2013 Hyundai Sonata: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Feb 1, 2026 · Brakes, Steering · PA · crash

Experienced sudden unintended acceleration causing my car to speed up, lose control, and crash into the vehicle in front of me.

Filed Jul 3, 2023 · Engine · TX

My vehicle suddenly started to hesitate at a stop light and lunge forward, and the check engine light came on. After trying to drive 45 mph down a road, and get on a highway to avoid stoplights, the vehicle started to gradually slow down and would not accelerate. I managed to drop it off at a nearby auto shop (on a Sunday) and then went in the next day to see what the diagnosis was, and they said I was down 3 quarts of oil and the engine has a serious defect P1326 code, meaning it is consuming oil in parts of the engine it should not be entering. They recommended an entirely new engine, at a cost of around $8000.00, for a 2013 Hyundai Sonata that is not even worth $3500. I have researched this problem, and apparently Hyundai and Kia are actively in a lawsuit over this very problem on many of their vehicles. They are refusing to take responsibility for this issue and are trying to put the repairs on to the customer, for a defect that is a serious safety issue. The car can suddenly stop while on a highway. Hyundai needs to correct this issue for all customers. Unfortunately, we own two Sonata's (and an Elantra that doesn't seem to have the same engine problem) and so we are now faced with suddenly having to find alternate transportation for two vehicles that we have to check the oil levels on daily, and add as indicated, since the engine is consuming the oil at a rapid rate. For clarity, I had only driven approximately 2000 miles after my most recent oil change, and this issue occurred, when I should have been able to drive a minimum of 3000-5000 miles without concern.

Filed Oct 19, 2022 · Acceleration, Fuel system · GA · crash

I was driving my daughter’s 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid to the gym early one Sunday morning. I pulled into the parking lot to park the car. When I stopped to put the car in park the car suddenly accelerated and I drove through the glass wall of the gym. The car accelerated through the gym, hit a metal pole , and crashed into a wall on the far side of the gym. The front end of the driver’s side corner was smashed in and my airbags did not go off.

Filed Mar 7, 2022 · Engine · 130,000 miles · TX · fire

The contacted owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle deaccelerated without warning several times. The contact stated that the failure was occurring for about a week and the vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnoses or repairs. The contact stated recently while driving at 70 mph the vehicle was decelerating with the check engine warning light illuminated, pulled over to the side of the roadway, and called for a ride. The contact stated smoke was seen coming from under the hood she opened the hood but saw no fire. The contact stated left the vehicle parked on the side of the road and was notified by the police that the vehicle had caught on fire. The contact stated that the fire was extinguished by the fire department. The contact stated that a police report was filed. The contact vehicle was awaiting a tow to the unknown Hyundai dealer. The contact stated that the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed May 22, 2020 · Acceleration · 90,000 miles · NC · crash · 1 injury

Feburary 28 2019 coming home from my mothers birthday dinner my 2013 hyundai sonata accelerated on it's own. The vehicle went from 35mph to 65mph in a few seconds. Between the rain and sudden acceleration the vehicle lost traction. I tried the brakes, emergency brake and tried to put the car in neutral and failed.I was able to keep the vehicle from going off the side of the mountain with my 5 year old daughter. I was able to drift into a rock wall instead. We hit at approximately 40 to 45 MPH. My 2013 hyundai sonata was totaled. I was finally able to get the gear shift to go in park and turn off the vehicle. Police report shows mechanical malfunction. We are lucky to be alive. This happened in helen white county georgia. When the tow company arrived they turned the car on and it went to full acceleration. Emt police officer and tow truck driver witnessed. I also have pictures in addition I have 2 videos from my husbands ase certified shop of the car being turned on and accelerating on it's own in park.

Filed Apr 13, 2020 · Transmission · 84,000 miles · DE · crash

Was slowly pulling into restaurant parking space with slight pressure on brake the car just shot forward hitting wall of restaurant.causeing damage to both car&wall seems as though it jumped gears been driving for years the most scarest thing to happen to me!!!*dt

Filed Aug 19, 2019 · Acceleration, Brakes · 77,000 miles · SC · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that while the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle at a compete stop when the brake pedal was released, the vehicle unintended accelerated causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into a pole causing severe damage to the front of the vehicle. No warning lights illumined prior to the failure. The air bags did not deploy on impact. The contacts spouse sustained severe bruising from the seatbelt that required medical attention. It was unknown if medical attention was sought. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to fort mill hyundai (805 gold hill road, fort hill, sc 29708, 855‑615‑6368). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and case number 15899953 was filed. The manufacturer had a copy of the vehicle logs and informed that contact the brake pedal was not applied. The failure mileage was 77,000. *tt *tr photos attached 'parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).'

Filed Aug 22, 2017 · Acceleration, Brakes · 39,500 miles · NY · crash

The brake pedal and accelerator pedal are so close together as to interfere with each other. Specifically, as one comes to a stop, the brake pedal is so close to the accelerator both laterally and vertically, that the operators foot may hit both pedals at the same time just before coming to a stop, causing an unintended sudden acceleration. This is a significant safety issue for the driver, occupants, pedestrians and other vehicles or items in the path of the car. I have has 4 such incidents, one involving a rear end bump. The hyundai dealer inspected the car for sudden acceleration and found nothing and dismissed the concern. Hyundai customer care representative erin thompson stated " I did not design the car, it operates as designed and there is nothing I can do for you". Further, she stated "I will not say it again" when I tried to offer clarification of the issue. I believe this problem is a fundamental design defect in the car and violates the implied warranty of freedom of design and manufacturing defects and fitness of purpose. It may also not meet federal specifications for ergonomic considerations. Can you help? Thank you *js the consumer requested a copy of the examiner's report.

Filed Jun 12, 2017 · Acceleration, Brakes · 45,208 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that the brake pedal was applied, but failed to respond. The vehicle accelerated without warning. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,208.

Filed Jan 5, 2017 · Acceleration · 10,600 miles · FL · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 hyundai sonata. While driving 20 MPH, the accelerator pedal became inoperable and the vehicle accelerated without warning. The vehicle crashed into a wall. The air bags deployed. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,600.

Filed Jun 24, 2015 · Acceleration · 16,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 hyundai sonata. While the vehicle was at a stop, the rpms increased and the vehicle unintentionally surged forward. The contact had to apply force to the brake pedal and shifted the gears into park. The contact had to turn the vehicle off to reset the computer and prevent the unintended acceleration. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to replicate and diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 16,000. Updated 8/31/15

Filed May 29, 2014 · Acceleration · 15,000 miles · OH · crash

On may 19, 2014, around 9:20 am. I was coming home and driving into the garage when I put my right foot on the brake. The car accelerated like a rocket! I put my left and right foot on the brake screaming for the car to stop. The car didn't stop till the bumper and front right wheel hit the concrete steps going into the house. It hit the steps so hard that the car went sideways in the garage. The front bumper was dinged up, the right front tire flatten and the right front tie rod bent from the collision with the step. This is the not the first time the car has accelerated by its self. Back in january 2014 on a sunday afternoon, my husband was driving the car on route 35; we were coming home from shopping. He put his foot on the brake when the car accelerated on its own. He told me that we need to get this car checked out and to call the shop as soon as possible. I took the car into the herrnstein dealership to be inspected. They checked the car out and said they couldn't find anything wrong with the car. So two drivers had the same thing happened to them. The first time, thankful no cars were close to the vehicle at the time of the acceleration, so no accident that time. The second time the car could have gone through our house, if the concrete steps hadn't stopped the car. The car was towed into the herrnstein dealership on may 19, 2014. It took the tow truck driver over thirty minutes to get the car out of the garage. The service department stated the car checked out okay. I explained how the accident happen due to the fact the car accelerated and I had both feet on the brake all the way to the floor. They said they checked it several times and the car was fine.