CarComplaints.com Notes: We're not used to seeing any major problems with Hyundai, which makes the early signs of trouble with the 2013 Elantra very surprising, in a bad way.

Early trends show problems with the steering wandering / pulling to one side along with premature tire wear. Elantra owners have tried sensor adjustments, wheel alignments, even replacing axles, most with no luck. Hyundai has made vehicle buybacks through arbitration, but that rarely works out well financially for owners in the end.

Also there is a pattern of complaints about the 2013 Elantra brakes grinding at very low mileage. It seems there was a bad batch of OEM pads & rotors, but so far Hyundai is not doing a recall. Instead Hyundai issued a TSB & dealers have been replacing pads & rotors on a per-complaint basis.

The final straw is that for several years in a row, Elantra owners report significantly lower gas mileage than the EPA estimates, & there's a small trend of engine problems.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 11
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,824 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Hyundai Elantra electrical problems

electrical problem

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2013 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments (Page 1 of 8)

problem #145

Jul 102024

Elantra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Airbag light and steering wheel control malfunction due to clock spring. Known issue can cause airbag not to deploy. Dealer refused to fix issue.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #144

Oct 082024

Elantra

  • miles
I was never informed through mail, email, or phone call about a potential fire hazard safety recall from Hyundai. In turn, due to my unawareness of the recall, my 2013 Elantra-??s ABS pump had caught on fire, melted into the control module, and melted the ABS electrical harness to the module, short circuiting the ECU and starter as well.

- Loganville, GA, USA

problem #143

Sep 142024

Elantra

  • miles
On Saturday September 14, 2024 After working a full shift i started my 2013 Hyundai ELANTRA and the ecs light came on. which locks your power of steering. After several restarts to disengage the light. I called the tow truck pay the $80 for it to be brought to the dealership and was told that they can work on it on Tuesday. On Monday I received a phone call on stating I will be paying $3000 out-of-pocket.Even tho I have extended warranty nothing would be covered.

- Lawton, OK, USA

problem #142

Nov 172003

Elantra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving under 10 miles an hr because the roads were still wet from the night before as i am on the ramp to get on the highway barely turning the wheel it locks all the lights come on the dashboard such as abs and i crash into a railing because i couldn't move anything. Again only last week after this has been supposedly resolved driving barely going 2 miles my bf was actually driving and again roads were wet same thing all the abs sensor lights come on the dash the wheel locks and the car doesn't move, it's scary and ridiculous the amount of others I have found experiencing the same issue and from that accident I can barely drive now my anxiety and ptsd from the event has even affected my work so now I am losing money I didn't think I would ever fear being in a car and I hope you guys fix this so no one experiences what I am currently experiencing.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #141

Jul 222024

Elantra

  • miles
There is a on going issue with clock spring failing on 2011-2014 Hyundai models. My model is not covered under their extended warranty cause I have a hatchback version of the Elantra, which uses the same parts. I have already replaced my clock spring at 2019 and again the issue has come in 2024. My air bag light is on, my car horn doesn't work and buttons on the steering wheel. Feel like this is a huge safety issue as I cannot communicate with other drives with my horn and I do not have a safety net of air bags deploying when a accident happens.

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #140

Jul 202024

Elantra

  • miles
We received the recall notice, advising us to call Hyundai to make an appointment to correct the safety problem. We made an appointment to fix the problem at their Richmond, CA location. When we went there, they told us that they could not fix it because their system was down. We made another appointment in Vacaville, CA. When we arrived there on the day of the appointment, they told us that their system was down. We do not know what to do now.

- Berkeley, CA, USA

problem #139

Jun 042024

Elantra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While pulling out onto a major main road, my car just stopped. The RPM's remained on zero after I restarted the car. I had to get it towed. The engine light was on, and it had trouble restarting. The code read camshaft. The mechanic replaced the camshaft and no other codes registered. It shut off two times after the camshaft was replaced. I took it back to the mechanic and it shut off on him 5 times. This car is unsafe. I am afraid to drive it, especially with have a young child.

- Washington, Pa, PA, USA

problem #138

Jun 042024

Elantra

  • miles
My car had trouble starting then shut off while driving. Engine light was on and the RMP's stayed at zero. Code was for camshaft. Camshaft was replaced and the car shut off three more times while driving. I only have 83,000 miles on my car.

- Washington, Pa, PA, USA

problem #137

Jun 102024

Elantra

  • miles
As the original and sole owner of this 2013 Hyundai Elantra, I was notified of Campaign # 23V65100, by letter, from Hyundai. I set an appointment with Suburban Hyundai, Troy, MI after confirming with said dealership that needed part(s) were on hand. I arrived as scheduled on [XXX] 2024 for needed repair. Service department examined vehicle and determined that my vehicle did need ordered repair: but stated they do not have the part(s). I inquired as to: a. Why they do not have the part when they knew fully well that that was what was needed to enact the repair.;b.Why they did not tell customer, after taking one day off from work and driving 50 miles round trip...that they do not carry the parts they are mandated to replace. Suburban Hyundai stated that they would call me in 7-10 days when the part arrived, so I could get repair completed and, of course, take another day off from work, drive 50 miles, and fear my garage does not burn down as I have a contract with State Farm Insurance that I will park my vehicle in an enclosed garage each night for storage. Also, Hyundai and Kia have a distinct reputation for vehicle theft, and leaving my vehicle parked on-the-street is a sure way to have a vehicle stolen! I then called Elder Hyundai in Macomb, MI, they stated that Hyundai does not yet have a solution to fix the ABS Fire and Fuse issue and that a "parts kit", as I was told by Sean, Svc. Manager at Suburban Hyundai, does not yet exist. I feel defrauded by Hyundai Manufacturing and Suburban Hyundai in particular. Do I need to park my vehicle at the Grosse Pointe Woods, Fire Station" I called the Hyundai Corporate Number regarding recalls and could not, in any way, connect with a person or voicemail to leave a message a response: can this/will this repair be made and: why must I now face another day off from work and another 50 mile drive, to what effect" INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA

problem #136

Aug 292023

Elantra

  • miles
My engine will not turn over 70% of the time. My radio switches on and off on its on and changes stations randomly. Even with new brakes, it sounds like they are constantly grinding. When my gas gets low the issue gets worse to the point i can't arm my car. I have a small child and my car started smoking. I was also stranded for almost an hour because my car would not start. I just got off the phone with pearson hyundai and they told me there is no remedy for this issue and just wait. This issue started mid last year when my engine started to shake at a stop light. I have had 3 mechanics look at my car and they won't touch the issue due to the recall.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #135

Apr 012024

Elantra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The bulbs are constantly blowing out, and need to be replaced. The steering wheel/column makes noises, and doesn't always lock, but when it does lock, it can be difficult to unlock it! The suspension shakes and rattles. There is a campaign for the corrosion of the undercarriage/suspension, that I was not aware of until a few weeks ago(I do have an appointment for that). The most pressing concern is with the steering(mechanic thinks it could be the coupler), and there are numerous complaints about this on various internet auto forums.

- Philadelphia , PA, USA

problem #134

Jan 062024

Elantra

  • miles
My 2013 Hyundai starter would not stop trying to start the car even when the ignition was off and the key was not in the ignition. Then it got so hot it caught fire and destroyed the alternator as well as the starter. It was so hot it melted the alternator. Also the plastic that is used to hold the headlamps and other engine parts has disintegrated. I barely touch what's left and the plastic crumbles apart. My car no longer has the plastic under the hood. I use tape to hold up the lights. Car was stopped and in a parking lot when this happened.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #133

Sep 232023

Elantra

  • miles
23V651000 This recall came out in September it has now been 8 months and no remedy has been avaible which to me is not a timely manner, it is getting costly for me to not park near buildings where I normally park or in garages, starting to have to do that and just hope that my car does not catch fire, this is getting ridicules

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #132

Aug 012023

Elantra

  • 12,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that on several occasions while turned off, the horn began honking inadvertently. The key fob was depressed each time to turn the horn off. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that a new anti-theft system needed to be installed. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the failure was not able to be duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.

- Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #131

Sep 222023

Elantra

  • miles
The manufacturer (Hyundai) has been ordered to recall and fix my 2013 Elantra and they are not doing so. On their website it says "Incomplete. Remedy not yet available." This recall was issued LAST YEAR, over 5 months ago! Hyundai has had 5 months to not only fix the issue, but at least notify owners of this issue. The only reason I heard about this was from the news!!! Also, the offered fix of replacing a fuse is not going to fix the actual issue - leaking brake fluid. As a parent with small children, in a one-car family, this is unacceptable. Hyundai needs to fix their mistake immediately or find a way for my family to be able to drive safely. Their statement that "if you see smoke, evacuate the car" is completely irresponsible to offer as a solution to families who need precious time to unbuckle their children from car seats. Someone is going to die due to Hyundai's negligence, it's only a matter of time.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #130

Feb 292024

Elantra

  • miles
FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THIS RECALL IS NOW 5 MONTHS OLD WITH NO REMEDY AVAILABLE. As a senior citizen I am not confident driving this vehicle with the possibility of a fire while driving. I would like someone to put pressure on Hyundai to get this remedied quickly. I have another vehicle but I should not have to NOT drive this vehicle. I want my vehicle fixed!

- Union Hall, VA, USA

problem #129

Feb 102024

Elantra

  • miles
While driving my vehicle I began to notice the brake indicator light would flicker when I would have my foot on the brake.

- Columbus , OH, USA

problem #128

Sep 222023

Elantra

  • miles
Due to the nature of the manufacturer's recall; (Hyundai Elantra 2013- Manufacturer Recall Number 251 "URGENT: FIRE RISK WHEN PARKED" & NHTSA Recall Number 23V651000) that has been issued to my car, I am now at risk and in danger, both physically and financially. This recall notice has made me aware that I can no longer park my car safely in my garage, nor in my driveway, without putting myself, my family and all neighbors residing in the surrounding houses at risk of causing a residual house fire. In addition, I fear for the safety of all innocent bystanders while driving this vehicle where other cars are present due to the fact that this potentially immanent electrical shortage may occur while parked or driving on the street. Since this issue has caused me to take these measures to protect myself and others, I have come to the realization that I must now look into selling and replacing my beloved car, however as stated above, the urgent recall notice that now exists on this vehicle will make it impossible to obtain a fair asking price from any potential buyers, leaving me unable to compensate for the financial investments I've made in regards to purchasing and maintaining this vehicle over the years. This issue now deems my car essentially worthless in its current state, and with no remedy available, I'm unable to sell this vehicle for any sum that's close to the fair market value that I deserve. Thus far, I have been fortunate enough to not experience any malfunctions that have led to a fire, BUT with a remedy not being available to solve this issue I'm left with the constant stress & fear that I may cause harm to myself or others by simply going about my daily tasks, and have no way to financially recover from the necessary purchase of a substitute vehicle that is required for me to get to work, tend to my family, and ultimately pay my bills. I hope I have made you aware how crucial it is this gets resolved promptly before substantial harm does come to me.

- Corona, CA, USA

problem #127

Apr 012023

Elantra

  • miles
Car unable to pass smog check engine issues. Wheels no good.

- Henderson , NV, USA

problem #126

Sep 012023

Elantra

  • miles
I feel as though this recall is taking too long to complete/remedy. I feel as though it has been an unreasonable amount of time from the date of the recall notice to now for a resolution. I am worried about damage to my vehicle over time.

- Ridgefield, WA, USA

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