Reliable Auto DB

2013 Hyundai Sonata reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 1,909 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Hyundai Sonata over 14 years — 71 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 13 Sonata years on this site. NHTSA has 9 recalls on file, including Hoses and fittings, Engine, and Pretensioner.

2012 Hyundai Sonata
Photo by MercurySable99, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

1,909

Per year

71

Recalls

9

Years on the road

14

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (735 of 1,909), then Steering (341) and Electrical system (260). Those filings include 93 that report a crash, 97 that report a fire, 58 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Next to 2012 and 2014

The 2012 Sonata has 1,556 complaints, 60 per year, and the 2014 has 746 complaints, 25 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2013 Hyundai Sonata. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (9)

Recall gasoline fuel system, delivery, hoses and fittings 2022-05-06 · NHTSA campaign 22V312000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall gasoline fuel system, delivery, hoses and fittings 2020-02-28 · NHTSA campaign 20V121000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall Engine 2018-12-28 · NHTSA campaign 18V934000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall seat belts, pretensioner 2018-02-27 · NHTSA campaign 18V137000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall seat belts, pretensioner 2017-10-04 · NHTSA campaign 17V617000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall Engine 2017-03-31 · NHTSA campaign 17V226000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall seat belts, front, anchorage 2017-03-08 · NHTSA campaign 17V152000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission 2014-07-18 · NHTSA campaign 14V434000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall air bags, side and window 2012-07-24 · NHTSA campaign 12V352000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (1909 total)

Engine
735
Steering
341
Electrical system
260
Exterior lighting
197
Service brakes
143
Fuel and propulsion system
134
Air bags
102
Powertrain
94
Speed control
86
Fuel system, gasoline
73
Seat belts
61
Structure
50
Suspension
48
Engine and engine cooling
40
Electronic stability control (ESC)
35
Visibility
12
Wheels
12
Visibility and wipers
10
Tires
9
Hydraulic brakes
7
Fire-related
4
Adaptive and mobility equipment
3
Diesel fuel system
3
Back-over prevention
2
Latches, locks, and linkages
2
Seats
2
Traction control
2
Equipment
1
Hybrid propulsion
1
Interior lighting
1
Lane departure
1
Show 23 more Show less
Crash-flagged

93

Fire-flagged

97

Injury reports

58

Death reports

1

Complaints filed per year

1720126620136720146220158920162102017196201825020192362020162202119220221272023842024932025582026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "In 2023, my Hyundai Sonota 2013 hybrid stopped on the freeway putting myself and others at risk. It told me to stop and pull over to a safe spot but everything locked up and I couldn't move it. I had to get a fuse…"
    Electrical system, Unknown or other, Service brakes · filed 2026-09-18
  • "The safety recall (Hyundai Recall 227, NHTSA Recall 22V-312) repair on my 2013 Hyundai Sonata (previously completed by a Hyundai dealership prior to my purchase in April 2026) has suffered a critical mechanical failure.…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-09-10
  • "Knock sensor has detected a failure. Check engine light is flashing and the car is in limp mode."
    Engine · filed 2026-09-09
  • "On September 8, 2026, while driving a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Limited at highway speed, the check-engine light began flashing and the vehicle suddenly lost power. The vehicle slowed to approximately 40 mph, then…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-08
  • "I am reporting a serious engine failure involving my 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The vehicle's engine was previously inspected by a Hyundai dealership as part of a Hyundai engine recall. I followed Hyundai's instructions and…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-05

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2013 Hyundai Sonata 4 DR FWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 5 stars
2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 4 DR FWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 5 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Sonata 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 22 33 26 MPG $2500
Sonata 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 24 34 27 MPG $2400
Sonata 2.4L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 24 34 27 MPG $2400
Sonata hybrid 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 35 38 37 MPG $1750
Sonata hybrid Limited 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 35 38 37 MPG $1750

Specs and fitment

7th generation (LF), 2012–2019
Body styles Sedan
Oil 5W-20 or 0W-20 (2.4L and 2.0L turbo per manual) , 5 qt capacity
Tire size 205/65R16 to 245/45R18 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Owner complaints for early years in this span (especially 2013) concentrate on the engine. Safety recall 17V-226 covers certain 2013-2014 Sonata and Santa Fe Sport vehicles: machining errors during engine manufacturing may cause premature bearing wear that can seize the engine; dealers inspect and replace the short block as needed. Safety recall 22V-312 (replacing 20V-121) covers certain 2013-2014 Sonatas whose low-pressure fuel hose between the low-pressure and direct-injection pumps may crack from engine-bay heat and leak fuel; dealers replace that hose. Safety recall 18V-934 covers certain 2011-2014 Sonatas previously remedied under 15V-568 or 17V-226 whose high-pressure fuel pipe may have been damaged or mis-torqued during engine replacement and can leak; dealers inspect and replace the pipe as needed. Safety recall 16V-956 covers a small build of 2017 Sonatas (and Elantras) whose driver frontal air-bag inflator end seal may be missing; dealers replace the driver frontal air-bag module.

Compare

Previous year 2012 Hyundai Sonata Next year 2014 Hyundai Sonata See every Hyundai Sonata model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Hyundai Sonata reliable?

Owners have filed 1,909 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Hyundai Sonata over 14 years — 71 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 13 Sonata years on this site. NHTSA has 9 recalls on file, including Hoses and fittings, Engine, and Pretensioner.

What are common problems with a 2013 Hyundai Sonata?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (735 of 1,909), then Steering (341) and Electrical system (260). Those filings include 93 that report a crash, 97 that report a fire, 58 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Is the 2013 Hyundai Sonata more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2012 Sonata has 1,556 complaints, 60 per year, and the 2014 has 746 complaints, 25 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

Has the 2013 Hyundai Sonata been recalled?

The 2013 Hyundai Sonata has 9 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2013 Hyundai Sonata?

Owners have filed 1909 complaints about the 2013 Hyundai Sonata with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2013 Hyundai Sonata get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2013 Hyundai Sonata is 30.8 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Sonata take?

Viscosity and capacity depend on engine and model year; use the generation specs here and confirm in the owner’s manual.

Which Sonata years had the engine bearing safety recall?

Safety recall 17V-226 covers certain 2013-2014 Sonatas (and Santa Fe Sport) for premature engine bearing wear; dealers inspect and replace the short block as needed.