AI Damage2019 Hyundai Sonata: common problems
Owners of the 2019 Hyundai Sonata filed 162 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and exterior lighting. The maker issued 145 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 162
- involving a crash
- 8
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 145
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 54% of all complaints
- 2 Exterior lighting 11% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 7% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 7% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 5% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 4% of all complaints
- Engine: 87 complaints (54% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 26.
- Exterior lighting: 18 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Electrical system: 12 complaints (7% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 49.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 12 complaints (7% of all).
- Air bags: 9 complaints (6% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- 2 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- 2 L · plug-in hybrid · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- automatic, 8-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 6-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 162 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 87 | 2 | 26 |
| Exterior lighting | 18 | 1 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 12 | 0 | 49 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 9 | 3 | 5 |
| Engine and cooling | 8 | 0 | 33 |
| Powertrain | 8 | 0 | 16 |
| Structure | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Steering | 6 | 1 | 10 |
| Lane departure | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
There were no warning lights illuminated. None of the air bags deployed. The vehicle was idled back to a friend's place of residence. The contact's husband suffered injuries from the vehicle collision.
The Low beams have been replaced and are working but the headlights are completely out and flashes on the dash board. I have Hi beam’s only. There is an electrical issue with the vehicle and is very dangerous to drive with the oil leaks that are continuously happening.
This vehicle was bought brand new from West Broad Hyundai in Richmond , VA. I was financing this vehicle had it for almost two years before it was stolen. The police said it was a couple of teenagers. I lost thousands of dollars almost 2 years worth of car payments.
The contact stated while she was at a red light, another vehicle crashed into the back of her vehicle however, the seat belt failed to retract, causing the contact to suffer whiplash and a bump to her knees against the dashboard behind the steering wheel. A police report was filed.
In this crash the airbags did not deploy. There was no previous indication that the airbags were faulty, no recall, and the vehicle was brand new at time of purchase 7 months prior to the incident.
The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 58 MPH.
The low-pressure fuel pump module assembly, located directly beneath the rear passenger seat cushion, experienced a plastic housing failure. A stress fracture on the upper plastic fuel outlet nipple caused raw liquid gasoline to actively weep and pool on top of the module inside the passenger cabin.
Was told car burning oil. Took to dealer for Oil Consumption Test. Had to pay for oil change. Came back a little before 1,000 miles and car failed. They charging me 900.00 for next step because I can’t find ALL the oil changes. I just don’t get it, if this is a known issue with this model engine why do I have to pay.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 398 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 19% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sonata has 236 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 162, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this…
- Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition…
- Certain vehicles may exhibit excessive paint peeling or bubbling of the primer/paint film on the exterior…
Certain vehicles may exhibit excessive paint peeling or bubbling of the primer/paint film on the exterior metal body panels: hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. This warranty extension…
- Following completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain vehicles may…
Following completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain vehicles may exhibit a brief hesitation or rough shifting condition during cold start operation. If present, this condition is…
- Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II…
Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II engines may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions. The California Air Resources Board has determined that these…
- Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II…
Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II engines may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions. This bulletin provides instructions for updating the Engine…
- Certain Hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on metal body panels
hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. The paint warranty coverage for affected vehicles has been extended to 10 years/unlimited miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of…
- Some Hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on metal body panels
hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. The paint warranty coverage for affected vehicles has been extended to 10 years/unlimited miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety…
- Certain 2019 – 2020 model year Santa Fe, 2017 – 2018 model year Santa Fe Sport, 2015 – 2019 model year…
Certain 2019 – 2020 model year Santa Fe, 2017 – 2018 model year Santa Fe Sport, 2015 – 2019 model year Sonata, and 2018 – 2021 model year Tucson vehicles may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions. Hyundai is conducting…
- Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather
This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an inspection on the starter magnetic switch for potential freezing and, if necessary, replace the starter magnetic switch (solenoid) assembly.
NHTSA lists 145 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Hyundai Sonata?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, exterior lighting, electrical system. Total complaints: 162. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: oil leak or consumption (30%), warning lights, check engine (25%), engine failure or replacement (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA lists 145 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 Hyundai Sonata from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.