Used car safety, rank #167 of 188
Hyundai Sonata Safety Rating (2020-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020-23 Hyundai Sonata, a midsize car, compared with its class and with the current model.
IIHS 2026 edition Β· 2021β2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits Β· Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2020-23 Hyundai Sonata has an IIHS driver death rate of 83 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize cars average of 67, which is 24% above the class average. That places it #167 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 14.3/100.
What the Hyundai Sonata death rate means
At 83 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Hyundai Sonata is 24% worse than the midsize cars average of 67. The 95% confidence interval is 58 to 108, which overlaps the class average, so some of the gap may be chance.
The other-driver death rate of 50 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Hyundai Sonata. Its 95% confidence interval is 31β69. It is no higher than the Hyundai Sonata's own driver death rate. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used cars
The safest midsize cars in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Hyundai Sonata highlighted. It ranks 5 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Toyota Camry 4WD at a death rate of 15.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry 4WD | 2020-23 | 15 (0 to 35) | 62.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Subaru Legacy | 2020-23 | 37 (12 to 61) | 30.7 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Camry hybrid | 2020-23 | 51 (26 to 75) | 22.1 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Camry 2WD | 2020-23 | 61 (50 to 73) | 18.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Sonata (this page) | 2020-23 | 83 (58 to 108) | 14.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Kia K5 | 2021-23 | 94 (61 to 127) | 12.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Nissan Altima | 2021-23 | 105 (72 to 138) | 11.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Nissan Maxima | 2020-23 | 105 (47 to 163) | 11.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2023 | 116 (39 to 194) | 10.1 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize cars: 67 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Hyundai Sonata
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Hyundai Sonata we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Hyundai Sonata | TSP+ | 91.9 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 14.3 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Hyundai Sonata
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
Park outside
1 campaign tells owners to park away from buildings and other vehicles, usually a fire risk. Check the VIN before driving it. On a car this age the repair may still be outstanding.
2 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering fuel system, gasoline, power train.
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Fuel system, gasoline
Risk: A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the check valve. The fuel tank assembly will be inspected for damage and replaced if necessary. Additionally, dealers will inspect and update the engine control unit software. All repairs will be performed as necessary, free of charge.
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Power train: automatic transmission, fluid/lubricant, pump Park outside
Risk: An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge.
Partial lookup: At least one NHTSA model-variant request failed. The campaigns shown were returned successfully; additional campaigns may be missing. Check your VIN.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Hyundai Sonata: Common Questions
Is the Hyundai Sonata a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 83 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020-23 Hyundai Sonata, 24% above the class average (67 for midsize cars). That earns a used-car safety score of 14.3 out of 100 and rank #167 of 188 used vehicles.
What is the Hyundai Sonata driver death rate?
83 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 58 to 108. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Hyundai Sonata died at a rate of 50 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020-23 models.
How does the Hyundai Sonata compare with other midsize cars?
The midsize cars class averages 67 driver deaths per million; the Hyundai Sonata sits at 83. Among the 9 midsize cars compared above it ranks 5 by safety score; the top of that group is the Toyota Camry 4WD with a death rate of 15.