2013 Hyundai ELANTRA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Hyundai ELANTRA has 1858 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 23.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: 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 vehic. ⚠️ 42 fire reports filed.

42 fire reports 107 crash reports 70 injuries

1858

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

23.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

281 complaints

15%

• 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 VEHIC
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OFF THE ROAD HE MOVED HIS RIGHT FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO THE BRAKE AND HIS SHOE BECAME STUCK UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO A SIGN. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT FENDER AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE D
• 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WINDSHIELD WIPER DESIGN FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE WIPER BLADE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS VERY SHORT AND THE BOTTOM END OF THE WIPER BLADE LEFT A SEMI-CIRCULAR WATER STREAK RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PERSON SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT ON EVE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 7 fire reports💥 28 crashes

“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 VEHIC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

271 complaints

15%

• 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 U
• 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
• 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WINDSHIELD WIPER DESIGN FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE WIPER BLADE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS VERY SHORT AND THE BOTTOM END OF THE WIPER BLADE LEFT A SEMI-CIRCULAR WATER STREAK RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PERSON SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT ON EVE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 8 crashes

“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 U”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

236 complaints

13%

• 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 U
• THE 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY AND TURNED OFF, AND AN ELECTRIC FIRE STARTED IN IT. IT BURNED COMPLETELY UP. *TR
• MY WIFE WAS TRYING TO PARK HER CAR WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT HER TOUCHING THE GAS OR THE BRAKE. LUCKILY, SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP BY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. I'VE HEARD RECENT CASES OF PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 15 fire reports💥 7 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

166 complaints

• THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH LIGHT TRAFFIC TRAVELING AROUND 60 MPH. IT FIRST BEGAN WHEN I FELT AN UNBALANCE OF THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. THE CAR SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT REGARDLESS OF MY EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. MY CAR FISHTAILED FOR A MOMENTS AND ALMOST CAUSED M
• 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 PERFORM
• WAS ABOUT 2 TENTHS OF A MILE FROM A STOP SIGN. AS I WAS BEGINNING TO MAKE MY APPROACH, THE CAR ACCELERATED, LURCHED FORWARD AND SPED ACROSS A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY BEFORE I COULD REACT. THE CAR WAS T-BONED ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. THE IMPACT STRAIGHTENED MY VEHICLES TRAJECTORY FROM 90 DEGREES TO ABOUT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 41 crashes

“THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH LIGHT TRAFFIC TRAVELING AROUND 60 MPH. IT FIRST BEGAN WHEN I FELT AN UNBALANCE OF THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. THE CAR SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT REGARDLESS OF MY EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. MY CAR FISHTAILED FOR A MOMENTS AND ALMOST CAUSED M”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

155 complaints

• PURCHASED A NEW 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS 4 DOOR. ONCE A PERSON TURNS ON THEIR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ALL OF THE VEHICLES PARKING LIGHTS TURN ON AS WELL. NO OTHER CAR MANUFACTURE HAS MANDATED ALL THIS ILLUMINATION DURING DAYTIME HOURS. ON AUGUST 3RD 2012 AT 11:40AM I WAS ISSUED A MOVING VIOLATION BY
• THE 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY AND TURNED OFF, AND AN ELECTRIC FIRE STARTED IN IT. IT BURNED COMPLETELY UP. *TR
• I BOUGHT MY 2013 ELANTRA ON 7/17/12 FROM ORLANDO HYUNDAI. ON 8/4/12 WHILE DRIVING ON I-95, THE TPMS (TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM) LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO THE NEAREST TIRE SHOP AND HAD THE TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED ON ALL 4 TIRES AND THEY WERE ALL FINE. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 13 fire reports💥 7 crashes

“PURCHASED A NEW 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS 4 DOOR. ONCE A PERSON TURNS ON THEIR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ALL OF THE VEHICLES PARKING LIGHTS TURN ON AS WELL. NO OTHER CAR MANUFACTURE HAS MANDATED ALL THIS ILLUMINATION DURING DAYTIME HOURS. ON AUGUST 3RD 2012 AT 11:40AM I WAS ISSUED A MOVING VIOLATION BY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1858 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: 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 VEHIC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: 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 U
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 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 U
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH LIGHT TRAFFIC TRAVELING AROUND 60 MPH. IT FIRST BEGAN WHEN I FELT AN UNBALANCE OF THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. THE CAR SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT REGARDLESS OF MY EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. MY CAR FISHTAILED FOR A MOMENTS AND ALMOST CAUSED M
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)