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
CAR IS ADVERTISED AS HAVING DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS, BUT THE DRL ONLY TURNS ON WITH THE PARKING LIGHTS. DEALER AND HYUNDAI BOTH STATE THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE CAR. THIS NOT HOW ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE DRIVEN IS LIKE. USING PARKING LIGHTS DURING THE DAY IS ILLEGAL IN MANY STATES. *TR
WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IT STALLED OUT ON THE FREEWAY. TOOK IT TO HYUNDAI BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO HAD THICK WHITE SMOKE COME OUT OF THE TRAIL PIPE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE SMOKE IS SO HEAVY THAT I CAN'T SEE THE CARS BEHIND ME. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO CAN'T DUPLICATE THIS WHEN I TAKE IT IN SO I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. TO TOP IT OFF I TRADED IN A V6 THAT WAS GETTING 23 MPH FOR THE ELANTRA SO THAT I COULD SAVE MONEY ON THE COMBINED 32 MPG. NOT EVEN CLOSE. IN TOWN IS 21 MPG. COMBINED IS NORMALLY 23 MPG. ANOTHER ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN I BRAKE. IF I NEED TO BRAKE FAST AND HARD IT SOUNDS AND FEELS LIKE THE CAR IT'S GOING TO FALL APART. THIS ISSUE I HAVEN'T BOTHERED TO REPORT AS I AM JUST SO DISAPPOINTED WITH ALL THE ISSUES. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL HYUNDAI OWNER OF DIFFERENT MODELS SINCE 1999. I HAVE A FEELING THIS WILL BE MY LAST HYUNDAI.
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. *TR
I RECENTLY GOT A NEW HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS. THE STICKER CLAIMS THAT THERE ARE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHY THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON MY CAR DO NOT COME ON, THEY COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT AND SUGGESTED I CALL HYUNDAI. THE SAME SWITCH THAT TURNS OFF THE HEADLIGHTS IS ALSO THE "DRL OFF" SWITCH. THERE IS NO SEPARATE "DRL ON" SWITCH. THE HYUNDAI CASE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT ON THE AMERICAN-MADE MODELS IT IS NECESSARY TO TURN THE PARKING LIGHTS ON, AND THAT THIS IS THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT SYSTEM. EVERY CAR HAS PARKING LIGHTS; THEY ARE NOT ON WHENEVER A VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND MUST BE TURNED ON. THESE ARE NOT DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ON WHENEVER THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT ON. THE STICKER ON THE CAR MAY CLAIM THAT THE CAR HAS DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A LIE; THERE ARE NO DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON THE CAR. A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY FEATURE HAS BEEN LEFT OFF THE CAR. *TT
A BLOW OUT OF A TIRE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LIMITED WITH 543 TOTAL MILES ON THE CAR. THE SPEED OF THE CAR AT THE TIME WAS 25 MPH ON A SMOOTH ROAD SURFACE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. IN TALKING TO OTHER OWNERS, AND SEARCHING THE INTERNET, WE FIND THAT PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE OCCURS FREQUENTLY ON THE ELANTRA. FORTUNATELY, THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED AT A VERY SLOW SPEED OTHERWISE THERE MAY WELL HAVE BEEN A FATALITY INVOLVED. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A SPARE TIRE OR JACK. THE VEHICLE HAD AN AIR COMPRESSOR TO FILL THE TIRE IN THE EVENT THAT IT WOULD BECOME FLAT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE INFLATION DEVICE WOULD BE OF NO ASSISTANCE IN THE EVENT THAT THE TIRE WAS BENT. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS RUST ON THE ROTORS AND THE RATTLE CLIPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO MEET WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. ... UPDATED 08/15/12 *BF UPDATED 08/16/2012 *JS
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. *TR
I GOT THIS CAR A FEW DAYS AGO. THE WINDOW STICKER CLAIMS IT HAS DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. THE LIGHTING STOCK HAS THREE OPTIONS. THE OPTIONS ARE "DRL OFF, DAYTIME LIGHTS, AND NIGHT TIME LIGHTS." WHEN DAYTIME LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED, IT ACTIVATES THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, BUT ALSO ACTIVATES REAR LIGHTS AND DIMS INTERIOR GAUGE LIGHTS TO "NIGHT LIGHTING" LEVELS. THIS POSES SEVERAL SAFETY RISKS. FIRSTLY, PEOPLE MAY STRUGGLE TO READ INTERIOR GAUGES WHEN DRIVING DURING THE DAY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A COLLISION. SECONDLY, THE ACTIVATED REAR LIGHTS ADDS CONFUSION DURING THE DAY AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF OTHER MOTORISTS CRASHING INTO THE REAR. *TT
THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT DRL SYSTEM ON THIS CAR IS FLAWED. A PROPER DRL SYSTEM REQUIRES NO USER ACTION TO ACTIVATE AND ONLY ILLUMINATES THE LOWER BEAM LIGHTS. ON MY 2013 ELANTRA, YOU HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTING STALK TO THE PARKING LAMP POSITION IN ORDER TO ACTIVATE THEM AND WHEN YOU DO, THE LOW BEAMS AND ALL 4 PARKING LAMPS ILLUMINATE. THIS IS NOT HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. ALSO MY BATTERY RAN DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY AND THE TOW DRIVER SAID IT STRAINS THE BATTERY WHEN YOU LEAVE THE STALK IN AN "ON" POSITION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN COMPLETING A LEFT TURN, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WOULD CONTINUE TO FLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST WITH THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,100.
WHILE DRIVING MY NEW CAR PURCHASED ON FEBRUARY 8,2014 , THE ROAD WAS UNEVEN. MY CAR SWERVED SO BAD WHEN IT HIT THE UNEVEN ROAD, IT WAS SO SCARY. THINKING THIS WAS JUST THE ROAD, I FORGOT ABOUT IT. EVERYTIME I DRIVE , THE SAME THING HAPPENS. IT FEELS AS IF I'M LOSING TOTAL CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS IS ON DRY PAVEMENT, I HATE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE RAIN & SNOW. THE SWERVE IS ENOUGH TO PUSH THE CAR CLOSE TO THE LANE NEXT TO ME. IF A POLICEMAN WAS BEHIND ME I THINK HE'D PULL ME OVER FOR RECKLESS DRIVING. I'VE NEVER DRIVEN OR BEEN IN A CAR WHERE THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE TO HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL WITH 2 HANDS CONSTANTLY FOR FEAR I'LL LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR OR HIT ANOTHER CAR WHEN IT SWERVES. THIS IS A NEW CAR & I AM PETRIFIED TO DRIVE IT. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM AS I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. PLEASE HELP ME. THANKS *JS
THE PAINT STARTED PEELING AND CRACKING. HONDA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO COVER REPAIRS TO THE HOOD, ROOF AND TRUNK. THE REMAINDER OF THE CAR HAD JUST AS MUCH FLAW IN THE CLEAR COAT AND AS A RESULT THE PAINT IS SPLOTCHY AND LOOKS MUCH OLDER THAN IT SHOULD. HONDA REFUSES TO COVER THIS ISSUE.
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). *TR
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.
I have had a couple of issues that I have had others tell me or read online that they have had the same issues 1- When I bought the car, which was used at the time. Just a couple of years ago I drove it off of the lot and it had a break issue. I had to take it towed back to the dealership bc something broke underneath and the breaks were failing. So they fixed the problem supposedly. I only had a 30 day warranty and after the 30 days the breaks started grinding every time I stopped. This went on for a long time. I had an other mechanic look at it and did something and I can not recall exactly what he said but after about a week, the noise started back up and at that time I had had the car for about a yr and he said I still had about 25 percent left on my break pads. So probably about 4 months ago I changed my front breaks, including the rotors and the back breaks to, I also had to replace the front left caliber bc while trying to take the pin out of the caliber to clean it, the pin broke. So I replaced it. Took my care in to get inspected And they told me I need to do the back breaks and the back right caliber to pass inspection. So I did the work and got it done. I am not a rich person so I can only take it a mechanic if it something that I can not do myself my I have had good training bc had been a mechanic and had taught at mechanic schools so I know I have help and if I am not sure about something he will help. So now after doing all of that hard work, I am starting to hear the grinding noise again with the breaks and my breaks are good. It always starts our really light and then gets louder within a couple of weeks. 2- the second issue is that my airbag light is on, I am not sure why this is , I have never been in any kind of accident. One day just popped on and never went off 3- I have read online that you have had a recalls on newer models for Hyundai Elantra with the issue but not my year. Well my trunk latch ended up get latched and would not open
Break light keeps going out no matter how many time I get the light changed. Got the harness changed last year and that did not help either.