The Lemon Index2013 Hyundai Sonata.
The 2013 Hyundai Sonata is worse than average by owner complaints: 336 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 127, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about steering, it has 9 recalls, and it gets 26 to 37 mpg combined. The best Hyundai Sonata year is 2004.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 2,024 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Hyundai Sonata year. 2013 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 40K to 110K miles on the car (1,193 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 64K–125K miles
- steering complaints mostly came at 7K–90K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 42K–113K miles
Recalls 9
- fuel system, gasoline 2022
The low pressure fuel hose that connects the low pressure fuel pump to the direct injection fuel pump may crack over time, due to heat generated within the engine compartment.
- fuel system, gasoline 2020
The low pressure fuel hose that connects the low pressure fuel pump to the direct injection fuel pump may crack over time due to heat generated within the engine compartment.
- engine 2018
The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned, or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, allowing fuel to leak from the pipe.
Show all 9 recalls
- seat belts 2018
If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety…
- seat belts 2017
The seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.
- engine 2017
Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
- seat belts 2017
In the affected vehicles, the seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.
- transmission & drivetrain 2014
In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from from the shift lever pin.
- airbags 2012
The curtain side airbags on these vehicles may inflate without deployment command due to an error during manufacturing.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Hyundai told dealers about
Hyundai sent dealers 233 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Issues with a minor clicking or thud type noise when turning the steering wheel
- Slight leak from the oil feed
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenHyundai and kia abs module fires2023
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
- ClosedLoss of motive power2022–2023
- ClosedThrottle control system vulnerabilities2021–2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Sonata 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1750–2450 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Vehicle wanders badly on highway. Vehicle will not hold a straight lane, so it is very difficult to keep the car in my lane. I do not feel safe driving it on the freeway.
2013 Hyundai Sonata owner · NHTSA complaint 10560285
More owner reports
The car is making a clicking noise, also the steering is not stable, especially at high speed (55+)
NHTSA complaint 10787607
When the wheel is turned one way and then the other, a delay from when the wheel is turned to when the car responds and sticks left to right. The delay is tenths of a second.
NHTSA complaint 10667340
Quick answers
Is the 2013 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.3× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 127; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Hyundai Sonata year by this measure since 2010 is 2010.
What are the most common 2013 Hyundai Sonata problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are steering (37%), engine (21%) and electrical (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2013 Hyundai Sonata have?
9 safety recalls (latest: fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Hyundai Sonata get?
26 to 37 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2013 Hyundai Sonata safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2013 Hyundai Sonata problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 40,000 and 110,000 miles. The middle report was at 77,400 miles, from 1,193 complaints.
Does the 2013 Hyundai Sonata have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 9% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2013 Hyundai Sonata cost in fuel a year?
About $1750 to $2450 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2013 Hyundai Sonata have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
What Hyundai Sonata year is better than the 2013?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2019 and 2014.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works