HYUNDAI

Hyundai Problems

48,542 owner complaints across 34 Hyundai models. Below — what fails first, how often it ends in a crash, and which models draw the most reports.

NHTSA owner complaints · 48,542 reports · 34 models · Updated Sep 19, 2026
Quick answer

Hyundai owners have filed 48,542 complaints with NHTSA across 34 models. On average the car was 5.15 years old when the problem happened, and 36.4% of reports fall inside the first three years — while the factory warranty was still running.

What breaks on Hyundai

The systems Hyundai owners report most, and how often each failure ended in a crash.

FIG.01·Hyundai — what breaks
SystemComplaintsShare of HyundaiEnded in a crash
Engine8,43917.4%0.6%
Air Bags2,9866.2%28%
Steering2,8325.8%2.4%
Unknown Or Other2,6165.4%3.2%
Power Train2,3534.8%2.1%
Electrical System2,3284.8%0.9%
Structure1,4823.1%1.3%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1,4142.9%4.7%
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA owner complaints

When Hyundai problems show up

FIG.02·Hyundai — when problems appear
MeasureValueWhat it means
Average age at failure5.15 yearsHow old the car was when the problem happened
Reported inside 3 years36.4%Share of complaints filed while the factory warranty was likely still running
Complaints describing a crash2,584Of 48,542 total
Complaints describing a fire1,330Of 48,542 total
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA owner complaints

A low average age does not automatically mean a fragile car: a brand with a young fleet on the road will always skew early. Read it next to the share reported inside three years.

Which Hyundai models draw the most complaints

Volume follows sales, so a bestseller will always top this list. The columns worth reading are age at failure and how many reports ended in a crash.

FIG.03·Hyundai models by owner complaints
ModelComplaintsShare of HyundaiAvg age at failureCrashes
SONATA14,57330%5.9 yrs644
ELANTRA7,77516%5.4 yrs734
SANTA FE6,94714.3%5.6 yrs318
TUCSON6,02812.4%4.4 yrs228
PALISADE2,3614.9%1.8 yrs53
ACCENT1,6593.4%5.1 yrs219
IONIQ 51,2902.7%1.5 yrs26
VELOSTER1,2232.5%5.8 yrs35
GENESIS1,1512.4%5.4 yrs62
SANTA FE SPORT1,1302.3%6.1 yrs16
KONA7631.6%2.7 yrs45
AZERA6511.3%6.5 yrs28
VERACRUZ6121.3%8.7 yrs13
TIBURON5601.2%4.2 yrs77
SANTA CRUZ3110.6%0.9 yrs9
ROWS 15·SOURCE NHTSA owner complaints

Hyundai complaints by model year

A bad generation shows up here as a block of years, not as a single spike. Recent years look quiet simply because those cars are young and still under warranty.

FIG.04·Hyundai complaints by model year
Model yearComplaintsCrashesFires
202619917
20251,075553
20241,058563
20231,517609
20221,8206611
20211,1063311
20201,5506729
20191,2436435
20181,5696455
20173,95510373
20163,2928579
20152,41086103
20142,16694113
20134,812226238
20123,465160146
20114,061160131
20101,2747626
20091,3188328
20081,5669356
20071,99710938
20061,48910119
20056758711
20046408112
200385710513
200277810211
ROWS 25·SOURCE NHTSA owner complaints

What Hyundai owners report

Grouped by the system owners named. Open any row for the full reports, in their own words — one per model so the same fault does not repeat.

Engine 17% 8,439 Read
2014 Hyundai ELANTRA · crash · fire

I was turning into a parking space at my work and almost at a complete stop when the engine suddenly revved and accelerated, causing my car to jump the curb and hit a light pole. My foot was on the brake the whole time as I was coming to a stop. It happened so fast. One minute I was parking and the next second I hit the pole. I sustain several injuries and am waiting to hear about my car

2019 Hyundai KONA · crash · fire

Your website states I am not in a recall but indeed I have been under recall 302, now 974, and another one currently. The dealers have lied and falsified records. My new Kona with less than 31000 miles is burning more than a qt of oil weekly on average, knocks loudly, looses power, and now I'm finding burnt labels on the booster vac lines. The dealer states I was under recall 203 in 2020 for "vibration inspection" ABSOLUTELY NOT I was seen for recall 203 bad piston rings with less than 12k miles. Now for the SECOND time I'm told it's not safe nor advisable by Hyundai to park my vehicle in my driveway or garage due to fire risks of my car. The car is worth 30-45% lower value than retail due to issues. Hyundai has lied non stop, the dealers have lied non stop, and no one cares. I also have over 5k in wrap warranties that are not valid anymore due to abnormal oil consumption and the dealer will not allow me to remove the packs. It's all BS Now involved in a rear end collision not at fault. Hit at 40mph at a dead stop. It destroyed the rear collision system and bars as well as sensors but not one air bag deployment or safety feature. Almost 8k in repair and over 3 weeks in shop. In one of the safest vehicles nationaly

2012 Hyundai SANTA FE · crash · fire

The contact owned a 2012 hyundai santa fe. While driving approximately 20 mph, the contact was alerted of flames under the vehicle as black smoke poured from the engine. The contact crashed into a pole. The air bags deployed. The contact received bruises on the face and chest and experienced trouble breathing. Medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was towed and destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000

Air Bags 6% 2,986 Read
2023 Hyundai SANTA FE · crash · fire

I was recently involved in a front side swipe accident where a person ran a red light and hit me while I was passing through an intersection. The impact was all in the front of the vehicle where the air bag had deployed. The air bag caught on fire within seconds after it had deployed. Thankfully I was conscious to where I was able to unbuckle my seat belt quickly and someone came to my aid quickly enough to where I was able to exit the vehicle safely

2014 Hyundai SONATA · crash · fire

The contact owned a 2014 hyundai sonata. While making a left turn at 20 mph, another vehicle collided with the front driver side of the contact's vehicle. The contact noticed smoke and felt heat on her feet. A bystander pulled the contact from the vehicle and flames appeared underneath the driver's side. The fire department was called to extinguish the fire. The contact stated that the driver's side curtain and front passenger side air bags failed to deploy. The front driver's side air bag and passenger side curtain air bag deployed. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact sustained injuries to the chest, abdomen, and neck. The contact also sustained left and right leg and knee scratches and bruises that required medical attention. The driver and rear middle seat passenger of the other vehicle also sought medical attention, but the extent of their injuries was unknown. A police report was filed. It was unknown if a fire report was filed. The contact's vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The cause of the air bag failure was not determined. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 54,000

2016 Hyundai ELANTRA · crash · fire

The contact owns a 2016 hyundai elantra. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, the contact crashed into another vehicle. The contact stated that the air bags deployed and emitted fire during the deployment. A police report was filed. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 9,999

Steering 6% 2,832 Read
2019 Hyundai ELANTRA · crash · fire

The contact called on behalf of the driver of a 2019 hyundai elantra. While driving, the steering wheel seized. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into trees and a small abandoned home. The vehicle burst into flames. The driver was trapped inside the vehicle and burned to death. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The state trooper contacted hyundai of dothan (located at 2329 ross clark cir, dothan, al 36301, (334) 699-6416) where the vehicle was purchased. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The cause of the steering failure was unknown. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown

2024 Hyundai KONA · crash

The contact owned a 2024 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving and pulling out of a parking space, the steering wheel turned to the right and then left, after which the vehicle lost power and steering capability. As a result, the contact was unable to maintain control of the vehicle and collided with a pole. The contact could not recall any warning indicators that illuminated after the incident. The driver side bumper and hood sustained damage from the collision and a nearby concrete barrier was also scratched. The vehicle came to a stop in the parking lot in front of the pole. No air bags deployed. The vehicle was subsequently towed to a collision repair facility. No police report was filed. The insurance company determined the vehicle to be a total loss. The contact stated that the seatbelt locked during the crash, causing strain to the left shoulder and a laceration to the left thigh. The contact also reported striking the steering wheel. No medical treatment was sought. The dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 28,791

2025 Hyundai TUCSON · crash

My Tucson was involved in a MVA. I was hit in the rear end by another SUV on the rear back passenger side of the vehicle. During impact, the steering wheel literally detached from the dashboard in my driver's hands leaving us with no way to steer or maneuver the vehicle. The result of this safety failure could have lead to serious injury or death of myself, my driver or anybody in the path of the vehicle. We did have hit anything. There is zero front or side damage to the Tucson. No airbags deployed, not even the one in the steering wheel. There were no warning lights or anything indicating there was a problem w the vehicle. I called the dealership and filed a complaint with Hyundai consumer affairs. They had an inspector go inspect the vehicle and followed up w a letter stating the vehicle did as it was designed to. The vehicle was deemed a total loss from my insurance company. It is currently sitting in impound and unsure if it is available for future inspection. There was zero issues with the vehicle prior to this incident other than a stone chip to the windshield that was due to be replaced. This vehicle was only 5 months old

Unknown Or Other 5% 2,616 Read
2018 Hyundai KONA · crash · fire

The 565 and 566 required to be submitted by manufacture prior to sale in US lists the vehicle manufacturer in korea, describes vehicle as a truck and weight recorded at over 33000 lbs. The vehicle has had no safety Inspections and a rather loose self certification process allows the oversight and quality assurance that the vehicle did meet fmvss and all FMVSS requirements. Simply taking a manufactures word for it does not protect innocent consumers and endangers every driver on the road. The vehicle was driven on a fully capable scale and weighed 3, 126lbs fully loaded. The vehicle has a WMI of KM8, when a WMI search on the NHTSA website through manufacture information list only the Sonata as KM8 and decodes the vin KMH in the US not KM8. The window sticker lists a port of entry as PT, however again 0 import documentation is found. The Washington State DOL states the vehicle was manufactured in the US and shipped to the dealer. However the only US hyundai manufacture plant in the US was HMMA and they according to 555 and 566 submittal do not manufacture the Kona. The kona is not listed as manufactured by any US Hyundai rather Hatci is listed as a parent company and has a submittal of a 565 and 566 listing the Kona as a truck but was not submitted until 2023. Again my vehicle was said to have been registered in washington state in 2018. A recorded conversation I had recently with NHTSA safety hotline, NHTSA representative can be heard stating not every vehicle is test

2020 Hyundai ELANTRA · crash · fire

Car stalled while driving on highway… causing the car to crash. The air bags deployed and me out! The car burst into flames and I was rescued by another motorist

2016 Hyundai SONATA · crash · fire

As I was driving the car to a vacation resort, the car caught fire and was completely destroyed. Myself, adult son, and wife were in the car at the time. We were luckly to get out of the car before it blew up and killed us all. The car was melted down and completed destroyed. This event happened on May 2, 2021 near Pooler, GA. The only warning sign was smoke, then flames. We lost engine, brakes and control. We hit a light pole to stop the car. Police reports and fire department reports were filed

Power Train 5% 2,353 Read
2024 Hyundai SANTA FE · crash

The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned on and shifted into park, the vehicle unexpectedly rolled away with no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle then collided with a tree. The contact also stated that the air bags did not deploy during the crash. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was provided. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where full body repairs were completed. The vehicle was later taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred, and during the second incident the contact’s spouse attempted to stop the vehicle and was almost run over. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was provided. The contact stated that the their arms and fingers are hurting during the failure, The contact stated that the vehicle then collided with an area of the contact’s home. The contact stated their concern that there vehicle is very hazardous and very unsafe and the failure could have been worse for the contact's spouse. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000

2013 Hyundai ELANTRA · crash

2013 Hyundai Sonata has a loud knocking noise from engine. Purchases 8/5/25 at 43K miles, currently at 44K miles. There is a Technical Service Bulletin, # 22-EM-009H dated June 2022 about an extended warranty but its time limit is questionable. Unknown and undocumented when purchased. Not listed as an official recall so not covered under warranty repair and the only course of action I have been given is install a new motor quoted at $15K from local Hyundai dealer. Further research shows that driving should be limited to avoid further engine issues/fires. Occurrence since January 2026. Progressively worsening. Cause for concern. Is there an official recall on for the piston flap pending? Unsure if accident noted below is due to the issue

2022 Hyundai TUCSON · crash

The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while parked for approximately an hour and the front driver seat unoccupied, the contact's granddaughter climbed into the front seat from the rear to sit with the front passenger occupant and accidentally depressed the drive (D) button and the vehicle began rolling forward. The vehicle crashed into another parked vehicle. There were no injuries and no police report filed. Additionally, the contact stated that she attempted to switch to each gear and the vehicle's brake did not need to be applied to shift gears. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 28,000

Electrical System 5% 2,328 Read
2021 Hyundai SANTA FE · crash · fire

12v connector for phone charger melted my phone cord. Reported to Centennial Hyundai Las Vegas and High Desert Hyundai Kingman Az. Both service departments said my vehicle cannot detect the problem because I purchased a substandard plug-in. I have worked as an operator of high voltage electrical systems. I understand in some circumstances that a system cannot detect a fault, however the company is still responsible for the fire it caused. This is unsafe and can cause serious consequences. It must be corrected

1995 Hyundai ELANTRA · crash · fire

The consumer was traveling about 60mph on the highway, and with no prior warning saw flames shooting up though the hood area. Consumer pulled over immediately, and notified the police. Vehicle was towed to the dealership

2020 Hyundai Palisade · fire

I believe this is related to RECALL 235, Veh was parked on the street, thank god. The Palisade then spontaniusly caught fire, fire department had to be called and insurance company says its a total loss. Fire started in the rear driver side

Structure 3% 1,482 Read
2026 Hyundai TUCSON · crash

Hit a deer on highway and when impacted the hood flew up and smashed the windshield. I was unable to see where I was or if I was headed into the ditch or on coming traffic. The hood latch is metal the bar that the latch is attached to is plastic and broke completely off which allowed the hood to fly up and shatter the windshield. Having an important bracket like the hood bracket made out plastic is a huge safety issue. The vehicle is not available for pictures for the fact my insurance has deemed the vehicle unrepairable and have totaled the vehicle. I do believe checking into the plastic hood components should be conducted for a safety issue

2016 Hyundai SANTA FE SPORT · crash

As I was driving the hood opened breaking the windshield which obstructed my view and caused me to veer off-road and crash.I acquired the vehicle less than a year ago and only learned of a recall for hood latches from the tow truck driver. Afterwards. I had no prior problems with the latch opening and I was not physically injured but my vehicle is a total loss

2023 Hyundai SANTA CRUZ · fire

The contact owned a 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The contact stated that while exiting the vehicle to go into a store, he looked back and noticed the vehicle was on fire. No warning lights illuminated. The contact mentioned he noticed the fire was coming from the rear driver's side quarter panel. The contact called 911. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. A police report was not filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was taken to a savage yard, and the insurance will then have the vehicle towed to a body shop. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and they informed the contact that they would inspect the vehicle, and they also offered to buy back the vehicle. Recently, he got an email informing him that they are not going to buy back the vehicle. The failure mileage was 18,000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic 3% 1,414 Read
2013 Hyundai Elantra · fire

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the ABS warning light illuminated. The following day, while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the vehicle caught on fire. The contact's dog woke up the contact around 5:00 AM, at which point the contact discovered that the vehicle was on fire. The Fire Department extinguished the fire and informed the contact that the fire appeared to be electrical; however, it was unknown whether a fire report was filed. The contact stated that the fire appeared to have originated underneath the hood, which left the front end of the vehicle completely burned. There was no other property damage, and no injuries were reported. A Police report was filed. The vehicle remained in the driveway, and the insurance company had not yet been notified of the fire. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000

2025 Hyundai Palisade · crash

The contact owned a 2025 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed with both feet, but the brakes failed to engage properly. The vehicle slid and jumped, and the brakes made a grinding sound. No warning light was illuminated. The failure caused the vehicle to rear-end another vehicle in front. The air bags deployed. The contact experienced neck pain, and her husband suffered a burn mark from the air bag deployment. The contact's eleven-year-old son suffered neck pain and a seat belt burn, while her other child had no injuries seated in a car seat. Medical attention was received. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard and declared a total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that prior to the crash, the vehicle had been taken to the dealer for the brake failure, and the dealer performed a brake inspection and passed the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000

2013 Hyundai Veloster · fire

The contact's daughter owns a 2013 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it caught on fire. The vehicle became engulfed in flames, and the authorities were called to the scene. The Fire Department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was later towed to an impound lot where it was deemed a total loss. No injuries were reported. A police report was filed. A nearby roadside electrical box was damaged due to the heat from the fire. Prior to the fire, the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V132000 (Electrical System). The contact was informed by the dealer that the vehicle did not have a parking sensor, and the recall repair would not apply to the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact later discovered that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the owner was not made aware of the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown

Unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA. Percentages are shares of all 48,542 Hyundai complaints.

Hyundai against the rest

FIG.05·Hyundai versus other brands
MeasureWhere Hyundai sitsOut of
By complaint volume#829 brands with 3,000+ complaints
By age at failure (later is better)#2329 brands
Complaints ending in a crash5.3%across all 48,542 reports
ROWS 3·SOURCE NHTSA owner complaints + ForCar

Ranking by volume says more about how many cars a brand sells than about how they hold up. Age at failure is the fairer of the two.

Hyundai problems by model

31 Hyundai models have owner complaints on file. Pick one for its worst years, failing systems and what owners actually wrote. Another 3 Hyundai models have no complaints on record at all.

FIG.06·Hyundai problems by model
ModelOwner complaintsYearsMost reported system
Hyundai Sonata14,5731989–2026Engine
Hyundai Elantra7,7751992–2026Engine
Hyundai Santa Fe6,9472001–2026Engine
Hyundai Tucson6,0282005–2026Engine
Hyundai Palisade2,3612020–2026Service brakes
Hyundai Accent1,6601995–2026Air bags
Hyundai Ioniq 51,2902022–2026Electrical system
Hyundai Veloster1,2232012–2021Engine
Hyundai Genesis1,1512009–2016Service brakes
Hyundai Santa Fe Sport1,1302013–2018Engine
Hyundai Kona7632018–2026Engine
Hyundai Azera6512006–2018Air bags
Hyundai Veracruz6122007–2013Electrical system
Hyundai Tiburon5601997–2008Power train
Hyundai Santa Cruz3112022–2026Power train
Hyundai Entourage2472006–2014Electrical system
Hyundai Excel2221986–1994Engine and engine cooling
Hyundai Genesis Coupe1802010–2016Service brakes
Hyundai Elantra Touring1522010–2010Steering
Hyundai Venue1342020–2026Electrical system
Hyundai Ioniq 61242023–2026Electrical system
Hyundai Equus942011–2016Seats
Hyundai Elantra GT792017–2020Engine
Hyundai Veloster N592019–2022Lane departure
Hyundai Scoupe481991–1995Engine and engine cooling
Hyundai XG300472001–2001Engine and engine cooling
Hyundai Elantra N382022–2026Electrical system
Hyundai Santa Fe XL252019–2026Engine
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N182025–2026Electrical system
Hyundai Kona N112022–2026Electrical system
Hyundai Ioniq12017–2026Electrical system
ROWS 31·SOURCE NHTSA owner complaints
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How we count

Every figure here comes from complaints owners filed with NHTSA — 1,109,349 of them, covering 2,013 models built between 1981 and 2026.

A complaint is an unverified report: someone wrote down what happened to their car. It is not a confirmed defect and not a recall. What makes the volume useful is the pattern — when thousands of owners of the same build describe the same failure, that is a signal no marketing brochure will give you.

Two things we do that the source does not. First, we compute the age of the car at the moment of failure from the incident date and the model year. Second, we group complaints by the first 11 characters of the VIN — the production series — so a bad plant run does not disappear into a model-wide average.

Frequently asked questions

How reliable is Hyundai?

Owners have filed 48,542 complaints across 34 Hyundai models. On its own that number reflects how many Hyundai cars are on the road — compare the average age at failure (5.15 years) instead.

What breaks most often on a Hyundai?

The most reported system is Engine with 8,439 complaints.

Do Hyundai problems show up under warranty?

36.4% of Hyundai complaints describe something that happened in the first three years, while the factory warranty was likely still running.

Which Hyundai model has the most complaints?

See the model list above — each card shows its complaint count, and the model page breaks it down by year and by system.

Owner complaints from NHTSA, published as filed and unverified. Age at failure computed by ForCar from incident date and model year; production series grouped by the first 11 VIN characters. Last updated Sep 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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