On december 9, 2015 I was on route 9 driving south, the speed limit is 40 MPH, I applied the brake, as a school bus was stopped in front of me to drop off a child, the accelerator was racing, I kept pushing on the brake and the car finally stopped. I was a few inches from the back of the bus. Fortunately no accident. Then on december 24, 2015, I was pulling into a parking lot applying the brake…
2013 Hyundai Sonata cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Hyundai Sonata have filed 53 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 35,000 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
53
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Sonata | 25 |
| 2010 Sonata | 10 |
| 2011 Sonata | 50 |
| 2012 Sonata | 47 |
| 2013 Sonata (this page) | 53 |
| 2014 Sonata | 14 |
| 2015 Sonata | 37 |
| 2016 Sonata | 15 |
| 2017 Sonata | 15 |
10crashes
1fire
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 53 cruise control complaints filed for the 2013 Hyundai Sonata, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 17 model years of Hyundai Sonata we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 53.
Owners have filed 53 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration episodes that strike without warning—foot on brake, car surges forward anyway. Multiple incidents involve brake pedal application with zero response, forcing drivers to shift to neutral or hit harder with both feet. Several crashes and near-misses have resulted, including collisions with poles, concrete barriers, and parked cars. Dealers consistently fail to reproduce the issue during diagnostics, often telling owners nothing is wrong.
Owners report a rubber brake pedal stopper that deteriorates, allowing the brake light switch to stick partially engaged. When stuck, the car won't accelerate smoothly and may suddenly lurch forward when you lift off the brake. The brake and gas pedal spacing is tight enough that drivers accidentally hit both simultaneously, triggering unintended acceleration.
Cruise control malfunctions are frequent: set and cancel buttons don't respond; acceleration won't stop when you press cancel and must apply brakes instead; on hills the car accelerates above preset speed and won't return to it. Hesitation and lag when pressing the gas are also common—the pedal doesn't respond for seconds, then the car lurches forward.
Several owners report loss of power, stalling, and engine stuttering, particularly on highway drives after the car has run for extended periods. Check engine lights and ESC warning lights appear sporadically alongside these issues. Hyundai has extended the brake pedal stopper warranty to 15 years but has not issued a recall.
Same Hyundai Sonata cruise control reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden unintended acceleration with brake application failure
Vehicle accelerates abruptly when driver applies brake pedal; brake does not respond or respond inadequately. Occurs at various speeds—during parking, at traffic lights, on highways. Drivers report foot on brake with full pressure; car still surges forward.
When: Sporadic, unpredictable; some owners report 4–20+ incidents over months; mileage ranges from 800 to 169,925 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden engine acceleration despite brake pedal pressure; Vehicle surges forward when brake is depressed; Brake pedal unresponsive or sinks to floor with no effect; Engine RPMs increase rapidly without driver input; Multiple crashes: into poles, concrete barriers, parked cars, embankments
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to diagnose; road tests and computer scans show no fault. No repairs completed. One owner reports brake pedal stopper replacement under extended warranty (15-year/unlimited-mile coverage); symptom persisted after repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai extended warranty on brake pedal stopper to 15 years, unlimited miles (no recall issued). Dealers unable to find defects; some owners received case numbers filed with regional representatives.
Brake pedal stopper deterioration and brake light switch malfunction
Rubber brake pedal stopper develops hole or deteriorates; brake light switch tab gets stuck partially engaged. When stuck, accelerator becomes unresponsive or car lurches forward when brake is released. Brake and gas pedals positioned close enough that foot easily hits both.
When: Occurs randomly; one owner mentions $3 part fix; deterioration develops over vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator does not respond when pressed; Car decelerates unexpectedly when accelerating; Sudden lurching forward when brake pedal is released; Brake light stays on even when brake not touched; Inability to shift gears without depressing brake; Inability to engage cruise control
Repairs/costs cited: One owner cites $3 part (brake pedal stopper) as fix; brake pedal stopper replacement performed under extended warranty in at least one case (problem recurred). Parts availability noted as limited.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty coverage for brake pedal stopper to 15 years and unlimited miles. No recall issued. Hyundai customer service stated part replacement was only option; some owners report technicians unfamiliar with fix.
Cruise control malfunction—set and cancel buttons unresponsive
Cruise control set and cancel buttons on steering wheel do not respond when pressed; buttons may work sporadically and then fail again. Set button may engage then cause aggressive acceleration; cancel button fails, requiring brake application to disengage. Problems recur after dealer attempts repair.
When: Sporadic initially; some owners report persistent issues; problems more pronounced after extended driving (1+ hour) and on hills
Symptoms owners cite: Set button does not engage or engages but car accelerates aggressively; Cancel button does not respond; brakes required to disengage; Cruise control engages but vehicle accelerates uncontrollably above preset speed on inclines; Speed button stops working after prolonged use; Vehicle unable to decelerate while cruise control active
Repairs/costs cited: One owner: steering wheel control switch replaced while under warranty; problem recurred after warranty expiration. Dealers refused to replace switch without manufacturer approval.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued. Dealers unable to diagnose or refused to test-drive vehicle for duration needed to reproduce issue.
Accelerator pedal lag, hesitation, and unresponsive pedal
Gas pedal does not respond immediately when pressed; vehicle hesitates for 1–3 seconds then lurches forward abruptly. Occurs at various speeds, interstate and city driving. Pedal may fail to respond completely until pumped multiple times.
When: Sporadic and intermittent; 9 instances reported within 3 days in one case; mileage at failure ranges from 400 to 77,000
Symptoms owners cite: Delay of 1–3 seconds before acceleration when pedal pressed; Vehicle lurches forward suddenly after hesitation; Pedal completely unresponsive; requires pump action to engage; Vehicle slows or stops mid-street without driver input; Dangerous during passing attempts or turns with oncoming traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Brake pedal stopper replacement performed in one case under extended warranty; hesitation continued afterward. No other repairs noted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer action noted in narratives; dealers unable to diagnose.
Engine power loss, stalling, and intermittent stuttering
Vehicle loses power while in motion at various speeds; engine stalls unexpectedly on highway and city streets. Intermittent stuttering occurs approximately every 2 seconds, with vehicle losing power during acceleration, deceleration, and coasting. Issues worsen over time and across mileage.
When: Begins around 90,000 miles; stuttering increases in frequency; mileage at failures range from low (10,000) to high (169,925)
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power while driving at various speeds; Engine stalls or refuses to move after momentary stop; Intermittent stuttering/power loss every 2 seconds; Check engine light and ESC warning lights illuminate; Loud knocking sound and vibration on cold start; Heavy smoking from engine; RPM issues; acceleration does not exceed 2,000 RPM at 60 MPH; Hybrid system warning messages (on hybrid model)
Codes mentioned: P1326 (Knock Sensor), Check engine light (unspecified codes)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner notes knock sensor code (P1326) is subject of recall for other Sonata/Hyundai models; 2013 model year not included in recall despite same issue. Engine replacement mentioned in recall context but not completed on subject vehicle. One owner reports ongoing purge valve and manifold valve replacements with continued issues.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One recall notification received (NHTSA Campaign 17V226000, engine and engine cooling) but vehicle not repaired. Owner with P1326 code notes 2013 model year excluded from engine replacement recall despite same issue affecting earlier and later models.
Brake and accelerator pedal interference/ergonomic design defect
Brake and accelerator pedals positioned too close together (laterally and vertically); foot inadvertently strikes both pedals simultaneously when coming to a stop, causing unintended acceleration. Four incidents reported by single owner; multiple rear-end risks.
When: Unpredictable; occurs during parking and low-speed maneuvers
Symptoms owners cite: Foot strikes both brake and accelerator simultaneously; Sudden acceleration when attempting to brake; Unintended acceleration during parking and low-speed stops
Repairs/costs cited: None; dealer inspection found nothing wrong.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai customer care stated car operates as designed and no remedy available. Owner disputes design compliance with ergonomic federal specifications.
Synthesized from 53 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I experienced an unexplained, uncontrolled vehicle acceleration. I started the vehicle, moved the gear shift to drive and it immediately accelerated out of control. I was unable to control the vehicle as it raced across a parking lot, jumped a curb, ran up and then back down an embankment and crossed back across the parking lot until the acceleration ceased. I reported the incident to Hyundai…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2013 Hyundai Sonata?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2013 Hyundai Sonata?
It's a meaningful issue. 53 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 35 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 15,000 and 77,000 miles, with the median around 35,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,000; a quarter make it past 77,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Hyundai/Sonata.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.