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 This recall has been replaced by NHTSA recall number 22V-314.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.
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
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
Visibility/wiper, Sep 21, 2012
THIS CAR HAS A DISTURBING REFLECTION OF THE TOP DECK OF DASHBOARD ON THE WINDSHIELD..IT INTERFERES WITH CONCENTRATION....CAR WAS PURCHASED 7/19/12 IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE WITH OTHER HYUNDAI SONATAS....... *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
Power train, Engine, Aug 29, 2012
PURCHASED 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS AT STREETBORO OHIO HYUNDAI DEALER NEW IN MID JUNE 2012. VEHICLE SEEMED OK BUT AT ABOUT 1500 MILES IDLE BECAME ROUGH PARTICULARLY AT IDLE IN DRIVE AT LIGHTS AND STOPS. TOOK IN TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD AFTER 4 DAYS IN SHOP THAT PROBLEM WAS FAMILIAR TO THE DEALER AND AN ENGINEER WAS BEING CALLED IN TO FIGURE OUT THE SOLUTION AS NO CODES WERE STORED IN COMPUTER.I LEFT THE DEALER AFTER BEING TOLD CAR IS WITHIN HYUNDAI SPECS BUT WAS RUNNING STRANGE. THE DEALER SEEMS TO BE AVOIDING DOING ANYTHING TO ADMIT THERE IS A ISSUE AND REFUSED TO ALLOW A SERVICE TECH TO RIDE ALONG WITH ME TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO LET MY SALESMAN GO IN A NEWER MODEL WITH ME TO SEE IF ANY OTHER VEHICLES HAD SAME ISSUES.I WROTE TO HYUNDAI CORPORATE AND WAS GIVEN A LIST OF OTHER DEALERS TO GO TO.AS THE PROBLEM HAS BEGUN TO GET WORSE THE IDLE WILL NOW REV AND THEN DECELERATE THE VEHICLE WHEN COASTING AND I CAN IMAGINE WHAT THIS BRAKING ACTION WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DO AS THE WEATHER BECOMES WORSE AND SNOW APPEARS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A GROWING PROBLEM WITH THE HYUNDAI MODELS FROM THE RECENT HYUNDAI FORUMS POSTS. *TR
Tires, Aug 29, 2012
TPMS LIGHT HAS CAME ON NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM 7 TIMES.THE TIRE SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE AND THE MODULE WAS REPLACED ON THE NEXT TO LAST TIME AT THE DEALER. AFTER THE MODULE WAS REPLACED THE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON FOR 1400 MILES. THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONTACTED THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DECIDED TO MOVE THE MODULE TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION. EACH TIME THE DEALER CHECKED AND IT WAS REPORTED TO BE THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. I HAD THEM TO ROTATE THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TO THE RIGHT FRONT AND THE RIGHT FRONT TO THE RIGHT REAR. THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND IT ALSO POINTED TO THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AS I WAS ALMOST HIT THE LAST TIME WHEN I WAS OFF THE ROAD AND CHECKING THE TIRES AFTER THE LIGHT CAME ON. HYUNDAI TRIES TO BLAME ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE FOR THE PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED MANY OTHER MANUFACTURERS VEHICLES SINCE THE TPMS SYSTEM WAS MADE MANDATORY AND NEVER HAD A THE LIGHT TO COME ON UNLESS THE TIRE HAD LOST PRESSURE. *TR
Power train, Aug 7, 2012, crash
A LADY WITH A BRAND NEW 2013 SONATA TURNED OFF HER CAR IN A PARKING LOT WITHOUT PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. WHILE SHE WAS NOT LOOKING AND DOING SOMETHING ELSE, THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD AND EVENTUALLY CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF MY BRAND NEW CAR. THERE WAS NO ELECTRONIC WARNING THAT SHE NEEDED TO SHIFT INTO PARK! *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