2023 Hyundai Sonata problems & reliability
84 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2023 Hyundai Sonata, alongside 2 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2023 Hyundai Sonata vehicles were involved in 10 fatal crashes with 4 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System → | 36 | 43% |
| Engine → | 26 | 31% |
| Power Train → | 15 | 18% |
| Electrical System → | 12 | 14% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 8 | 10% |
| Unknown OR Other | 7 | 8% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 7% |
| Structure | 4 | 5% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 5% |
| Back Over Prevention | 3 | 4% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15-40 MPH, the vehicle was sputtering and shaking abnormally. The failure was a recurring failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V796000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); but the VIN was not under…”
Fuel System, Gasoline · filed Jul 29, 2026
“The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission shifted into neutral(N) and failed to shift into park or drive on three occasions. The vehicle was restarted. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle was shifted into drive, and the contact…”
Power Train · filed Jun 15, 2026
“This is an extremely common issue plaguing Hyundai & Kia vehicles with the Theta III 2.5L Turbo engine, Such as Kia K5 GT, Hyundai Sante Fe, Hyundai Santa Cruz, & Hyundai Sonata N-Line. Its a failing ITM (integrated thermal management) unit or otherwise known as an ITMS unit. There is a rod within the ITM that…”
Engine · filed May 14, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
50 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2023 Hyundai Sonata. The 10 most recent:
This bulletin provides information related to a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software update for some vehicles equipped with an 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT). The software update revises the touch…
26-AT-005H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 5, 2026
This bulletin provides information related to the navigation and head unit software changes introduced in the 2026 1st Navigation Map and Software Update. The changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and…
26-GI-002H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 27, 2026
Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather. This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an inspection on the starter magnetic switch for potential freezing and, if necessary, replace the starter…
26-EE-003H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 18, 2026
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co.…
DTN DL · Other · issued Apr 10, 2026
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety…
DTN DCS · Other · issued Apr 10, 2026
Some 2019MY and newer vehicles equipped with a front view camera may illuminate certain warning lights and trigger DTC C272246 fault code for the front camera. In the following cases, the front camera auto-calibration…
26-AD-001H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 25, 2026
Some Sonata (DN8, DN8A) vehicles may have DTCs P218100, P2181F0, and/or P2181F1 (Cooling System Performance) set in the Engine Control Module, resulting in an illuminated Check Engine warning lamp. Follow the procedure…
26-EM-003H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 5, 2026
Some vehicles equipped with a 2.5L GDI Theta III engine (non-Turbo) may exhibit one or more misfire DTCs due to the GDI fuel injectors leaking internally. This may be caused by internal filter breakage in the injector…
26-FL-001H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 7, 2026
This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of…
25-BD-012H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 6, 2025
This bulletin provides information related to the changes introduced in the 2025 1st Navigation Map and Software Update. The changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and navigation system as described in this…
25-BE-020H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 30, 2025
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2023 Hyundai Sonata has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2023 Hyundai Sonata?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.