Car Yearsto Avoid

2013 Hyundai Sonata Engine Problems

From NHTSA owner complaints and recalls. Updated Oct 17, 2026.

How common are engine problems on the 2013 Hyundai Sonata?

775 owners have reported engine problems on the 2013 Hyundai Sonata, 41% of all complaints for this year and the most reported problem area. Most reported problems happened at about 65,000–125,000 miles. 2 recalls cover this area.

775 complaints 41% of all 2013 complaints 97,000 miles typical

Which parts fail

The specific part named in each complaint.

Manifold / header / muffler / tail pipe 1
Cooling system 1
Radiator assembly 1
Oil / lubrication 1
Engine control module (ECU / ECM) 1

Mileage when it failed

Each dot is a complaint that gave a mileage (424 of 775). The amber line is the middle value.

When problems were reported

Engine complaints by the year the problem happened.

Engine complaints by Sonata year

2008 Sonata 49
2009 Sonata 62
2010 Sonata 29
2011 Sonata 1,011
2013 Sonata 775
2019 Sonata 94
2020 Sonata 31
2021 Sonata 35
2022 Sonata 25
2023 Sonata 30
2024 Sonata 3

Related recalls

Fuel pipe may leak, causing fire risk

Fire risk

A high pressure fuel pipe near the fuel pump may have been damaged, misaligned, or improperly tightened during an engine replacement, so fuel can leak out. Fuel leaking near an ignition source can cause a fire.

Fix: The dealer will inspect the fuel pipe and replace it if needed, at no cost to you.

Recall 18V934000 · Dec 2018

Engine

Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine. Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine, replacing the engine short block, as necessary, free of charge.

Recall 17V226000 · Mar 2017
Check your VIN for open recalls

Get an email when your 2013 Hyundai Sonata gets a new recall

We check NHTSA every month. If a new recall or safety investigation covers the 2013 Hyundai Sonata, you'll hear about it the same week.

One email per new recall. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Other 2013 Hyundai Sonata problems

Common questions

What are common 2013 Hyundai Sonata engine problems?

Complaints most often name the manifold / header / muffler / tail pipe, cooling system and radiator assembly.

At what mileage do 2013 Hyundai Sonata engine problems happen?

Most complaints that gave a mileage fell between about 65,000–125,000 miles. The middle value is about 97,000 miles.

Is there a recall for 2013 Hyundai Sonata engine problems?

Yes: 18V934000, 17V226000. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if the work was done.

Which Sonata year has the most engine complaints?

The 2011 Sonata, with 1,011 complaints.

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases. Complaints are unverified owner reports.