Lemon Law Check › 2018 Hyundai Sonata

2018 Hyundai Sonata Problems, Recalls & Complaints

The 2018 Hyundai Sonata has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 358 owner complaints filed with federal regulators, with complaints concentrated in engine. Owners whose Sonata has needed repeated repairs for the same warranty problem may qualify for a buyback or compensation under state lemon laws.

Most-reported problem areas

Complaint counts by vehicle system, from 358 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata:

Engine121 complaints
Electrical system51 complaints
Unknown or other43 complaints
Power train34 complaints
Exterior lighting18 complaints
Structure14 complaints

What owners told federal regulators

"- component or system that failed: engine (cylinder #4 misfire) - safety was put at risk twice: once when knock sensor went off on interstate (october) and engine went into limp mode (aka protection mode). required a tow from the, which was tricky with a vehicle full of passen…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2024
"The car buck going threw lights it had no power. it would bog down when you lease expect it. this doesn't always happen. but once happen at 1:30am. the light been on for awhile. i go threw a green light the car went lip and the semi laid on his horn at 1:30am. because he didn…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2019
"The headlights on my 2018 hyundai sonata limited have condensation in them. it has been there from the day i bought the car on 10/1/18. that day the dealership took pictures to send to hyundai and 1 month later replaced the headlights. but the new headlights were worse than th…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2017

NHTSA recall campaigns (1)

Latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:latch
06/08/2021 · 21V619000
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As…

Recall repairs are performed free of charge at franchised dealers. Check your specific vehicle with the free VIN recall checker.

Has your Sonata been in the shop repeatedly?

If the same warranty problem has needed 2+ repair attempts — or your Sonata has spent 30+ days out of service — it may qualify for a buyback, replacement, or cash compensation under your state's lemon law. Manufacturers pay the legal fees in most states, so the case review costs you nothing.

Check My Sonata — Free →

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Hyundai Sonata?

Based on 358 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata are engine, electrical system, unknown or other.

How many recalls does the 2018 Hyundai Sonata have?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata. Recall repairs are always free at franchised dealers regardless of warranty status.

Is the 2018 Hyundai Sonata a lemon?

A specific vehicle qualifies as a lemon based on its own repair history, not the model's overall record. If your Sonata has had engine or other warranty problems repaired 2–4 times without success, or has spent 30+ days in the shop, it may qualify under your state's lemon law — attorneys evaluate this free of charge.

Researching this car as a buyer instead? Read the full Carivo review of the 2018 Hyundai Sonata.

All recall and complaint figures on this page come directly from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) federal records for this make, model, and year, fetched at page build time and cached daily. Complaint excerpts are owner-submitted reports to NHTSA, lightly truncated. Carivo is an independent data site, not a law firm; lemon law eligibility is determined solely by attorneys under your state's statute.