99 complaints reported

2013 Hyundai Sonata Exterior Lighting

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
99
Crashes
0
Fires
6
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jul 2025

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the taillight bulbs failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the taillight bulbs overheated and burned out quickly. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with taillight wiring harness failure. The contact was informed that the taillight wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the contact stated that the recall notification was not received. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 199,500.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2024
Jun 2025

The tail lights won’t stay on even with new bulbs in it. This was a recall and the recall disappeared. This is not safe for my car to be missing a tail light every night. Please help

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2025
May 2025

The tail lights in this car are constantly burning out. We have to replace them about every month or two. It’s either one side or the other and it has happened so many times since we had the car it’s ridiculous

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2017
Apr 2025

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai SONATA. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at an unknown speed the contact was pulled over by local police due to their vehicles tail lights no longer functioning, no warning lights were illuminated. The contact attempted to replace the bulbs however the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was inspected, however the vehicle was not diagnosed as the contact was advised that their VIN was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Apr 2023
Apr 2025

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving on the highway at an undisclosed speed, the contact pulled over by the local Police because the taillights were inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact attempted to replace the bulbs; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was inspected; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2023
Nov 2024

Brake lights become hot enough to melt through housing, hanging loose in the trunk where they can damage wiring and further burn through taillight housing. There was no warning, uncertain how long issue has been ongoing as I only noticed when a light went entirely out. Vehicle has not been inspected since engine replacement under previous recall. Will be available for any inspection on request. This problem has occurred on both the left and right taillight assemblies

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2024
Sep 2024

ALL OF THESE CAR HAVE A HEADLIGHT ISSUSE ALSO BREAKLIGHT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2024
Aug 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while at a stop, a pedestrian informed the contact that both the driver-side and passenger-side brake lights failed to illuminate while the vehicle was stopped. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that both rear housing lamps had melted and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that both brake light bulbs had been replaced several times. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately157,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2024
Aug 2023

Lights flicker especially at night they turn off and on. You can't see and others can't see you because no lights on and off There was no warning lamps or anything letting me know about the problem. Can't drive my car at night because of this problem don't want to cause an accident. No the vehicle has not been inspected yet.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2023
Apr 2023

The brake lights keep blowing every time I replace them & have read other cases where light casing may melt when the bulb blows

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2022
Feb 2023

The brake lights and headlights keep going out within a few month of changing the bulbs

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2020
Jan 2023

Brake lights work inconsistently, burn hot, melt sockers, fall out of sockets and melt carpeted covers. Safety and fire concerns. Much info on this problem from other owners on various sites. PLEASE force Hyundai to fix these issues.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2023
Oct 2022

My rear tail lights on both sides keep burning holes through the plastic then burning out this takes place all with in a week I’ve had to replace the light harness 3 times on both sides already and I’ve wen down on the voltage on the lights. Neither worked. This is a safety concern as I e read on multiple post that there trunks have caught fire because of this. In which I’ve smelled smoke on multiple occasions and then noticed the harness to be burnet out and the light to be blown. I have children that ride in the back seat that require help. This problem needs to be fixed before someone’s life is taken.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2022
Sep 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated noticed both bulbs of the taillights were inoperable. The contact stated that he was changing the bulbs and noticed that the bulb assemblies were melted on to the bulbs, not allowing for the bulbs to be removed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who offered no assistance. The contact was informed that the repair had to be paid out of pocket. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 15,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2020
Aug 2022

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE WHEN PRESSING THE GAS THE TRACTION LIGHT IS ON AND THE TAILIGHTS STAY ON EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF FOUND BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON DUE TO FAILED BRAKE PEDAL STOPPER. REPLACED BRAKE PEDAL STOPPER PER TSB 18-BE-010

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2022
Jun 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while replacing the rear driver’s side taillight bulb and pulling out the socket assembly, the plastic melted onto the socket making it difficult to remove the bulb. The contact removed the light socket and the bulb fractured. The dealer was contacted but offered no assistance. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall and that the repair would be an out-of-pocket expense. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 167,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2022
May 2022

My back left brake light is out. It's been out for a few months now. I took it to Hyundai and they said I needed a new lamp. Recently I started taking pictures of other sonata's when I'm out and a lot of other vehicles I've seen have the same problem.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2021
Jan 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the low and high beam headlights failed to illuminate and was replaced on several occasions. Additionally, the driver’s and passenger’s side taillights were inoperable. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2019
Jan 2022 Fire

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the taillights failed to illuminate as needed. The contact's father inspected the taillights, removed the taillight housings, and noticed that the taillight housings were melted. The contact stated that she had replaced the bulbs on several occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2021
Dec 2021 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WERE EXPERIENCING BULBS BURNING WHICH CAUSED MELTING OF WIRING INTO THE SOCKETS OF THE VEHICLE. THE BULBS WERE ORIGINAL PARTS. THE CONTACTED STATED THE FAILURE FIRST OCCURRED WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT BURNED OUT, SHORTLY AFTER THE PASSENGER REAR TAILLIGHT AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEAD LIGHT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPAIRED AND REPLACED BOTH REAR HEAD LIGHTS AND BULBS HIMSELF BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2019
Nov 2021

The brake light is constantly going out since I purchased this car in 2013 see other ocmplaints https://www.carproblemzoo.com/hyundai/sonata/brake-light-problems.php

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2021
Oct 2021

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact was informed that the taillights were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the taillight assemblies replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2021
Oct 2021

My husband keeps replacing the left passenger side brake light and when he called the dealer he was told that they know of the issue but there isn’t a recall on it. Today 10/20/21 he went to replace the bulb again because it was out he noticed that as he was pulling the bulb the light came on. When he moved the harness around the light bulb would turn on and turn off. He went to autozone and one of the associates told him the same thing the deal told me, that they knew of the issue but there wasn’t a recall on it. He said that’s what they told him when he encounter the same issue I was having with my vehicle. His girl friend has the same vehicle as I do. It is available for inspection, unknown, yes it has been confirmed by the dealer, it has been inspected by my husband job AAA, and no warning lights appeared.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2021
Sep 2021

Recommended lights for brakes keep burning, causing the brake light sockets to melt. I have replaced them twice and replaced the complete tail lights and wiring. Purchasing stock tail lights, bulbs as well as after market. The bulbs continue to blow or get so hot that they are melting the plastic. My car was smoking today from the rear and upon poping my trunk it was filled with smoke from the tail lights burning. This needs to be recalled and fixed.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2021
Sep 2021

I HAVE TO CHANGE TAIL LIGHTS EVERY MONTH. NOW A NEW ASSEMBLY IS REQUIRED BECAUSE THE BLOWN BULB HAS MELTED IT. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND I'M TRYING TO AVOID TICKETS AND COURT IF POSSIBLE. ALSO THERE'S A SHORTAGE IN THE WIRING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2017

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Hyundai Sonata has 99 Exterior Lighting complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.