Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
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 the front driver's side seat belt buckle assembly had failed and was unable to be buckled after several attempts. Additionally, the contact stated that the front passenger's side seat belt buckle assembly was inoperable. The contact stated that he was an independent mechanic and had determined that the front driver's side seat belt buckle assembly and the front passenger's side seat belt buckle assembly needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that she had initially received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V137000 (Seat Belts, Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the recall repair was performed. The contact stated that one year after the recall repair was performed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact linked the failure to the recall. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was not related to recall and that the at vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 92,714.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the chest strap failed to tighten after locking the seat belt into place. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the seat belt retractor to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and provided the contact a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.
My 2013 Hyundai Sonata 2 recalls that Hyundai are refusing to fix. My engine has been consuming oil since 10/15/2023. 2-3 quartz oil has to be put in the car every 5 days. Some of the recalls were satisfied on 11/15/2023. I took my car South Shore Hyundai located at 360 Sunrise Hwy, Valley Stream, NY 11581 on 1/4/2024 They are refusing to replace the engine . my car was under warranty at the time of the recall. However, I never received a letter to notify me of the recall. Everything the recall states my engine has been doing. I reached out to the corporate office with no resolution. Hyundai says I have to be the original owner which is absurd. After careful research I see where they have replaced vehicles similar to this nature free of charge after consumers hired a lawyer, which I can't afford at the moment. My 23 year old daughter uses the car for work and I fear for her safety. …
I bought this Hyundai 2013 Sonata in June of 2020 with 62,500 miles on it. I do not drive very much as have health issues and needed a good car to take my husband with dementia and myself to doctors and stores etc. After just a few months of owning the car the drivers side seatbelt does not retract when it is clicked in. It just stays loose across my chest. Very scary as don't think it will hold me in in case of accident. I am 67 yrs old so not like I abused the seatbelt and I see it is a common problem but a dangerous one. I am on a fixed income and cannot afford to fix it and think with so many complaints about the seatbelt not locking in place or pulling tight like it should Hyundai should be made to fix the seatbelt. After owning the car 3 years I have only put 1500 miles on it as now around 64,500. Thank you
1. I purchased this vehicle in 2016 and I have had my rear brake lights repaired several times because the rear tail lights continue to go out, This happens regularly. There is no warning lights on the dash to indicate an issue. The only way i learned that my brake lights don't work properly is another motorist driving behind me and almost rear ending me. I have had the rear brake lights repaired by the dealership before. My brakes always smell like burning rubber after driving having me to believe that the lubricant for the brake pads aren't working. 2.The dashboard lights also periodically blinks out without warning. After a few moments it will illuminate again. 3. My seatbelts sometimes doesn't tighten up. I have to pull them several times for them to catch and return after the seatbelt isn't in use.
Driver seatbelt doesn't click and takes tremendous effort and time to get the belt to click into the holder. This is not safe and needs to be replaced asap. Afraid the seatbelt will come unclicked if a wreck occurs.
The car start over but was unable to keep power upon hitting gas pedal. The seatbelt would unlatch. The back break lights wouldn't shut off after turning off engine causing the car battery to lose power.
Tl* the contact owned a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. While stopped at a red light, the contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. As a result, the contact struck the preceding vehicle. The air bags deployed. The contact stated that the seat belt restraint system failed to operate as intended. The contact stated that the seat belt support and front passenger seat fractured. The contact sustained a concussion, a hematoma on the forehead, and swelling of the brain. The front seat passenger sustained injuries to the head and swelling when her head struck the windshield. Two additional passengers in the rear seats sustained minor injuries. The contact and passengers sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. While driving approximately 70 MPH there was a sudden loss of power and the vehicle veered to the left. The driver's side seat belt failed to restrain and the vehicle crashed into a wall. The plastic piece fractured from the driver's side seat belt, which completely detached. The contact sustained multiple injuries from the crash that required medical attention. A police report was not filed. It was not certain as to whether the air bags fully deployed. The vehicle was extensively damaged and the contact was waiting for a response from the manufacturer to further investigate how the failure occurred. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000. ...updated 03/15/17 ...updated 03/29/17 updated 05/09/17
Related recalls
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.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will again verify the connection between the seat belt linkage and the pretensioner and additionally install a warning label to prevent future seat belt linkage detachment, free…
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.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners and dealers will inspect the connection between the seat belt linkages and the seat belt anchor pretensioners, repairing them as necessary, free of charge.
NHTSA investigations
Front Passenger Seat Belt Anchor Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation on December 27, 2016 based on two ODI consumer complaints reporting a failure of the front passenger seat belt to remain connected to the seat belt anchor and pre-tensioner during a crash.On March 8, 2017 Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) filed a defect report with the agency stating that it would conduct a safety recall on 977,778 model year…
Seat Belt complaints in other Sonata years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat belt problems on the 2013 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA has 62 complaints about the seat belts of the 2013 Hyundai Sonata, 3% of the model year's 1,916 complaints. The component named most often is pretensioner (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Hyundai Sonata seat belt problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 17V-617 (pretensioner, Oct 4, 2017); NHTSA recall 17V-152 (anchorage, Mar 8, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 Hyundai Sonata seat belt problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 89,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 1 fire and 10 injuries to seat belts 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.