2013 Hyundai Sonata Problems, Recalls & Reliability
2,649 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2013 Hyundai Sonata, alongside 9 recall campaigns and 9 defect investigations. It scores 63/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 98,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2013 Hyundai Sonata sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1991–1993, 1995–2005, 2007–2010, 2017–2022.
Avoid
Where 2013 sits among all Sonata years
What owners report
“I was driving vehicle at about 30 mph on main road and vehicle shuts off while i was driving. I attempted to get a jump engine does not start. Weird smell coming from engine.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Sonata
“The brake lights keep blowing every time I replace them & have read other cases where light casing may melt when the bulb blows”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Sonata
“Loud pop when turning a corner and then considerable shaking of the steering wheel after that.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Sonata
“As i am driving my car tends to switch to manual drive from automatic on its own. The first time i was turning into a driveway and it switched to 2 on my dash. A few other times i was driving on a highway and regular raod way when it switched to manual and popped into 3 and 4.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Sonata
“I bought this car from a dealership and it's a warranty on this vehicle and at time of purchase they told me the fuel pipe had a recall and that i could get it fixed for free at a hyundai dealership.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Sonata
“There is no lights at all on the brake lights but the brake light in the back window stays on all the time the dim head light only lets one side work”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Sonata
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 1,395 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 80,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 47,000 and 111,500 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (9)
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.
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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,…
Fix: 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 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.
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 23V877.
Led to recall campaign 20V024.
Led to recall campaign 20V061000.
Led to recall campaign 18V907000.
Led to recall campaign 18E043000.
Led to recall campaign 17V226000.
Led to recall campaign 17V152000.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2013 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
The 2013 Hyundai Sonata drew 2,649 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 63/100, scored against the model's worst year (2011).
What are the most common 2013 Hyundai Sonata problems?
The top reported problems for the 2013 Hyundai Sonata are engine (770 complaints), electrical (461), and steering (342).
At what mileage do 2013 Hyundai Sonata problems show up?
Owners most often report 2013 Hyundai Sonata problems around 80,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 47,000 and 111,500 miles.
Does the 2013 Hyundai Sonata have recalls?
9 recall campaigns apply to the 2013 Hyundai Sonata. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.