HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID · model year

2023 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID

23 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2023HYUNDAISONATA HYBRID carries 23 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2023 SONATA HYBRID is engine with 7 filings, followed by power train (3) and fuel/propulsion system (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 2023 SONATA HYBRID, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

23
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

23 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE7
POWER TRAIN3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
SERVICE BRAKES1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recent Complaints

20251211VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

UNKNOWN- While driving on highway, from 70 mph speed the car suddenly lost acceleration and speed dropped. No response to accelerator. Even with pushing the accelerator high, car will go in high RPM and speed will barely reach 40 mph. I was lucky that there was no other vehicle behind me, especially heavy automobile like semi truck as it would have crashed in me from behind due to sudden propulsion loss. The car started working fine next day. I took it to dealer and they couldn't find any error code but said it could be 12V battery BMS software update and they updated it. They mentioned that this is NOT a safety issue which is mind-blowing and concerning as this is a MAJOR safety hazard. I would request you to investigate this further and if this is a software issue then please direct Hyundai to update this with all vehicles and cover the cost for those who have had to pay for it.

20251211ENGINE

UNKNOWN- While driving on highway, from 70 mph speed the car suddenly lost acceleration and speed dropped. No response to accelerator. Even with pushing the accelerator high, car will go in high RPM and speed will barely reach 40 mph. I was lucky that there was no other vehicle behind me, especially heavy automobile like semi truck as it would have crashed in me from behind due to sudden propulsion loss. The car started working fine next day. I took it to dealer and they couldn't find any error code but said it could be 12V battery BMS software update and they updated it. They mentioned that this is NOT a safety issue which is mind-blowing and concerning as this is a MAJOR safety hazard. I would request you to investigate this further and if this is a software issue then please direct Hyundai to update this with all vehicles and cover the cost for those who have had to pay for it.

20251211FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

UNKNOWN- While driving on highway, from 70 mph speed the car suddenly lost acceleration and speed dropped. No response to accelerator. Even with pushing the accelerator high, car will go in high RPM and speed will barely reach 40 mph. I was lucky that there was no other vehicle behind me, especially heavy automobile like semi truck as it would have crashed in me from behind due to sudden propulsion loss. The car started working fine next day. I took it to dealer and they couldn't find any error code but said it could be 12V battery BMS software update and they updated it. They mentioned that this is NOT a safety issue which is mind-blowing and concerning as this is a MAJOR safety hazard. I would request you to investigate this further and if this is a software issue then please direct Hyundai to update this with all vehicles and cover the cost for those who have had to pay for it.

20251202ENGINE

On 11/28/25 at approximately 6:30 pm, I was driving on a Highway 17 going about 60 mph when my car's engine completely shut down. a "Hybrid System Failure" warning flashed and my car was no longer drivable. The car was towed to the dealership. In mid October 2025, my car stopped running with the same "Hybrid System Failure" warning, but it happened in my driveway. The car was towed to the dealership and supposedly repaired.

20251202FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

On 11/28/25 at approximately 6:30 pm, I was driving on a Highway 17 going about 60 mph when my car's engine completely shut down. a "Hybrid System Failure" warning flashed and my car was no longer drivable. The car was towed to the dealership. In mid October 2025, my car stopped running with the same "Hybrid System Failure" warning, but it happened in my driveway. The car was towed to the dealership and supposedly repaired.

20250810ENGINE

The vehicle went in for repair at the dealership early July for a check engine light and DTC error code. It was revving high after being driven for more than 20 min or so and wouldn’t get to above 60 mph. Jerky, dangerous acceleration and deceleration seemingly out of nowhere. The dealership replaced the fuel pump which is what they said was causing the error. Today on August 10th, check engine light popped up again with a DTC error code. Weird acceleration and deceleration and general jerkiness when driving. Scheduled service appointment for next week.

20250810FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

The vehicle went in for repair at the dealership early July for a check engine light and DTC error code. It was revving high after being driven for more than 20 min or so and wouldn’t get to above 60 mph. Jerky, dangerous acceleration and deceleration seemingly out of nowhere. The dealership replaced the fuel pump which is what they said was causing the error. Today on August 10th, check engine light popped up again with a DTC error code. Weird acceleration and deceleration and general jerkiness when driving. Scheduled service appointment for next week.

20250810UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The vehicle went in for repair at the dealership early July for a check engine light and DTC error code. It was revving high after being driven for more than 20 min or so and wouldn’t get to above 60 mph. Jerky, dangerous acceleration and deceleration seemingly out of nowhere. The dealership replaced the fuel pump which is what they said was causing the error. Today on August 10th, check engine light popped up again with a DTC error code. Weird acceleration and deceleration and general jerkiness when driving. Scheduled service appointment for next week.

20250701ENGINE

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle briefly lost motive power before downshifting to a lower gear. In addition, the engine revved independently. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 60 MPH. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The failure persisted, and the vehicle was no longer being driven. The contact parked the vehicle at the residence. The contact started the vehicle and the check engine warning light illuminated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.

Mileage: 34,000

20250404POWER TRAIN

Similar to other stories I’ve read online, my 2023 sonata broke down on the highway a minute after any error signal popping up, in a dangerous location on the highway with no shoulder. Plaza Hyundai dealership was first/last and only people to perform an oil change or service the car. They told me they wouldn’t take the car due to being full after the incident. A Different Hyundai dealership took the car and found the breakdown was due to a missing oil drain plug and the engine leaked all the oil, while noting they didn’t do the previous oil change and there was no external damages. Plaza Hyundai is refusing to claim responsibility and just trying to milk me for much money as possible/get me to purchase a new engine.

20250118ENGINE

I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN NOVEMBER 2023, BY FEBRUARY, THE CAR STARTED STALLING ON THE STREETS/HYWAY. ALL DASH LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND IS NO LONGER ABLE TO RESTART. THIS HAPPENED 4 TIME IN 2024. WHEN I TOW IT TO THE DEALER, THEY ALWAYS COME BACK WITH THE SAME ANSWER. ''THE AC MOTOR POWER CABLE HAS BEEN DISCONNECTING LEADING TO LOSE OF POWER''. THEY HAVE REPLACED IT 4X BUT THE SAME PROBLEM PERSIST. IT'S VERY SCARY ESPECIALLY WHN AM DRIVING IN A BUSY ROAD OR WHEN AM DRIVING AT NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. AM NOT SURE HOW TO MOVE FROM HERE. THANKS.

20241127CrashPOWER TRAIN

The push button shifters do not shift gears, unless the brake is depressed. On a slight incline, it is natural to shift from forward to reverse without braking leaving the driver in the wrong gear. So I have often started forward expecting to go backwards. I accidently ran over a portable toilet trying to quickly reverse out of a driveway on a slight incline. I hope no one has run over a person this way. I have had other close calls. This system is far more dangerous than lever style shifters. Even a little mistiming between brake and shift can leave the car going the wrong way.

20240820ENGINE

At 82,000 miles car started to consume coolant. Had EHRS TBS performed coolant no longer leaking. Thi is the 2nd car that had this coolant issue.

20240530FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

My car randomly engaged emergency brakes while driving 70+ mph on the highway with no cars nearby. It almost came to a complete stop but i was able to accelerate again. it was not acting as a safety features because there was not a car close to my front. I am concerned if it happens again i could get in a crash and rear ended. The dealership does not seem concerned

20240305CrashSERVICE BRAKES

The Hyundai Sonata was brought to a stop in a parking lot. When the driver went to put it in park, the vehicle accelerated across the parking lot and smashed into a solid wall. The driver broke her right ankle from standing on the brake pedal. The brakes were ineffective at stopping the vehicle. The collision avoidance system failed to activate or warn of the impending collision. The driver and passenger were severely injured and the car is considered a total loss. There were numerous other injuries sustained. No one outside of the vehicle was injured.

20240305CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The Hyundai Sonata was brought to a stop in a parking lot. When the driver went to put it in park, the vehicle accelerated across the parking lot and smashed into a solid wall. The driver broke her right ankle from standing on the brake pedal. The brakes were ineffective at stopping the vehicle. The collision avoidance system failed to activate or warn of the impending collision. The driver and passenger were severely injured and the car is considered a total loss. There were numerous other injuries sustained. No one outside of the vehicle was injured.

20240305CrashFORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

The Hyundai Sonata was brought to a stop in a parking lot. When the driver went to put it in park, the vehicle accelerated across the parking lot and smashed into a solid wall. The driver broke her right ankle from standing on the brake pedal. The brakes were ineffective at stopping the vehicle. The collision avoidance system failed to activate or warn of the impending collision. The driver and passenger were severely injured and the car is considered a total loss. There were numerous other injuries sustained. No one outside of the vehicle was injured.

20240301CrashPOWER TRAIN

The car did not shift from Drive to Park after coming to a stop and pressing the Park button. This caused the car to roll forward slowly and run into our garage door. This is not the first time the car hasn't shifted.

20240129VISIBILITY/WIPER

Sunroof burst while driving on freeway at a low speed due to heavy traffic. There were no overpasses or bridges above the vehicle when explosion was heard. No point of impact on sunroof from possible rocks and glass is shattered but in one piece and it appears to have burst outwards as it’s bowing upwards. Sunroof had rarely ever been used prior to this and vehicle is only 1 year old. Only some tiny pieces of glass came off initially, but headliner collected them instead of landing on driver/passenger while driving.

20240129VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

Sunroof burst while driving on freeway at a low speed due to heavy traffic. There were no overpasses or bridges above the vehicle when explosion was heard. No point of impact on sunroof from possible rocks and glass is shattered but in one piece and it appears to have burst outwards as it’s bowing upwards. Sunroof had rarely ever been used prior to this and vehicle is only 1 year old. Only some tiny pieces of glass came off initially, but headliner collected them instead of landing on driver/passenger while driving.

Compare 2023HYUNDAISONATA HYBRID to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2023 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID have?
The 2023 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID has 23 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID?
The most-complained component for the 2023 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID is ENGINE with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2023 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.