2013 Hyundai Sonata Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Hyundai Sonata. Part of Generation 6 (YF) — 2011–2014.

20122014
Complaints
2,607
per 10K Sold
128.0
US Sales
203,648
Crashes
139
Fires
156
Injuries
117
Fatalities
2
Recalls
9

Worst 2013 Hyundai Sonata Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1709 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:98,075 mi
Crash-related:17
Fires:62
#2338 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:53,846 mi
Crash-related:11
Fires:2
#3249 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:86,308 mi
Crash-related:7
Fires:24
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Hyundai Sonata.

Engine Problems
709
complaints
Crashes
17
Fires
62
Avg Miles
98,075
Steering Defects
338
complaints
Crashes
11
Fires
2
Avg Miles
53,846
Electrical Faults
249
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
24
Avg Miles
86,308
Headlight/Taillight Failures
177
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
10
Avg Miles
76,801
Brakes
140
complaints
Crashes
11
Fires
4
Avg Miles
60,749
Fuel System
127
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
22
Avg Miles
98,499
Airbags
97
complaints
Crashes
37
Fires
Avg Miles
84,385
Transmission / Drivetrain
90
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
3
Avg Miles
57,853
Unintended Acceleration
85
complaints
Crashes
14
Fires
1
Avg Miles
54,781
Gasoline Fuel System
72
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Avg Miles
80,054
Seat Belt Issues
57
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
Avg Miles
71,544
Suspension Failures
47
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
73,516
Body Structure
43
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
3
Avg Miles
58,578
Engine & Cooling
37
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
95,723
Electronic Stability Control
35
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
65,192
Wheel Issues
12
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
76,025
Wipers & Visibility
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
79,334
Sunroof/Moonroof
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
23,137
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
96,840
Tire Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
25,396
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
104,600
Hydraulic Brakes
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
73,818
Firerelated
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
4
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Wiring
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belts:Pretensioner
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Interior Panels:Dashboard
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Hyundai Sonata. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2013 Hyundai Sonata

9 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~4,068,848 vehicles.

22V312000Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
~215,171 affected

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.

20V121000Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
~216,799 affected

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.

18V934000Engine · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
~150,730 affected

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.

18V137000Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module · Seat Belts:pretensioner · Air Bags:side/window · Airbags
~580,058 affected

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.

17V617000Seat Belts:pretensioner · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
~443,545 affected

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.

17V226000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
~572,000 affected

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.

17V152000Seat Belts:front:anchorage
~977,778 affected

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.

14V434000Automatic Transmission
~883,000 affected

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.

12V352000Air Bags:side/window
~29,767 affected

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.

Other Hyundai Sonata Years

2013 Hyundai Sonata — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2013 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2013 Hyundai Sonata has 2,607 NHTSA complaints, 139 crash-related, and 9 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 709 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2013 Hyundai Sonata?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (709 complaints, avg 98,075 mi); Steering Defects (338 complaints, avg 53,846 mi); Electrical Faults (249 complaints, avg 86,308 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Hyundai Sonata?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 79,359 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2013 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA complaints for the 2013 Hyundai Sonata include 139 crash-related reports, 156 fire reports, 117 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2013 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?
Yes — 9 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,068,848 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2013 Hyundai Sonata?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2013 Hyundai Sonata shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Hyundai Sonata reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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