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 This recall has been replaced by NHTSA recall number 22V-314.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
1,910 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 17, 2022
Engine light flashing oil light flashing car cut off while I was driving on the road with my daughter In the car
Engine, Jan 14, 2022
While driving the vehicle the engine seized. Had to safely maneuver to the shoulder of the road without being hit by other vehicles.
Engine, Jan 10, 2022
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to her residence. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The contact took the vehicle to Bachman Hyundai (630 Broadway St, Jeffersonville, IN 47130: (812) 282-4356) and was informed that the VIN was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V226000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and that the recall repair needed to be completed on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
Engine, Jan 7, 2022
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact to tow the vehicle to a Hyundai dealer. The vehicle was towed to Ettleson Hyundai (5631 South La Grange Road, Countryside, IL 60525). The dealer informed the contact that they would not be able to diagnose the vehicle since they were booked until the end of February. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact of Service Campaign Number: 953 (ECM & Cluster Update - Engine Monitoring Logic Product Improvement) associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 6, 2022
engine seized up after 2 weeks of having an oil change...stopped on highway had it towed several times from breakdowns on highway to shop they put in new battery it ran for one day and would not start had it towed to another shop was advised the engine seized up due to gunk in oil pan..had an oil change two weeks prior to incident of vehical stopping was advised the oil change was fine no problems.....contacted hyundia consumer affairs filed a complaint advised them of the situation they had me tow the car to the hyundia dealership they looked at the car told me the engine was seized due to gunk in the oil. i sent them proff of all my oil changes and maintence records.. they denied the claim said i had not enough maintence records i have only had the vehical for three years have had no problembs with the vehicle untill it hit 99.000 miles...the dealership offered to repair the engine for $7500.. i could not pay. so i had to return the vehical to finance company as i still owed a balance now i am without a vehical and in debt to the finance company. for a vehical that had been on recall..can you assist me with this situation.. I believe they should should have accepted the fault of the engine seizing due to recalled parts.....
Power train, Air bags, Dec 30, 2021, crash
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that upon placing the vehicle into the (R) reverse position; the vehicle independently accelerated backward into her neighbor's driveway and hit two parked vehicles. The vehicle came to a stop when it crashed into the second vehicle and that second parked vehicle was deemed destroyed. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. No injuries were reported and a police report was filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back across the street and parked the vehicle on the road. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed her that since her vehicle was involved in an assurance claim, they could not render any assistance. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and informed her that an investigation could not be performed unless she signed a waiver. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the contact. The failure mileage was 76,876.
Engine, Dec 29, 2021
My vehicle will suddenly drop in speed regardless of increasing gas, by adding pressure to the gas pedal. It is also making an odd noise from the engine. I took it to the mechanic who stated that they heard the noise but it was beyond their scope and I should take it to the dealer. I called the service department and told them the problem and also mentioned the lifetime engine warranty that Hyundai was pressured to offer. This was the statement for Hyundai at the Mall of Georgia. "Hyundai engine warranty is only on blown push rods." I stated what happens if the car suddenly dies or engine blows while driving 70mph on Interstate 85. All power being lost causing an accident and injuring or killing people. He stated, "I'm just telling you what Hyundai said!" This will cost Hyundai much more than engine replacement. I am suppose to here from them 12/30. I have been wait for two weeks after being put off twice. Please address for saving lives. Sending copies to media as well. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Engine, Dec 27, 2021
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 53,000.
Steering, Dec 27, 2021
Clicking noise while steering, safety at risk up too and leading to death. Problem confirmed by independent service center and authorized dealer. No warning, occurred randomly including vibrations. Was told known issue its the steering coupler part.
Other or unspecified, Dec 20, 2021
keep getting random Hybrid system warnings and Check Engine light but when checked, there is no codes to be retrieved. and the dealer couldn't duplicate the problem hence can't fix it. when this message appears on the dashboard, the car will lose power and die. which makes it very dangerous event as the last time it happened i was in the middle of a busy intersection.
Other or unspecified, Dec 20, 2021
Passenger door handle broke and the car is not accessible from outside. It has to be open from inside.
Engine, Dec 12, 2021
Engine has a knocking sound
Other or unspecified, Dec 6, 2021, fire
I am the original owner of this vehicle. It has been meticulously maintained. Today on my commute to work the car engine stopped then quickly caught fire. I barely got out in time. Fire department came and put out fire. Vehicle destroyed
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 5, 2021, fire
Ref: NHTA Recall Number: 20V-746 Hyundai REcall Number:198 (2nd recall fix ) After the above recall fix we had informed the Hyundai about engine heating up, we were told this is false alarm and car has monitoring system recall issue, Recall would would be mailed. I have all the dealer bill to prove the engine was heating up, they replaced certain part at our expense ( bill attached ) After above recall Fix by Hyundai Dealer in San Leandro, CA. we had engine overheating and car started engine started vibrating & I could see smoke from the exhaust. it ceased in the middle of the highway. Please note: Our Car has been services by Hyundai dealer. Note: if you look at the second safety recall notice, It does state in safety notice about engine compartments fire while driving for many reason and depending on the severity of the fire. the identification of the cause can be untraceable.. Above incidence happened just after your dealer did 2nd recall fix. IMO - It proves that recall fix was faulty and overheating engine cause the engine blew-up. Car has been with the dealership repair for 3rd recall. since a month Hyundai dealer asking us $9K to fix the car. I have reported the incidence to Hyundai Corporate under the case # 18811202. They are not responding. Dealer did contact Hyundai Corporate to get the engine change request, either the request if denied or gone unanswered.
Engine, Dec 3, 2021
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle went into limp mode and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the knock sensor software update was performed. The contact consulted with an independent mechanic and was informed that there were metal shavings in the engine causing bearing failure. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 29, 2021, fire
There was previously a smell of fuel in the driver's compartment approximately 2 days prior to the incident and subsequently, a service appointment was made with the service department at the local dealership. On the date of the incident, the vehicle was being driven when smoke appeared in the interior of the vehicle. Driver pulled out of traffic into an empty parking lot where the car then became increasingly engulfed in flames. Local Fire Department came and extinguished flames, but car appears to be a total loss.
Steering, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Nov 24, 2021
I have reported issues to local Hyundai and they refuse to look and correct recalls do to mileage. I need recalls repaired immediately.
Other or unspecified, Nov 21, 2021
There is noise coming from the steering column when driving over bumps. The sounds gives the impression that parts in the column is loose. The noise is heard and low and high speeds.
Steering, Nov 19, 2021
Steering column coupler keep breaking
Engine, Nov 17, 2021, fire
The engine is misfired
Engine, Nov 17, 2021
Engine oil evaporates Motor could lock up
Engine, Nov 11, 2021
I HAVE A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA.THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE CAR AND THEY FOUND NOTHING TO BE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY DID FIND SHAVINGS OF MEDALS PIECES IN THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME TO TOW MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT BECAUSE THEY HAD MANY CARS; SONATAS WHERE THE ENGINE JUST COMPLETELY WENT OUT. THE CAR DID STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY PUTTING ME AT-RISK AND I DID NOT FEEL SAFE. I HAD MANY RECALLS ON THIS CAR BEFORE, BY FAR THIS WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS BECAUSE I HAD A MINOR IN THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH HYUNDAI SONATA ENGINES WHERE THEY COMPLETELY GO OUT. IT HAPPENED WITH MY LAST HYUNDAI SONATA THAT I BOUGHT FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE ENGINE WENT OUT. THIS IS MY SECOND CAR FROM INVER GROVE HYUNDAI. ITS STRESSFUL AND A FRUSTRATING SITUATION.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 11, 2021
Sudden "Hyundai Sonata Hybrid System Warning! Safely Stop and Do Not Drive" while driving on freeway. I had to tow my car because the engine did not start after the sign. My safety was at danger because it happened suddenly on the freeway and the car slowed down. I had no control over car speed.
Electrical system, Nov 10, 2021
Any time the light switch is on the "on"position several electrical issues happen. Headlights come on randomly after car turned off and drain battery.Brake light bulbs overheat, burn out and melt casing frequently. Consol lights come on that are not selected and should not be illuminated. Cruise control wont work and engine can loose power momentarily. Was taken for service in 2019 at folsom lake Hyundai dealership but was told no other reports found and they couldnt replicate issue. Nothing was done. Have issues every winter when headlights are used more frequently. Issues getting worse as time goes on.
Steering, Nov 5, 2021
there was a clicking noise and vibration coming from the steering column at 65 mph. Have an appointment with Joe Holland Hyundai on November 16th to get checked out. There was no messages prior to issue. 105,000 miles on car