10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,676 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Hyundai Sonata:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #57

Mar 012019

Sonata

  • 109,000 miles
Steering coupler was recalled and replaced at around 80,000, engine failed at 106,000ish and was replaced by Hyundai with remanufactured motor, steering is making noise again and acting exactly like before related to the steering column coupler. Noticed a lot of complaints about steering failure issues after engine replacement. Also, voiced concerns about repetitive failure of rear light bulbs and what appears to be faulty poor quality light plugs or too light of wiring for lights on car; nothing done a peacock Hyundai in columbia to check matter or remedy matter. Peacock Hyundai is now stating that the steering column has failed on a 5 year old car requesting approximately $1600 to replace on issue that is acting like coupler problem; one of the Hyundai people in the bay said that is a coupler issue and the other jumped in and said it wasn't. note: This vehicle had said coupler repaired under warranty; engine failed and was replaced at 106,000 due to shavings in engine (recall or service bulletin), now this reoccurrence of a steering issue has occurred just after the engine replacement. Just to pass this one as well; car has had two brake jobs within two years and I drive conservatively.

- West Columbia, SC, USA

problem #56

Dec 222018

Sonata

  • miles
Takata recall back in may I discover a noise from my engine a ticking noise I was worried so I took it to the dealership to get looked at I was told it was my brakes so I paid to get the work done but Saturday morning I got up to warm my car up to go get an oil change I notice a knocking sound from my engine along with the ticking noise so I told him I'm going to call the dealership so I arrive at walmart my car cut off while in motion the engine and the oil light came on when I just got an oil change Saturday so I had it towed to my house what I'm not understanding from the dealership if I have these recall on my vehicle campaign 174,162 shows complete but how when my engine gone I called the dealership and explain my problem with my vehicle and was told they automatically check to see if your car have recall and fix the problem ok my question to her is why is my airbags not fix it's a safety issue it's shows complete for campaign 162 but my engine gone I have several recalls on this car needs answers

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #55

Nov 072018

Sonata

  • 0 miles
I have a 2013 Sonata and the brake light got so hot it melted the casing. When I tried to replace it the casing had swollen so large that the bulb fit back into the casing. The bulb also melted to each socket on each side of the car. I have replaced these bulbs on the right side more than 15 times and now on the left side its so swollen that I cannot put the bulb back in. This is a hazzard>

- Orland Park, IL, USA

problem #54

Oct 012016

Sonata

  • 50,000 miles
This issue has been a constant in my car, which I purchased new. My brake lights stop working. I have replaced them at least 10 times since I bought the vehicle. I consulted my dealership and they told me that the car had a defect. The brake light socket overheated and melted and caused the brake lights to fail. I checked the socket, and it is melted. I was told that it was a brake sensor problem. My dealership told me that I would have to pay to replace the whole brake/taillight assembly. This is obviously a safety concern. I only learn that my lights are not working when someone outside the vehicle, usually someone driving behind me, lets me know. Also, the melted socket would seem to be a real fire hazard.

- Juptier, FL, USA

problem #53

Oct 092018

Sonata

  • 93,750 miles
Vehicle stalled on the highway while in full speed 70mph, after it started back would slow down to lower speeds while driving, then it stopped responding to the key fab, and would not start at all.

- Tucker, GA, USA

problem #52

Sep 102018

Sonata

  • 55,000 miles
Both of our brake lights went out at once. We have been told that the harnesses of the brakes are bad. Since the car has only 55,000, we feel this is a defect that should be the responsibility of the manufacturer. They are giving us the run around.

- Florence, KY, USA

problem #51

Sep 152018

Sonata

  • miles
I have change my brake lights constantly at least 3 time a week the socket has melted where I have to put tape on it to hold it in place. I have got warning from the police and also a ticket becausw I never know when my brakelight or out. Sometime the light even GE5 stuck I had to rig another socket to

- Bmt, TX, USA

problem #50

Sep 102018

Sonata

  • 150,901 miles
I was driving down the road and crossed over some railroad tracks. Once I crossed the railroad tracks and began to come up a hill, my car began to stall. Suddenly, my car's gas pedal would not work, then my brakes stopped working, and then all of my dashboard lights came on (as picture) I was going about 45 mph and I had no way of stopping my vehicle and had to use my emergency brake to stop my vehicle. I got my car to stop in the middle of the road and I could not crank my car up or move it out of the road. I could not turn my steering wheel and my whole car locked up and became unmovable. I do not understand why everything else failed and I almost wrecked into a wooded area in the middle of a curve on the busy road. I had to call police to control traffic and to keep me and my vehicle safe. I went to tuscaloosa Hyundai in Alabama and they said that my cars engine suddenly went out.

- Mccalla, AL, USA

problem #49

Sep 032018

Sonata

  • miles
My brake lights constantly burn out and get hot. My harness even melts due to the heat and my bulbs. I have replaced my brake lights at least 6 times or more in less than 2 years. I have complained to hyundaiusa and the dealership about the issue since 2016 for them to want to charge me over $500 for the repair. I'm also having issues with my headlights blowing, my interior lights coming on when they want too(have to leave them on off all the time) and my lights flickering. I am terrified of my car catching fire due to the electrical issues it's having. There have been several issues with this car since I had it and it's ridiculous.

- Edgefield, SC, USA

problem #48

Aug 122018

Sonata

  • 53,900 miles
After hitting the brakes the brake lights stayed on, after a few minutes the car went to idle without warning, then back to cruise then back to idle and stayed about a minute, then back to cruise, then back to idle. Hyundai is aware of the problem, but not issuing a recall. The problem almost cause a crash with cars going around us. If it would have happen on the freeway it would have been worse.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #47

Aug 012018

Sonata

  • 79,412 miles
Both brake taillights bulbs keeps burning out this is an ongoing issue, it happened four times for me this year 8/1/2018, and three times last year 2017. Every time it happens I change the bulbs with the manufacture standard ones but fails again and again, I have done some google research and find forums of complaints regarding this brake light problem. Its becoming a safety issue because the tail lights sockets are overheating causing the buld to melt and stick into the tail lights socket, I notice the same problem when I change my bulb earlier this year. There's a lot of Hyundai owners complaining about this issue it needs to be fix before someone's car catch on fire.

- Hollywood, FL, USA

problem #46

Jun 272018

Sonata

  • 94,000 miles
Car began to start braking on its own at approximately 94,000 miles while driving in clear weather both at high and low speeds. Shortly after, the ESC malfunction light on the dash came on. Took it to the dealership where the brake pedal stopper was replaced. (note: This has not been recalled on this model) less than two weeks later the problem was back. Took the car back to the dealership. Brake pedal switch was replaced. Again a few weeks later the problem was back. Dealership could not find the problem. After weeks of back and forth with Hyundai, they finally sent an engineer. Now they're saying the casing for the tail lights need to be replaced because the brake lights have burned the wiring and melted the casing. All during this time, my car will start (push button) without having my foot on the brakes. This is a serious safety issue. I've read reports of the brake lights staying illuminated due to the brake pedal stopper issue. I'm assuming this is what caused the melting and wiring issue. The brake pedal stopper needs to be recalled for this model!

- Lumberton, TX, USA

problem #45

Jan 152018

Sonata

  • 67,000 miles
Brake lights will not turn off stop brake light switch malfunctions

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #44

Jan 112018

Sonata

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. While driving 25 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond. As a result, the contact drove the vehicle home. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 89,000.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #43

Dec 042017

Sonata

  • 79,000 miles
When using breaks it causes bulb socket to melt housing, etc and break light stops working over and over. The rear break light keeps burning out and melting inside the socket. You have to change whole socket because the bulb just melts and you can not remove. Im afraid my car is going to catch fire.

- Rosedale, MD, USA

problem #42

Nov 022017

Sonata

  • 95,000 miles
I have now replaced the housing rear brake light unit 3 times due to shorting out. The most recent short has caused the housing unit to melt causing a replacement of just the bulb not an option. The tag lights turn off and on and appear sometimes to be burnt out. This is also a short/wiring issue. This is a huge cause of concern for a trunk fire as this happens when the vehicle is in motion. I have been pulled over as a warning to get the lights replaced. Also, the spoiler on the vehicle has not only cracked all the way through but is also peeling due to coating issues. Only the spoiler on the car is the problem.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #41

Oct 302017

Sonata

  • 10 miles
Yo tuve un accidente de frente fuerte Y los air bag no salieron Y problemas con el tren delantero tira para izquierda todo el tiempo...

- San Juan, PR, USA

problem #40

Aug 012017

Sonata 4-cyl

  • miles
2013 Hyundai Sonata. Consumer writes seeking reimbursement for vehicle repairs. The consumer stated the engine recall repair exceeded a reasonable amount of time. Also, the consumer was seeking a reimbursement for a break recall repair. Updated 10/03/2017

- Statesville, NC, USA

problem #39

Sep 222017

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 64,400 miles
About a week ago I was driving home on my lunch break and was heading down main street in saugus, MA driving about 35mph. I came to the end of the road, and as the light turned yellow, I proceeded to slow down and come to a stop. As I was slowing down my brakes locked up, and I couldn't stop. The ABS light did not illuminate in my dash. The brakes ended up "kicking in" thankfully allowing me to stop in time. The same day, as I was driving back to work, I was going 15 mph by wakefield high school, and I went to go brake, and I couldn't stop. ABS sounded like it was kicking in, but no illumination, and thankfully stopped in time before hitting the car in front of me. That following weekend, same thing happened pulling off of my street, and I couldn't stop at the stop sign, and instead, skidded down the hill and stopped about 2 feet passed the stop sign. No illumination. It feels like your sliding down an icy hill and the ABS kicks in, but the light doesn't turn on warning me. It literally just works when it wants and it's extremely unsafe and scary. The last time I drove it was this Monday, and when braking, I couldn't stop right away, ABS kicks in, no illumination, and my heart in my throat. When reading on what was going on that night, I found that the 2015 Hyundai Sonata model had a recall for ABS malfunctions during May 28th 2014 to August 21st, 2015 where Hyundai recalled over 65,000 vehicles for the same issue with the following: " in the event of an ABS malfunction, the brake system warning light will illuminate, but the ABS warning light will not illuminate. Since the vehicles have ABS malfunction lights that do not illuminate, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "light vehicle brake systems." I sincerely feel that my vehicle is also affected and should be honored by this recall.

- Saugus, MA, USA

problem #38

Jan 012015

Sonata

  • 50,000 miles
Rear passenger side tire area has burning smell after driving around town. Smells like brakes. Dealership checked it with no resolution.

- Franklin, NH, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »