2013 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
107 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
63,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 92 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 40 of 107 complaints (37.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 37 | 34.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 15.0% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 14.0% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 8.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 40 |
| Electrical System | 22 |
| Service Brakes | 16 |
| Power Train | 14 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 10 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
Engine: 40; Electrical System: 22; Service Brakes: 16; Power Train: 14; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 10; Steering: 10; Unknown Or Other: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 23 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 15 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2013: 4; 2014: 9; 2015: 13; 2016: 9; 2017: 17; 2018: 21; 2019: 7; 2020: 1; 2021: 8; 2022: 6; 2023: 5; 2024: 4; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10549958 · 2013-10-29 (October 29, 2013)
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 M…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10549958 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10558015 · 2013-12-31 (December 31, 2013)
I WAS PARKING THE CAR (AFTER TURNING AROUND AND REVERSING) AND AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO EASE INTO THE PARKING SPOT THE BRAKES AND CAR JUST STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKES FURTHER AND ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE. THE CAR MOVED FORWARD AT A SLOW SPEED AND WENT UP THE CURB, TOPPLED A SMALL TREE AND KNOCKED A PARKING KIOSK OVER ON THE SIDEWALK. FORTUNATELY IT WAS 8:10 AM SO NOBODY WAS WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SOME DAMAGE FROM THE METAL KIOSK AND TIE ROD BROKEN FROM CURB. VERY DISCONCERTING THAT I LOST COMPLETE BR…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558015 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10564708 · 2014-02-17 (February 17, 2014)
27 DEC 2013: HYBRID BATTERY DRAINED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND CAR COULD NOT BE ACCELERATED MORE THAN 20 MILES/HR WHILE DRIVING. EVENTUALLY THE CAR STOPPED ON THE ROAD. DASHBOARD SHOWED "PARK SAFELY AND DO NOT DRIVE" WITH LOUD BEEPING WARNING SOUND. TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR, THE ENGINE WOULDN'T CHARGE THE BATTERY. AFTER TOWING TO THE SERVICE, THE CAR STARTED AS NORMAL; THE TECH COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO NOTHING WAS DONE. 16 JAN 2014: THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. AFTER I PARKED THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE HY…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10564708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10604424 · 2014-06-18 (June 18, 2014)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10604424 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10884666 · 2016-07-13 (July 13, 2016)
HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING! SAFELY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE. 1ST OCCURRENCE MILES - 42,143. 2ND OCCURRENCE MILES - 42,276 THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN A WEEK I'M TAKING THE CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME HYBRID MALFUNCTION. THE CAR GAVE ME THE HYBRID WARNING, THEN WHILE TRYING TO PULL THE CAR OVER SAFELY, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED. THIS OCCURRED ON A BUSY CITY STREET. STEERING IS ALSO AN ISSUE, THE CAR DOES NOT TRACK STRAIT. THE CAR'S STEERING CONSTANTLY HAS TO BE CORRECTED TO TRACK STRAIT.
Owner-reported narrative. 42,143 miles reported. Look up ODI 10884666 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10550918 · 2013-11-05 (November 5, 2013)
VEHICLE DRIFTS FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. WILL NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT, IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT NEEDING CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. TWO ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY THE DEALER WITH NO DEFINITIVE RESULTS. THIS MAKES FOR TIRESOME AND HAZARDOUS DRIVING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550918 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10663256 · 2014-12-09 (December 9, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON I-95 TO A FAMILY FOURTH OF JULY PARTY THIS PAST SUMMER I STARTED TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY SONATA'S STEERING SYSTEM. I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL GRAB AND HOLD ITSELF IN PLACE FOR AN INSTANT. IN THAT INSTANT I SENSED THAT I HAD TO EXERT EXTRA STRENGTH TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO FORCE IT TO RELEASE ITSELF FROM THE SURPRISING AND FRIGHTENING GRAB. THANKFULLY, THE EXTRA EXERTION ON MY PART RELEASED THE GRAB RIGHT AWAY BUT ANOTHER GRAB OCCURRED WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. I HAD TO DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY TO VIRGINIA BEACH WITH THIS F…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10663256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10971624 · 2017-04-10 (April 10, 2017)
THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOP POSITION AT A LIGHT OR DURING STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR ALSO JERKS FROM TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE DISTRACTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 43,567 miles reported. Look up ODI 10971624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11006674 · 2017-07-20 (July 20, 2017)
CAR WILL NOT START. ALL THE POWER, RADIO & THE LIGHT COMES ON BUT WHEN TURN THE IGNITION IT DOESN'T MAKE A SOUND. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENTLY NOT START . REVIEWED ONLINE SEEMS LIKE SIMILAR TO OR RELATED TO SWITCH-INHIBITOR ("42700R00 SWITCH ASSY-TRANSMISSION RANGE. HAD THE CAR AT DEALER DUE TO WARNING LIGHT FOR HYBRID SYSTEM 2 WEEKS AGO AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT REPEAT ISSUE
Owner-reported narrative. 59,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 11006674 at NHTSA ↗