All new Hyundai Sonatas come with a five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a ten-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty from the factory.
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Quotes we received for an extended auto warranty on a 2021 Sonata ranged from $1,227.96 to $1,818.96 a year. That’s more expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
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Hyundai has average reliability compared with other vehicles.
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Getting an extended warranty on a Sonata gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
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Hyundai Sonata extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Sonata comes with. For context, Hyundai Sonatas come with the following warranties from the factory:
- A five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- A ten-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty
Factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner. So if you buy a 4-year-old car with 20,000 miles on it, you still have one year or 40,000 miles worth of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty remaining.
For an extended warranty on your Hyundai Sonata, you have two options:
- Buy the official Hyundai extended warranty, called Hyundai Protection Plan VSC.
- Buy a plan from a third-party extended warranty company, which allows you to take your car to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs.
Most Americans can't pay for a $1,000 repair bill with cash, according to a ConsumerAffairs investigation. Nearly 13% of drivers have no way to handle a bill that large — even by borrowing.
In either case, you’ll generally get the most value by purchasing whichever plan offers comprehensive, exclusionary protection (often called bumper-to-bumper or Platinum). These plans cover 90% or more of the parts on your vehicle. Less comprehensive Gold, Silver and powertrain plans may be cheaper, but they tend to cover fewer parts per dollar.
Auto warranties only pay for repairs and replacements of specifically covered parts that fail from normal wear and tear, not from damage or accidents. Repairs generally aren’t covered under warranty if you don’t properly maintain the vehicle or you make aftermarket modifications.
In general, here are the differences between what a bumper-to-bumper warranty and a powertrain warranty cover:
Warranty type | Typically covered | Not covered |
---|---|---|
Bumper-to-bumper | ||
Powertrain | Parts that create power and deliver it to the wheels | Parts not related to the engine, transmission or drive axle |
Note that some extended auto warranty plans fall somewhere between bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage.
» LEARN: What to know about manufacturers’ extended warranties
How much does a Hyundai Sonata extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $1,818.96 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Hyundai Sonata registered in Austin, Texas, with 65,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,227.96 annually for 30 months of coverage for the same vehicle with the same mileage. Both quotes assumed a $100 deductible. Note that both of these are third-party extended auto warranty companies.
The “official” Hyundai extended warranty is called Hyundai Protection Plan VSC, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Hyundai dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 Sonata with zero miles typically has cheaper extended warranty options than a 2020 model with 50,000 miles, for example.
For context, the average cost of an extended warranty is around $1,000 per year of coverage. The quotes we collected for our hypothetical 2021 Hyundai Sonata were more expensive by comparison.
This is a small sample of quotes for a warranty on your Hyundai Sonata. Shop around and get multiple quotes so you know you're getting the best deal.
A nonexclusionary plan may be around 40% cheaper than a bumper-to-bumper plan, but it also covers significantly fewer parts. If you want to feel more secure that you're covered for any given repair, it's worth going for the more expensive comprehensive plan.
Remember that some extended warranty plans, particularly those from manufacturers, start from the date that the original owner purchased the car. In such a case, if you're getting a "seven-year/100,000-mile" warranty and the factory warranty is three-year/36,000 miles, you're really paying for four years or 64,000 miles (whichever comes first) of additional coverage.
» LEARN: How to choose an extended car warranty
Is a Hyundai Sonata extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a Hyundai Sonata extended warranty is worth it. In general, an extended auto warranty is worth it if any of the following are true:
- Your vehicle has a bad reputation for reliability.
- The warranty costs less than you expect to spend on repairs.
- A big repair bill could hurt you financially.
- You don’t mind paying for peace of mind.
Hyundai as a brand has average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Hyundai 13th out of 29 car brands for overall dependability.
As for the Sonata specifically, RepairPal gave it a 4.0 out of 5.
Many ConsumerAffairs reviewers reported issues with their Hyundai Sonatas, especially oil consumption.
“I have had continued problems with heavy oil consumption, which is an indication of a bad engine,” reported Jonathan in Arizona. “Come to find out that after changing my oil 6 times every 1,000 miles (and paying for each visit) for the past 9 months - Hyundai's standard for a working engine is that if the oil level is above the L on the dipstick only after 1,000 miles, they consider this a performing engine not in need of repair.”
Randy in California had similar issues and more: “My daughter's 2016 Sonata recently motor failed due an issue which is documented in a class action law suit. For 18 months, the car has been experiencing high oil consumption, 250 miles a quart. … Fast forward, driving down hwy, car just dies. I contact another dealer and explained the issue. Service advisor advised this was the symptom of the motor recall and to have it towed in. Dealer started to do the evaluation, had to replace the starter as the starter gears were sheared.”
These stories from real customers mentioning issues with Hyundai Sonata maintenance suggest that an extended warranty is a good idea. The likelihood of needing repairs and the prices we found for Hyundai Sonata extended warranties means you’re likely to come out ahead by purchasing a protection plan.
» LEARN: Pros and cons of extended auto warranties
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Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- J.D. Power, “Vehicle Dependability Slumps as Rate of Deterioration Increases, J.D. Power Finds.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
- RepairPal, “Hyundai Sonata Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
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