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
1,330 reports, newest first.
Suspension, Sep 26, 2023
Without warning, car bump steers going over bumps on a curve of the road. Rear end of car will swing to the outside of curve, right or left depending on curve taken. This will cause a control problem, causing car to steer into oncoming traffic. Car will bump steer on a straight road depending on road condition.
Air bags, Sep 16, 2023
The air bag dashboard light is on constantly which indicates that something is wrong and the airbag will not properly and safely deploy during a vehicle accident. This is a common problem with this make and model vehicle and should be recalled for manufacturer to replace for the safety of owners of their product.
Steering, Sep 13, 2023
My steering wheel has a clunking sound and you can feel it in the steering wheel when moving the wheel slightly to the right and left
Service brakes, Sep 6, 2023
Event: Catastrophic brake failure whilst driving due to total corrosion of brake lines. Cause: Stainless steel rear brake lines on undercarriage of vehicle do not have any form of coating, nor anti-corrosive protection. Detailed description of problem, including photographic evidence: The stainless steel brake lines run externally along the vehicle undercarriage, from the master cylinder to the rear wheels (Exhibit A). The plastic cover, which has pre-drilled holes in it, hides these lines from view (Exhibit B) and is held in place by a series of push clips. These push clips are directly attached to small plastic straps which act as guide channel to keep the brake lines in place (Exhibit C). Ground water is able to splash from under vehicle inside the plastic cover, and then the water sits in the wells created by the straps (Exhibit D) which allows water to puddle along the brake lines and has allowed the brake line to corrode right through and brake fluid leaks right out (Exhibit E). Fortunately my wife was driving in the direction of, and in close proximity to, our home at the time of brake failure and was able to return the vehicle to the driveway prior to an accident occurring. The Country of Canada has already issued a recall for this precise issue in March of 2023 (Transport Canada Recall # 2023-125) Source: [XXX] I was not aware of this issue until the time of the incident because I would have chosen to address this myself earlier being that this would almost certainly lead to a dangerous situation I now have a vehicle which is unsafe to operate. I will need to have this vehicle towed in order to have it repaired. I currently have no way of being reimbursed for either the transportation of the vehicle to a service center, nor the repair costs themselves; even though this issue has been documented as a known issue in another country for the past six months. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Aug 26, 2023
The engine shut down while driving, it turns on again if I go neutral and turn it on but very dangerous since it already happens me on the freeway also when you’re on a stop or light with the brakes on the car start to try to move even whit the brakes all the way down, engine make some noise when you start it when is cold. car has been well maintained
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 19, 2023
The red dashboard light remains on all the time indicating a problem with the air bag. I'm not sure what is causing the light to remain on but it is concerning as I don't know whether airbag will deploy properly if needed. I recently visited the dealership for an appointment to install anti theft software due to recall. Two and a half hours later they presented me with an unsolicited appraisal of my vehicle with $1800 in recommended repairs to my car including $400 to replace a sun visor. During this unsolicited appraisal, the dealership neglected to list the red dashboard light that is constantly on. I believe that this is a common issue with Hyundai vehicles and should be fixed free as a recall because of safety concerns.
Steering, Aug 17, 2023
when i turn the wheel to the left, i heard a bump noise, like the steering is about to go out. Took my car to a mechanic he said it is the electronic power steering and it was a safety issue that was under recall. Called dealer they said they won't repair it for free because my car is over 100K miles. They want to charge me $350. so not fair. Dealership shouldn't be able to not repair recalls period. they make a mistake the public has to pay for it.
Steering, Aug 8, 2023
There is a clicking sound in the Hyundai's steering column. The issue is common enough that Hyundai has extended the warranty on the coupler for Elantras and Sonatas - however the dealer charges over $160/hour diagnostic charge so the extended warranty is not helpful. I think Hyundai should issue a recall for this item. Hyundai is claiming that this is not a safety issue, but it is very concerning when you hear a loud clicking noise coming from your steering column. I expect the noise to worsen and fear that it could potentially damage the steering column. I did take my car to a local repair shop (not the dealer) and they confirmed that it sounds like a coupler issue and provided an estimate for a costly repair.
Steering, Aug 1, 2023
I noticed extra play in the steering when I turned the wheel (either direction.) At first, it was minor but over time, the play and noise in the steering got worse. I took it to Midas to have it examined and was told the steering couple was bad and should be replaced but referred me back to a dealer as they felt the repair should be covered. I was told that it is not covered and the repair is costly. I am not able to afford the repair and am concerned about the safety of continuing to drive this vehicle but it is the only car I have.
Steering, Aug 1, 2023
The steering wheel clicks when turning and even when trying to drive straight. The car requires more effort to stay in lane and potential safety concerns include total loss of steering while driving. This is a known problem with Hyundai's Electric Steering Flex Coupler. There are many reports of this issue online and it seems Hyundai issued an extended warranty until 100,000 miles for this issue but claims there are no safety impacts. However, the issue involves the degrading of the coupler used and this typically occurs AFTER 100,000 miles, as happened with my vehicle. Also, when taking the vehicle to the dealership for other service, this defect was noted and we were warned that it CAN be potentially a safety concern. So, the dealers themselves acknowledge this is a safety issue and yet they will not cover this $450 repair. I cannot afford this out-of-pocket expense. The car maker should be responsible to repair a known defect in manufacture that their service technicians state are safety concerns.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 28, 2023, fire
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that after she had parked the vehicle in her residential driveway and had turned the vehicle off after shifting to park (P) she had noticed that the "vehicle in a skid" symbol was illuminated. The contact was in her residence when she began to smell a burning odor. The contact observed that white smoke was being emitted from under the hood. The contact stated that her father used a garden hose to attempt to cool the hood off but was unable to open the hood. The contact stated that the fire department was called, however the engine compartment had been engulfed in flames. The contact stated that the fire department arrived and the firemen had pried open the hood and extinguished the flames with water. The contact stated that the engine had been damaged and all plastic parts and hoses had been melted. The contact stated that fire had caused the air bags to deploy and had melted the dash board. The contact stated that the police arrived on scene and wrote an incident report. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V800000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was 63,666.
Electrical system, Air bags, Forward collision avoidance, Jul 23, 2023
The airbag light is on and no fuses are out and cruise control and other buttons on steering wheel is not working. If airbags are faulty or do not deploy it is a huge safety concern. Someone could be killed or extremely hurt. It has not been confirmed by a dealer but willing to take it in to be checked. It has not been checked yet by a professional. My warning lamps have been on for about two weeks now.
Engine, Jul 19, 2023
Car randomly shuts off while idling . Will restart , but will not go past 10 mph leaving me either stranded in the middle of the road or causing me to pull over in unsafe areas . When restarting , engine is very hesitant. Car will be very shaky so I have to keep the car off for about 5 minutes before I restart the car . At that time the check engine light will turn on , as well as the wheel alignment and the battery .
Air bags, Jul 14, 2023
The airbag warning light illuminated while driving on a flat highway in safe driving conditions. No action occurred that would cause the airbag light to illuminate. The light is not going away.
Steering, Jul 12, 2023
Dealer refused to repair defective steering wheel for which manufacturer has issued recall notice. Dealer stated that recall repairs were no longer covered
Steering, Jul 5, 2023
The problem is in the steering and yes it is available upon request for inspection. My safety and that of anyone riding is at risk because the problem persists and it's progressively worse. There's a knock/pull/resistance whenever the steering turns slightly or fully either way. Yes the problem has been confirmed. The vehicle has been inspected by an independent business owner, and contractor. There were no warning signs or indicators of the problem, it started approximately 2020 but was slightly less pronounced than it is now and has become increasingly worse.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 3, 2023
I took my car in to the dealership to have the anti-theft software update, I was told that the update would prevent my car from getting stolen using the USB method. Two weeks later, my car was stolen the police found it, and they had used the USB method to steal it so the software update did not work and the dealership isn’t taking accountability. This is an issue that needs to be looked into as they’re saying the software update will help, but it is not helping with all the car theft.
Air bags, Seat belts, Wheels, Jul 2, 2023, crash
I had a rear tire blowout causing the car to stop rapidly causing me to hit my face on the steering wheel so hard I got knocked out . My foot pressed on the gas and I hit a parked car. And my airbags never deployed. Insurance didn't pay my claim because it wasy falt I hit a parked car. Because I was knocked out. I don't remember anything about 30 seconds before the accident. Had my airbags worked maybe I could have remembered what really happened. When the collusion center inspected my car they said a defect in the car was the cause of my accident. But the insurance already denied the claim. The yellow tab was the airbag sensor
Steering, Jun 15, 2023
The contact’s daughter owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became firm. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact not to drive the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Electrical system, Jun 7, 2023
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME this happened. On june 6 while driving i put on A C and it did not go on, along with the lights, windshield wipers. I stopped for a doctors appointment and returned in about an hour , the car started , sounded sluggish and the same problem, no AC . lights, windshield wipers. then about 15 minutes later i pulled my car aside, shut it down , started it and all was working properly. It has happened more than once last time was about 2 months ago and i do not know it until i try to use the electrical items. car started up right away. if it was raining, and i stopped for an errand and tried to use the windshield wipers i would be in trouble as i would not be able to drive home.
Structure, May 26, 2023
Found this vehicle on sale at a area dealership where they are charging $499.99 for a recall that should be done for free per the recall Service Campaign 984 2011-2016MY ELANTRA (MD/UD) UNDERBODY CORROSION PREVENTATIVE SERVICE. I wanted to bring this to someone's attention as in my opinion this is ripping off a potential unaware buyer. This vehicle is only 10 years and would or should still be covered under the recall. Link below shows the ad with the additional undercoating https://www.dellacars.com/used-Plattsburgh-2013-Hyundai-Elantra-4dr+Sdn+Auto+GLS+PZEV-5NPDH4AE5DH451784 Sales: 518-217-5912 Dealership: DELLA Kia Located: Plattsburgh, NY
Service brakes, May 25, 2023
Dealer advised of corroded brake lines needing replacement at $1400-1500. Vehicle just had a recall for underbody protection. This model has been recalled in Canada: https://www.collisionrepairmag.com/cracks-in-the-line-hyundai-recalls-nearly-300000-vehicles-for-corroded-brake-lines/?utm_source=pocket_saves
Steering, May 16, 2023
While driving the steering made a clunking noise and the ability to turn the steering wheel was affected. At low speeds the steering wheel is pulling and feels like there is a loose spot in the turning radius of the steering. After researching, the possible issue is the 926-990 Flexible Steering Coupler.
Air bags, May 15, 2023
Air bag indicator light comes on and stays on . This occurs intermittently
Suspension, May 5, 2023
Since I purchased this vehicle in 10-2012 I have had major suspension tracking issues. When driving at normal highway speeds (50-70MPH), the slightest bump in the road makes the rear of the vehicle sway and "dog walk" . This has been an issue within the first few months of ownership, but the dealership found no issues. The situation started shortly after purchase and continues the same as of today (5-5-2023). I have replaced the rear shocks with better than OEM shocks and continue to have the same situation. If the bump in the road happens to be in a slight curve (such as an expansion joint in bridge) on the Interstate, the vehicle nearly looses complete traction. This happens with new tires and on dry, warm concrete. I have spoken with other owners of similar make and year and all have said they had the same issue, even right after purchase. No warning lights, traction control lights or messages appear on display.. I have had multiple inspection stations and garages check out the suspension and wheel units, but no malfunctions or defects found.