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2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
52 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 15, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Electrical system problems dominate (46% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 10%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (24) · Engine (20)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Electrical system
46%24 complaints · 13 in the last 2 years
“The vehicle’s 12-volt electrical system repeatedly loses power within about 1 hour of sitting. The car becomes completely unresponsive (cannot unlock or start) and req…”
Engine
38%20 complaints · 7 in the last 2 years
“Air flow check engine light alerted and source was faulty fuel injector which required replacement of 4 fuel injectors.”
Engine & cooling
6%3 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he received an alert indicating that the engine was overheating …”
Driver assistance
6%3 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“On three separate occasions, while going very fast (60-78 mph), the automatic emergency braking system turns on. The warning lights flash and there is some type of war…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2021 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2021? See how every Sonata Hybrid model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.