2013 Hyundai Sonata Engine Problems
Owners have filed 738 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2013 Hyundai Sonata, 39% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 96,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “engine seized” (9% of reports).
- 738engine complaints
- 96,000median miles at failure
- 18mention a crash
- 9mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $5,900typical repair cost reported by owners
- 54%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Engine seized: mentioned in 66 of 738 complaints (9%)
- Knocking noise: mentioned in 45 of 738 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2013 Hyundai Sonata at $5,900, and half of them between $400 and $8,350.
Based on 16 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2015–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 400 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 738 complaints, 18 mention a crash, 66 a fire, 9 an injury.
Hyundai Sonata engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Sonata | 2 | 12% | — |
| 2024 Sonata | 3 | 7% | — |
| 2023 Sonata | 28 | 32% | 5,540 |
| 2022 Sonata | 25 | 27% | 15,000 |
| 2021 Sonata | 34 | 25% | 44,000 |
| 2020 Sonata | 31 | 17% | 30,849 |
| 2019 Sonata | 87 | 54% | 90,000 |
| 2018 Sonata | 212 | 57% | 19,750 |
| 2017 Sonata | 384 | 50% | 74,400 |
| 2016 Sonata | 452 | 62% | 82,500 |
| 2015 Sonata | 628 | 55% | 65,000 |
| 2014 Sonata | 302 | 40% | 84,000 |
| 2013 Sonata | 738 | 39% | 96,000 |
| 2012 Sonata | 567 | 36% | 92,000 |
| 2011 Sonata | 967 | 29% | 100,000 |
| 2010 Sonata | 29 | 8% | 70,000 |
| 2009 Sonata | 56 | 12% | 108,300 |
| 2008 Sonata | 48 | 11% | 114,000 |
| 2007 Sonata | 41 | 6% | 114,000 |
| 2006 Sonata | 44 | 4% | 100,000 |
| 2005 Sonata | 6 | 4% | 96,728 |
| 2004 Sonata | 5 | 2% | 130,000 |
| 2003 Sonata | 3 | 2% | 131,000 |
| 2002 Sonata | 5 | 2% | 145,000 |
| 2001 Sonata | 1 | 0% | 20,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Engine; fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
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 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's recall number for this recall is 180.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: 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.
Risk: Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 162.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My 2013 sonata caught fire from the engine I was barely able to get out safely
2013 Sonata 2.4 81,953 mi, seized on highway with fresh oil change 1 week prior, loss of power, steering/braking. Happened on George Washington Bridge (NY/NJ) with near collision. Asssited by Police to move vehicle out of highway. Inspected by dealer (Paramus Hyundai) and confirmed loss of power…
Factual summary * Vehicle: 2013 Hyundai Sonata * VIN: [XXX] * Incident date: XXX * Failure: Sudden knocking noise, immediate checkâengine illumination, loss of power, and catastrophic engine failure; vehicle towed to Allen Turner Hyundai, 6501 Pensacola Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32505. * Recall: My VIN…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Hyundai Sonatas have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 738 owner complaints about engine for the 2013 Hyundai Sonata (39% of the 1,915 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Hyundai Sonata engine?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 96,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2013 Hyundai Sonata?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,900 (half paid between $400 and $8,350), from 16 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2013 Hyundai Sonata?
The most frequent phrase is “engine seized”, in 66 of 738 complaints, followed by “knocking noise” (45).
Other 2013 Hyundai Sonata problems
See all 2013 Hyundai Sonata problems or engine problems across all Sonata years.