Most common 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problems
Share of the 16 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid complaints by model year
Best Sonata Hybrid years: 2019, 2018, 2014. Years to avoid: 2021, 2016, 2012. Compare all years →
2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid recalls (1)
Latches/locks/linkages › Trunk lid › Latch
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid:
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid owners say
Engine & cooling
I noticed a strange smell almost like burning maple syrup in the garage for months. I thought it was just a different smell from Hybrid cars as I didn't have this used car very long. While driving at times the acceleration would stutter, again I thought this was just expected having never driven a hybrid car. Then on a trip a couple hours out of town someone stopped me on the road to tell me I was burning antifreeze and he could see white smoke coming from the car. I pulled over and didn't notice anything and continued driving but the heater wasn't working, it was blowing cool air despite the heat being on. I pulled into an auto parts store and got antifreeze in case. And then the overheating alert came on. I waited and filled it up and made an appointment at the dealer. They diagnosed it as a a blown gasket and a bad catalytic convertor and replaced all of that. …
I went to work at 5 in the morning, I turned the heater for the first time after last winter. I noticed that the heater was struggling to warm the cabin. After 10 minutes driven I got an overheating alert on the dashboard. I pulled over on the freeway shoulder and it started to notice a lot of steam coming from the exhaust and a really strong coolant smell. I waited for the engine to cool down and went back home, I drove for 6 minutes and notice a huge amount of smoke coming from the exhaust I pulled over agin on the freeway and waited 20 minutes i finally arrived home and notice the coolant reservoir was empty since the car was burning all the coolant through the exhaust. I went online and saw many many people with Hybrid sonatas complaining about the same issue. This should be a massive recall many of the customers complaining had 20 to 50 thousand miles on their vehicle. …
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while parking the vehicle and pressing the power button, the vehicle continued running. The contact was able to turn off the vehicle by repeatedly pressing the power button. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.
Over the last 3 months at least a dozen times the 12v auxiliary battery is completely dead after parking the car outdoors for an hour or so. This poses a safety issue, especially at night because you cannot easily access the car. You have to fumble around trying to get the key hole cover off in order to use the key supplied in the fob. Once you get access, you then have to press the 12v reset button in order to get the car started. This issue has been reported on the Hyundai sonata forums since the introduction of the 2020 sonata. At this point the dealer has not been able to find the issues as they say it has been occur while they have the car. Asking for the problem to occur while they are watching is unrealistic . Their calls to Hyundai tech support has been useless as they claim to have not heard of this issue.
2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid | 6-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 45 / 51 / 47 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid a good car?
Based on 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 Sonata Hybrid rates better than average: 51% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Sonata Hybrid at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?
The engine & cooling — 8 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (6) and steering (1).
How many recalls does the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid have?
There is 1 recall for the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, the most recent from March 28, 2022 (latch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019, 2018 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2021, 2016 and 2012. See the full Hyundai Sonata Hybrid years comparison.
At what mileage do 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 12,000 miles; 100% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.