NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Hyundai Elantra. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
I was driving down a busy highway when my car decided to die I pulled into the turning lane cause that was the closest thing to me I turned my car off and went to turn it back on in hopes that it would just fire back up and smoke went rolling from my engine. I ended up having to contact a tow truck along with an officer to block the road come to find out my engine was completely blown, I contacted the service department along with warranty services and everything and nobody is willing to assist with this issue. Apparently This is an ongoing issue with Hyundai cars.
The steering wheel clicks and feels loose when it moves. The repair is to replace the Steering Coupler a piece of plastic for $5 but it will cost $300 or more for my mechanic since it is a 2-3 hour job. This should be replaced by the Dealer for free since the part is made to wear out and be defective
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the brake pedal stopper was fractured, causing the brake lights to remain illuminated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where an unknown diagnosis and an unknown repair were completed; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 199,500.
Airbag light and steering wheel control malfunction due to clock spring. Known issue can cause airbag not to deploy. Dealer refused to fix issue.
Hyundai recall 251 happened in Sept. 2023 and a remedy was not made available until summer 2024. This was a "park outside due to fire risk" recall and a completely unacceptable amount of time to put families in danger. Fast forward to when the remedy was available. I went to my dealer, ALM Hyundai West, who completed the recall. A week later I checked the Hyundai website and the recall was not marked complete. ALM told me I needed to come back in so they could confirm it was done correctly and take pictures. I wasn't happy but I went back and they took their pictures. That was a month ago. My recall is STILL not marked as complete and ALM is so disorganized, I am not sure if my car was actually fixed at this point.
I (finally) received a letter with instructions for what to do to make an appointment to get my car fixed so it doesn't catch on fire per Recall 251, but I was unable to do so. I followed the instructions exactly. When I go to the website [XXX] and enter my VIN number, the recall appears. But then when I try to schedule an appointment, that recall does not appear as an option to create the appointment for. They did not test this system at all, and they did not list any other ways to make the appointment in the letter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I took my car to Millennium Hyundai in Garden City, New York on June 22, 2024 to fix NHTSA recall # 23V651000 (manufacturer recall # 251). The dealer claimed the repair was completed and I have documentation to this effect (see service summary, attached). However, neither Hyundai nor the dealer ever updated the NHTSA database to show that this recall repair was completed, so my car still shows that it has an open recall. I do not want this to be an issue when I sell the car. The dealer refuses to take responsibility for updating the database. Either the dealer did not complete the repair as required, or the dealer is refusing to update the database as required. Either way, the dealer is clearly not in compliance with NHTSA regulations and requirements. Please take whatever actions are necessary against Millennium Hyundai. Thank you.
Steering has become loose and unsafe due to coupler malfunction. Unable to control wheels while driving and clicking noise while turning.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the contact became aware that the steering wheel was making a loud rattling sound. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.
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)
See attached document for complaint
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
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.
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.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked for approximately 7 hours and upon starting, the ABS and traction control warning lights. The contact began to drive to her residence and an abnormal humming sound was present from the engine compartment. Upon arriving at her destination, the vehicle was parked in the driveway and a neighbor who was a firefighter disconnected the battery to the vehicle. Shortly afterward, flames were coming from the driver-side engine compartment. The fire was extinguished on its own and the fire department did not come to the scene. A police and fire report was not filed. There were no injuries reported. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and informed an inspector would inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was 135,000. The VIN was invalid.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The engine of my 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT failed due to a known piston-slap issue, and it is available for inspection for a limited time before being sold to a junkyard. This failure occurred suddenly while I was on the highway, putting my safety and the safety of others at risk as I had to maneuver the car to the side of the road amidst heavy traffic. The problem has been confirmed by both the Hyundai dealership and an independent service center, who diagnosed the piston-slap issue and found the engine filled with sludge, a known issue with these engines. Despite having 28 documented service records and regular oil changes, Hyundai denied the warranty claim, citing engine neglect. Hyundai representatives have inspected the vehicle and provided a technical bulletin documenting this defect. Prior to the failure, there were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms indicating a problem with the engine.
Engine has "piston" slap or knocking, a precursor to catastrophic engine seizure, diagnosed at Joe Machen's Hyundai at 132k miles on [XXX]. Engine could seize causing rapid deceleration at any moment, while pulling out into traffic or travelling at high speeds on the highway. First noticed a clicking or ticking noise the engine made when it was cold around 130k mi, which goes away as engine warms up. Sound has gotten louder and more persistent and has turned into a knocking. Dealer told me that the entire engine needs replaced, which is prohibitively expensive. So I'm driving it now until I can get a new car or engine replacement. I've submitted a claim to the dealer and Hyundai corporate, but was denied. I don't believe that Hyundai is taking responsibility for the safe operation and reliability of their cars. I have also not found the dealer to be a support and advocate. There was a limited class action lawsuit where Hyundai settled for some faulty engines where there were metal burrs leftover in the oil passageways during manufacturing that causes engines to fail even when oil changes were done regularly [XXX] ). However, I don't think anything close to the number of engines with actual problems have been addressed. Mine wasn't in the recall but has the piston slap. I got regular oil changes with average 4,405 mi interval through today, while 7,500 mi interval is recommended in manual. I have another friend with a 2017 Elantra that failed at 95k miles, and another with a Kia that failed. Since Hyundai/Kia are very common cars, and owners often don't have the ability to replace the entire engine, and sometimes get no warning, the engine manufacturing defect needs to be looked into further by the NHTSA and Hyundai/Kia as a grave safety concern. Hyundai/Kia need to act promptly to prevent death and injury to their customers due to catastrophic engine failure. We don't feel safe. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
I was driving my car for 3 minutes, made a left and all the sudden every light on the dashboard came on, the vehicle slowed and the engined died. I was able to get to the side of the street and park the car safely. It took two times for the car to start back up. I called Hyundai Santa Monica Dealership and was able to bring my car in. I have been here all day and since they cannot replicate the issue, they do not know what is wrong with the car. They also are not seeing a history of all the dashboard lights coming on. I have called Hyundai Customer Care and have started a claim with them as I do not feel safe driving this vehicle with an unknown issue. I was fortunate enough to be on a side street, but if this has happened in traffic or on a freeway, I would absolutely have been hit as the car immediately slowed and died without warning. There were no warning signs at the time this happened. I brought my car in for another issue a few weeks ago as there was a problem with the gas gauge and sensors. Previously, the car (on a filled gas take), would flash the gas tank, look empty, and the car slowed and stopped. They said they fixed this prior issue. I am worried to drive this car as I do not know what is wrong with it, and at this point, they do not know either. I have contacted Hyundai customer care team and filed a claim. I am waiting for a case manager to return my call and information on the next steps.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
I took my car into Hyundai due to the recall sent out to car owners. I had my ABS and Brake light that went on randomly around September. I scheduled an appointment and took it in to get it checked. Hyundai sent me away stating there were no parts to fix the issue and told me to pay for a diagnostic if I needed it looked at and to wait until the recall is remedied. Two months later my car exploded and caught fire while parked on my property putting my life and home at risk. As well as my neighbors lives who came in to help me Put out the fire.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brake, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that a second notice would be mailed when the remedy was available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
I heard a noise and felt a pull when turning the steering wheel while the car was stationary or at low speeds. AAA said there was a recall and Hyundai would repair at no cost. The dealer stated I had a defective steering flexible coupler. If I did not replace, it could disintegrate in the steering column. I was told Hyundai extended the warrantee to 10 years or 100,000 miles. My 2013 car is 11 years old with 63,000 miles. The cost of the repair was $657.68. This is a safety issue with lots of complaints. This should be a recall. I want to be reimbursed for this manufacturing defect.
Traffic ahead of me rapidly decelerated. Upon applying the brakes, the peddle froze and then went to the floor without any resistance. I attempted to pump the brakes without success. I impacted the car ahead of me at 40 mph, the posted speed limit, creating substantial damage to both vehicles. The brakes failed to operate and the airbags failed to deploy upon impact. The vehicle failed to slow down and was reacting as if the accelerator was stuck. There were no system warnings at the time of the accident or afterwards. Braking abilities resumed immediately after impact. There is no visible evidence of any fluid leaks, brake fluid or otherwise. The vehicle was last serviced by the dealership for an oil change at the end of January 2024. A brake inspection was performed at that time. I was aware of a recall notice Campaign 251 regarding the brake ABS system. When I inquired at the last service date, I was informed no fix was available at that time. Current mileage is 49,779. I am still in the process of locating a repair shop.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked it was leaking unknown fluids. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to park the vehicle outside of the garage. The failure mileage was approximately 205,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
A vehicle fire occurred while the vehicle was parked in an open carport, and caused significant fire damage estimated at approximately $2,000. No injuries occurred. Due to early actions of residents and neighbors, the fire was confined to the vehicle and it did not spread to the carport or single family dwelling. The fire originated in the engine compartment, and was probably due to an internal brake fluid leak within the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module, which caused an electrical failure or malfunction. The vehicle has one (1) open safety recall that is incomplete at this time, and a remedy is not yet available. The vehicle owner stated that the ABS, Engine, and Traction warnings lamps did recently come on. The insurance company involved was notified of this vehicle fire, and may have examined or inspected the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE.OWNERS CAN CONTINUE DRIVING THESE VEHICLES; HOWEVER, HYUNDAI RECOMMENDS PARKING THEIR VEHICLES OUTSIDE AND AWAY FROM STRUCTURE UNTIL THE RECALL REMEDY IS AVAILABLE AND COMPLETED. There is no remedy available yet. This needs to be addressed yesterday!!
I’m filing a complaint about the vehicle recall on my car for the anti brake lock system (recall notice NHTSA 23V651000) I have been waiting for a solution for almost 6 months without any remedy. It is inappropriate the current remedy is to park my car away from buildings in case of fire. How is one supposed to do that when you keep your car at your house and place of work?
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
There is a known safety recall regarding brake fluid being leaked internally that has been acknowledged by Hyundai since September 2023. This can cause fires even when the vehicle is parked. NO SOLUTION has been provided except for "park your vehicle outside". This has been a known safety issue for 8 months and NO SOLUTION has been provided to us owners. Even parking outside is an issue as I live in Memphis, TN the #1 city for auto theft. Auto theft has been rampant also due to Hyundai's unwillingness to install an ignition kill switch at production. Hyundai has been grossly negligent in the production of their vehicles and cutting corners at the consumer's safety expense. Not having a soltuin
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.
I received the recall notice for Recall 251, NHTSA Recall #23V651000. Per the instructions, I have been parking my car outside while awaiting the remedy. I have checked back numerous times to see if a remedy was available. Yesterday my driver's side lock in the handle was broken in an attempted break-in/theft, which most certainly would not have happened if the car was in my garage. I believe the company has not remedied the defect in a reasonable time period and the delay has directly led to further damage of my vehicle.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
See attached document for complaint.
It has been six months since this recall (Manufacturer Recall Number 251; NHTSA Recall Number 23V651000) was issued. It is not yet complete. This is an unreasonable amount of time to wait for a remedy.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable time to remedy the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.