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:
40 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
42 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,336 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2013 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments (Page 4 of 8)

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problem #96

Feb 242020

Elantra

  • 103,000 miles

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

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.

- Broad Top City, PA, USA

problem #95

Jan 012018

Elantra

  • miles
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!!!!

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #94

Jan 202020

Elantra

  • 84,500 miles
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.

- Hayward, CA, USA

problem #93

Jun 112019

Elantra

  • miles

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

My steering column makes an awful noise like a clicking noise the whole time I'm driving it really scares me but I have to drive it bc it's my only means of transportation. Now my break lights all the way across doesn't work and it's not a fuse.last thing is my airbag light stays on also which scares me.please some one help get these issues resolved quickly I'm the second owner so I probably haven't gotten the recalls about these issues.please please help me.thank you

- Gloverville, SC, USA

problem #92

Nov 242019

Elantra

  • 38,000 miles
On engine start up, the air bag warning light was activated indicating failure with either the airbag or supplement restraint system. Dealer diagnostics indicated the "clockspring" part had failed. This part has failed often enough that Hyundai has extended warranty on "some models of 2011-2014" Elantra, but not the model of my car even though it is the same part that is on all 2011-2014 Elantra models. Should it fail while the vehicle is moving, then the driver's airbag may not deploy during an accident or the supplement restraint system may not work. The "clockspring" part connects to the speed control system.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

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problem #91

Jul 282019

Elantra

  • 94,438 miles
Airbag SRS light appeared on dash panel without reason when the vehicle was started in a parked position and has stayed illuminated since first appearing. The light has been present for several months now. Recent diagnostics reported airbag fault (code B134600 driver airbag resistance too high stage #1). Service facility deemed fault is secondary to defective clock spring. The defect causes the airbag system to fail and airbags will not deploy in the event of an accident because of this fault.

- Woodstock, GA, USA

problem #90

Sep 302019

Elantra

  • 67,000 miles

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

2 weeks after I purchased this car, the airbag light on the instrument panel came on. Dealer refused to do anything about it. Also noticed 2 weeks after I purchased, that the sunroof assembly leaks, and water pools around the spare tire. Worried about water damage caused to the spare tire, and the possibility of mold growing.

- Belleville, IL, USA

problem #89

Jan 152018

Elantra

  • 60,002 miles
Hyundai has recalled certain model years Elantras to due a defective steering wheel clock spring. However, Hyundai will not honer this recall for the exact same failure in the Elantra GT models of the same year. These models utilize the same part! failure of this part prevents the drivers airbag from deploying. This is a massive safety failure!

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #88

Oct 232019

Elantra

  • 86,000 miles
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 Elantras have an issue with the clock spring. Hyundai did a partial recall of Elantras within 2011-2014 for this issue, but my vehicle wasn't included in this recall. The light would generally stay on but would occasionally turn off on the highway, but then back on.

- Hamilton, OH, USA

problem #87

Oct 182019

Elantra

  • 93,000 miles
Airbag light stays on while car is running.

- Benicia, CA, USA

problem #86

Sep 142019

Elantra

  • 96,119 miles

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

The contact owned a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. While the contact was driving 30 mph, another vehicle ran her vehicle off the road. The contact drove into a concrete barrier and the vehicle flipped over. The passenger door was smashed in and had to be forced open. The frontal and side air bags did not deploy even though it was a frontal collision. The contact sustained a mild concussion and bruising to the face and upper body. The contact was transported to the emergency room via ambulance. The front windshield was completely smashed in towards the driver and passenger. The passenger was not injured. A police report was filed. The insurance company and manufacturer were contacted. There were no recalls; however, the air bag indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired per an unknown recall repair on January 9, 2018. An unknown carmax dealer was also notified. The vehicle was totaled and towed to a scrap yard by the police. The failure mileage was 96,119.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #85

Sep 192019

Elantra

  • 87,000 miles
I was rear ended at a high speed and pushed into the car in front of me. The air bag did not deploy, causing me to hit the steering wheel and break my nose.

- Richmond, KY, USA

problem #84

Oct 022019

Elantra

  • 95,299 miles
The airbag light comes on and off while driving or sitting still.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #83

Sep 172019

Elantra

  • 93,847 miles
At approximately 93000 miles, the air bag warning light came on and will not go off. At the same time the steering wheel controls for the phone/radio also failed. Apparently it is a common failure with 2013 Elantras.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #82

Aug 192019

Elantra

  • miles
The airbag light came on my 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT at the 61,000 mile mark. Took it in to the dealership to find out the problem and it was determined the the clock spring was found defective from the manufacturer. They were willing to replace the clock spring but at a cost of $495 dollars. I asked why they were charging since this was a manufacturer and safety problem and they determined that my car was no longer covered since I had gone over the 60,000 mile mark. I called Hyundai usa to report my concern for this safety hazard and all they told me was that they could not cover it due to mileage. I am greatly concerned for the safety of my family and self knowing that the airbag is disabled if a car crash were to occur. This is the only means of transportation that I have and unfortunately cannot afford to pay for something that is a safety defect and hazard which I feel Hyundai should fix at no cost.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #81

Sep 012018

Elantra

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The contact suspected that the timing spring in the steering wheel could have caused the failure. Hyundai of anderson (1925 pearman dairy rd, anderson, SC 29625, (864) 642-0900) mentioned that the spring was a common issue, but they would have to run a diagnostic test and charge a fee. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 60,000.

- Abbeville, SC, USA

problem #80

Sep 102019

Elantra

  • miles
Air bag warning light staying on. Took the car to Hyundai dealership. Diagnosis code was high resistance. I am told this is a broken wire. Hyundai refused to pay the $360 repair. My extended warranty also refused to pay the repair. When the light is staying on, if in an accident none of the air bags will deploy. The car only has 67,000 miles. This is a safety problem and there are many complaints about this. I spoke with their customer care dept, they refused to pay for the repair. Their was an extended warranty on some models, but they say my car isnt on the list. I have contacted the bbbauto line, and the Missouri state atty general. At no time is money more important than consumer safety. I only ask for them to rightfully repair my car. They advertise how safe their cars are and there are 6 air bags. Unfortunately they dont work. Please help and make other consumers aware of this problem thank you

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #79

Jul 042019

Elantra

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the air bag indicator was illuminated for a long time without warning. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was not provided.

- Selma, AL, USA

problem #78

Aug 172019

Elantra

  • 121,000 miles
Air bag light was coming on and off while driving, since 8/17/2019. Now it is on all of the time. Vehicle has not been in any recent accidents, or received any damage. Research shows this is probably a clock spring in the steering wheel. $79 dealer fee just to identify the issue, before parts and labor to repair. Seems to be pretty common for Hyundai vehicles of this age and should be a recall!

- Winder, GA, USA

problem #77

Jul 312019

Elantra

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle and driving out of the parking lot at 3 mph, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The contact then crashed into four parked vehicles and a few parking signs. The air bags did not deploy. The contact suffered a broken patella on their right leg, they had a bad abrasion on their left leg, a hematoma on their skull and black eyes that required medical attention. The contact was the only one in their vehicle at the time of the failure. There was no one else in the other vehicles the contact crashed into. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The insurance company was currently inspecting the vehicle. The contact called Hyundai of ashville (860 tunnel rd, asheville, nc 28805 (828) 298-4911) however, the contact's insurance company instructed them to not call the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

- Ashville, NC, USA

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