2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sonata Hybrid years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 16 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. That ranks 3rd out of 16 Sonata Hybrid model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (40 complaints, 37%), typically at around 90,500 miles. Complaints mention 8 crashes, 4 fires, 9 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 7 defect investigations involving it.
- 108owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 7NHTSA investigations
- 8complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 40 | 37% | 90,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 24 | 22% | 55,050 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 16 | 15% | 31,101 | — | — |
| Power Train | 14 | 13% | 59,167 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 12 | 11% | 42,855 | — | — |
| Steering | 11 | 10% | 35,072 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 10 | 9% | 107,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 10 | 9% | 61,501 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 6% | 5,400 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 4% | 39,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 4% | 20,339 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 3% | 55,500 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 3 | 3% | 43,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 2% | 22,600 | — | — |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 2 | 2% | 55,825 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 2% | 33,080 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 1% | 147,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 707 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 27,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | 25,159 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | 15,559 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | 12,677 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | 18,455 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/modulePark outside
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
Engine
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Veloster, 2012 Santa Fe, 2011-2013 Sonata Hybrid, and 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which over time can result in engine damage.
Risk: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 198.
Seat belts:pretensioner; seat belts:front:anchorage
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
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 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.
Seat belts:front:anchorage
Problem: 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.
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the seat belts detach from the anchor pretensioners, it can increase the risk of injury.
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 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires (AQ23002) — opened Nov 17, 2023, still open.
- Pedestrian alert sounds (DP22005) — opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V063000.
- Loss of Motive Power (DP22003) — opened Sep 12, 2022, closed Dec 12, 2023.
- Engine Fires (EA21003) — opened Dec 22, 2021, closed Feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V877.
- Electrical overstress (EA19001) — opened Apr 19, 2019, closed Sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V024.
- Non-crash Vehicle Fires (PE19003) — opened Mar 29, 2019, closed Dec 22, 2021, led to recall 20V061000.
- Non-crash Vehicle Fires (DP18003) — opened Aug 21, 2018, closed May 10, 2019, led to recall 18V907000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
When turning the steering wheel, left or right, there was a distinct âclunkingâ noise, and you could feel it in the steering wheel. When the car was inspected by the Hyundai service department, I was informed that the problem was a part in the steering coupler.
While getting my car serviced, the mechanic told me that there was a leak in the coolant system. They could not detect/see any leaks anywhere and that the leaking was probably going into the engine or fuel.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the malfunction indicator and coolant temperature warning lights illuminated, and the engine overheated and shuddered abnormally. There was smoke and an abnormal ticking sound coming from underneath the hood of…
The vehicleâs ABS system is engaging autonomously, causing the car to brake without any driver input. The dealer stated it was: BRAKE ACTUATION UNIT AND HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT BLEEDING AND PROGRAMING
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available…
Other Hyundai Sonata Hybrid years
← 2012 Sonata Hybrid · 2014 Sonata Hybrid →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sonata Hybrid | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 Sonata Hybrid | 11 | 0 |
| 2024 Sonata Hybrid | 9 | 0 |
| 2023 Sonata Hybrid | 15 | 0 |
| 2022 Sonata Hybrid | 19 | 0 |
| 2021 Sonata Hybrid | 55 | 0 |
| 2020 Sonata Hybrid | 16 | 1 |
| 2019 Sonata Hybrid | 5 | 0 |
| 2018 Sonata Hybrid | 9 | 1 |
| 2017 Sonata Hybrid | 80 | 3 |
| 2016 Sonata Hybrid | 133 | 5 |
| 2015 Sonata Hybrid | 54 | 4 |
| 2014 Sonata Hybrid | 28 | 3 |
| 2013 | 108 | 4 |
| 2012 Sonata Hybrid | 154 | 6 |
| 2011 Sonata Hybrid | 96 | 6 |
See all Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problems by year, every Hyundai model, or the Hyundai VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, service brakes problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 40 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sonata Hybrid model years, the 2013 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.