Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2018 vs 2019 HYUNDAI SONATA

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 95 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 48.3% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

2018 319 complaints 2019 165 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 2018 share 2019 share Share change
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 6.1% 10.3% ▲ 4.2 pts larger share
AIR BAGS 1.3% 4.9% ▲ 3.5 pts larger share
POWER TRAIN 7.2% 4.2% ▼ 3.0 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3.7% 1.2% ▼ 2.5 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 6.1% 8.5% ▲ 2.4 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES 2.7% 0.6% ▼ 2.1 pts smaller share
LANE DEPARTURE 0.5% 2.4% ▲ 1.9 pts larger share
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1.9% not reported ▼ 1.9 pts smaller share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 4.8% 3.0% ▼ 1.8 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 1.3% 3.0% ▲ 1.7 pts larger share
STEERING 2.1% 3.0% ▲ 0.9 pts larger share
BACK OVER PREVENTION not reported 0.6% ▲ 0.6 pts larger share
ENGINE 40.0% 40.6% ▲ 0.6 pts larger share
SUSPENSION 0.5% not reported ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 1.1% 0.6% ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
STRUCTURE 3.5% 3.0% ▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
TIRES 0.3% not reported ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 25.3% 22.4% ▼ 2.9 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

2018 2

Campaign components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

2019 0

Campaign components: not reported

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
13 → 6
◆ Injuries
21 → 7