Your vehicle report
2013 Hyundai Elantra
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 1,314
- Received May 2012 to Sep 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Steering wheel clunks or clicks when turning89 complaints · 6.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Airbag warning light stays on85 complaints · 6.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed73 complaints · 5.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #23V651000Park outsideHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
- Recall #17V769000Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Elantra sedan, coupe and GT vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Engine knocking from rod or main bearingsFirst signal: Jan 2017
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 93 crashes, 31 fires, 66 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
- Engine stalls and loses power while driving
- Engine knocking from rod or main bearings
- Unintended acceleration despite braking
1 more problem
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 71 |
| 2014 | 144 |
| 2015 | 107 |
| 2016 | 75 |
| 2017 | 84 |
| 2018 | 122 |
| 2019 | 150 |
| 2020 | 93 |
| 2021 | 71 |
| 2022 | 52 |
| 2023 | 110 |
| 2024 | 158 |
| 2025 | 35 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 24 |
| Total | 1,314 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering wheel clunks or clicks when turning | 89 | 6.8% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 85 | 6.5% | – | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 73 | 5.6% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 65 | 5.0% | – | |
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 55 | 4.2% | – | |
| Engine knocking from rod or main bearings | 54 | 4.1% | 8.4× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jan 2017 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.7% |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 43 | 3.3% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 39 | 3.0% | – | NHTSA recall #13V115000 |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 35 | 2.7% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 28 | 2.1% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 28 | 2.1% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 27 | 2.1% | 4× | |
| Engine won't start or cranks intermittently | 27 | 2.1% | – | |
| Brake lights fail or stay on | 26 | 2.0% | – | NHTSA recall #16V574000, #17V769000 |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 25 | 1.9% | 2.8× | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 23 | 1.8% | – | |
| Brakes make grinding or squealing noise | 19 | 1.5% | – | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 16 | 1.2% | – | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 15 | 1.1% | – | |
| Alloy wheel rims crack and lose air | 12 | 0.9% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #23V651000September 22, 20231,649,478 vehicles affected
Park outside: NHTSA advises this until the repair is done.
service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
NHTSA recall #17V769000November 30, 2017390,467 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Elantra sedan, coupe and GT vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.
If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 8, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 170. This campaign expands recall 16V574.
NHTSA recall #16V574000August 2, 201664,500 vehicles affected
exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model 2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured December 1, 2012, to April 30, 2013. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released.
If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad with an improved part, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on September 30, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 146.
NHTSA recall #13V115000April 1, 2013186,250 vehicles affected
air bags: side/window; structure
Hyundai Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured from November 12, 2010, through March 5, 2013. A support bracket attached to the headliner may become displaced during a side curtain airbag deployment.
If the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration injury.
Remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will apply adhesive strips to the headliner, free of charge. The safety recall began during April 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 109.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2013 Hyundai Elantra.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN