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2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 108 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, most often about the engine (38% of complaints, typically around 91,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Sonata Hybrid model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problems
Engine
41 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 91,000 miles.
My husband and I were driving on interstate 81 south near woodstock, va on sunday morning, june 24, 2018. The car began making a knocking sound, then we lost power. By the time we were able to pull over, the engine was on fire. The entire car ended up burning. The va state police, vdot, and fire department responded…
When the temperature outside is high (upper 90s and more), after coming to a stop or slowing down, the engine seizes. It seems the engine doesn't engage or the transfer from the battery to the engine power doesn't engage or something. Also sometimes when coming to a stop and the brake is engaged, the car lurches…
Brakes
26 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles.
On 05/10/2018, I noticed severe vibration and clunking in steering wheel. Brought vehicle to Hyundai dealer and they replaced the flexible coupling in the steering column due to wear. On 08/08/2018, I brought the vehicle to the Hyundai dealer for routine service and asked them to check the brakes as I experienced an…
Car will not start. All the power, radio & the light comes on but when turn the ignition it doesn't make a sound. Problem is intermittently not start . Reviewed online seems like similar to or related to switch-inhibitor ("42700r00 switch assy-transmission range. Had the car at dealer due to warning light for hybrid…
Electrical
24 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, 12v/24v/48v battery.
Car stopped in the middle of local street road and not able to be driven to move to side of road. Car towed to delaer for repair. Want to warn about this danger to other owners. We were lucky since no one was behind US when the car immediately stopped in the middle of the road. Car was repaired by delaer as follows.…
Major failure occurred. I was driving my car when I heard sharp bells ringing from the car dash. Check hybrid systems lights illuminated on dash. The car was in motion when it just stopped. I had no time to pull to the side of the road. I turned it off and on again. I was in the center of the road and it would not…
Transmission
14 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles.
Major failure occurred. I was driving my car when I heard sharp bells ringing from the car dash. Check hybrid systems lights illuminated on dash. The car was in motion when it just stopped. I had no time to pull to the side of the road. I turned it off and on again. I was in the center of the road and it would not…
While driving and using the accelerator , the RPM would rev up but the car would not move. The car would then jerk back and forth. Only able to go approximately 10 miles per hour, but the RPM would go as high as 6k or 7k RPM. Dangerous to drive. When idle, also felt RPM go up and jerking motion.
Fuel system
12 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles.
Hybrid system warning! Safely stop and do not drive. 1st occurrence miles - 42,143. 2nd occurrence miles - 42,276 this is the second time in a week I'm taking the car into the dealer for the same hybrid malfunction. The car gave me the hybrid warning, then while trying to pull the car over safely, the car lost all…
The car does not accelerate from a stop position at a light or during stop and go traffic on the highway. The car also jerks from transmission problems causing the driver to be distracted.
Steering
11 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles.
The electronic power steering with steer assist option on this vehicle makes it very difficult to hold a straight line while driving. I constantly have to correct the steering to keep the vehicle in control on a straight line. This has been an ongoing problem since I purchased the vehicle. I brought it to three…
Hybrid system warning! Safely stop and do not drive. 1st occurrence miles - 42,143. 2nd occurrence miles - 42,276 this is the second time in a week I'm taking the car into the dealer for the same hybrid malfunction. The car gave me the hybrid warning, then while trying to pull the car over safely, the car lost all…
Other or unspecified
10 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 61,500 miles.
Major failure occurred. I was driving my car when I heard sharp bells ringing from the car dash. Check hybrid systems lights illuminated on dash. The car was in motion when it just stopped. I had no time to pull to the side of the road. I turned it off and on again. I was in the center of the road and it would not…
Car has 65k miles. Warning "chime" came on, total loss of power, pulled of road safely. Warning light on dash came on ... Hybrid system warning...safely stop... Do not drive...then....check brake....then back to hybrid system warning...do not drive....then back to check brake. And on and on. I shut off the car after a…
Speed control
7 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 5,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that the vehicle was driven into the garage and stopped for approximately 10 seconds before experiencing an unintended acceleration and crashing into the garage wall causing significant damage to the home. During the incident, the driver had depressed…
While driving and using the accelerator , the RPM would rev up but the car would not move. The car would then jerk back and forth. Only able to go approximately 10 miles per hour, but the RPM would go as high as 6k or 7k RPM. Dangerous to drive. When idle, also felt RPM go up and jerking motion.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid recalls
Brakes: control unit/module
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Seat belts: pretensioner
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.
Full defect 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.
Seat belts: anchorage
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.
Full defect 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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Hyundai and kia ABS module fires
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received eight hyundai motor america (hyundai) and eight kia america, inc. (kia) part 573 recall reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or hydraulic electronic control units (hecu) manufactured by the equipment supplier mando. The part 573 recall reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by mando. Safety recalls included in this audit query (aq) review include: hyundai recalls 20v-520, 20v-543, 21v-161, 21v-160, 21v-303, 22v-056, 22v-810, and 23v-651. Kia recalls 16v-815, 20v-518, 20v-519, 21v
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
Nhtsa received a petition on or about july 18, 2022, requesting that federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the united states. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under odi number 11486072. Fmvss 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after march 1, 2021.on january 27, 2023, NHTSA opened defect petition (dp) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Engine fires
Summary
On march 29, 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened two preliminary evaluations (pe19-003 on hyundai and pe19-004 on kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year hyundai and kia vehicles.â during the pe investigations, hyundai and kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types.â the remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement.â additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modif
Electrical overstress
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.â during the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (acu) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ecu) manufactured by zf-trw. â the ecu receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with m
Non-crash vehicle fires
Summary
During this preliminary evaluation (pe), the office of defects investigation (odi) assessed the scope, frequency and potential safety-related consequences of non-crash vehicle fires caused by both engine failures and failures of other vehicle systems/components in model year (my) 2011-2014 hyundai sonata and santa fe vehicles equipped with theta II and lambda II engines (approximately 1.3 million vehicles). Odi also reviewed field data of other hyundai vehicles equipped with theta II, gamma, nu and lambda engines (approximately 4.8 million). As a result of this pe, hyundai has issued NHTSA recalls 20v-746 and 21v-727 to address potential engine failures and fires in certain hyundai vehicles
Non-crash vehicle fires
Summary
In a letter dated june 11, 2018, the center for auto safety (cas) petitioned the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) to initiate a safety defect investigation into non-collision related fires on model year (my) 2011-2014 kia optima and sorento, and hyundai sonata and santa fe vehicles. In a letter dated july 24, 2018, cas requested that my 2010-2015 kia soul vehicles be added to the petition. Cas stated that there is a higher number of complaints to NHTSA regarding non-crash fires on these vehicles compared to other similar vehicles. The office of defects investigation (odi) had already opened recall queries (rq17-003 and rq17-004) on all kia and hyundai vehicles equipped
Questions about the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (41 complaints, typically around 91,000 miles); brakes (26 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles); electrical (24 complaints, typically around 55,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 22, 2023 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2013 a bad year for the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Sonata Hybrid model year since 2000, with 108 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.