Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Hyundai Sonata owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that there were three cracks on the front dashboard. The contact stated that two cracks were on the front passenger's side airbag and the other crack was in the middle of the front dashboard and was spreading over to the driver's side. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was parked and no longer driven due to the safety concern. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,900.
The right-rear passenger door will not open from either the inside or outside of the car. This happened suddenly with no warning. It was instantaneous. I went to go pick my toddler from daycare and when we were returning to the car, the right-rear passenger door will not open after unlocking the car with my key fob. All the other doors (3) could be opened with the key fob or without the key fob from inside the car. I tried to open the right-rear paasenger door from the inside and it still will not open. Additionally, you can hear the locking system on the door moving when locking and unlocking the car with the key fob but the door simply won't open. This is a safety issue because it hinders my ability to quickly get to my toddler in case of an emergency.
My rear drivers side door will not open. I cannot get my grandson out of his car seat without walking to the passenger side of the car. If there was an accident, first responders would not be able to reach anyone in the backseat behind the driver's seat. This is a common problem with this make/model vehicle. I asked the dealer to try to open it for me, but wouldn't even look at it for without a $185 charge. No one else has inspected the vehicle. There were no warnings, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.
About a year ago, I went out one morning, and the Rear Passenger Door would not engage or open. I tried using the key fob, as well as manual lock, trying to lock and unlock, and it still would not open. No one can get into the car from the outside. No one can get out of the car from the inside. This especially is very dangerous. Nothing has changed. I would like Hyundai to repair my door, since it is inoperable. In case of accident, fire, or other reason, someone would be locked in to their detriment.
My vehicle and a couple more vehicles that I have seen seem to have a cracked interior dashboard caused by the heat. This problem seems to be common on hyundai's of different models. I've owned several different manufacturered vehicles, and this is the first vehicle manufacturer with a common problem with the cracking of the vehicles interior dashboard it has plastic fumes. There seems to be no remedy for this defective product. I have done research and found alot of people online having the same problem.
The back doors will no longer open when unlocked. This poses a safety risk. I was unable to get my child out of his car seat when the locks or locking mechanism went out. I had to climb into the back seat from the front. The door do not open either from the interior or exterior of the vehicle. A mechanic stated that this could be from faulty solenoids. I was unable to get a print out of a quote at the time of writing this
The front passenger door does not open even when it is unlocked. The power locks will make the noise as if the door is unlocked but the latch is stuck. Even if you manually unlock the door, it will not open. This is a safety issue because you can not safely exit the vehicle if you were in the passenger seat. There were no warnings before this problem presented itself.
2013 Hyundai Sonata has massive white pearl paint peeling. Large swaths on both read roof racks (each about 48 square inches), trunk peeling (across the entire width on the trunk top edges), front engine compartment hood (4 spots ranging from 3 - 15 square inches). Paint peels away down to undercoating level - poor bonding of the paint to the undercoat).
The left rear door won't open from the inside or from outside. The door just suddenly stopped working without any warning or without any damage to the door, or to the key FOB. I use it to transport an elderly person or sometimes my grand kids, it is dangerous especially if someone has to exit the car immediately.
Rear passenger door doesn't open from the inside or outside. The actuator is unlocking but the cable that attaches to the handle is stretched and not releasing from the striker. The component at fault is the "latch assembly". This is very dangerous and people can get stuck in the rear.
Body complaints in other Sonata years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2013 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA has 50 complaints about the body & structure of the 2013 Hyundai Sonata, 3% of the model year's 1,916 complaints. The component named most often is body (43 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Hyundai Sonata body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2013 Hyundai Sonata, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Hyundai Sonata body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 53,000 miles, and 33% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 3 fires and 3 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.