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 This recall has been replaced by NHTSA recall number 22V-314.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.
Engine, Aug 10, 2025
On freeway accelerated and it stalled the attempted to push button start all dash light were on and then it completely started smoking and that was from the starter getting to hot and died and nothing engine won't turn over so vehicle has no to started since
Air bags, Jul 31, 2025
Srs light on. Problem code indicates high resistance on driver's side air bag. Dealer said it was the airbag control module, but refused to give me the actual estimate or anything in writing other than problem description. There was a recall for other 2013 sonata airbag control modules, mine was not included apparently, but it has the same issue as the recalled ones. Dealer wants $3000 to replace the module.
Other or unspecified, Jul 29, 2025
There are 2 cracks on the dashboard directly over the passenger airbag that were there when I bought the car and there is another crack that happened some time between yesterday and today. The Crack is almost the width of the dashboard. If there is an accident I'm worried about get hit by pieces of plastic dashboard.
Engine, Jul 29, 2025, fire
The contact owned a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact smelled fuel and noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment with no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the engine had caught on fire. The contact stopped the vehicle, and the contact and the two passengers quickly jumped out of the vehicle. The contact stated one of the passengers sustained a minor leg injury, and medical attention was provided. The fire was extinguished by the Fire Department. A fire report was filed, and a fire report number was not provided. The origin of the fire was not yet determined. A Police report was filed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle shut off with an audible warning chime and several unknown warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was able to restart the vehicle soon after failure. The contact stated that on another occasion, while depressing the brake pedal, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the vehicle, and the engine shut off. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that there was only an anti-theft recall on the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V226000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and linked the failure to the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 26, 2025, fire
We were sitting in our car at a Hardees drive through when we noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. I pulled forward to a parking space and opened the hood. Flames shot up at least 6 feet. I quickly ran a short distance into the fast food place and right near the door was a fire extinguisher, which i grabbed and put the fire out with. The fire burned for about a total of 2-3 minutes, and did not do excessive damage. Coil packs and wiring harness got most of the damage. With the hood closed, you cannot even tell there was a fire. I had the car towed to Grayson Hyundai for the recall part, but then entered a claim to Hyundai. Long story short, they stalled me for over a month and then denied the claim. Citing no damage to the cam. Unlike most of the fires with this carline, my car fire was put out very quickly. The recalled fuel line/tube was not damaged much at all. You could inspect the part and see the wear on it and tell it was the culprit. It didn't take a trained mechanic to see this. After i put the fire out and it cooled, i tried starting it, and there was fuel squirting out from the recalled part. There is absolutely no doubt that the recalled part was the cause of the fire. But Hyundai has given me a denial letter that does not state the reason for denial. The Hyundai rep on the phone told me it had to do with no damage to the cam. I then asked, Thats because i got the fire out so fast right? and he said no, didn't have anything to do with it. But he lied. First of all, the cam has nothing to do with the cause of the fire. a damaged cam only happens when the fire was long lasting and severe. They should have inspected the obvious recalled part right in front of them. This denial is completely unprofessional and hints of a concerted effort to categorically deny claims. They don't usually have this much evidence, they did this time and still blew it. had i let it burn to the ground,=approved
Engine, Jul 23, 2025
My Hyundai vehicle experienced a sudden engine failure due to a known defect in Hyundai’s Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine. This engine issue is part of a widely documented safety concern that causes rod bearing wear, leading to stalling or catastrophic failure while driving. Despite the dealership confirming it’s consistent with the known defect, Hyundai denied assistance solely because my title is branded, even though the engine failure is unrelated to any crash or damage. Hyundai has replaced engines for others with branded titles, proving the inconsistency in their handling of a serious safety problem. This defect poses a risk of stalling in traffic, engine fires, and potential accidents. The vehicle shut down completely, and I believe this violates federal safety standards.
Exterior lighting, Jul 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the taillight bulbs failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the taillight bulbs overheated and burned out quickly. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with taillight wiring harness failure. The contact was informed that the taillight wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the contact stated that the recall notification was not received. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 199,500.
Steering, Jul 9, 2025
Took car to my local mechanic for a clunking sound when turning steering wheel side to side, while standing still. Mechanic states problem at steering knuckle. In addition he stated that there is a Hyundai recall for this problem. I haven’t been able to find the recall for the steering problem when submitting my VIN.
Engine, Jun 30, 2025
I purchased a 2013 Hyundai Sonata in 2022. I never had any problems or warning signs of vehicle until late Feb 2025. The engine begin to making a knocking sound and stalling almost causing my son to have an accident. After researching the issue I found that there had been a law suit filed against this company for the engines in those vehicles and that they had placed a limited lifetime warranty on the engine in my vehicle. I reached out to Hyundai and they assured me that my vehicle was covered under the TXXI warranty due to the class action suit filed against them. Next they set up an appointment for me to take the vehicle to the local Hyundai dealership which was Bentley Hyundai in Huntsville, Alabama. I had the vehicle towed there in March 2025 and was immediately met with unprofessional dialogue on my arrival. I explained that an agent from Hyundai corporate had set and appointment for that day but was told that they had no knowledge of it. They received the car and stated that diagnostics had to run on it and that they had to send the paperwork back to corporate for approval to replace/repair the engine. About a week later after unsuccessful attempts to contact the dealership, I was informed that my claim was denied due to maintenance neglect. Once I asked for further clarification the associate told me that it “looked like the oil had never been changed in the vehicle”. I assured him that it had been maintained properly since the date I purchased it. They pulled the carfax and was able to verify all of my maintenance records and that the vehicle never went over 5000 miles before oil changes. I then asked to speak to a supervisor as the rep began to be very disrespectful in his tone and language (which was always by text and not phone). The service manager that I spoke to after this helped escalate the situation to the appeals department. This was a known issue for these motors and the fact that they would put my family’s lives in jeopardy is upsurd.
Engine, Jun 30, 2025, fire
while driving on the highway the engine caught fire.
Other or unspecified, Jun 22, 2025
Vehicle DASHBAORD has been facing UV related reactive damages by small line cracks and now it's progressing to larger lines. Similar damages in other manufacturers like Toyota and Lexus are covered by manufacturer as recalls .
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 17, 2025
I have a 2013 Hyundai Sonata 4 door sedan. I am unable to open the driver's left hand door to exit the car after turning off my vehicle. Only way I can open door to exit is to lower the window while motor still running, reach outside and grasp door handle from outside to open and Push/pull handle which doesn't allow me control over the door. Then I have to raise window with door standing open before I am able to turn off the ignition and exit my car. In Case of an emergency this is unsafe for driver and passengers. In this instance, I was trapped inside a hot car in Texas summer heat. In another instance, I could have had an accident and would have been unable to exit to safety. I searched for recall to this model which is covered for Hyundai Sonata manufactured in other years but my vehicle 2013 make is not included in same recall for exact same issue. There was no warning lamp, messages prior to failure. I have googled this "condition" and learned that this is a common problem for Hyundai Sonatas.
Electrical system, Jun 10, 2025, fire
my car caught fire. The area where the stereo, heater, all melted even the windshield cracked and the gear shifter melted.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 9, 2025
Halogen headlight bubls H7 melting the casing socket. Making my headlight assembly smoke.
Exterior lighting, Jun 5, 2025
The tail lights in this car are constantly burning out. We have to replace them about every month or two. It’s either one side or the other and it has happened so many times since we had the car it’s ridiculous
Structure, May 28, 2025
The left rear door won't open from the inside or from outside. The door just suddenly stopped working without any warning or without any damage to the door, or to the key FOB. I use it to transport an elderly person or sometimes my grand kids, it is dangerous especially if someone has to exit the car immediately.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 28, 2025
So my car started to stall when I started it an when I started goin down the road like it wanted to die. Then I started to smell gas very strong so had a code tester put to my car an i have 6 permanent codes. An not only that im smelling oil strong an noticing big oil spots under my car. So I look under the hood an behind the turbo I see oil behind an underneath the turbo. I definitely didnt feel safe driving but now its not even drivable. I purchased it couple months ago from an individual an i cant belive the amount of problems this car has. Im a single mom an trying to support my family an its hard to now with a non running car. I've put quite a few parts hoping it would fix some of the problems an nothing has. I absolutely love the car an very beautiful but unfortunately to many problems with it. Eninge, gas leaks, timing
Power train, May 15, 2025
Car is in park, refuses to shut off due to car saying car is not in park
Electrical system, Engine, May 12, 2025
My car starts making noise then i pull over. my car completely shuts off and i tried to restart it, didn’t start. My engine i think is ruined
Power train, May 12, 2025
The contact owns 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the gear indicator on instrument panel independently shifted. Despite the failure, the contact stated that the transmission continued to operate normally. The contact stated that several days later while at a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal and the engine revved to a high RPM. The contact called and informed the dealer of the failure. The contact was made aware that the failure was a common failure for the make and model of the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V434000 (Power Train); which the contact linked to the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
Power train, Electrical system, Seat belts, May 9, 2025
1. I purchased this vehicle in 2016 and I have had my rear brake lights repaired several times because the rear tail lights continue to go out, This happens regularly. There is no warning lights on the dash to indicate an issue. The only way i learned that my brake lights don't work properly is another motorist driving behind me and almost rear ending me. I have had the rear brake lights repaired by the dealership before. My brakes always smell like burning rubber after driving having me to believe that the lubricant for the brake pads aren't working. 2.The dashboard lights also periodically blinks out without warning. After a few moments it will illuminate again. 3. My seatbelts sometimes doesn't tighten up. I have to pull them several times for them to catch and return after the seatbelt isn't in use.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Engine, Apr 30, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V934000 (Engine, Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Air bags, Apr 23, 2025, crash
The contact owned a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the front driver's side air bag unexpectedly deployed without an impact to the vehicle. The air bag warning light illuminated prior to the incident. The contact then crashed into the rear of a utility trailer, where it came to a stop. The contact broke a tooth. The paramedics were called and performed a check; however, the contact did not go to the hospital or urgent care. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The insurance company was contacted and declared the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Exterior lighting, Apr 22, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai SONATA. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at an unknown speed the contact was pulled over by local police due to their vehicles tail lights no longer functioning, no warning lights were illuminated. The contact attempted to replace the bulbs however the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was inspected, however the vehicle was not diagnosed as the contact was advised that their VIN was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.