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2019 Hyundai Sonata problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
75%
99 of 132 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

75% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2019 Hyundai Sonata are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.

Worse than 95% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 29 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 61%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2019 Hyundai Sonata have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 99 of 132 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Hyundai Sonata concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (75%), and the largest group is filed under engine (86). For comparison, the 2018 scores 69% and the 2020 scores 49%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
99
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
161
this model year
Fires reported
6
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
8 crashes · 6 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE86 · 53%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER23 · 14%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING18 · 11%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM12 · 7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12 · 7%
AIR BAGS9 · 6%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2019 compares with other Hyundai Sonata years

Of the 14 Hyundai Sonata years with enough complaints to score, the 2019 is the worst on engine and transmission share (75%). The best is the 2010 (18%). By volume, the 2019 drew 161 complaints (99 drivetrain), against 373 for the 2018 and 194 for the 2020.

Hyundai Sonata years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2019 Hyundai Sonata

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2019 Hyundai Sonata said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

ENGINE07/20/20201 INJURED
EXHAUST TIP UNDER RIGHT REAR BUMPER EXTENDS PAST END OF BUMPER. A FEW WEEKS AGO SOMEONE BURNED THEIR LEG WHILE ACCESSING THE TRUNK. YESTERDAY, A SEPARATE PERSON WAS ALSO BURNED FROM SAME EXHAUST TIP FROM STANDING CLOSE TO BUMPER TO ACCESS THE TRUNK. WE HAD 2016 SONATA FOR 4 YEARS AND NEVER EXPERIENCED BURNS FROM SIMILA…

One of 99 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Checking one particular 2019 Hyundai Sonata? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2019 Hyundai Sonata

Does the 2019 Hyundai Sonata have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 99 of 132 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Hyundai Sonata concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (75%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2019 Hyundai Sonata?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2019 Hyundai Sonata is engine: 86 of 161 complaints (53%) name it, followed by exterior lighting (18) and fuel/propulsion system (12). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2019 Hyundai Sonata reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 75% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 95% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Hyundai Sonata years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Hyundai Sonata?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2019 Hyundai Sonata.

Which Hyundai Sonata years are better?

Among the Hyundai Sonata years we track, the 2010 (18%), the 2011 (43%) and the 2020 (49%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2019 (75%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/hyundai-sonata

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.