2020 Hyundai Sonata vs 2020 Kia Optima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 Hyundai Sonata | 2020 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 170 | 137 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 99 | 93 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 31–47 | 24–42 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 9,998 mi | 60,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Hyundai Sonata | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 30 | 92 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 45 | 9 |
| Power Train | 23 | 25 |
| Electrical System | 35 | 12 |
| Structure | 16 | 1 |
| Seats | 15 | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 11 | 5 |
| Air Bags | 7 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 27 | 28 |
| Stalling | 12 | 15 |
| Hesitation / surging | 8 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 6 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 6 | 12 |
| Won’t start | 5 | 0 |
| Oil consumption | 0 | 32 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 22 |
2020 Hyundai Sonata
2020 Kia Optima
Compare all Hyundai Sonata vs Kia Optima years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.