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 This recall has been replaced by NHTSA recall number 22V-314.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: exterior lighting
197 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 9, 2021
I AM CONSTANTLY CHANGING OUT MY BRAKE LIGHTS/ TAIL LIGHTS. AS SOON AS I REPLACE THEM., THEY GO OUT. MY BRAKE LIGHTS MAY WORK BUT MY TAIL LIGHTS WILL NOT. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE AT NIGHT FOR FEAR OF NOT KNOWING IF I HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS OR NOT.
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Feb 12, 2021
SOMETIMES MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON WHEN I AM NOT PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING. IT SEEMS THAT SOMETHING IS MALFUNCTIONING BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 26, 2021, fire
MY CAR BURNS BULBS LIKE CRAZY. WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE MY TAIL LIGHT, I NOTICED THAT IT HAD COUGHT ON FIRE. IVE PUT 6 HEADLIGHT BULBS BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEEMS IN MY CAR IN THE LADT 2 YRS.. AND CHANGED MY TAIL LIGHT 2 TIMES. TAIL LIGHT HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED. NOT COOL..
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 18, 2021
THE LIGHTS THEY GO OUT I REPLACE THEM THEY GO OUT AGAIN. THE LIGHTS BURN IN THE SOCKETS. I HAVE REPLACED 1 ALREADY MY BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK AND THE LIGHTS THAT I BROUGHT WERE FROM HYUNDAI WHICH MEANS IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR.
Exterior lighting, Engine, Jan 13, 2021
BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHT CONTINUES TO BURN OUT. I HAVE REPLACED BULBS AND ENTIRE ASSEMBLY EVERY COUPLE WEEKS AND IT MELTS THE UNITS AS WELL AS MY ENGINE STALLS OUT AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE AND DOES THIS INTERMITTENTLY.
Exterior lighting, Jan 12, 2021, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WERE EXPERIENCING BULBS BURNING WHICH CAUSED MELTING OF WIRING INTO THE SOCKETS OF THE VEHICLE. THE BULBS WERE ORIGINAL PARTS. THE CONTACTED STATED THE FAILURE FIRST OCCURRED WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT BURNED OUT, SHORTLY AFTER THE PASSENGER REAR TAILLIGHT AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEAD LIGHT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPAIRED AND REPLACED BOTH REAR HEAD LIGHTS AND BULBS HIMSELF BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Exterior lighting, Jan 9, 2021
I HAVE TO CHANGE TAIL LIGHTS EVERY MONTH. NOW A NEW ASSEMBLY IS REQUIRED BECAUSE THE BLOWN BULB HAS MELTED IT. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND I'M TRYING TO AVOID TICKETS AND COURT IF POSSIBLE. ALSO THERE'S A SHORTAGE IN THE WIRING.
Exterior lighting, Dec 7, 2020
I HAVE TO CHANGE MY PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT BULB EVERY MONTH THIS IS NOT NORMAL, NOW SINCE IT GOT OVERHEATED IT HAD MELTED TO THE SOCKET,I FOUND IT VERY HAZARDOUS
Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 24, 2020
I SENT A NOTICE BEFORE EXPLAINING WHAT HAPPEN BUT I WAS MCDONALD'S LINE MY CAR WAS IN PARK AND WHEN I TRY TO PUT IT IN DRIVE I HEARD A CLICK NOISE MY CAR WOULDN'T MOVE OUT OF PARK AND AFTER HOLDING THE LINE UP OVER AN HOUR I HAD SOMEONE TO HELP ME MOVE IT. IT WAS AFTER 9PM SO I HAD TO SLEEP IN MY CAR UNTIL MIDNIGHT WAITING FOR HELP I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME AND IT WAS A $90 FEE I MISSED 3 DAYS OF WORK TO FIND A LOCAL MECHANIC TO FIX IT BECAUSE HYUNDAI SAID MY CAR WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY IT HAD EXPIRE SO NOW I BARELY DRIVE IT BUT STILL HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENT IT STILL NOT FIXED CORRECTLY NOW WHEN I TRY TO SHIFT GEARS IT TAKES A WHILE BEFORE THE COMPUTER READS IT. MY LIGHT ISSUES IN THE CAR THE FRONT HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT I SPENT OVER $100 IN THE PAST MONTH. NOTHING IS SHOWING IT'S OVER HEATING OR MELTING I HAD TO PAY SOMEONE TO LOOK AT IT AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT THIS HAD CAUSE ME TO GET PULLED OVER MORE THAN ONCE BECAUSE I WORK OVERNIGHT. PLEASE HELP
Steering, Exterior lighting, Sep 22, 2020
MY STEERING WHEEL COUPLER IS BROKEN NO ONE IS ABLE TO DUE THE WORK ON IT MY WHEEL SHAKES BAD WHEN I GET ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN DRIVING STREET WAY ALSO ALSO THE BRAKES LIGHTS ARE KEEP GOING OUT I HAVE TO GET MY BRAKE LIGHTS CHANGED EVERY TWO WEEKS
Exterior lighting, Sep 16, 2020
REAR TAIL LIGHT BRAKE LIGHTS GETS TOO HOT AND MELTS INSIDE THE SOCKET. IT'S A BIG FIRE HAZARD. THE HEAT MELTED THE INNER PART WHICH MADE ME REPLACE THE WHOLE TAIL LIGHT. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT.
Exterior lighting, Sep 9, 2020, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULBS HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. WHILE REPLACING THE BULBS IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LIGHT BULBS HAD OVERHEATED AND MELTED INTO THE BULB SOCKET. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. ALSO WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER FIVE STAR HYUNDAI OF MACON LOCATED AT 3010 RIVERSIDE DR, MACON, GA 31210 WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.*DT*JB
Exterior lighting, Aug 25, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE BULB EVERY SIXTY TO NINETY DAYS. THE CONTACT WOULD BECOME AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER NOTIFIED HER ON THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE FIRST TO ONTARIO HYUNDAI, 1307 KETTERING DR A, ONTARIO, CA 91761, AND WAS DIAGNOSED BUT COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS TAKEN TO VICTORVILLE HYUNDAI, 14821 PALMDALE RD, VICTORVILLE, CA 92392, AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BULB NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 14, 2020
MY RIGHT TAIL LIGHT WIRING IS SO HOT IT BLOW MY LIGHT AND ITS ALSO HAVE MY MY LIGHT MELT BY BEING SO HOT AND I GOT ANOTHER TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND IT WAS FROM PULL A PART AND NOW ITS DOING TO SAME THING IT DID BEFORE I CHANGED IT OUT
Exterior lighting, Aug 7, 2020
HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN DRIVING AND ENTIRE DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OUT. THIS VEHICLE USES THE SAME PARTS AS THE 2014 KIA SOUL AND THIS ISSUE WAS RESOLVED FOR THE KIA SOUL ON TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NO. ELE093. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW THAT THIS IS A NORMAL PROBLEM FOR 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA VEHICLE OWNERS. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OR A TSB WITH OWNER COMMUNICATION TO BE FIXED RAPIDLY.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Jul 26, 2020
THE REAR LIGHTS MELT AROUND THE BRAKE LIGHT BULBS AND YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE BULB BECAUSE THE WHOLE WHERE IT GOES INTO MELTS BOTH SIDES ARE CURRENTLY MELTED
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 22, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULBS WERE MELTED TOGETHER. THE CONTACT STATED THE LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED 8 TIMES HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALLEN TURNER HYUNDAI LOCATED AT 6501 PENSACOLA BLVD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505, (850) 479-9667, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Exterior lighting, Jul 19, 2020
I HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT AND BACK LIGHTS VERY OFTEN. THEY ARE ALWAYS BLOWING OUT. VERY UNSAFE. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN BOTH FRONT LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT AND I'VE ENDED UP IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.
Exterior lighting, Jul 16, 2020
HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY BURNING OUT WAY EARLIER THAN THEY SHOULD. THEY ARE BEING INSTALLED PROPERLY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND LOTS OF OTHER HYUNDAI OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AS I DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHEN THEY ARE BURNT OUT.
Exterior lighting, Jul 16, 2020
I KEEP HAVING TO REPLACE LIGHT BULBS. THEY KEEP BLOWING. HEADLIGHTS FOG LIGHTS BRAKE LIGHTS TAIL LIGHTS.
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Jul 11, 2020
I REPLACED MY BREAK LIGHTS BULBS OVER 10 TIMES IN ONE YEAR, AND A NUMBER OF POLICE WARNINGS, AND I'M AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE. I'M TIRED OF BEING STOPPED FOR A BREAK LIGHT ISSUES.
Exterior lighting, Jul 6, 2020
THE LIGHTS TURN OFF AFTER TURNING OR EVEN JUST NORMAL DRIVING. THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR SHOWS THIS HAPPENING. THEN YOU JUST HAVE TO HOPE THEY TURN ON.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Jun 23, 2020
I HAVE HAD BOTH MY BACK LIGHT HARNESSES WHERE A BULB HAS BLOWN AND IT WAS SO HOT IT MELTED THE BULB ENDS INTO THE SOCKET AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HARNESS FOR ONE SIDE AND MIGHT HAVE TO REPLACE IT FOR THE OTHER SIDE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE INSIDE DASH LIGHTS WOULD ALSO START FLICKERING OFF AND ON AS WELL AS THE OUTSIDE LIGHTS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS IS CONCERNING TO ME AND I KNOW THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT YET THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANY RECALLS. WHY PLEASE ADVISE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jun 22, 2020
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, I AM PULLED OVER FOR HAVING A LEFT TAIL-LIGHT THAT IS OUT. I HAVE UTILIZED MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP RECENTLY TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION AS I FREQUENTLY CHANGE THE LIGHT BULB OUT, AND END UP WITH YET THE SAME LIGHT OUT WITHIN DAYS/WEEKS. AFTER I HAVE PAID THE DEALERSHIP ROUGHLY $75 TO GET A 'BRAKE SWITCH' REPLACED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, MY LIGHT IS OUT ONCE AGAIN. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jun 22, 2020
MY RIGHT BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS GOING OUT. I'M ALWAYS CHANGING IT AND A FEW WEEKS LATER IT WILL GO OUT AGAIN. I'VE BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP (ALLEN HYUNDAI, GULFPORT, MS) AND I GOT MY 'BRAKE LAMP STOPPER' REPLACED AND HE SAID MY LIGHTS SHOULD WORK FINE. I ORIGINALLY BROUGHT IT IN BECAUSE MY 3RD BRAKE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON WHILE I'M DRIVING AND IT WOULD CAUSE ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING. IT GOES NOW, BUT SEEMS LIKE IT HAS TROUBLE CATCHING SPEED. I'VE SPOKE TO OTHER SONATA OWNERS AND THEY TOO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT GOING OUT. IT'S A HAZARD AND IT ALSO CAN GIVE US TICKETS FROM THE POLICE. PLEASE HAVE THIS LOOKED IN TO. *TR