What Hyundai says about Sonata trailer towing

The Trailer towing section of the 2026 Sonata owner's manual is one sentence: We do not recommend using this vehicle for trailer towing. The manual gives no trailer weight or tongue weight rating for the Sonata.

To compare, see the towing guides for other Hyundai models: the Tucson towing guide and the Santa Cruz towing guide.

Sonata weight ratings

From the Vehicle weight and luggage volume table of the 2026 Sonata owner's manual on Hyundai's owner's manual site, read November 12, 2026. The same table lists 15.57 cu ft. (441 liters) of luggage volume (SAE).

The manual defines GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) as the maximum allowable weight of the fully loaded vehicle, including all options, equipment, passengers and cargo, and says it is shown on the Certification Label on the driver's door sill. The total load on each axle must never exceed its GAWR (gross axle weight rating). For exterior size and trunk space, see our Sonata dimensions guide.

How to tow a Sonata after a breakdown

If towing is necessary, Hyundai says to contact an authorized Hyundai dealer or a commercial tow-truck service. The manual's towing service guidance:

• Wheel dollies or a flatbed are recommended.
• AWD models must be towed with a wheel lift and dollies, or on a flatbed, with all the wheels off the ground.
• 2WD models can be towed with the rear wheels on the ground (without dollies) and the front wheels off the ground.
• Do not tow the car with the front wheels on the ground. If a loaded wheel or suspension part is damaged, use a towing dolly under the front wheels.
• Do not lift it by the trailer hitch or by body and chassis parts, and do not use sling-type equipment; use wheel lift or flatbed equipment.

When it is towed without wheel dollies, the manual says to release the parking brake before turning off the engine, press the Engine Start/Stop button to OFF, shift to N (Neutral) while pressing the brake pedal, then press the button to ACC. If your Sonata has a rollover sensor, keep the button in OFF or ACC while it is towed, because the side and curtain air bags may deploy if the sensor reads the situation as a rollover. Always shift to N (Neutral) before towing to prevent transmission damage.

Emergency towing with the tow hook

If a tow truck is not available in an emergency, the manual says the Sonata can be towed temporarily with a cable or chain secured to the removable towing hook at the front or rear. The hook is stored in the tool case in the trunk. Key precautions from the manual:

• Tow only on hard-surfaced roads, for a short distance and at low speed, with the wheels, axles, powertrain, steering and brakes in good working condition.
• A driver must be in the Sonata to steer and brake, with no other passengers. Press the Engine Start/Stop button to ACC, shift to N (Neutral) and release the parking brake.
• Expect to press the brake pedal harder than normal and to use more steering effort, because the power steering is disabled.
• Use a vehicle heavier than the Sonata to tow it, and use a cable or chain less than 16 ft. (5 m) long with a white or red cloth about 12 in. (30 cm) wide in the middle.
• Always pull straight ahead, not from the side or at a vertical angle, and do not use the hooks to pull the car out of mud, sand or other conditions it cannot drive out of on its own.
• Limit speed to 10 mph (15 km/h) and distance to less than 1 mi. (1.6 km) to avoid serious transmission damage. If transmission fluid is leaking, flatbed equipment or a towing dolly must be used.

After any tow, our service team at Michigan City Hyundai can check your Sonata.

Michigan City Hyundai service hours

From the service department hours in Michigan City Hyundai's website structured data, November 12, 2026. No Sunday service hours are listed. Holiday hours can differ.