NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Structure complaints
16 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jul 30, 2026
Fuel/propulsion SystemSeatsStructure
Car was taken to dealership for inspection. Upon inspection, it was determined that the fuel tank had expanded and pushed towards the heat shield, and expanded upward pushing up the back seats of vehicle. It was determined to not safe to drive. Manufacturer contacted me and offered a buyback. Upon their offer of a buyback, it wa…
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Car was taken to dealership for inspection. Upon inspection, it was determined that the fuel tank had expanded and pushed towards the heat shield, and expanded upward pushing up the back seats of vehicle. It was determined to not safe to drive. Manufacturer contacted me and offered a buyback. Upon their offer of a buyback, it was determined that I would owe the manufacturer approximately $2,000. I have requested that they fix it, and they have refused to give me the paperwork I requested about the car's condition and fixability. I am in the process of negotiating and am filing this complaint for the record.
NHTSA ODI #11753819
89,000 miles · Jun 22, 2026
Fuel System, GasolineStructure
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the family inside the vehicle, a strong gasoline odor was inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the fuel gauge was lowering quickly. Upon exiting the vehicle, the contact became aware of gasoline gushing …
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The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the family inside the vehicle, a strong gasoline odor was inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the fuel gauge was lowering quickly. Upon exiting the vehicle, the contact became aware of gasoline gushing heavily out of the vehicle onto the ground. Two months prior to the failure, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer due to an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V796000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the recall repair was not performed because the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was determined that the gas valve was not properly fixed. The abnormal sound in the rear of the vehicle was due to the fuel expansion, which caused the tank to rupture and melt. The melting caused the fuel pump to expand and melt, causing structural damage to the body of the vehicle. The structural expansion caused the rear passenger seats to raise up. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000.
NHTSA ODI #11745596
Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2026
Structure
White pain is pealing off and it’s pretty bad especially when going through car wash
NHTSA ODI #11718241
Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2025
Structure
I own a 2020 Hyundai Sonata with factory-applied paint. The vehicle developed paint peeling/clear-coat failure on the driver-side rear quarter panel without any prior damage, accident, or repainting. The paint began separating from the body, exposing the underlying surface. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Hyundai dealer.…
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I own a 2020 Hyundai Sonata with factory-applied paint. The vehicle developed paint peeling/clear-coat failure on the driver-side rear quarter panel without any prior damage, accident, or repainting. The paint began separating from the body, exposing the underlying surface. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Hyundai dealer. The dealer acknowledged a paint adhesion failure and submitted the issue to Hyundai. Hyundai declined to fully cover the repair, stating the model year was not included in their paint warranty extension, even though similar peeling paint defects have been acknowledged and covered by Hyundai on earlier Sonata model years. The dealer ultimately repainted both rear panels due to the nature of the failure, but Hyundai required me to pay approximately 20% of the repair cost as a goodwill arrangement. I was not offered a full repaint or full reimbursement. I have also observed early signs of potential paint adhesion issues around the rear window frame, raising concern that the defect may progress to other areas of the vehicle. This appears to be a manufacturing paint adhesion defect rather than normal wear, and similar issues have been widely reported on Hyundai vehicles. I am reporting this issue to document a recurring paint adhesion defect on the 2020 Hyundai Sonata and to assist in identifying a potential pattern affecting additional vehicles.
NHTSA ODI #11706069
Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2025
Fuel/propulsion SystemSeatsStructure
In early May 2025 while driving around 40mph, I heard a very loud pop which startled me. Pulled over and looked back and noticed my backseats were push up out of place. I attempted to put the seat back into place but it wouldn’t fit into the latch anymore. The framing underneath the seats looked pretty damaged so I took it to a …
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In early May 2025 while driving around 40mph, I heard a very loud pop which startled me. Pulled over and looked back and noticed my backseats were push up out of place. I attempted to put the seat back into place but it wouldn’t fit into the latch anymore. The framing underneath the seats looked pretty damaged so I took it to a local mechanic. After doing some research, he found information for a check valve/fuel tank recall (Service Campaign 9B1) and then advised me to go a Hyundai dealership. I attempted to take it to the dealership, whom sent me away after I advised them of what happened. I came back the next day asking them to take a look at while informing them about the recall that could be related. Later that evening, they called and said the issue was directly related to the recall and the repairs would be covered. My car was in their possession for from 5.12.25 to 7.25.25 without any updates or instructions on what is happening. I was told they’re waiting to hear back from Hyundai Manufacturer on how to proceed. They returned my car to me on 7.25.25 stating everything was repaired. On 7.31.25 they called me back stating my tank needs to be replaced and bring the car back asap. My car was again being repaired and was returned to me on 8.25.25. Now my vehicle will not start randomly sometimes. At this point, I’m under the impression my vehicle is no longer safe as all the issues I’ve been facing are fuel related.
NHTSA ODI #11684797
Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2025
Fuel/propulsion SystemStructure
Service Campaign 9B1 That my gas tank has explanded/exploded due to the issue noted in the subject line. As you can see the whole bottom of the backseats have been raised up imcluding the part that connects to the gas tank itself. My car is immobilized and not drivable during this time. What is the next step to take?
NHTSA ODI #11651228
Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2025
Fuel/propulsion SystemStructure
I took my car in for a standard oil change and tune up. They found out that the fuel tank had expanded to the point where it caused significant damage to the metal frame. The Hyundai dealership sent it to the local body shop for an estimate for the frame, they sent it back because the dealership hadn't removed the gas tank, then…
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I took my car in for a standard oil change and tune up. They found out that the fuel tank had expanded to the point where it caused significant damage to the metal frame. The Hyundai dealership sent it to the local body shop for an estimate for the frame, they sent it back because the dealership hadn't removed the gas tank, then the dealership sent it back to the body shop. It's been 3+ weeks, my car is still in the shop, and I haven't received any indication of whether my car is able to be fixed. The dashboard never displayed any warning messages and there were no symptoms of the problem. I had no idea the gas tank had expanded and could've caused an explosion or fire.
NHTSA ODI #11647105
47,000 miles · Aug 21, 2024
Structure
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that upon exiting the vehicle during a rainstorm, she became aware that water had filled the interior of the rear driver's side door panel, which began to leak when the door was open. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable…
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The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that upon exiting the vehicle during a rainstorm, she became aware that water had filled the interior of the rear driver's side door panel, which began to leak when the door was open. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine how the water was entering the door panel. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 47,000.
NHTSA ODI #11610090
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2024
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainStructure
I was on my way back home from Alexandria LA on [XXX] when I heard like the sound of an blow out tire but wasn’t happen to look in back of car and seen back seat was blown off the area of the car and proceeded to see that the gas tank was expanded like you would see a balloon and the me car started running funny and. Then a se…
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I was on my way back home from Alexandria LA on [XXX] when I heard like the sound of an blow out tire but wasn’t happen to look in back of car and seen back seat was blown off the area of the car and proceeded to see that the gas tank was expanded like you would see a balloon and the me car started running funny and. Then a service code comes across the screen of the radio po45100 , so I pull over and look beneath the car and see that the gas tank is so expanded it’s now pressing against the exhaust pipe. So I turned car off and here we are now I’m without a car due to this. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #11597170
Mileage unknown · May 18, 2023
Structure
Exterior paint is peeling and stripping. Hood, doors, front and rear bumper, side skirts, and front lip.
NHTSA ODI #11522690
Official recalls
4Nov 17, 2025
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Sonata vehicles. A damaged check valve can allow air to enter the fuel tank, causing it to expand and contact hot exhaust components, melting the tank.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the check valve. The fuel tank assembly will be inspected for damage and replaced if necessary. Additionally, dealers will inspect and update the engine control unit software. All repairs will be performed as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning March 13, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 286. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 19, 2025.
Mar 28, 2022
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
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. Hyundai's number for this recall is 221/010G.
Apr 9, 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Nexo and Sonata vehicles. The Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) software may fail to prevent vehicle movement upon detection of an RSPA system malfunction.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Unintended vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the RSPA software, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 191.
Feb 28, 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Sonata vehicles produced between October 22, 2019 and February 13, 2020. The tire pressure label inside the driver's door and the owner's manual state an incorrect tire size. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The incorrect tire information may mislead the vehicle owner to install the wrong tire size, potentially affecting vehicle handling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install new label stickers over the tire pressure label and in the owner's manual, free of charge. The recall began April 22, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 190.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power
Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing. There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.