MyCarTSB

2013 Hyundai Sonata Wipers & Visibility Problems

15 owner-reported wipers & visibility complaints from NHTSA data

15
Complaints
Jan 2013Nov 2017
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (15)

mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Feb 2023

The glass on the top of the car (sunroof) spontaneously exploded on the interstate at a speed of 70 mph. The hole on top of the car was about 16-20 inches in diameter and the entire sheet of glass on the sunroof was cracked. As the driver, the spontaneous shattering of the roof could have caused serious bodily harm because the glass would have quickly flown into the vehicle due to high speeds and the high volume of glass. I did not open the sunroof to inspect it; thankfully, the sunroof was closed at the time of the spontaneous shattering. I did exit the vehicle after pulling over to inspect and get photo evidence of the damage to the vehicle. The exterior temperature was 74 degrees with minimal airflow inside the vehicle (the interior temperature was 70-73 degrees). There was no rain, hail, or other weather incidents. Few vehicles were around and none had debris coming out. No bridge, streetlight, or other objects were above. The vehicle is currently in this state with a hole in the roof. The problem has been reported to the manufacturer and photo proof is available. It is also available for inspection upon request and will be inspected by the dealership. There were no warnings, messages, or other notifications.

NHTSA #: 11507613
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Feb 2019

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR, I HEAR A LOUD SOUND FROM THE ROOF OF MY CAR. I PULLED ASIDE AND SAW THAT THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF ON MY CAR (HYUNDAI SONATA 2013) WAS BROKEN. AT FIRST I THOUGHT SOMETHING MIGHT HAVE HIT THE CAR BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HIT THE CAR. IT JUST EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING.

NHTSA #: 11182294
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Mar 2018

ON 2/19/2018 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS AND NO WARNING. IT WAS NOT BELOW FREEZING, IT WAS RAINING(I WASN'T USING IT), AND THERE WAS NO FALLING DEBRIS OF ANY KIND. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT WENT OFF BY MY FACE. HAD THIS HAPPENED TO AN INEXPERIENCED OR INSECURE DRIVER IT COULD NOT ONLY CAUSE A HIGHWAY COLLISION BUT FATALITIES. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OR POSSIBLY THE CHEMICAL MAKEUP OF THE GLASS USED WHICH MAKES IT SUSCEPTIBLE SOMEHOW(THE ENTIRE SUNROOF WAS GONE, 90%+) HOWEVER THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY TO THINK AND MAKE SURE I WAS UNHARMED, THEN CALLED MY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND DROVE STRAIGHT THERE. THE DEALERSHIP PUT IN A REPAIR ORDER WHICH AT FIRST WAS DENIED BY HYUNDAI. I CALLED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND STARTED A CASE. WITHIN A FEW DAYS HYUNDAI APPROVED THE SECOND ATTEMPT AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT NO COST TO ME. HOWEVER IF THIS HAPPENED ONCE I BELIEVE THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND I WOULD LIKE A RECALL ISSUED OR AT THE VERY LEAST INVESTIGATED. THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA #: 11078505
mediumVISIBILITY,STRUCTURE
Filed: Nov 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED AND CAUSED GLASS TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA #: 11044498
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: May 2017

DRIVING SOUTHBOUND AT 70 MPH ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF A MAJOR INTERSTATE IN MY CITY AT APPROXIMATELY 1:25 PM, THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WITH A SOUND SIMILAR TO A SHOTGUN. ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SOUND. DID NOT SEE ANY ROAD HAZARDS FLYING THROUGH THE AIR. SHADE WAS CLOSED SO ALL GLASS STAYED ABOVE MYSELF AND OTHER OCCUPANTS. OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 94F AND SUNNY. PHOTO TAKEN TO DOCUMENT AS SOON AS IT WAS SAFE TO PULL OVER.

NHTSA #: 10991975
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Mar 2015

I WAS ON MY WAY INTO WORK DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND OUT OF NO WHERE A HEAR THIS VERY LOUD EXPLOSION LIKE A GUN GOING OFF AND THOUGHT SOMEONE HAD SHOT ME. I THEN FELT THINGS FALLING ON MY HEAD AND LAP, SO I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED THE INSIDE LIGHT ON AND SAW SHATTERED GLASS AND THEN LOOKED UP AND MY SUNROOF WAS GONE. I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND I COULD SEE WITH THE GLASS REMAINING ON THE BACK PART OF THE SUNROOF THAT THE PIECE OF GLASS WAS GOING OUTWARD, JUST LIKE IF SOMETHING BLEW UP. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO BE INJURED OR HAVE A ACCIDENT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10695054
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Oct 2014

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 62 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. DJR

NHTSA #: 10649886
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Oct 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 62 MPH, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

NHTSA #: 10649809
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Apr 2014

SUNROOF COLLAPSED INTO CAR THAT WAS SITTING DRIVEWAY WITH LESS THAN 2 INCHES OF SNOW/ICE ON THE ROOF. NOTHING FELL INTO THE ROOF IT SIMPLY COLLAPSED DURING SNOW AND TEMPERATURE CHANGE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10585057
mediumVISIBILITY,EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Filed: Apr 2014

ON MAR 18, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 11:25PM MY WIFE AND I HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE, IE; EXPLOSION, THAT WE KNEW CAME FROM THE TOP OF OUR CAR. WE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT OUR SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED; OVER HALF THE GLASS WAS GONE AND STREWN ALL OVER THE ROOF AND TRUNK AREA OF OUR CAR. WE HAD JUST PULLED AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT AFTER IT TURNED GREEN AND WERE ACCELERATING UP TO SPEED. WE WERE TRAVELING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 30 - 40MPH WHEN THE SUNROOF BLEW FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR THE NEXT DAY. THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE SUNROOF TO RUPTURE LIKE IT DID. THE DEALERSHIP THOUGHT WE WERE HIT BY A ROCK, BUT BOTH THE WIFE AND I REFUTED THAT IDEA. WE STAND BY OUR CLAIM THAT IT BLEW FOR NO APPARENT REASON. EVEN IF A ROCK DID HIT US, THE SUNROOF GLASS SHOULD NOT HAVE EXPLODED/RUPTURED LIKE IT DID. WE FEEL THERE'S A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE GLASS AND THAT THIS INCIDENT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED MORE CLOSELY. I HAVE PICTURES IF YOU WOULD LIKE THEM. *TR

NHTSA #: 10578869
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Feb 2014

I WAS DRIVING ON I65 TOWARD DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE, IN SOME HEAVY RAIN - ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD AN EXPLOSION THAT SCARED THE [XXX] OUT OF ME - I THOUGHT, MAYBE IT WAS A COLLISION, THEN I HEARD THINGS ON THE ROOF - OH NO, COULD IT BE HAILING - DIDN'T SEE ANY ICY DROPS/ROCKS HIT THE ROAD - BUT THE SOUNDS IN MY CAR WERE AMPLIFIED. SO, I PULLED BACK THE SUN SHADE ABOUT AN INCH - AND WOW, I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES!! THE SUN ROOF HAD EXPLODED - TOTALLY SHATTERED AND THE PIECES OF GLASS WERE FLYING OVER AND HITTING THE REAR WINDOW (SOUNDED LIKE HAIL). OMG, I WAS SHAKING SO BAD, I DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO CALL OR WHAT TO DO - SHOULD I PULL OVER ON OF I65 IN A HEAVY STORM TO WAIT FOR HELP? HOW MUCH RAIN COULD THE SHADE DEFLECT BEFORE CAVING IN ON ME!! I CALLED HYUNDAI SERVICE, TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND I WAS ON MY WAY THERE! THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT HYUNDAI TOLD ME HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT - MAYBE THE GLASS WASN'T COMPLETELY CLOSED AND BUCKLED! WHAT?? IN A DOWNPOUR, I'M GOING TO LEAVE THE SUNROOF OPEN??? IS HE NUTS?? AND, WHY WOULD THE SUNROOF EXPLODE IF IT WERE SLIGHTLY OPEN? I THINK HE WAS TRYING TO BLAME ME AND HAVE ME FILE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, SO HYUNDAI WOULD NOT HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! HE TOOK PHOTOS AND SENT THEM TO HYUNDAI AND SAID HE WILL LET ME KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT REPLACING IT!! ALSO, WHEN I ASKED FOR A LOANER CAR, HE TOLD ME HYUNDAI MAY NOT AUTHORIZE IT AND I WOULD BE STUCK PAYING FOR THE RENTAL!!! I DECIDED TO GOOGLE ?HYUNDAI SONATA SUNROOF EXPLOSIONS? AND FOUND THE ARTICLE: "[XXX] WAS STOPPING TO GET GAS FOR HIS 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA WHEN SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING, HIS SUNROOF SHATTERED INTO PIECES.? ALSO IT STATED THERE IS/WAS A HYUNDAI RECALL #108. I HAVE HAD NO RECALL NOTICE TO DATE AND I'VE HAD MY SONATA SINCE JULY 20, 2013. IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE DRIVING IT UNTIL YESTERDAY!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA #: 10563690
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Mar 2013

I WAS DRIVING & HEARD SOMETHING FALLING DOWN ON MY BACK WINDOW - IT SOUNDED LIKE ICE FALLING DOWN FROM THE ROOF. I GET TO WORK & PARK IN A PARKING SPOT ONLY TO REALIZE THAT MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF HAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED! THE MIDDLE WAS CRACKED & STICKING UP & THE REST WAS SHATTERED IN A WEB EFFECT. WHEN I CLOSED THE DOOR THE WHOLE THING JUST FELL DOWN. LUCKILY I HAD THE INSIDE VISOR OF THE SUNROOF CLOSED SO IT DIDN'T GO INSIDE THE CAR. HOWEVER, WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WAS OPEN & I WAS DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY STILL?? I AM SURE I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT. I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THIS CAR FOR A WHOLE YEAR YET. I BOUGHT IT ON JUNE 30, 2012, BRAND NEW. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED & CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. IT IS CURRENTLY BACK AT THE DEALER PENDING REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10504607
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Mar 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE SUNROOF WAS TILTED OPEN AND THE GLASS FROM THE EXPLOSION FELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED FROM THE GLASS. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE GLASS REMOVED FROM THEIR SCALP AND RIGHT EYE BROW. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF A MIXTURE OF BAD GLASS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SUNROOF GLASS ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,896 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000. UPDATED 05/08/13*LJ UPDATED 05/21/2013 *JS

NHTSA #: 10500926
mediumVISIBILITY,STRUCTURE
Filed: Jan 2013

THIS COMPLAINT ON A BRAND NEW 2013 SONATA, IS ABOUT SEVERE INTERIOR WINDSHIELD DISTRACTION CAUSED BY THE REFLECTION OF THE INTERIOR DASH ONTO THE FRONT, DRIVERS WINDSHIELD. THE REFLECTION OF THE INTERIOR ON THE WINDSHIELD IS SO SEVERE THAT IT IMPAIRS SAFE DRIVING. DURING DAYLIGHT DRIVING, EVERYTHING THAT IS LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD VIVIDLY REFLECTS ONTO THE INTERIOR WINDSHIELD. DESIGN EFFECTS, SPEAKERS, STEERING WHEEL AND EVEN THE DRIVERS HANDS WITH FINGERNAILS ON THE WINDSHIELD. EVENING DRIVING THE REFLECTION IS ALSO EXTREMELY IMPAIRED VIA DISTRACTION, FOR EXAMPLE THE ODOMETER REFLECTS ABOVE THE INTERIOR DRIVERS WINDOW, ABOVE THE MIRROR AND ITS IN FULL COLOR! ON A TEST DRIVE, AFTER MY COMPLAINT, THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED THAT IT MAYBE FROM CLEANING FLUID USED DURING THE DETAILING PROCESS AND HAD THE CAR RE-DETAILED, HOWEVER THIS DID NOT RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. I HAVE DIRECTLY NOTIFIED HYUNDAI BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. I BELIEVE THIS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THERE IS A DANGEROUS FLAW IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GLASS IN THIS CAR.

NHTSA #: 10494041
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Sep 2012

THIS CAR HAS A DISTURBING REFLECTION OF THE TOP DECK OF DASHBOARD ON THE WINDSHIELD..IT INTERFERES WITH CONCENTRATION....CAR WAS PURCHASED 7/19/12 IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE WITH OTHER HYUNDAI SONATAS....... *TR

NHTSA #: 10476626

Other 2013 Hyundai Sonata Issues