10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
17 / 56
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 0
Average Mileage:
58,215 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 #275

Jul 222019

Sonata

  • 138,945 miles
Takata recall im driving on small road about to make a left turn in my 2013 Hyundai Sonata car completely shut off dashboard light blinking like the cars battery went dead. Made a slight ticking nose when I tried to restart car would not start. Had to disconnect the battery for the car light to stop blinking.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #274

Jul 182019

Sonata

  • 98,800 miles
Since buying this car as 2nd owner I have replaced the rear brake bulb 5 times in 1 yr. The wiring seems to be the issue. Last week car literally doesn't start when trying to it sputters and then I have to cut it off to go finally get it to start. Today it turned over but sputtering continues 2 more times when try to to start, then 3rd time it cranks.

- Seaford, DE, USA

problem #273

Jul 162019

Sonata

  • 110,000 miles
While driving down the highway today, my engine died. I was able to coast off the highway and onto a frontage road. I tried to restart my vehicle without success. I opened the hood to let other drivers know I was stranded. Within a couple of minutes I noticed a burning smell then flames coming from my engine. I closed the hood hoping it would put out the fire. Unfortunately it did not. I have photos and videos of the smoke, then fire and eventually the fire department putting out the fire. I performed a google search and found an April 2019 car and driver article stating the NHTSA is investigating the exact same thing. Feel free to contact me for further details.

- Allen, TX, USA

problem #272

Jul 072016

Sonata

  • miles
Hyundai has created a lot of problems since buying this car in my life. I have had 3 recalls corrected and recently got a moto replacement after almost killing myself driving down the high way and my car shutting off on me. Also, you can drive from my job and house and find 3-4 Sonata's who have brake lights out. This is ridiculous. Please do something about this!!!!

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #271

Jul 112019

Sonata

  • 106,000 miles
In the evening of 07/11/2019 I was driving my 2013 Hyundai santa on the bishop Ford expressway, when smoke began to come out of the hood. I pulled over to the shoulder, and at that time, my car was completely filled with black smoke, and the brakes completely failed, foot went right to the floor. The car coasted until it finally stopped. By this time, the car was in fire. I was able to exit before it completely engulfed in flames. There was no warning to me that this car was going to start on fire. I had the engine replaced 2 years ago because of engine failure. Two engines in 6 years is definitely not normal. I could have been killed in that car.. Hyundai needs to take responsibility.

- Schererville, IN, USA

problem #270

Jul 012019

Sonata

  • 163,870 miles
I put a complaint in on the 19th of June 2019 my 2013 Hyundai Sonata had stopped on me in the middle of traffic on my way home from work. My husband and I had the car towed home and then I called Hyundai of rockwall Texas they towed my car from my house on the 22nd of June after days later they call me back that Monday 24th of June and told me that they would have to analyze my car and they will call me back they called me back the next day which was a Tuesday and told me that my engine has seized so they gave me a loaner car, called me back on Friday left me a message. On my way to work on Saturday the 22nd of June I received another call from the service guy by the name of sam he told me that he had called on Friday and I didn't listen to the message, he told me on the Saturday 22nd that my car was ready to be picked up it was running. I went over after work to return the loaner car on Saturday June 29th 2019, received my car drove the car home got back in the car on Sunday 30th of June went to the store return back to my car and my car wouldn't say a word it wouldn't start! so on Monday July 1st I call Hyundai of rockwall back again tell them my situation about my car not starting at all. And the guy in the service department sam stated to me that he was seeing if you can get a tow truck to pick it up for the second time in a day of having the car out of the shop. But as of right now Monday July 1st my car is still sitting in the front of my house won't start! Hyundai of rockwall Texas have not picked up my car.

- Royse City, TX, USA

problem #269

Jun 242019

Sonata

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. While driving approximately 50 mph, the check engine indicator suddenly illuminated followed by a loud knocking noise coming from the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle would no longer accelerate and stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and Hyundai asheville (860 tunnel rd, asheville, nc) were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Leicester, NC, USA

problem #268

Jun 152019

Sonata

  • 98,678 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. While driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle would not properly accelerate and stalled suddenly. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who indicated that no oil was present in the engine. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was serviced for a faulty starter and engine turbo charger by an independent mechanic. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,678.

- Talty, TX, USA

problem #267

Jun 132019

Sonata

  • 106,000 miles
2013 Hyundai just died while driving down a major road on my way home from work had to be towed home at 11:30 pm on Thursday June 13th. Them on Saturday had to have it towed from our house to Hyundai of rockwall. Where I called them on Monday the 17th of June and they stated to me the motor has seized and they would have to analyze the engine and take pictures and get approve to fix or replace the engine. I have researched and researched I can't believe so many people have and had the same problem with their engine, how can this be unless something is dead wrong with the engines in not only our car but thousands if not millions. Not sure about everyone else but we need our car for work. And having to pay people to take use to and from work is not fun to us at all.we live in royse city Texas and my car stopped in the middle of the road on me tried to start it up and smoke coming from under the hood and smelled like wires was burning and I got out of the car quickly afraid of it catching on fire. In greenville Texas watch is 21 miles from home no fun out at night alone until the tow truck arrived.

- Royse City, TX, USA

problem #266

Jan 012019

Sonata

  • 88,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. While driving, the vehicle decelerated and the engine shut off in the middle of the road. The failure occurred often and the vehicle would lose power in the middle of traffic. The contact had to wait twenty minutes to restart the vehicle and drive home safely. All the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to capitol Hyundai of montgomery (2820 eastern blvd, montgomery, Alabama 36116, 800-399-6869), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The mechanic kept the contact's vehicle and would not give it back. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,000. The VIN was unknown.

- Tuskegee, AL, USA

problem #265

Jun 042019

Sonata

  • 88,300 miles
Vehicle is intermittantly cutting out while driving or at a stop. 88K miles multiple events within days now. ESC comes on and won't turn off since warm weather arriving. Normal dry running conditions. Loss of power to drivetrain. Accelerator depressed causes loud abnormal tin ringing sound from engine compartment. Have to pull the car over to shut off and restart. Condition occurs whether ESC switch is on or off. Manual shifting is disabled. Transmission feels jerky just before. ESC event seems to occur mostly when accelerator is released up to a stop or cruising. Release of accelerator, trans jerks, ESC engages but won't release till car is reset. Vehicle underwent a recall campaign for a bad transmission temp sensor cable recently. Dealer says no code, no fix possibility. Car occasionally smells like burning rubber.

- Durham, CT, USA

problem #264

Jun 012019

Sonata

  • 69,464 miles
I started my car warm it up and start driving a few miles the car just stopped in the middle of a highway, glad I was able to drive it to the side of a road. Now the vehicle isn't starting at all, when I checked the engine bay there was smoke coming out and it smelled like burned plastic.

- Kent, WA, USA

problem #263

May 272019

Sonata

  • 65,000 miles
While driving on a highway 60 mph my vehicle began to stall and turn off. The vehicle mileage decrease and the car completely turned off I was unable to place hazards lights on or signals because the power on the vehicle had turned off. Upon pulling over the following day trying to start vehicle it began to smoke. It did not crank or make any noise just smoke coming up from the hood. This an result to safety recall NHTSA # 17V226000 or safety recall # 162. Which is wear within the engine. Engine failure may result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Thankfully I did not crash but my vehicle stalled and completely shut off with no power to dash/radio etc which is a very dangerous occurrence.

- Sunrise, FL, USA

problem #262

May 152019

Sonata

  • 98,000 miles
Got an oil change @ valvoline in lexington, ky on April 22, 2019. 3 weeks later my engine seized up due to not having a drop oil on May 15 th.

- Frankfort, KY, USA

problem #261

Mar 272019

Sonata

  • miles
2013 Hyundai Sonata consumer writes in regard to Hyundai Sonata safety recall vehicles engine and ask when repair will be made to vehicle.

- North Plainfield, NJ, USA

problem #260

Mar 282019

Sonata

  • 100,000 miles
The engine completely stalled while I was driving down the interstate at 68 miles per hour. The engine failure happened suddenly without warning as I was trying to accelerate down the interstate. At the moment the engine failure occurred there was various dashboard lights on my car that illuminated - including the engine oil pressure warning light and the malfunction indicator lamp. I maneuvered the car to the off-ramp and then parked on the right shoulder. The engine was visibly vibrating and shaking at this point before I turned off the ignition. Any attempts to start my car again were unsuccessful and a tow to the Hyundai dealership was needed.

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #259

Apr 182019

Sonata

  • miles
Takata recall my 2013 Sonata has been making a knocking noise for a couple of months I have taken my car up to savannah Hyundai on abercorn several times. They told me they didn't see anything wrong with my engine. Now for the last two have been putting oil in my car every two days. It's oil leek and no one can seem to tell me what's wrong

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #258

Jan 082019

Sonata

  • 160,000 miles
The Sonata is going to throw a rod around 100000 the company knows this but does not care if you have one get rid of it do not buy mine threw a rod on the highway

- Elizabethtown, KY, USA

problem #257

Apr 142019

Sonata

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. Prior to purchasing the vehicle, the contact was not informed that it was included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V137000 (seat belts, air bags) and service campaign number: 953 (ECM & cluster update-engine monitoring logic product improvement). Shortly after it was purchased, the vehicle stalled without warning due to engine failure. Auffenberg Hyundai (1300 central park dr, O'fallon, il 62269, (618) 622-9001) was notified of the failure and was to follow-up with a response within 48 hours from the manufacturer. The contact was left without a vehicle and was waiting for the dealer and the manufacturer to determine if there was an option of a loaner vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was to provide a follow-up response to the dealer and the vehicle owner. The failure mileage was not available.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #256

Nov 012018

Sonata

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. While operating the vehicle, the check engine indicator illuminated and a knocking noise was present coming from the engine. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the engine oil was extremely low. The contact indicated that oil was added every two days due to excessive oil consumption. The vehicle was taken to fred beams Hyundai of flemington (180 us 202, building B, flemington, NJ), but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Flemington, NJ, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »