Every Check Hyundai’s Oil Change TSB Asks of Your Shop
Hyundai’s oil change TSB lists seven checks, and NHTSA pointed to it when it denied the drain plug petition. Here is what your invoice should show.
Table of Contents
What Hyundai’s oil change bulletin actually requires
Hyundai’s oil change TSB, 23-EM-005H from October 2023, tells technicians to fit a new drain plug washer at every oil change and to clear out the old one first. It covers every Hyundai with a gasoline engine, hybrids and plug-in hybrids included.
Who the bulletin is written for
Hyundai wrote it for dealer technicians, but the checks apply to any shop.
The one rule most shops miss
The old washer can stay stuck to the oil pan, so a new one ends up stacked on top.
- Booking an oil change: take the seven checkpoints to your shop.
- Worried about warranty: go to the recall and warranty section.
- Oil leaking or a warning light on: stop driving, then read the last section.
ℹ️ Safety Note: A drain plug that backs out can drain the engine’s oil while you drive. This article explains what Hyundai’s bulletin says; it is not a procedure for doing the work. Have any oil leak or oil warning inspected by a qualified technician before driving further.
What TSB 23-EM-005H says, and who it’s for
The bulletin is two pages of oil and filter checkpoints, and you can read Hyundai’s oil change service bulletin on NHTSA in full.
Date, number and NHTSA record
📋 On the Record: Hyundai TSB 23-EM-005H, Engine Oil and Filter Change Service Guidelines, October 2023, NHTSA record 10247189. Scope: all Hyundai models with gasoline engines, hybrids and plug-in hybrids included. Status: a service guideline, not a recall or campaign. Checked October 17, 2026.
The warranty chargeback line
The bulletin’s warranty note says engine damage caused by not following it is subject to warranty chargeback. It doesn’t say how chargeback affects owners, and we found no Hyundai document that does, so we make no claim about it.
The seven checks every Hyundai oil change should pass
Hyundai’s bulletin lists seven checkpoints, from the drain plug to the filler cap:
| Step | What TSB 23-EM-005H requires | Ask for on the invoice |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Drain plug | Genuine plug if damaged, no generic aftermarket plugs; 29 lb-ft (39 Nm) | Plug condition |
| 2. Washer | New one-time crush washer, never reused | New washer |
| 3. Pan opening | No old washer stuck on the drain hole | Old washer removed |
| 4. Filter flange | No old filter gasket left on the flange | Flange checked |
| 5. Filter | Gasket oiled, filter prefilled, 10 lb-ft (13.7 Nm) | Filter part number |
| 6. Oil | Shop Manual grade and viscosity; 5W-30 only as fallback | Oil spec and quantity |
| 7. Filler cap | Tightened until it clicks several times | None |
Source: Hyundai TSB 23-EM-005H, October 2023. Applies to all Hyundai gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.
Drain plug and washer (steps 1–3)
These torque figures are Hyundai’s; some aftermarket washer listings quote a different range. Overtightening can strip the pan’s threads; see our guide to stripped drain plug repairs.
Filter, oil and cap (steps 4–7)
Step 4 catches the filter version of the same mistake.
Which Hyundais the washer rule covers
The bulletin carries no model-year limit, so it applies to every Hyundai with a gasoline engine.
Gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid
That includes hybrids and plug-in hybrids; electric Hyundais use no engine oil. The bulletin doesn’t mention Genesis or Kia, and we found no matching Kia bulletin.
Models named in the NHTSA petition
A 2022 defect petition named these Hyundais; that is not a defect finding.
| Hyundai model | Model years named | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Sonata | 2006–2019 | Petition list only |
| Santa Fe Sport | 2013–2018 | Petition list only |
| Santa Fe | 2010–2012, 2019–2020 | Petition list only |
| Tucson | 2010–2015, 2018–2019 | Petition list only |
Source: Federal Register notice, Docket NHTSA-2024-0059.
The rule isn’t new: Hyundai’s 2019 campaign bulletin 19-01-020H told dealers to fit a new oil plug gasket on select 2011–2014 Sonatas and 2013–2014 Santa Fe Sports.
Why a stacked washer can let the plug back out
Double gasketing means fitting a new drain plug washer over an old one stuck to the pan; NHTSA says that likely prevents a proper seal, which can let the plug back out while driving.
What NHTSA concluded
NHTSA reviewed the petition and closed it on December 12, 2023. It found no plug back-out before a vehicle’s first oil change, and tied incidents to oil-change procedure rather than a pan defect. Its 51 related complaints included no crashes, fires or injuries; see NHTSA’s closing summary of petition DP22-003.
What the petitioners argued
A consulting firm and four trade associations said factory gaskets were painted over and fused in place. Their filings also listed plug-outs after extraction oil changes that left the plug untouched.
Is there a recall, and does an outside oil change risk your warranty?
As of October 17, 2026, no Hyundai recall or campaign covers drain plugs backing out.
Recall and petition status (checked October 17, 2026)
📋 On the Record: NHTSA petition DP22-003, covering an estimated 11.5 million 2005–2022 Hyundai and Kia vehicles, was denied and closed on December 12, 2023, with reasons published September 16, 2024. NHTSA can still act on new information. Checked October 17, 2026.
✅ Do This: Run your VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows open safety recalls only; ask a Hyundai dealer about service campaigns.
Independent shops, DIY and records
A carmaker can’t deny coverage only because a non-dealer changed the oil, but it can where it shows the work caused the damage. Our guide to the oil change warranty rule explains the law and the proof log.
What to check after an oil change, and what to do if oil is leaking
A backed-out plug drains oil fast, so know the signs, even though NHTSA found it rare.
Warning signs
- Fresh oil drips under the engine after a service
- The oil pressure warning light
- A dipstick reading that drops soon after the oil change
If the light comes on, stop safely; see an oil pressure light after an oil change. For a drip with no light, see finding an oil leak after an oil change.
What to ask your shop to write down
✅ Do This: Get three answers on the invoice: Was the old washer removed from the pan? Was a new washer fitted? Was the plug torqued to the TSB 23-EM-005H figure?
Hyundai oil change TSB questions, answered
1. Does Hyundai require a new drain plug washer every oil change?
Yes. Hyundai oil change TSB 23-EM-005H calls the washer a one-time crush gasket; fit a new one every time.
2. Can I reuse a Hyundai drain plug washer?
No. TSB 23-EM-005H says the Hyundai drain plug washer is single-use, and any old washer stuck in the pan must come off.
3. What is Hyundai’s drain plug torque?
TSB 23-EM-005H lists 29 lb-ft (39 Nm) for the Hyundai drain plug, fitted with a new washer. Have a qualified technician do the work.
4. Does TSB 23-EM-005H apply to Hyundai hybrids?
Yes. TSB 23-EM-005H covers every Hyundai with a gasoline engine, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models included.
5. Is there a Hyundai drain plug recall?
No. As of October 17, 2026, no Hyundai drain plug recall exists, and NHTSA denied petition DP22-003 in December 2023.
6. Does an independent oil change void my Hyundai warranty?
Not by itself. A carmaker can deny Hyundai warranty coverage only where it shows the oil change caused the damage.
7. What is double gasketing on a drain plug?
Double gasketing is a new drain plug washer stacked on an old stuck one, which NHTSA says likely prevents a seal.
8. Does Hyundai allow aftermarket drain plugs?
Hyundai’s TSB tells technicians not to use generic aftermarket drain plugs; replace a damaged plug with a genuine Hyundai part.
9. What oil does the Hyundai oil change TSB call for?
The Shop Manual grade and viscosity, with 5W-30 only when the specified Hyundai oil viscosity is unavailable.
10. What should I do if my Hyundai drain plug fell out?
Stop driving, keep your oil change invoice, and check your VIN for recalls. Have a qualified technician inspect the engine first.
Your next step before the next Hyundai oil change
The rule fits on one line: old washer out, new washer in, plug torqued to Hyundai’s figure, all of it written on the invoice. Before your next service, check your VIN on NHTSA’s lookup and hand your shop the three questions above. If something has already gone wrong, start with the leak or warning-light guide.
