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2023 Hyundai Sonata problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
74%
73 of 99 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

74% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2023 Hyundai Sonata are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.

Worse than 94% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 3 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 72%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2023 Hyundai Sonata have fuel system problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 73 of 99 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Hyundai Sonata concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (74%), and the largest group is filed under fuel/propulsion system (40). For comparison, the 2022 scores 57%. On a test drive, check for hard starts, stalling, hesitation, a fuel smell or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
73
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
102
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
2
8 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM40 · 39%
ENGINE35 · 34%
POWER TRAIN19 · 19%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13 · 13%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE11 · 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER8 · 8%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2023 compares with other Hyundai Sonata years

Of the 14 Hyundai Sonata years with enough complaints to score, the 2023 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (74%). The worst is the 2019 (75%), the best the 2010 (18%). By volume, the 2023 drew 102 complaints (73 drivetrain), against 93 for the 2022.

Hyundai Sonata years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2023 Hyundai Sonata

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2023 Hyundai Sonata said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical fuel system repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANC09/23/2026
While driving at highway speeds, the emergency brake system will apply and alert me. It’s happened twice now in the last 3 weeks. I’ve experienced a random loss of power while driving on the highway with no check engine light on the dashboard. Lastly, at lower speeds the car will randomly jerk while accelerating with n…

One of 73 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2023 Hyundai Sonata transmission recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2023 Hyundai Sonata involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

fuel system, gasoline25V796000 · Nov 2025

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Sonata vehicles. A damaged check valve can allow air to enter the fuel tank, causing it to expand and contact hot exhaust components, melting the tank.

Risk: A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: 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…

power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: pump23V526000 · Jul 2023

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Palisade Tucson, 2023 Sonata, Elantra, and Kona vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump controller to overheat.

Risk: An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.

Fix: 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. Owner notification…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2023 Hyundai Sonata? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2023 Hyundai Sonata

Does the 2023 Hyundai Sonata have fuel system problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 73 of 99 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Hyundai Sonata concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (74%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the fuel system and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2023 Hyundai Sonata?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2023 Hyundai Sonata is fuel/propulsion system: 40 of 102 complaints (39%) name it, followed by engine (35) and power train (19). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2023 Hyundai Sonata reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 74% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 94% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Hyundai Sonata years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Hyundai Sonata?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2023 Hyundai Sonata involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total: 25V796000 (fuel system, gasoline), 23V526000 (power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Hyundai Sonata years are better?

Among the Hyundai Sonata years we track, the 2010 (18%), the 2011 (43%) and the 2020 (49%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2023 (74%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/hyundai-sonata

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.