2013 Hyundai Elantra Problems and Recalls (1,298 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2013 Hyundai Elantra is Steering (17% of 1,298 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Steering — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-16 1,298 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 2013 Hyundai Elantra?

219 of 1,298 filings named Steering (17% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Brakes (209 reports).

There are 4 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags, Lights, and Brakes. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2012 has 645 reports on file; this year has 1,298. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2013 Hyundai Elantra

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 4 campaigns on file below.
  2. Steering. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight.
  3. Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
  4. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Steering. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Steering 219 complaints · 16.9% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 93
  • Fires 30
  • Injuries 66
  • Deaths 0
All Hyundai Elantra years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Steering (STEERING) appears in 219 of 1,298 owner complaints (16.9%) in this vehicle snapshot. Steering (STEERING): 219 complaints, 16.9% of reports Steering (STEERING) 6 crash reports 1 fire reports 219 · 16.9% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 209 complaints, 16.1% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 13 crash reports 5 fire reports 209 · 16.1% Engine (ENGINE): 154 complaints, 11.9% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 3 crash reports 8 fire reports 154 · 11.9% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 116 complaints, 8.9% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 29 crash reports 116 · 8.9% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 68 complaints, 5.2% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 crash reports 1 fire reports 68 · 5.2% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 68 complaints, 5.2% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 2 crash reports 68 · 5.2% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 67 complaints, 5.2% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 crash reports 3 fire reports 67 · 5.2% Wheels (WHEELS): 48 complaints, 3.7% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 3 crash reports 1 fire reports 48 · 3.7% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 41 complaints, 3.2% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 2 crash reports 41 · 3.2% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 333 complaints, 25.7% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 15 crash reports 13 fire reports 333 · 25.7% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Steering (STEERING) 219 16.9% 6 crashes · 1 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 209 16.1% 13 crashes · 5 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 154 11.9% 3 crashes · 8 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 116 8.9% 29 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 68 5.2% 1 crashes · 1 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 68 5.2% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 67 5.2% 1 crashes · 3 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 48 3.7% 3 crashes · 1 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 41 3.2% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 333 25.7% 15 crashes · 13 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Apr 2012; the first recall shown was reported in Apr 2013. 2012-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2012-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2013-Q1: 16 owner reports 16 2013-Q2: 21 owner reports 21 2013-Q3: 22 owner reports 22 2013-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2014-Q1: 33 owner reports 33 2014-Q2: 35 owner reports 35 2014-Q3: 44 owner reports 44 2014-Q4: 26 owner reports 26 2015-Q1: 24 owner reports 24 2015-Q2: 23 owner reports 23 2015-Q3: 24 owner reports 24 2015-Q4: 30 owner reports 30 2016-Q1: 18 owner reports 18 2016-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2016-Q3: 19 owner reports 19 2016-Q4: 24 owner reports 24 2017-Q1: 18 owner reports 18 2017-Q2: 18 owner reports 18 2017-Q3: 31 owner reports 31 2017-Q4: 16 owner reports 16 2018-Q1: 30 owner reports 30 2018-Q2: 32 owner reports 32 2018-Q3: 25 owner reports 25 2018-Q4: 35 owner reports 35 2019-Q1: 36 owner reports 36 2019-Q2: 33 owner reports 33 2019-Q3: 34 owner reports 34 2019-Q4: 47 owner reports 47 2020-Q1: 22 owner reports 22 2020-Q2: 23 owner reports 23 2020-Q3: 27 owner reports 27 2020-Q4: 21 owner reports 21 2021-Q1: 17 owner reports 17 2021-Q2: 19 owner reports 19 2021-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 2021-Q4: 19 owner reports 19 2022-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2022-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2022-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 2022-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2023-Q1: 19 owner reports 19 2023-Q2: 15 owner reports 15 2023-Q3: 25 owner reports 25 2023-Q4: 51 owner reports 51 2024-Q1: 71 owner reports 71 2024-Q2: 61 owner reports 61 2024-Q3: 19 owner reports 19 2024-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2025-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2025-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2025-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2025-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2026-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2026-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2026-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 Owner reports Apr 2012 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 13V115000 ◆ Recall campaign 13V115000 Recall campaign 16V574000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V574000 Recall campaign 17V769000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V769000 Recall campaign 23V651000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V651000 Investigation EA12008 ● Investigation EA12008 Investigation DP21003 ● Investigation DP21003 Investigation EA21003 ● Investigation EA21003 Investigation AQ23002 ● Investigation AQ23002
  • Campaign 16V574000 was reported 1,534 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 17V769000 was reported 1,963 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V651000 was reported 4,085 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2012-Q2 Owner reports 4
2012-Q3 Owner reports 6
2012-Q4 Owner reports 7
2013-Q1 Owner reports 16
2013-Q2 Owner reports 21
2013-Q3 Owner reports 22
2013-Q4 Owner reports 11
2014-Q1 Owner reports 33
2014-Q2 Owner reports 35
2014-Q3 Owner reports 44
2014-Q4 Owner reports 26
2015-Q1 Owner reports 24
2015-Q2 Owner reports 23
2015-Q3 Owner reports 24
2015-Q4 Owner reports 30
2016-Q1 Owner reports 18
2016-Q2 Owner reports 13
2016-Q3 Owner reports 19
2016-Q4 Owner reports 24
2017-Q1 Owner reports 18
2017-Q2 Owner reports 18
2017-Q3 Owner reports 31
2017-Q4 Owner reports 16
2018-Q1 Owner reports 30
2018-Q2 Owner reports 32
2018-Q3 Owner reports 25
2018-Q4 Owner reports 35
2019-Q1 Owner reports 36
2019-Q2 Owner reports 33
2019-Q3 Owner reports 34
2019-Q4 Owner reports 47
2020-Q1 Owner reports 22
2020-Q2 Owner reports 23
2020-Q3 Owner reports 27
2020-Q4 Owner reports 21
2021-Q1 Owner reports 17
2021-Q2 Owner reports 19
2021-Q3 Owner reports 16
2021-Q4 Owner reports 19
2022-Q1 Owner reports 10
2022-Q2 Owner reports 14
2022-Q3 Owner reports 16
2022-Q4 Owner reports 12
2023-Q1 Owner reports 19
2023-Q2 Owner reports 15
2023-Q3 Owner reports 25
2023-Q4 Owner reports 51
2024-Q1 Owner reports 71
2024-Q2 Owner reports 61
2024-Q3 Owner reports 19
2024-Q4 Owner reports 7
2025-Q1 Owner reports 7
2025-Q2 Owner reports 8
2025-Q3 Owner reports 10
2025-Q4 Owner reports 10
2026-Q1 Owner reports 6
2026-Q2 Owner reports 11
2026-Q3 Owner reports 7
Recall campaign 1 13V115000
Recall campaign 1 16V574000
Recall campaign 1 17V769000
Recall campaign 1 23V651000
Defect investigation 1 EA12008
Defect investigation 1 DP21003
Defect investigation 1 EA21003
Defect investigation 1 AQ23002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags, Lights, and Brakes.

  1. Recall campaign 13V115000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 16V574000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 17V769000

    Brakes

    Report date
    Component:
    Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 23V651000

    Brakes

    Report date
    Component:
    Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-16
Safety incident filters
Showing 8 of 1,298 complaints · page 1 of 52
2026-09-24Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11766713
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to turn over, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact inspected the engine compartment and there was grey smoke coming from the electrical box behind the ABS Module. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the ABS Module and wiring harness needed to be replaced, and brake fluid needed to be flushed and refilled. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000.
2026-09-10Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11763304
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Drivers air bag high resistance too high (2nd stage) B149000- PODS(passenger occupant detecting system) sensor (Bladder) Defect Start with replacing the clock spring assembly maybe be other problems. Airbag uncertain if operational. Not covered by Hyundai's Clock Spring Extended Warranty despite fitting within model year. Unacceptable and needs to be replaced by free and expanded within coverage by Hyundai corporation.
2026-08-31Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11760993
CrashFireInjuryDeath
UNKNOWN There is no incident happened.
2026-08-20Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11758181
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the ABS warning light illuminated. The following day, while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the vehicle caught on fire. The contact's dog woke up the contact around 5:00 AM, at which point the contact discovered that the vehicle was on fire. The Fire Department extinguished the fire and informed the contact that the fire appeared to be electrical; however, it was unknown whether a fire report was filed. The contact stated that the fire appeared to have originated underneath the hood, which left the front end of the vehicle completely burned. There was no other property damage, and no injuries were reported. A Police report was filed. The vehicle remained in the driveway, and the insurance company had not yet been notified of the fire. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
2026-07-24SEAT BELTS
NHTSA ODI 11752652
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The buckles on two of the rear seatbelts have cut through the belt horizontally - guessing from friction. I was not aware until a passenger in my back seat pointed it out to me, and it had happened on two of the three belts.
2026-07-10Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11749597
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the passenger’s side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the air bag module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 11,511.
2026-07-09Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11749410
CrashFireInjuryDeath
ABS AND BRAKES. The abs system malfunction causing it to run non stop draining my battery and making my brake pedal go to floor. It is available for inspection. My battery has been drained and unable to drive since brakes aren’t properly working. Matt bowers Hyundai in Slidell has confirmed it is the ABS MODULE AND BRAKES FLUSH NEEDED. They are refusing to fix it for free stating I took too long to bring it in. Abs light, traction light and emergency brake light was on before failure.
2026-06-10Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11743363
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I was wondering if you can help me. I have a Hyundai Elantra that had a recall for my engine to get fixed by the dealership. I’ve never got it fixed because I was unaware of a Hyundai letter that i just found on the internet that was issued by them but I never received it. I went to a mechanic the other day and he informed me that they had a recall for my engine. The problem is now that Hyundai gave a date that expired on the recall. I was wondering if you can send them a demand letter or something because I was never contacted about this. I also had a brain tumor operation and Hyundai should grant me with a medical exemption. Here’s the Hyundai notice that they never gave me,

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2013 Hyundai Elantra?

Owners named Steering most often — 219 of 1,298 reports (17%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2013 Hyundai Elantra?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags, Lights, and Brakes. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2013 Hyundai Elantra?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-16. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources