2013 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 1,910 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 93 involved a crash and 97 involved a fire. 77 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsMay 6, 2022
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Sonata vehicles. The low pressure fuel hose that connects the low pressure fuel pump to the direct injection fuel pump may crack over time, due to heat generated within the engine compartment.
A cracked fuel hose may leak fuel, which can increase the risk of a fire.
Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel hose, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 10, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 227. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 20V-121. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 20V-121 that did not receive a replacement fuel hose will need to have this new recall remedy performed.
Campaign 22V312000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsFeb 28, 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Sonata vehicles. The low pressure fuel hose that connects the low pressure fuel pump to the direct injection fuel pump may crack over time due to heat generated within the engine compartment.
If the fuel line cracks, a fuel leak can occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the low-pressure fuel hose for damage or leaking, replacing it as necessary. If no damage or leaking is found, heat-protective tape will be installed. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 10, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 189. This recall has been replaced by NHTSA recall number 22V-314.
Campaign 20V121000 on NHTSA.gov
EngineDec 28, 2018
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2013-2014 Santa Fe Sport vehicles previously repaired under recall numbers 15V-568 and 17V-226. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned, or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, allowing fuel to leak from the pipe.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's recall number for this recall is 180.
Campaign 18V934000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, pretensionerFeb 27, 2018
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Sonata and 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. On February 27, 2018, Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) notified NHTSA that they were recalling 154,753 model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. On April 18, 2018, Hyundai expanded the recall to include an additional 425,305 model year 2012-2013 Sonata and 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying.
If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install an external wire filter kit, free of charge. The recall began October 15, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 174.
Campaign 18V137000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, pretensionerOct 4, 2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrid vehicles previously repaired under recall campaign 17V-152. The seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.
If the seat belt linkage detaches from the seat belt anchorage, it can not properly restrain the occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will again verify the connection between the seat belt linkage and the pretensioner and additionally install a warning label to prevent future seat belt linkage detachment, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 169.
Campaign 17V617000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineMar 31, 2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Sonata and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine, replacing the engine short block, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 162.
Campaign 17V226000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, front, anchorageMar 8, 2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.
In the event of a crash, if the seat belts detach from the anchor pretensioners, it can increase the risk of injury.
Hyundai will notify owners and dealers will inspect the connection between the seat belt linkages and the seat belt anchor pretensioners, repairing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 7, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for the recall is 160.
Campaign 17V152000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionJul 18, 2014
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, through May 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from from the shift lever pin.
If the transmission shift cable detaches, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver parks the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position and the parking brake is not applied, there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, repair the connection between the shift cable and shift lever, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 123.
Campaign 14V434000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowJul 24, 2012
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Hyundai Sonata passenger cars, manufactured from January 24, 2012, through June 21, 2012. The curtain side airbags on these vehicles may inflate without deployment command due to an error during manufacturing.
The curtain airbag may inflate without deployment command and increase the risk of injury to occupants of the vehicle. Additionally, an unexpected deployment would be a significant driver distraction and would limit the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai dealers will notify owners, and dealers will replace the curtain side airbags free of charge. This recall began on August 31, 2012. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 12V352000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
260 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Nov 12, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ALARM ACTIVATED AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOME LIGHT FAILED TO TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURRED IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE RADIO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
Power train, Electrical system, Seats, Sep 24, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD INDEPENDENTLY MOVE FROM DRIVE TO FIRST GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V434000 (POWER TRAIN). ALSO, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION AND FAILED TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. LASTLY, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT HEATERS WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNAWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 21, 2014
JUST RECENTLY THE STEERING HAS BECOME UNSTABLE. IT IS CONSTANTLY WEAVING BACK AND FORTH. IT HAS BECOME VERY TIRING TO HOLD IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE. DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG AND NO ONE ELSE HAS COMPLAINED. HOWEVER I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE, AS TWO OTHER PEOPLE ARE HERE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO IN THE LAST WEEK MY KEYLESS DOOR LOCKS ONLY WORK PART OF THE TIME ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND THE DRIVER SIDE. I HAVE TO HIT THEM SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THEM TO UNLOCK. *TR
Electrical system, Aug 26, 2014
I AM SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR. THE SPEEDOMETER IS 2 TO 3 MILES OFF. SERVICE SAYS NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. THAT SEEMS VERY ODD. *TR
Electrical system, Aug 26, 2014
VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS THE LIMITED 2.0T TRIM LINE. SPEED DISPLAYED ON THE SPEEDOMETER IS CONSISTENTLY 5% HIGHER THAN TRUE SPEED OF VEHICLE, AS VERIFIED BY INDEPENDENT EQUIPMENT. SPEED CONTROL IS EQUALLY AFFECTED. ODOMETER READINGS ARE ALSO OFF BY THE SAME AMOUNT (I.E. READING HIGHER THAT ACTUAL DISTANCES TRAVELED). INFORMATION REPORTED TO DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY CLAIM NOTHING IS WRONG. *TR
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Jul 26, 2014
I WAS TURNING ON TO SMITH SWITCH ROAD IN ASHBURN VIRGINIA FROM WAXPOOL ROAD. I REACHED TO TURN ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS DUE TO BICYCLIST ON THE ROADWAY AND I BUMPED THE STARTER SWITCH FOR THE CAR AND IT SHUT THE CAR OFF WHILE IT WAS STILL IN MOTION. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING TO BE HEAVY AND BRAKES VERY HARD TO USE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. I HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE TOTALLY AND PUT BACK INTO PARK BEFORE IT WOULD START AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN WHILE IT WAS COASTING. I TRIED AND IT DIDN'T WORK. *TR
Electrical system, Equipment, Jul 13, 2014
AFTER LEAVING 2013 SONATA PARKED FOR 3 HOURS CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 5 MILES AN HOUR. AFTER INVESTIGATION BY HYUNDAI MECHANICS THEY FOUND THAT A PORTION OF ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD BEEN CHEWED THROUGH BY SOME KIND OF CRITTER. COME TO FIND OUT THE MATERIAL USED AS WIRING INSULATION IS SOY BASED THAT ATTRACTS CRITTERS. THIS COULD BE A SEVER SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS, FIRES, OR WHAT EVER. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 14, 2013
FROM THE PAST FEW WEEKS DRIVING MY NEW 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS, I KNOW THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) ON THE CAR. MY CAR JUST KEEPS WANDERING WHEN DRIVING OVER 50 MPH ON FREEWAY. IT WILL KEEP WANDERING TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT. IT REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION TO KEEP MY CAR IN THE LANE AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS EXTREMELY SENSITIVE. WHEN THE CAR WANDERS TO THE LEFT, I WOULD TRY TO CORRECT IT BACK TO CENTER, BUT IT WON'T STAY STRAIGHT AND IT WANDERS TO THE RIGHT AFTER CORRECTION. IT WILL HAPPENS A FEW TIMES LIKE THAT FROM A 15-MILE FREEWAY DRIVE. ONE TIME, I OVER CORRECTED IT AND IT WENT TO THE OTHER LANE NEXT TO ME AND ALMOST HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME. IT WAS SCARY AND TOTALLY DANGEROUS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE NEW TIRES REQUIRED BREAK-IN AND THE PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY, BUT IT HAS BEEN OVER 2 WEEKS OF DRIVING AND TIRES WERE ALREADY FULLY BREAK-IN. ALL OF THE TIRES ARE WITH GOOD TIRE PRESSURE AT 34 PSI AND IT CAN NOT BE ALIGNMENT ISSUE SINCE THE CAR DOESN'T JUST GO TOWARD ONE SIDE IN HIGH SPEED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON THE SAME FREEWAY FOR YEARS AND THERE IS NO SUCH ISSUE WITH MY OTHER CARS AFTER I TESTED DRIVE THOSE CARS ON THE SAME FREEWAY, SO IT IS NOT AN ISSUE ON THE PAVEMENT ON THE FREEWAY. IT IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA'S STEERING. CONTACTED HYUNDAI DEALERS IN MY LOCATION AREAS, THEY ALL SAID THAT THE SENSITIVE STEERING IS DUE TO THE EPS FOR THE SONATA AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN CHANGE SINCE IT IS CONTROLLED BY THE CAR'S COMPUTER. PLEASE REQUEST HYUNDAI TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR CARS' EPS AND MAKE PROPER ADJUSTMENT, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET HURT OR KILLED SOMEDAY IF THIS IS NOT BEING LOOKED AT. THANK YOU. *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 24, 2013, crash
I WAS DRIVING A NEW 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA IN A PARKING AREA, APPROACHING A PARKING SPACE FOR A STRAIGHT-IN PARKING FACING A BUILDING. MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 10MPH. I BRAKE CONTINUOUSLY TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR WENT THROUGH THE PARKING SPACE AND CRASHED INTO THE BRICK WALL FACADE OF THE BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE BRICK WALL WAS NOT DAMAGED. I HAD ABOUT 5 MINOR BRUISES ON MY RIGHT LEG, AND TWO BELOW UMBILICUS (SEAT BELT AREA). I ALSO SUFFERED FROM FRIGHT AND EMOTIONAL DISTRESS. A NEARBY PEDESTRIAN WAS CUT ON THE ANKLE BY CRASH DEBRIS THAT PROJECTED OUT SIDEWAYS FROM THE IMPACT. THE DEBRIS ALSO SCRATCHED A CAR IN THE ADJACENT PARKING SPACE. MY INSURANCE ADJUSTOR SAID THAT THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS FROM THE DAMAGE. *TR
Electrical system, Visibility, Oct 12, 2012
AIR CONDITIONER BLEW HARD, INTERMITTENT AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO CONTROLS. CAR DRIFTS LEFT TO RIGHT, HAVE TO FIGHT TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. *TR