The 2020 Hyundai Sonata is the newest iteration of this sedan. It received good reviews from Car and Driver and Kelley Blue Book. Kelley Blue Book called it “the best Sonata yet,” saying it has good value for a lower price than competitors and with a better warranty. While it has positive reviews, the 2020 Sonata also has one pesky recall already. Here’s a look at what happened and what to do about it.

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata’s problem

The problem addressed by this recall is that 2020 Hyundai Sonata models have an incorrect tire pressure label inside the driver’s door and in their manuals. The label on the door lists the wrong tire size, providing erroneous values for the sidewall aspect ratios. The owner’s manual also provides the wrong tire pressure information. This is an odd problem since it’s two typos rather than a mechanical problem with the car; however, the typos could cause safety issues in the future.

The recall

Announced on March 2, 2020, the recall affects 5,000 Hyundai Sonata models from the 2020 model year built between October 22, 2019, and February 13, 2020. In February 2020, Hyundai noticed the errors during a routine line inspection. The tires on the 2020 Sonata models were correct but didn’t match the information on the labels. A recall was required since the errors meant that the 2020 Sonata wasn’t in compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, “Tire Selection and Rims.”

To fix the problem, Hyundai dealers will place stickers over the labels in the doors and over the errors in the owner’s manuals. Owners of 2020 Sonata vehicles will be contacted about the recall at the end of April 2020, and the recall is expected to begin on April 24, 2020. This is the only recall to date for the 2020 Sonata.

Issues the problem could cause

With the wrong sidewall aspect ratio values listed on the door, owners may install the wrong tires based on the information. Having the wrong size tires on the car could make the Sonata hard to handle and increase the risk of a crash. Improper tires can also mess up the speedometer readings, affect fuel efficiency, or even cause damage to the car. An incorrect sidewall aspect ratio can mean the tire could rub on the fender liner or body panels could damage either the body or tires.

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata

Despite this recall, Car and Driver gives the 2020 Sonata a positive review. It calls the Sonata attractive and comfortable but also says it doesn’t drive as well as some competitors. There are two powertrains, a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 191 hp and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 180 hp. Both engines are less powerful than a number of other sedans. There will also be a hybrid option coming soon in Spring 2020.

The interior is high-quality, and the car comes standard with plenty of driver-assist technology. It includes an 8-inch infotainment system touchscreen, and higher trim levels also include a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility comes standard in the 2020 Sonata. A new feature called Digital Key lets drivers use the Hyundai app in their smartphone to unlock the car and start it without the key fob. There’s plenty of room in the rear seats plus 16 cubic feet of cargo space.

While this is an annoying problem to have so early in the model year’s existence, it is at least easy to have corrected. And, it is important to have the recall fixes done to protect the current and future owners from accidentally installing the wrong tires.