2013 Hyundai Elantra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Service brakes is the leading concern among 1,330 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 95 involved a crash and 31 involved a fire. 68 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 22, 2023
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
Campaign 23V651000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, pedals and linkagesNov 30, 2017
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Elantra sedan, coupe and GT vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.
If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 8, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 170. This campaign expands recall 16V574.
Campaign 17V769000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchAug 2, 2016
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model 2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured December 1, 2012, to April 30, 2013. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released.
If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad with an improved part, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on September 30, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 146.
Campaign 16V574000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowApr 1, 2013
Hyundai Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured from November 12, 2010, through March 5, 2013. A support bracket attached to the headliner may become displaced during a side curtain airbag deployment.
If the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration injury.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will apply adhesive strips to the headliner, free of charge. The safety recall began during April 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 109.
Campaign 13V115000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
169 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Dec 16, 2020, crash
SRS AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. SAME ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. 70,000 MILES ON VEHICLE.
Air bags, Dec 15, 2020
AIRBAG LIGHT GOS ON AND OFF
Air bags, Dec 14, 2020
EVERY TIME I TURN THE VEHICLE ON MY AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. SOME TIMES STAY ON ALL THE TIME AND SOME TIMES IT GOES OFF AND ON WHILE I'M DRIVING.
Air bags, Nov 23, 2020
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND REMAINS ON. I CALLED DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $169.00 JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. READING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE IT APPEARS GT HAS THE SAME AIRBAGS AS OTHER ELANTRAS BUT IS NOT ON RECALL FOR THIS PART? WHY NOT? ISN'T THIS A SAFETY ISSUE?
Air bags, Nov 2, 2020
THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I GOT IT DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRING. THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE TECH SAID THAT THE CLOCK SPRING ITSELF WASNT BROKEN, JUST THAT IT SHORTED OUT. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE I GOT IT FIXED AND THERE WAS A CONSENSUS THAT ELANTRA HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE CLOCK SPRING. HYUNDAI DID A PARTIAL RECALL OF ELANTRA WITHIN 2011-2014 FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT MY VEHICLE WASN'T INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL.
Air bags, Oct 14, 2020
ON MONDAY WHEN I STARTED MY CAR I REALIZED MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD WAS ON ALERTING ME THAT MY AIRBAGS ARE DEACTIVATED AND WON'T DEPLOY. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED. IT IS UNSETTLING THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND WITHOUT AIRBAGS BECAUSE I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY OVER 100$ TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO RECALL EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS NOT THE FIRST HYUNDAI TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
Air bags, Oct 10, 2020
THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT PERIOD COMES ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. EVEN THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS.
Air bags, Sep 27, 2020
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HAS REMAINED ON SINCE LIGHT WAS INITIALLY ILLUMINATED.
Air bags, Sep 15, 2020
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT
Steering, Air bags, Sep 13, 2020
STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND EVERY TIME IT IS MOVED AND SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF.
Air bags, Sep 13, 2020
THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR GOES ON AND OFF AS I'M DRIVING OR WHEN THE CAR IS NOT IN MOTION. APPARENTLY THIS IS DUE TO THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. SEVERAL HYUNDAIS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SO HYUNDAI EXTENDED ITS WARRANTY FOR CERTAIN MODELS. THE 2013 ELANTRA SEDAN IS COVERED UNDER THIS WARRANTY, HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO INCLUDE THE GT MODEL. THE GT MODEL HAS THE EXACT SAME PART WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUES, THEREFORE IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THIS IS A TERRIBLE SAFETY ISSUE SINCE MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I GET INTO A COLLISION.
Air bags, Sep 4, 2020
MY AIRBAG LIGHT RANDOMLY TURNED ON WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND WON'T TURN OFF
Air bags, Aug 17, 2020
THE AIRBAG LIGHTS WONT TURN OFF.
Air bags, Seat belts, Aug 15, 2020
AIR BAG LIGHT WONT GO OFF... AND SEAT BELT FELL OUT OF THE ADJUSTER
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Aug 11, 2020
THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FOR THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) HAS BECOME DAMAGED THROUGH USAGE OVER TIME. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT EXPERIENCES A HIGH RESISTANCE CONDITION, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG TO NOT DEPLOY. THE CLOCK SPRING DEVELOPS HIGH RESISTANCE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES. HYUNDAI HAS ISSUED A RECALL/TSB FOR THE 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA SEDAN, BUT NOT THE HATCHBACK WHICH UTILIZES THE EXACT SAME PART. THE REPAIR COST IS ALMOST $500 AT THE DEALER AND BECAUSE THE REPAIR INVOLVES REMOVING THE AIRBAG AND REMOVING THE STEERING WHEEL IT POSES A SAFETY RISK FOR SHADE TREE MECHANICS. THE ATTACHED TSB SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO THE ELANTRA HATCHBACK AS WELL,
Air bags, Jul 24, 2020
AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON, BAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED; KNOWN ISSUE WITH ELANTRAS - HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL?
Electrical system, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Jul 22, 2020
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER WORK. MANY OTHER ELANTRA OWNERS HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THEY WANT ME TO PAY TO FIX A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAGS AND IT HAPPENED BEFORE I HIT 60000 BUT COULDN'T GET IN UNTIL LATER SO THEY USED THAT TO NOT FIX IT ON THERE ON DIME.
Air bags, Jul 22, 2020
SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. OBD HAS DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING HAS FAILED. VEHICLE HAS 72,175 MILES. THIS PART IS A KNOWN HIGH FAILURE ITEM AND THE WARRANTY HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 15 YEARS FOR 2011-2013 SONATA, 2011-2014 SONATA HYBRID AND 'CERTAIN' 2011-2014 ELANTRA. THE WARRANTY EXTENSION DOES NOT COVER MY 2013 ELANTRA GT.
Air bags, May 15, 2020
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON IM NOT GOING TO PAY CLOSE TO 300$ FOR A SAFETY FIX THERE ARE PLENTY OF THE SAME MODELS WITH THE SAME ISSUE, A BAD CLOCKSPRING! NEVER WENT OVER ANY BUMPS NEVER ANY RAILROADS JUST STARTED IT ONE DAY AND IT WAS ON. *TR
Air bags, Apr 27, 2020
THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. THEY HAVE RECALLS AND OR MANUFACTURERS EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR OTHER HYUNDAI ELANTRA'S, BUT NOT FOR 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT? THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I AM PLACING A COMPLAINT BECAUSE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED AND NOT AN EXPENSE TO OWNER OF THE CAR. IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM WITH SUCH A DEFAULT. ALL HYUNDAI'S HAVING THIS ISSUE, SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, NOT JUST SOME.
Air bags, Apr 17, 2020, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL HOWEVER, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE WITH AN ABNORMAL NOISE BEING HEARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE TRAVELLED INTO A DITCH, HIT A FENCE AND CRASHED INTO A METAL POST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED WHILE DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMPER AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER THREE RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
Air bags, Mar 16, 2020
THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATING AND STAYING ON FOR A BIT THEN GOING BACK OFF. LAST WEEK IT CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON. THERE HAS BEEN NO REASON FOR IT TO BE ON.
Air bags, Feb 27, 2020
THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. THE LIGHT IS SUPPOSED TO GO OUT AFTER 6 SECONDS OF THE CAR BEING STARTED. MINE DOES NOT GO OUT AND REMAINS LIT. THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 15 YEARS FOR THIS ISSUE DUE TO THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDING REPLACED.
Air bags, Service brakes, Feb 24, 2020
1-THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME ! 2- THE CAR WAS RECALLED FOR A BREAK ISSUE, SINCE I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE PADDLE FEEL LOSER(( I NEED TO PUSH THE BREAK TWO TIMES TO GET THE CLIPPERS WORKS! I HAVE CHANGED THE BREAK CLIPPERS AND THE SAME PROBLEM!!!!
Air bags, Jan 27, 2020
RED LIGHT WITH AIRBAG PICTURE STAYS ON IN THE DASH UNDER THE GAUGES. IT COMES ON AND STAYS ON DURING DRIVING WITH SEAT BELTS FASTENED AND EVERYTHING SECURED. MIGHT BE INDICATING SOME SORT OF MALFUNCTION IN SAFETY AIRBAG SYSTEM.