 Nissan Altima: 12026
Hyundai SonataNissan Altima

Problems compared

SonataAltima
Engine4,9141,363
Steering2,2821,251
Electrical1,8231,355
Airbags1,6971,587
Brakes1,109576
Fuel system996278
Transmission9241,914
Lights9821,133

Questions about the Hyundai Sonata vs Nissan Altima

Which is more reliable, the Hyundai Sonata or the Nissan Altima?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Hyundai Sonata has 6 years to avoid and the Nissan Altima 4. The Nissan Altima has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Nissan Altima drew fewer complaints per model year (527 vs 683), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Hyundai Sonata or the Nissan Altima?

From 2006 to 2026, the Hyundai Sonata was covered by 49 recalls and the Nissan Altima by 43.

What years of the Hyundai Sonata and Nissan Altima should you avoid?

Hyundai Sonata: 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017. Nissan Altima: 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014.

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