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 This recall has been replaced by NHTSA recall number 22V-314.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: steering
341 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Suspension, Apr 2, 2013
VEHICLE WANDERS DANGEROUSLY FROM SPEEDS OF 35 MPH TO 60MPH. I HAVE OTHER FRIENDS WITH SONATA HAVE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR
Steering, Mar 26, 2013
WHILE DRIVING THE CARS STEERING TENDS TO OVERSTEER REQUIRING CONSTANT WHEEL ADJUSTMENT. THE FEEL IS SIMILAR TO THE WIND BLOWING THE CAR BACK AND FORTH ON THE HIGHWAY. IT CAN BE FELT AT LOWER SPEEDS BUT IS MORE PREVALENT AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON 3/26/13 AND WAS TOLD ITS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING AND THAT IT IS OPERATING AS IT SHOULD. THEY TOLD ME IT,S DIFFERENT THE HYDRAULIC STEERING AND IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME TO GET USE TO IT. *TR
Steering, Feb 26, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE. THE STEERING PROGRESSIVELY BECAME VERY SENSITIVE AND DIFFICULT TO KEEP STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY A MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200.
Steering, Feb 24, 2013
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WANDERS LEFT AND RIGHT, SIMILAR TO ALTERNATING CROSS WINDS. MAINTAINING A STRAIGHT TRACK IS DIFFICULT AND REQUIRES CONSTANT ATTENTION AND CORRECTION. VEHICLE WANDER CREATES HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS AND DRIVER FATIGUE, POSING PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD. VEHICLE IS ALSO UNABLE TO TRACK SMOOTHLY AROUND CURVES, AGAIN REQUIRING CONSTANT CORRECTION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THREE DIFFERENT HYUNDAI DEALERSHIPS FOR RESOLUTION. HYUNDAI DEALERSHIPS DENY THERE IS PROBLEM. *TR
Steering, Suspension, Feb 20, 2013
VEHICLE DRIFTS LEFT AND RIGHT AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEEDS, REQUIRING CONSTANT ATTENTION AND CORRECTION BY THE DRIVER, WHICH IS DISTRACTING AND CONTRIBUTES TO DRIVER FATIGUE. UNABLE TO TRACK SMOOTHLY AROUND CURVES. SIMILAR TO ALTERNATING CROSS WINDS, EVEN WHEN THERE ARE NONE. SITUATION VERY AGGRAVATING IN ACTUAL CROSS WINDS. ANY POLICE OFFICER WOULD BE JUSTIFIED IN ISSUING A TICKET FOR "WEAVING". DEALER TECHNICIAN DROVE THE CAR AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A NEGATIVE CHARACTERISTIC OF ELECTRICAL STEERING AND NOTHING TO BE DONE FOR IT. HE SUPPOSEDLY CHANGED SOME SETTING FROM "HARD" TO "SOFT', BUT THAT HAD NO EFFECT AFTER I LEFT THE DEALER, MAYBE EVEN BEING WORSE. I COMPLAINED TO HYUNDAI ON THEIR WEBSITE, WITH NO RESPONSE TO DATE. I AM A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER (MOSTLY AVIATION) AND SUSPECT THAT SOME DAMPING NEEDS TO BE APPLIED TO THE STEERING SYSTEM. AT THIS TIME, I AM NOTICING THAT ABOUT HALF OF THE 2013 SONATA COMPLAINTS CONCERN THE STEERING SYSTEM. NHTSA SHOULD TAKE ACTION BEFORE ACCIDENTS BEGIN OCCURRING DUE TO THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. *TR UPDATED 05/23/13 UPDATED 09/10/13*LJ UPDATED 01/02/14
Steering, Jan 13, 2013
THE DAY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I DROVE IT ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH FOR A DISTANCE OF 40 MILES. I NOTICED THAT IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE WITHIN THE FREEWAY LANES I WAS CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING THE STEERING. IF I DID NOT ADJUST THE STEERING CONSTANTLY I WOULD DRIFT INTO ANOTHER LANE. AFTER ABOUT 40 MINUTES OF DRIVING I WAS FRUSTRATED AND EXHAUSTED FROM THE EFFORTS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE SAME LANE. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HE COULD DO TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HE INDICATED THAT THIS WAS AN ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM AND THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR. I CALLED THE CORPORATE OFFICES OF THE HYUNDAI CORPORATION AND SPOKE WITH ONE OF THEIR CONSULTANTS AND THEY ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THAT THEY HAD NO PLANS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Steering, Jan 11, 2013
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHICH IS FLAT AND STRAIGHT MY 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA WANDERS LEFT AND RIGHT. WHEN SMALL CORRECTIONS ARE MADE, I CAN FEEL THE STEERING STICKING. WHEN IT RELEASES WITH A LITTLE PRESSURE, IT CAUSES A JERKY MOVEMENT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CORRECTION. IT IS A CONSTANT BATTLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE DOWN THE ROAD. *TR
Steering, Jan 10, 2013
I JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2013 SONATA HYUNDAI AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALER 2 TIMES FOR STEERING PROBLEMS. THEY ALWAYS DO SOMETHING BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WONDERS AND I GET EXHAUSTED DRIVING IT ALSO I'M HANDICAPPED PARALYZED ON THE LEFT SIDE SO I DRIVE WITH ONE ARM. HAD I KNOWN OF THIS STEERING DEFECT I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR JUST LEFT CAR FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR 2 DAYS SO THEY COULD CHECK IT OUT REAL GOOD AND NOW ITS WORSE, I TOLD THEM I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT SO THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER, IF THEIR WAS A WAY TO GET OUT OF MY CONTRACT AND GIVE THEM BACK THERE CAR I WOULD DO IT IN A MINUTE THANK YOU *TR
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 1, 2012
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY MOVES EITHER TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THERE IS NOT GOING STRAIGHT. I HAVE TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY TOOK IT FOR A ROAD TEST AND DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING. THERE IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE HERE WITH THIS VEHICLE AS THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMMENTS RELATING TO THIS ISSUE. PLEASE HAVE THIS ISSUED ADDRESSED AS WE SHOULD NOT BE DEALING WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHEN WE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY FOR A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. THIS IS POOR SERVICE HYUNDAI... *TR
Steering, Nov 5, 2012
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAR DRIFTS EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CAR NEVER STAYS ON COURSE. WHEN IT DRIFTS LEFT AND YOU TRY TO CORRECT IT, IT GOES RIGHT, WHICH REQUIRES CORRECTING AGAIN. IT IS A CONSTANT BATTLE ON THE ROAD, AND AT LEAST 4 DIFFERENT TIMES, WE HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN A ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER CAR DO TO THIS. THE CAR EITHER GOES LEFT OR RIGHT, NEVER GOES STRAIGHT. I TRY MY BEST TO HOLD IT STRAIGHT BY HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL FIRM TO TEST IT, BUT IT DOES NOT MATTER. THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY SCARES US. WE ACTUALLY JUST KEEP THE VEHICLE PARKED MOST OF THE TIME, AND DRIVE OUR OLDER VEHICLE. OUR HYUNDAI ON HAS ABOUT 7K ON THE ODOMETER. WHEN I HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT, I CAN COUNT TO 6 SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR IS ALMOST COMPLETELY IN ANOTHER LANE. ONE TIME, I COUNTED TO 7 AND THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD ON THE EMERGENCY LANE. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO FIX THIS. THIS IS SERIOUSLY A VERY BAD ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID ITS BECAUSE IT HAS ELECTRIC STEERING AND TOLD US WE SHOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR IF WE DIDN'T LIKE HOW IT DRIVES AND THEN SENT US ON OUR WAY. I JUST HOPE MORE PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM COME FORWARD AND VOICE THEIR ISSUE SO HYUNDAI WILL ACTUALLY ADDRESS IT. ITS FUNNY HOW HYUNDAI SAYS THAT IT IS WHAT IT IS, WHEN THIS IS THE SAME THING HYUNDAI HAD A MAJOR RECALL ON PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR SONATAS W/ 18" WHEELS, WHICH OURS HAS. *TR
Steering, Oct 31, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONTATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE VEERS TO THE LEFT. WHILE TRYING TO CORRECT THE TRAJECTORY THE VEHICLE THEN VEERS TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
Steering, Suspension, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 16, 2012
CAR DRIFTS TO LEFT AND RIGHT. FIGHT TO KEEP ON ROAD. HYUNDAI SAYS GET USED TO IT. GOV.'T NEEDS TO STEP IN AND FIX THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!!!!! *TR
Steering, Oct 15, 2012
STEERING WANDERS, MAKE A SLIGHT CORRECTION TO THE RIGHT CAR CONTINUES RIGHT , SLIGHT CORRECTION LEFT CAR CONTINUES LEFT DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER. EVEN WITH A ROAD THAT TILTS TO THE LEFT, IF YOU MAKE A SLIGHT CORRECTION TO THE RIGHT, THE CAR CONTINUES TO BEAR TO THE RIGHT. SAME THING HAPPENS WITH A ROAD THAT TILTS TO THE RIGHT, SLIGHT CORRECTION TO THE LEFT AND THE CAR CONTINUES LEFT. BASICALLY, THE EFFECT IS GOING DONE A STRAIGHT LEVEL ROAD THE CAR WANDERS LEFT AND RIGHT AND NEVER RETURNS TO CENTER. HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS. *TR
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Traction control system, Sep 11, 2012
WHILE GETTING ON THE ON-RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. STEERING WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO USE. THE EPS LIGHT AND SKID CONTROL LIGHTS BOTH CAME ON, AND LATER BLUELINK NOTED ERROR ALSO. *TR
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 10, 2012
I PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA LIMITED IN AUGUST'12. AFTER BUYING WHEN I WAS RIDING BACK HOME ON FREEWAY(APPROX SPEED 60 MPH) THE CAR TENDS TO DRIFT IN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT AND KEEP ON WANDERING IN THE LANE. IT IS PRETTY DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE LANE. THERE ARE ALMOST TWO INCIDENTS WHERE I JUST ESCAPED THE ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY TOLD THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF BANKING ON THE ROADS BUT I TESTED THE SAME ROAD AND ROUTE WITH OTHER VEHICLE WHICH PERFORMED AS IT SHOULD BE, NO DRIFT OR ANYTHING. EVEN THE TIRE PRESSURE AND WHEEL BALANCING IS FINE SO THIS IS DEFINITELY A ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING AND STABILITY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS IT COULD BE LIFE THREATENING AND MOST OF THE CONSUMERS ARE FACING IT WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE COMPANY. THANKS. *TR
Steering, Jun 22, 2012
STEERING FEEL IS EXTREMELY LIGHT/LOOSE, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE WANDERS ENOUGH FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TO REQUIRE CONSTANT CORRECTION TO KEEP IT FROM GOING OVER CENTER LINE OR OFF SIDE OF ROAD. IF I ADJUST STEERING TO LEFT VEHICLE CONTINUES TO LEFT REQUIRING AN IMMEDIATE ADJUSTMENT TO RIGHT WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO RIGHT AND THEN TO LEFT AND THEN RIGHT...I AM CONSTANTLY FIGHTING WITH THE STEERING TO STAY IN MY LANE. CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY WHILE DRIVING THIS BRAND NEW VEHICLE. *TT