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 point learning variation, improving drivability and judder symptoms. Some 8WDCTs (indicated by a new part number) received an updated clutch spring. The correct TCU software update must be matched with the correct corresponding 8WDCT hardware, otherwise, drivability concerns may occur. This service procedure should be performed prior to any 8WDCT replacements done for drivability/judder concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2022 Hyundai Sonata powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2022 Hyundai Sonata have filed 23 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Sonata | 36 |
| 2019 Sonata | 8 |
| 2020 Sonata | 23 |
| 2021 Sonata | 21 |
| 2022 Sonata (this page) | 23 |
| 2023 Sonata | 15 |
| 2024 Sonata | 6 |
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 23 powertrain complaints filed for the 2022 Hyundai Sonata, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Powertrain accounts for 26% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 5 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Some Santa Cruz (NXT), Santa Fe (TMA, MX5A), and Sonata (DN8A) models may require replacement of the 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT) when the vehicle sets one of the high pressure electric oil pump (HP EOP) DTCs listed below. This bulletin provides instructions to replace the 8WDCT.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain Santa Fe (TMA) and Sonata (DN8/DN8A) vehicles equipped with 8-speed dual clutch transmissions (8DCT) may exhibit one of the DTCs listed below, related to the high pressure electric oil pump (HP EOP). Follow the procedures in this TSB to update the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) to the latest sensorless logic on affected vehicles, and then perform air bleeding and transmission learning.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and replace, if necessary, an automatic transmission with Incorrect Ratio DTC (transmission clutch slip in gear above limit) listed on Page 2.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides the procedure to update the Engine Control Module (ECM) and/or the Transmission Control Module (TCM) for 2020-2023MY Sonata (DN8/DN8a) vehicles to improve operation of the Idle Stop and Go (ISG) system. Under certain circumstances the vehicle may not restart after the ISG system has engaged and requires a manual restart due to the lack of intake manifold pressure recovery.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2022 Sonata is generating 22 powertrain complaints centered on transmission behavior and engine management. Owners report hard shifting on upshifts and downshifts, sometimes with physical jolts at 4-5K RPM; first-gear stutter that persists even after dealers claim to have performed a 2023 recall fix. Several owners describe complete loss of drive power while accelerating on highways or at traffic lights—the vehicle simply stops responding to the pedal and engine shuts down, forcing a restart or shift-to-Park cycle to restore function. One case involved a collision.
Shifter malfunction warnings prevent gear selection, immobilizing the car at intersections. Owners experience intermittent stalling without warning lights and hesitation during transmission shifts. Engine overheating warnings appear randomly and resolve seconds later; one hybrid owner at 83k miles faced a failed antifreeze valve ($2,659 out of warranty). Recall 22V746000 was issued for transmission oil pump problems, but many owner VINs fall outside the recall scope and parts remain on national backorder. Dealerships consistently cannot replicate these faults or reproduce them in diagnostics. One owner waited five months for a service appointment while the vehicle still exhibited the original symptom.
Same Hyundai Sonata powertrain reports on nearby years: 2020 · 2021 · 2023
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission stutter and jerking on first-gear engagement
After transmission reprogramming recall (early 2023), owners report the vehicle still exhibits shuddering and hard shifting in first gear and upshifts. One owner's recall shows as repaired in the system despite ongoing symptoms.
When: Within 1 month of purchase (May 2022); recurring after July 2022 and through service attempts
Symptoms owners cite: First gear stutter; Jerking on upshift; Hard shifting to second gear from first
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership performed transmission reprogramming as recall fix; second owner (with 25k miles) reports hard shifting continues despite in-warranty status
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Transmission recall addressed via reprogramming; parts remain on national backorder for some repairs
Delayed gear engagement and hard shift slam under downshift
When owner downshifted to slow descent, gear indicator showed 2nd but vehicle remained in higher gear. After 1-2 seconds, transmission slammed hard into target gear with engine revving to 4-5K RPM, physically jolting occupants. Transmission felt rough for weeks before and after incident.
When: After weeks of noticeably rough shifting
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed gear engagement after downshift command; Hard slam into gear; Unexpected high RPM rev-up; Rough shifting at low speeds in all gears except 4th
Repairs/costs cited: Owner unable to schedule dealership inspection (2+ month wait)
Complete loss of drive power while accelerating
Engine shuts down or transmission loses power while vehicle is in motion (highway passing, parking lot exit, intersection), no warning lights. Owners must shift to Park and back to Drive or restart engine to restore power. Some incidents tied to recall 22V746000 (transmission oil pump malfunction fail-safe mode).
When: Intermittent; one owner reports late 2022 and again 8/15/23; another on highway at 70 mph; another at intersection
Symptoms owners cite: No acceleration response despite pedal input; Engine shutdown or loss of drive power; Vehicle slows or stops in traffic; No tachometer response
Codes mentioned: 22V746000
Repairs/costs cited: Requires shutdown/restart or shift to Park then Drive to restore function
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 22V746000 issued for transmission oil pump malfunction; however, some owner VINs not included in recall scope
Shifter system malfunction preventing gear selection
Dashboard warning 'Shifter system malfunction service immediately' appears, preventing driver from shifting out of current gear. Vehicle becomes immobilized at traffic lights and intersections until engine is restarted multiple times. Error clears after restart.
When: Occurred 10+ times within one month period
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to shift out of gear; Dashboard warning message; Immobilization at traffic light
Codes mentioned: Shifter system malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced Transmission shifter module (TCM) at no cost to owner under dealer warranty coverage (Hyundai declined coverage but dealership paid)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai declined to cover under warranty; dealership paid for repair out of goodwill
Intermittent acceleration hesitation and stalling
Automatic transmission hesitates or hesitation when shifting. Vehicle loses power and stalls completely in middle of traffic maneuver without warning. Dealership cannot replicate. Owner reports open recall on same make/model but VIN not included.
When: Multiple occasions; complete stall while turning
Symptoms owners cite: Acceleration hesitation; Transmission shift lag; Complete engine shutdown while driving; No warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to replicate; no repairs performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall on same model exists but owner's VIN not included; Hyundai case manager unable to resolve
Engine overheating and limp mode triggering
Dashboard displays engine overheating warning; vehicle enters limp mode and limits power. Within seconds, warning clears and vehicle resumes normal operation. Also occurs with intermittent ITMS (Integrated Transmission Management System) failures showing false overtemp alerts. One case involved antifreeze valve failure causing white smoke from exhaust and actual overheating risk.
When: Intermittent; ITMS failures occurred 5+ times; white smoke incident at 83k miles on hybrid
Symptoms owners cite: Engine overheating warning on dash; Limp mode activation; Loss of acceleration during warning state; False overtemp alerts; White smoke from exhaust (hybrid); High oil temperature; Constant fan operation
Codes mentioned: P020200, Engine overheating warning
Repairs/costs cited: Highway overheating case resulted in Check Engine light; dealer reset computer without permanent fix. Hybrid case: antifreeze control valve failed at 83k miles; repair cost $2,659 (not covered under 100k warranty due to mileage cutoff at 80k)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall repair parts on backorder; dealer unable to diagnose ITMS issues despite multiple service visits and service records from other owners
Hard shifting and rough transmission engagement
Transmission shifts noticeably rough during normal driving, particularly on upshifts and downshifts at low speeds. Hard downshift on deceleration more pronounced than hard upshift.
When: Ongoing; vehicle with 25k miles still in warranty
Symptoms owners cite: Hard upshift from 1st to 2nd gear; Hard downshift when slowing; Rough shifting in all gears below 4th
Air conditioning intermittent failure
AC stops working randomly. In one case, vehicle shut down completely while owner was driving and had to be towed. Dealership initially blamed fuel injector, then claimed fuel pump failure. After repair and return, same symptoms (no AC, failure to start) recurred within 8 hours. Dealership unable to diagnose root cause; attempted to blame external factors (smell from old gas can). Problem persists on intermittent basis.
When: Last month of narrative; recurring after dealership service
Symptoms owners cite: AC stops working randomly; Vehicle shutdown while driving; Vehicle won't turn over after shutdown; No AC operation
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership performed fuel pump replacement; problem not resolved. No diagnosis provided on paperwork.
Oil leaks from drain plug and oil pan gasket
Vehicle leaked oil multiple times. First occurrence attributed to faulty drain plug. After a few months, leaking resumed; dealership diagnosed faulty oil pan gasket requiring replacement.
When: First occurrence early in ownership; second occurrence a few months later
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leaking underneath vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Drain plug replaced first; later oil pan gasket replacement performed
Unintended drive mode changes and engine shutdown
Vehicle automatically switches between Sport and Normal drive modes without driver input, then suddenly slows down until engine shuts off. Occurs without warning lights and is unpredictable.
When: September 2022 and June 2023
Symptoms owners cite: Automatic mode switching between Sport and Normal; Unexpected deceleration; Engine shutdown
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer acknowledged issue is from manufacturing defect
Transmission recall parts unavailable (backorder)
Owners notified of transmission-related recall 22V746000 but dealerships unable to complete repair due to parts being on national backorder with no ETA. One owner waited from August 2023 to December 2023 for appointment with no parts availability confirmed.
When: As of complaint filing dates in 2023
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to complete recall repairs; Indefinite wait for parts
Codes mentioned: 22V746000
Repairs/costs cited: Parts on national backorder with no ETA
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 22V746000 issued but parts distribution unable to meet demand
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
Car leaked oil multiple times. First time they said it was a faulty drain plug then after a few months it kept leaking. Took it back to the dealership and they said the gasket around the oil pan was faulty causing the leak and needed replaced.
Vehicle threw a check engine light, warning lights, and overheated when accelerating getting onto the highway and accelerating to highway speeds.
The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Sonata. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V746000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not…
The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH down her driveway, the vehicle began to shake violently. The contact stated that the vehicle began to shut down. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated with DTC P020200 flashing on the instrument panel. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where the dealer…
Shifter system malfunction service immediately was displayed on my dash 10+ times which caused me to not be able to shift my car out of drive or whatever gear I was in when this occurred. I was at an intersection and when I was coming to a stop the car displayed this error code and wouldn’t allow me to go until I turned the car off and on twice till it was able to reset back to park then…
Car sometimes does not accelerate appropriately. Car needs to be shut off and restarted when this happens. Dealerships around me say they don’t see anything wrong with the car. It happens randomly and shouldn’t happen with a brand new car. I feel unsafe when it doesn’t accelerate correctly.
When driving down a hill, I downshifted to slow my descent and to not have to use the brakes as much. I downshifted once or twice making sure the engine didn't go far above 3000 RPM. The gear indicator showed 2nd gear but I knew that wasn't accurate because the car had yet to change gear and the RPM was too low for 2nd gear, I was still in 3rd or 4th gear. About a second or two goes by until the…
On multiple occasions, the car has intermittent acceleration issues and hesitates when the automatic transmission is shifting to the next gear. Without warning, the car completely turned off - engine failed - while driving and in the middle of making a turn, and luckily oncoming traffic stopped in time before we were in an accident. The local dealer has been unable to replicate the problem;…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2022 Hyundai Sonata?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2022 Hyundai Sonata?
It's a meaningful issue. 23 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 23 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 2,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2022/Hyundai/Sonata.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.