2023 Hyundai Sonata Problems

What owners report

Complaints about this model year cluster around the fuel system and engine: owners most often describe a sudden loss of power while driving, sometimes with shaking or an illuminated check engine light, and many say a fuel injector was replaced. A second, smaller group describes the transmission dropping into limp mode or refusing to engage a gear, and a handful mention warning lights, camera or lighting glitches, and premature brake wear. Reported mileages range widely, from a few dozen miles to over 100,000.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel injector failure and sudden loss of power

   • 29 complaints (33%)
   • median 19,500 mi at 2.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the car losing power or decelerating unexpectedly while driving, often with shaking, rough running, or a flashing check engine light. Several complaints say the dealer diagnosed a failed fuel injector and replaced it; some owners report the same thing happening again on a different cylinder, and several say the parts were backordered. A few report the car would not restart afterward and had to be towed. Reported across a broad mileage range, from under 10,000 miles to over 80,000, with several repeat failures within a year or two of each other.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether injectors have been replaced and on which cylinders, and keep records of any misfire or check engine codes. A service bulletin describes a procedure for leaking GDI injectors causing misfire codes, so ask whether that repair was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Coming home from work I stopped at a red light and when I tried to accelerate the vehicle was surging and jerking shaking and wouldn't pick up speed 2 min later the check engine light appeared flashing thankfully I was 5 min from home got the car towed the next morning to hyundai dealership said it was an cylinder misfire the car only has 30,000 miles on it”

   NHTSA complaint #11672179, filed 2025-07

   “Was driving and stopped at a stoplight. When I went to drive it started sputtering and if I wouldn’t have driven into a gas station, it would’ve given out in the middle of the road. It wouldn’t let me switch to drive or reverse , only neutral or park. It threw a code P0301, cylinder 1 misfire. Had to get it towed. Now I have to get my spark plugs and fuel injectors replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #11737351, filed 2026-05
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission jerk, delayed engagement, or limp mode

   • 8 complaints (9%)
   • median 50 mi at 3.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe the transmission hesitating or bogging down on takeoff, jerking at low speed, or dropping into limp mode with the throttle unresponsive. Some owners report the car shifting itself into park or neutral while driving and needing a restart to move again. Several say dealers could not reproduce the problem on short test drives, while others report a transmission replacement. Reported from very low mileage (within days of purchase) up to roughly 100,000 miles, with several owners describing repeated occurrences over months.

   Recall 23V5260001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Take a test drive that includes low-speed starts, a hill, and a stop-and-go stretch, and ask whether any transmission control software updates or transmission work are on the service record.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Transmission problems began around 60,000 miles (but we didn’t know what it was) — jerking and hesitation, that worsened over time. We took the vehicle in (November 2025 ),at around 109,000 miles at which time they couldn’t find anything. I took it back in December and they recommended the spark plugs. We took the car back again in March at which time they recommended other little things. We took the vehicle back yet again on March 10 and told them to check the transmission. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11771807, filed 2026-10

   “Car was parked, full stop, doors shut, seatbelt on. Foot on brake. Car then seemed to lurch forward by itself forward hitting parking cement block. Put in reverse to back away and car stayed still...then I tapped the gas again to back up and insted vehicle plowed forward.instead.of reverse ...went over the parking block and hit concrete beam in front, when the car should have backed up in reverse. I'm a person who drives speeed limits, and ulta careful when i drive, and parked at this place/spot for years. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11718993, filed 2026-02
3. 3
   Engine

   Stalling or shutdown with electrical warnings

   • 12 complaints (14%)
   • typically at 1.5 yrs old
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the engine shutting off at intersections or at speed, sometimes with dashboard lights flashing and a message that a condition with the engine control system was detected. Several say restarting required shifting to park and cycling the ignition, and a few report the media screen going blank. Some complaints note the dealer could not retrieve a fault code or could not duplicate the condition. Reported mostly in the first couple of years of ownership, at mileages from a few dozen to a few thousand, sometimes recurring intermittently.

   Recall 23V5260001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for the full service history and whether any starting, stalling, or engine control module codes were investigated. A bulletin describes a starter switch inspection for cold-weather no-start conditions, so ask whether that was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 3 separate occasions the vehicle decelerated, lights flickered and stated to produce a burning smell through the engine. Each time the car would not allow me to accelerate and eventually stalled out. The car would no immediately start. After a few minutes it would start but not accelerate. After about 30 minutes it would start and would drive about 5-15 mph, enough to get me to my location. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11614018, filed 2024-09

   “When I approach an intersection to stop my car auto shut off engages. When trying to hit the gas to release my car from auto shut off the emergency auto shut off engages and I must put my car in park. Turn the ignition to off and then crank my car back all the way on. Release the park and drive. This happens intermittently for several weeks and I’ve almost been rear ended several times. I have taken the car to a Hyundai dealership for the issue and they tell me nothing is wrong.”

   NHTSA complaint #11531746, filed 2023-07
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Check engine light and fuel tank / EVAP valve codes

   • 14 complaints (16%)
   • median 74,122 mi at 2.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Some owners report a check engine light with a fuel-vapor or EVAP related code, a fuel gauge reading that drops or changes abnormally, a rumbling noise from under the rear floor, and in one case a swollen fuel tank. Complaints describe dealers updating the engine control unit, replacing the check valve or EVAP valve, and in some cases replacing the tank; a few owners say the part needed for the recall repair was not yet available. Reported from roughly 28,000 to 86,000 miles in the sample, often noticed when the check engine light came on during normal driving.

   Recall 25V7960004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recall 25V796000 has been completed and whether the check valve, fuel pump cover, and ECU update were done. Look for a check engine light on a cold start and ask for a scan of stored codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Good afternoon. My issue is related to an existing recall that Hyundai Motor sent to me back during the beginning of January 2025 for a gas valve, tank inspection (replaced if necessary.) and ECU computer update. I've been to a total of 4 Hyundai Dealers and none of them have been consistent with this recall. The first Dealer is Future Hyundai in Concord, California. Initially, I'd took my car there for both recall and sound coming from the gas tank and my fuel level dropping. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11641209, filed 2025-02

   “The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was a loud sound coming from the rear end underneath the floorboard like a part slamming on the undercarriage of the vehicle. The contact stated that the fuel gauge suddenly indicated that the fuel tank was EMPTY. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the gas valve and electronic control unit (ECU) had failed. The contact stated that the gas valve was replaced, and the electronic control unit (ECU) was updated. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11641315, filed 2025-02, 75,000 miles

Buying note. Because complaints concentrate on injector-related power loss and transmission behavior, a thorough test drive and a service-history check for prior injector, transmission, and recall work matter more than the odometer reading alone. Confirm that recall 25V796000 has been addressed, since some owners report waiting on parts.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.