My sunroof exploded within 100 miles of ownership. My first drive home to be exact. Was determined to be defective by Hyundai.
The worst 2026 Hyundai Sonata problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Tires1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Tires1
Recalls 1
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
- Risk
- An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 293. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on January 28, 2026.
Recall number 26V047000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2026 Hyundai Sonata 19
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Transmission oil leak at the bottom of the valve body cover due to a loose oil level plug that could...
- Transmission oil leak at the bottom of the valve body cover due to a loose oil level plug that could...
- Fuel filler door that is difficult to open due to the push-type opener mechanism
- Fuel filler door that is difficult to open due to the push-type opener mechanism
- Intermittent battery discharge condition due to the air conditioning controller not fully powering down...
- Intermittent battery discharge condition due to the air conditioning controller not fully powering down...
- This bulletin provides information related to the navigation and head unit software changes introduced in...
- Some Hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (PDW) sensor(s) that may trigger...
- Higher-than-expected engine oil consumption
- Higher-than-expected engine oil consumption
2026 Hyundai Sonata fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl Hybrid | FWD | 47 | 56 | 51 |
| 2.5L 4‑cyl | FWD | 23-28 | 32-38 | 27-32 |
| 2.5L 4‑cyl | AWD | 24 | 33 | 27 |
What 2026 Hyundai Sonata owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
When backing into my parking spot the front driver side tire blew at the side wall. Then a few weeks late the Rear driver side tire started to bubble at the same spot and was showing signs that it was getting ready to blow. The first one was immediately replaced under Kumho's warranty and then the second one was replaced on my dime. I feel that the other 2 tires could blow at anytime as the car only has 2800 miles on it and has not been involved in any significant impact or accident.
2026 hyundai sonata limited hybrid first owner. The sunroof above the driver's seat exploded while i was driving 70mph on the highway. Sounded like a gunshot. It was completely shattered but thankfully did not rain down on me. Local hyundai dealer inspected it and warranty denied from hyundai due to "caused by an outside influence." I did not see or hear any rocks or debris.
Compare the 2026 Hyundai Sonata
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2026 Hyundai Sonata
Is the 2026 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
Owners have filed 3 complaints about the 2026 Hyundai Sonata, fewer than a typical Sonata model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2026 Hyundai Sonata?
Tires, with 1 complaint.
How many recalls does the 2026 Hyundai Sonata have?
1 recall, covering electrical system.
What year does the Hyundai Sonata have bad tires?
The Hyundai Sonata model years with the most tires complaints are 2011 (27 complaints), 2012 (12 complaints) and 2002 (10 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2026 Hyundai Sonata get?
Official estimates for the 2026 Hyundai Sonata range from 27 to 51 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl hybrid, FWD) gets 47 city and 56 highway.
VIN decoder
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