HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID · model year

2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID

166 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

5 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2013HYUNDAISONATA HYBRID carries 166 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 18 crashes, 5 fires, 17 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 5/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2013 SONATA HYBRID is engine with 40 filings, followed by electrical system (21) and service brakes (15). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 2013 SONATA HYBRID, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

166
Complaints
18
Crashes
5
Fires
17
Injuries
0
Deaths
2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. Overall composite: 5.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 5.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 4.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 5.0 ★
NHTSA overall 5.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

166 filings

Crashes Reported

18 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 5/5 — Top NCAP rating · Front: 4/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 5/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE40
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21
SERVICE BRAKES15
POWER TRAIN14
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM12
STEERING10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC9
UNKNOWN OR OTHER9
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7
AIR BAGS4
STRUCTURE:BODY3
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY3
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
WHEELS2

Recalls (4)

23V65100022/09/2023

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

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 B

17V15200008/03/2017

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

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.

17V61700004/10/2017

SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

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.

20V74600001/12/2020

ENGINE

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.

Recent Complaints

20240709SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 145,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Mileage: 145,000

20240709ENGINE

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 145,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Mileage: 145,000

20240401SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Mileage: 65,000

20240131SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made not aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

20240108SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

20231212SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

20231205SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

20231114SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to stop the vehicle, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The service brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the hydraulic power unit. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 125,000.

Mileage: 125,000

20230915ENGINE

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil warning light intermittently illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle made an abnormal sound while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the oil level was extremely low. The mechanic advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for the engine to be inspected. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with bearing wear in the engine. The dealer informed the contact that repairs would be covered under warranty. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V226000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,661.

Mileage: 65,661

20230710SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an Auto Zone where it was placed on a diagnostic machine and produced an undisclosed code indicating that the HECU was faulty. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where it was then determined that the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

20220727STEERING

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated while pulling out of the driveway, the vehicle drove over a minor bump in the roadway and the steering wheel made an abnormally loud rattling sound. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. However, the steering wheel was shaking and making abnormal rattling sounds continuous while turning the steering wheel or driving over bumps in the roadway. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that an unknown plastic part that maintains the steering wheel in position was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

20220727ENGINE

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated she had to add one quart of oil for every 200 miles driven. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated to 30 MPH. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated she was able to coast into the local dealer before the vehicle stalled. The dealer stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact took the vehicle to another local dealer: Folsom Lake Hyundai (12530 Auto Mall Cir, Folsom, CA 95630: (916) 293-4760) where it was diagnosed with needing the engine replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine) however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

Mileage: 170,000

20220627HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Hybrid System warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle to correct the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed; however, no error codes were retrieved. The contact stated that the dealer replaced the oil pump. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

Mileage: 108,000

20220613ENGINE

The contact owned a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled inadvertently in the middle of the road. The contact was unable to veer to the side of the road. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine and the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine). The manufacturer was notified that the vehicle had been repaired prior to the safety recall. The manufacturer advised the contact to file a claim for reimbursement. The contact filed a claim; however, the manufacturer declined the claim and informed the contact that they could not assist as the failure was caused by the head gasket failure instead of the engine. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

20220504FireENGINE

The contact owned a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact heard an audible beeping sound continuously and saw a "W" in yellow on the driver’s side instrument panel. Additionally, on the passenger’s side the "Do Not Drive" warning was illuminated, and both warning lights were blinking. The contact pulled off the roadway safely into a parking lot. The contact turned off the vehicle and exited and observed that gray smoke was coming from under the engine compartment of the vehicle before the vehicle caught on fire. The fire department was called out and extinguished the fire. The contact stated that a FIRE report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and later declared a total loss by the insurance provider. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact recently received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine). The failure mileage was approximately 87

Mileage: 87,000

20220114ENGINE

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the warning message "Pull Over and Stop" illuminated and the vehicle began to stall. The contact veered to the side of the road in the intersection and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that he was able to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle was shuddering increasingly, and white smoke was coming out of the exhaust while driving. The contact was able to drive to his residence. The contact received a recall notification of an unknown recall and the vehicle was taken to the dealer who updated the electronic control module to improve the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) logic. The contact stated that after the recall repair was completed, the failure increased significantly. The dealer was notified of the failure and the vehicle was taken to the dealer who completed an oil change but had not diagnosed the vehicle. The dealer stated that the failure was related to an unknown recall. T

Mileage: 130,000

20210809ENGINE

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, she noticed the temperature gauge rising rapidly and started to smell antifreeze. The contact also stated that the vehicle began to stall. The contact stated that the “DO NOT DRIVE” warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road. The contact had the vehicle towed to a family member’s residence. The contact then towed the vehicle to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the engine to be rebuilt. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated she continued to experience the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine). The contact stated she continued to experience the failure. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer for the fourth time where it was diagnosed with needing the engine to be replace. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was unable to reach a representative from the manufactur

Mileage: 134,198

20210707AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the air bag control module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in an air bag recall. The failure mileage was unavailable.

20210607FireENGINE

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine) however, the part to the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while her son was driving 30 mph, smoke entered the cabin of the vehicle from the floorboard. The contact stated the "Do not drive vehicle" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact parked on the side of the road for 30 minutes before continuing the drive to his residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Mileage: 200,000

20210510ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V746000 (ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CRAIN HYUNDAI OF FAYETTEVILLE (1919 FOXGLOVE DR, FAYETTEVILLE, AR 72704, (479) 439-9878) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Compare 2013HYUNDAISONATA HYBRID to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID have?
The 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID has 166 NHTSA complaints, 18 crashes, 5 fires, 17 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID?
The 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 5/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID?
Yes, the 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID?
The most-complained component for the 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID is ENGINE with 40 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.