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2020 Hyundai Sonata Body & Structure Problems

12 owner-reported body & structure complaints from NHTSA data

12
Complaints
Feb 2021Dec 2025
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (12)

criticalSTRUCTURE,SEATS,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2025

While driving at 40 mph, you heard a loud pop and discovered your back seats had popped out of their latches with damaged framing underneath. The issue was traced to a fuel tank check valve recall (Service Campaign 9B1). After two separate repair visits to the dealership spanning several months, your car now won't start randomly, raising concerns about fuel system safety. The repairs may require fuel tank replacement and fuel system diagnostics to identify why the vehicle is experiencing starting issues.

NHTSA #: 11684797
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Dec 2025

Your car's factory paint on the driver-side rear quarter panel started peeling and separating from the body on its own, without any accident or damage. The clear coat failed and exposed the underlying surface. You took it to a Hyundai dealer, who confirmed it was a paint adhesion problem, but Hyundai refused to cover it fully under warranty, even though they've covered the same issue on earlier Sonata years—you ended up paying about 20% of the repair cost. You've also noticed the paint may be starting to fail around the rear window frame. Fixing this typically involves stripping the affected panels and repainting them with proper surface preparation and primer.

NHTSA #: 11706069
mediumSTRUCTURE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2025

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 #: 11651228
mediumSTRUCTURE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2025

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 #: 11647105
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Aug 2024

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 #: 11610090
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: May 2023

Exterior paint is peeling and stripping. Hood, doors, front and rear bumper, side skirts, and front lip.

NHTSA #: 11522690
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Nov 2021

On Nov. 2020 my husband and I purchased a new 2020 Hyundai Sonata with 2mls.off the showroom floor at Daytona Hyundai dealership, Daytona Beach,Fl. We moved to Ga.One day in December, I opened the driver side back door to put groceries in the backseat and I noticed water on the door frame at the bottom ,I thought maybe I might have left the window part of the way down and rain came in. a few weeks after that I went into town I was going to put groceries again in the driver side back door and water sitting on the bottom of the frame inside the door . The window was up .So this went on every time it rained. I drove my car to Rome GA at Heritage auto group they sell Hyundai’s And also service them. [XXX] in service department he’s the manager I told him about the door where I was finding water at every time that it would rain. So he told me to bring it back when I was able to leave it. For the next couple months I had a medical emergency with our son that lives in Florida when he lost eyesight. With the specialist diagnosis he had uveitis in both eyes. The first trip was in April 2021 and I 95 southbound in Florida maybe past Saint Augustine we were driving 60 miles an hour the traffic was very heavy and all three lanes, I was in the center. It was within seconds that I seen something rubber in front of me in my lane ,it could not be avoided or I would have caused a accident with other vehicles. I ran over it on the right side front bumper so my son and I decided to drive it on down to Daytona Hyundai in Daytona where we purchased it at. The manager in the service department there inspected my car all the way around and told me the damages to the right front bumper and the plastic air dam he also said that I could leave it there but they didn’t have a loaner for me & they couldn’t give me a timeframe I told him I had to get back to Georgia take care of my husband. He said that I could have it repaired up there. He did finish cutting off the plastic air-dam . INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA #: 11441229
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Feb 2021

THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IS NOT SEATED PROPERLY AND HAS EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE WHEN DRIVING. DEALERSHIP CONFIRMS THIS ISSUE ACROSS MULTIPLE MODELS IN THE 2020 AND 2021 HYUNDAI SONATA.

NHTSA #: 11394499
mediumSTRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: May 2020

REAR DOORS RETAIN WATER EVERY TIME IT RAINS. WHEN YOU OPEN THE REAR DOORS WATER DRAINS OUT OF THE CAR. BROUGHT CAR TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHO VERIFIED THE PROBLEM AND CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM WITH OTHER NEW CARS ON THEIR LOT, ON APRIL 21, 2020. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED HYUNDAI CORPORATE FOR GUIDANCE AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE TO DATE. *TR

NHTSA #: 11326116
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: May 2020

I LOOKED UP UNDER THE HOOD, IT START RUSTING IN FRAME IN DRIVER SIDE. I CHECKED OTHER 2020 SONATA FROM DEALERSHIP AND THOSE CAR ARE EVEN WORST. THOSE CAR RUSTING DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TOO. *TR

NHTSA #: 11323971
mediumSTRUCTURE,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
Filed: Mar 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DOORS OPENED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT THE UNLOCK BUTTON BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WALLACE HYUNDAI LOCATED AT (3801 SE FEDERAL HWY A, STUART, FL 34997) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600.

NHTSA #: 11319015
lowSTRUCTURE
Filed: Feb 2026

Your car's white paint is peeling off, especially in areas exposed to car washes. This is a cosmetic issue affecting the exterior appearance of your vehicle. Addressing this would typically involve repainting the affected areas.

Parts you may need:

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NHTSA #: 11718241

Other 2020 Hyundai Sonata Issues