2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Typical pattern

1.7% of complaints about the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2013 vehicle — around the middle of the 210 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.9 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (40 complaints), typically at 6.2 yr or about 91,000 miles.

Complaints: 172
Median age at failure: 4.9 yr
Median mileage: 52,765 n=149
Crash / fire / tow: 19.2% of reports
Safety recalls: 4 1 do not drive

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

23V651000 2023-09-22 Do not drive

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 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.

An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

20V746000 2020-12-01

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.

A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

17V617000 2017-10-04

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.

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.

17V152000 2017-03-08

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.

In the event of a crash, if the seat belts detach from the anchor pretensioners, it can increase the risk of injury.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 300 mi 1.1 yr in service

WHEN STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN OR GOING UP A SLIGHT DRIVEWAY THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER WHEN YOU APPLY THE GAS FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND THEN THE CAR SURGES. WE WERE STOPPED BEHIND A CAR AND WHEN WE WENT TO DRIVE AROUND THEM THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO APPROX 1 MPH WITH THE GAS PEDAL FLAT ON THE FLOOR, THEN THE CAR SURGES. THEN AT OTHER TIMES THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP IS TRYING TO TELL ME WE ARE DRIVING WITH ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND ONE FOOT ON THE GAS. I DO NOT USE MY LEFT FOOT FOR THE BRAKE. I TRIED TAKING THE CAR OUT OF BLUE MODE BUT STILL HAD THE PROBLEM. *TR

Electrical system 30 mi 1.1 yr in service

THE 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID'S SPEEDOMETER REPORTS 5 MPH LESSER THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED. I HAVE TESTED THE SPEEDOMETER AGAINST 3 DIFFERENT RADARS THAT ARE PART OF SOME OF THE SPEED SIGNS IN OREGON. I FIRST REALIZED THIS WHEN I FELT I WAS TRAVELING FASTER THAN WHAT THE SPEEDOMETER REPORTED. *TR

Electrical system 5,000 mi 1.0 yr in service

ENGINE SHUT OFF AND BATTERY ONLY LETS YOU GO 1/4 MILE PULLED INTO PARKING LOT TURNED CAR OFF WAITED 5 MINUTES AND CAR STARTED BACK UP. TOOK CAR TO DEALER BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT. IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN APRIL THEY HAD CAR FOR 7 DAYS BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT. IT STARTED AGAIN ON JUNE17TH THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. *TR

Service brakes 4,000 mi 1.4 yr in service

DEAR. I HAVE NOT GOT AN INCIDENT, BUT THE BRAKE HAS A PROBLEM. WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES, IT SOUNDS STRANGE. I VISITED THE DEAR SHOP AND THEN THEY CANNOT FIND THE REASON. THE SERVICE CENTER INQUIRES A HYUNDAI HEADQUARTER ABOUT THE REASON. THEY CALLED ME THAT IT IS NO PROBLEM FOR SAFETY AND ARE FINING THE REASON. HOWEVER, I AM SO AFRAID OF DRIVING EVEN THE SAFETY IS FINE. THIS IS THE BRAKE PROBLEM. I JUST LET YOU KNOW THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE FIGURE OUT THIS PROBLEM. *JS

Other Sonata Hybrid model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

Other Sonata Hybrid model years

How to read this