82 of the 1,211 complaints about the Hyundai Sonata (6.8%) concern Transmission / powertrain, making it the model's #5 problem area. That share is 0.6× the Transmission / powertrain share across all tracked vehicles.
82Complaints · Transmission / powertrain
6.8%Share of complaints
0.58×vs. all vehicles
19Last 12 months
7.3%Share involving a crash or fire
2Related recalls
Analysis
By model year, Transmission / powertrain complaints peak with the 2021 model (18, 10% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2019 model (3). 19 Transmission / powertrain complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 19 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
Owners most often describe: “transmission”, “accelerate”, “consistent diagnostic”, “january november” and “shifting”. 6 of these reports (7.3%) describe a crash or fire, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.
2 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 23V526000 (2023-07-27, model years 2023).
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.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-02-19 · ODI 11718993 · Crash
Vehicle suddenly accelerated after pulling out of store parking lot at low speed into side street behind vehicle stopped at light (less than a car length in front) while pressing hard on brake.
Transmission / powertrain · 2025-06-05 · ODI 11665119 · Crash
Massive loss of coolant in closed loop cooling system Heat soak. Fail safe mode
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-26 · ODI 11759867
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while the accelerator was depressed, the vehicle hesitated, jerked, and failed to accelerate as intended.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-17 · ODI 11757370
The high voltage battery will no longer charge neither from being plugged in to the charger on the wall nor from the buikt in system onboard the car. There are warning lights saying the inverter coolant is low but the reservoir is at the proper level.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-07-26 · ODI 11752871
2019 Hyundai Sonata Sport. (Original owner). Problem: Transmission. [XXX] (9,912 miles). Lack of power, vehicle did not move when trying to merge onto freeway. Very unsafe. Also, hesitation and jerking. [XXX] (10,619 miles). Lack of power, hesitation, jerking.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-06-22 · ODI 11745802
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMP Campaign 23V526000 · 2023-07-27 · Model years: 2023
⚠ Park-outside / do-not-drive warning
Summary: 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.
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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Campaign 22V746000 · 2022-10-06 · Model years: 2021, 2022
Summary: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 236.
How common are Transmission / powertrain problems on the Hyundai Sonata?
82 of the 1,211 complaints about the Hyundai Sonata (6.8%) concern Transmission / powertrain, making it the model's #5 problem area. That share is 0.6× the Transmission / powertrain share across all tracked vehicles.
Which Hyundai Sonata model years have the most Transmission / powertrain complaints?
By model year, Transmission / powertrain complaints peak with the 2021 model (18, 10% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2019 model (3).
Is there a recall for Hyundai Sonata Transmission / powertrain problems?
2 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 23V526000 (2023-07-27, model years 2023).