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:
8 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
69,455 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2013 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments (Page 13 of 13)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #17

Jan 152013

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 500 miles

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

The brakes make horrible creaking and grinding noises when wet. Sometimes it will even cause the car to shake. I have contacted Hyundai several times and they do not take this serious. I have taken it to the dealership several times and they have not been able to fix it. I just took it in last week and they even tried to get me to pay 100 for a cleaning of the brake components, I feel I should not have to pay to fix a problem we have had since we bought the car new and have had it in several times and they have not been able to fix it. I am not confident driving the car now and clearly no one would want it buy it off us when it makes such horrible noises. I also believe it cannot be safe and will cause premature failure of the brake calipers and / or possible the ball joints or front steering suspension. I think they have a faulty design in the brake hydraulics and the differential pressures between the front and rear brakes are not right.

- Greenfield, WI, USA

problem #16

Jun 192013

Elantra

  • 12 miles
Car wanders on roadway, returned car to two different dealers three times, the first dealer told me there was 60psi in one tire, the tires were adjusted and was told that this would fix the problem, it did not. The second time I took the car in I was told that there was nothing wrong with the car and it was within specs, and that I may be having problems adjusting to the electronic steering, and that if I had bought the car from his dealership that he would work something out with me. After talking to the company about this problem, I had them make the last arrangement to get the car in to the original dealer where I was told once again that there was no problem with the car. I'm 54 years old, and have driven many cars, and this one is a nightmare to drive, can you help?

- Woodbridge, NJ, USA

problem #15

Jun 292012

Elantra 4-cyl Diesel

  • 200 miles
The 2011 through 2013 Elantra's have this same inherent issue in which the rear of the car is not engineered to maintain a straight line or track properly over bumps and dips in the road. I have taken my 2013 Elantra limited to mccarthy blue springs Hyundai and called Hyundai customer service and requested contact by their district service manager over the past year but it has been over 2 months and no response from the district service manager (today is 8-27-2013). The service department knows this is an issue but say its the way the car is made and there's nothing they can do about it. The problem is an issue in turns and can kick the car out of line in wet, snowy or icy conditions so much that the vehicle stability assist must intervene. These are not conditions that my other car has an issue with or any car that I've owned in the past that did not have vsa. The issue is not due to the rear end of the car being light due to not having a spare tire as some have been told, this issue is purely the fault of Hyundai and may even involve the electric power steering not being properly tuned to maintain a straight line as the wheel will abruptly return to a position far left of center. I have spoken with other 2011 to 2013 Elantra owners and they have the same complaints and I have driven other cars and they exhibit the same issue. Its long overdue for a recall NHTSA.

- Lees Summit, MO, USA

problem #14

Aug 102013

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 2,700 miles

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

Being a 40 plus year driver and an Indiana cdl license holder I can not keep this car between the lines at highway speeds. It wonders left then right and sometimes the wheel seems to resist correction. I have a 09/03/2013 service date to have the car looked at.

- Columbus, IN, USA

problem #13

Jul 052013

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 30 miles
When I drove the new car off the lot it began pulling to the right, but since we bought it late on a Friday afternoon I couldn't do anything until the following day. The passenger air bag light also came on (I'm referring to the light by the tachometer, not the one below the radio). Bluelink performed an inspection remotely & said to take the car to the dealership asap. The following day we took the car back to the dealership & they said they needed to keep the car until Monday, but we were moving to a different city therefore we would have to take the car to a dealership in our new city instead. I told the story to the service dept, left the car there at the new dealership, 2 days later I came back to get it. The air bag issue was fixed but not the pulling to the right. The alignment specialist came with me to test it, realized that it was still pulling, we went back to the dealership & switched the two front tires & went again for another test. The specialist realized that the car was now pulling to the left. We test drove the car over 8 times, they said alignment was good & only attempted to rotate the tires multiple times, car still pulled. I took the car to a different dealership, they agreed the car was pulling but wouldn't do anything because another dealership had already inspected it & I would have to pay even though the car was barely two wks old! I went back to the previous dealership, we tested it again with the service manager. They tried to convince me there was nothing wrong, when clearly the car still pulls strongly to the right. I had to escalate the problem to Hyundai usa as the dealership wouldn't do anything further. After reading the owners manual, it clearly states that the power steering should be checked if the car is in alignment, yet pulling to one side. The dealership never recommended this, nor did any testing of the steering.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #12

Jul 142013

Elantra

  • 307 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that without warning, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver while driving 40 mph. The contact stated that the failure only occurred once reaching 40 mph. The dealer was contacted and advised that the failure was a natural occurrence of the vehicle however, the dealer had not inspected the vehicle or initiate a diagnostic test. The failure and the current mileage was 307. The VIN was not available.

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #11

Jul 272012

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 290 miles

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

Car can't be kept on road it's steering column is to much play and feels like its pulling to the right..and I have too hold steering wheel down too the left very uncomfortable car is brand new it makes no sense I been back to the dealer ship and they claim car is fine not out alignment. What's wrong with this it's terrible! something needs too be done! I can't enjoy it like I want it's a accident waiting too happen.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #10

Jun 282013

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 50 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the steering failed and the vehicle began veering to the left while the rear end of the vehicle shifted from side to side. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50.

- Muskegon, MI, USA

problem #9

Mar 252013

Elantra

  • 10 miles
Purchased car from lynne's in bloomfield, NJ on the 25th of March 2013 from [xxx]. noticed the steering when I got on the highway that night, but assumed it was a break in period for me to get use to the car, well one month later I was constantly adjusting the steering wheel to get the car to stay in the lane. I spoke to service department manager ([xxx]) about this problem, and was told to bring the car in for them to look at it, earliest date June 6th, I requested a loaner car because once they had the car I had no way of getting to work, I called two days prior to my service date to confirm that there would be a loaner available, I was told if that was the arrangement made on my set up date then the loaner would be there. One day prior to me going to service with the car, I received a call from lynnes service department that no loaner was available, no reason why, it just was not available. I took the car to sansone Hyundai on the 18th, my right hand was starting to hurt from holding the steering wheel so tight to keep control of the car. I received a call from the service department ([xxx]) that the car had 60psi on one of the tires, air was checked and adjusted on all the tires and was told to give it a try now? no change, I called [xxx] (customer service) and told him the problems I was having with the car, he recommended I come back in on the 24th of June, dropped off the car, and received a call that afternoon that he ([xxx]) drove the car and found no problems, and maybe this was not the car for me, and that if I had bought the car from his dealership, he might have been able to move me into another car. I've been driving all types of vehicles for over 30 plus years, some with bad alignments and never have I driven anything like this before, it?S a death trap! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Woodbridge, NJ, USA

problem #8

May 302013

Elantra

  • 125 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the power steering malfunctioned without warning. The contact stated that the steering wheel had to constantly be adjusted in order to properly steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was unable to be replicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 125 and the current mileage was 4,000. The VIN was not available.

- Woodbridge , NJ, USA

problem #7

May 142013

Elantra

  • 65 miles

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

Vehicle purchased 05.14.2013 noticed from day one that steering wasn't right, thought it would take time to get use to. On 06.12.2013 noticed steering wheel was off center and to the left and car pulled to the right. Took it into dealership on 06.14.2013. At first they attempted to tell me nothing was wrong then I took them for a ride. It was then agreed that the steering wheel was off center and car was pulling to the right. I was then told no repair was available. I contacted Hyundai Inc. 06.18.2013, they in turn contacted the dealership which withheld the information that they had agreed there was a non repairable problem with my car. I then contacted the dealership and spoke with the person that with held information and he stated he did so because he was not asked. He is also claiming the shop foreman is in school to correct the problem and I am to take my car in on 06.24.2013 for the repair which will take approximately 2 hours. The problem is getting worse by the day. More after the attempted repair is made.

- Morris, OK, USA

problem #6

May 152013

Elantra

  • 125 miles
Constantly adjusting steering to keep car on the road, belief problem with front end, took car back to dealer on the 18th of June, the results told to me by dealer was that one tire had 60psi in one of the tire, air pressure was adjusted in each tire, but car still has the problem. Looking at the history of Hyundai it seems that their sonatas and Elantras have had this problem for at least 2 years, putting these death traps on the road.

- Woodbridge, NJ, USA

problem #5

Apr 222013

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 500 miles
1) while driving on interstate highway vehicle encountered abrupt change in pavement height at bridge and swerved toward adjacent lane due to very loose steering. 2) while driving on interstate highway vehicle encountered modest wind and swerved toward adjacent lane due to very loose steering. 3) while driving on interstate highway vehicle encountered bump on pavement and swerved toward adjacent lane due to very loose steering.

- Mentor, OH, USA

problem #4

May 252013

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 5,815 miles
I purchased the car in March, it was my first time buying a new car. Within the first couple of days after buying the car I noticed a few rattling and clanking noises. I believed this to be the cars moving parts, and didn't think much of it at the time, especially since I was used to driving used cars that sounded worse. After a few weeks, I noticed that the noises where noticeably louder, along with a loud knocking noise when I turned the steering wheel. The dealership that I purchased the car from (universal Hyundai in orlando) was booked up so I made an appointment at orlando Hyundai. Shortly after bringing my car in, and having the service department look at the car, I was told that the car was sold to me defective, that "the left and right inner tire rods and lock nuts were loose, threads were damaged, and the lock nuts were left loose from the factory". the service manager explained to me that this could have easily caused an accident, and that "one tire would've went one way and the other tire would've went the other way, causing your car to come to a sudden halt". this might have caused a serious accident, and knowing that I was driving that car on the highway, taking trips with my family and children, while the car was defective was very scary and upsetting. I was very excited about purchasing a new car, and hoped that I would not have to deal with these kinds of problems. I am extremely disappointed and want absolutely nothing to do with Hyundai. I have the statement from the service department stating that the factory made a mistake and I plan on filing a complaint through Hyundai and the national highway safety administration.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #3

Feb 112013

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 2,472 miles
I was driving in very light snow in my 2013 Hyundai Elantra on highway 12 N44.44043 and W79.12958, close to beaverton, Ontario going traveling North nearest exit concession 7 thorah around 8 pm on the 11th Feb. 2013 and the car started to fishtail at a very low speed of about 40 kilometer per hour. I just parked my car on the shoulder and called caa, I was terrified to go any further. I only have 2472 kilometers on the speedometer! it doesn't seem like a very safe car. By the way, I also have snow tires on my car.

- Brampton, WA, USA

problem #2

Aug 252010

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 174 miles
August 25, 2012 - returning from work on route 28, a high speed expressway, truck in front of me slammed on brakes and decided to switch exit ramps. Slammed on my brakes and steered car to right to avoid hitting the truck. While doing so, all of a sudden the steering wheel pulled sharply to the right and I had to suddenly correct the steering path in order not to go off the road. September 5, 2012 - was notified my vehicle was ready to be picked up by jerry from Hyundai customer service. I took possession of vehicle because I had no other choice. [xxx], assistant service manager, said Hyundai technical support technicians were aware of an issue with steering columns in 2013 Elantra but, no service bulletins had yet been issued. He also said he was informed that a recall may be issued. My car was the first that had presented with this problem. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #1

May 282012

Elantra

  • 275 miles
When driving the vehicle on the high way I 29 N at about 68-72 mph the brand new vehicle engine stalled abruptly and the steering wheel froze and we were stuck in the direction the steering was previously turned it and it made impossible for us to steer it on to the shoulder and the vehicle behind us almost crashed into us. We were just a whisker away from getting killed. We had a near death experience and my fiance is still having nightmares about it.

- Brookings, SD, USA

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