Showing the 2023 Sonata SEL Plus. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
27–52 mpgcombined; city 23–50, highway 33–54; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$6,250–$12,030U.S. average; Ohio $5,580–$10,750 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2023 Sonata. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Sonata. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Fuel/propulsion system
40
1
0
0
Engine
35
1
0
0
Power train
19
3
0
0
Electrical system
13
1
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
11
2
0
2
Unknown or other
8
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
6
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
6
3
0
2
Service brakes
5
1
0
2
Structure
4
1
0
0
Back over prevention
3
2
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
2
0
0
0
9 more parts
Exterior lighting
2
1
0
0
Lane departure
2
0
0
0
Steering
2
0
0
0
Visibility
2
0
0
0
Air bags
1
0
0
0
Fuel system, diesel
1
0
0
0
Seats
1
0
0
0
Suspension
1
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2023 Sonata over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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.
Remedy: 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 repairs will be performed as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning March 13, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 286. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 19, 2025.
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.
Remedy: 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 letters were mailed starting September 7, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 246.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 57 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2023 Sonata, the latest on Oct 8, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (20), power train (14), engine and engine cooling (13), engine (6), fuel/propulsion system (6).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2023 Sonata.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: large cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5–9 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Sonata Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S8)
Regular Gasoline
28 / 38 / 32
Sonata Front-Wheel Drive
1.6 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S8)
Regular Gasoline
27 / 37 / 31
Sonata Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S8)
Regular Gasoline
27 / 37 / 31
Sonata Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (AM-S8)
Regular Gasoline
23 / 33 / 27
Sonata Hybrid Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AM-S6)
Regular Gasoline
45 / 51 / 47
Sonata Hybrid Blue Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AM-S6)
Regular Gasoline
50 / 54 / 52
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data