CarComplaints.com Notes: We're not used to seeing any major problems with Hyundai, which makes the early signs of trouble with the 2013 Elantra very surprising, in a bad way.

Early trends show problems with the steering wandering / pulling to one side along with premature tire wear. Elantra owners have tried sensor adjustments, wheel alignments, even replacing axles, most with no luck. Hyundai has made vehicle buybacks through arbitration, but that rarely works out well financially for owners in the end.

Also there is a pattern of complaints about the 2013 Elantra brakes grinding at very low mileage. It seems there was a bad batch of OEM pads & rotors, but so far Hyundai is not doing a recall. Instead Hyundai issued a TSB & dealers have been replacing pads & rotors on a per-complaint basis.

The final straw is that for several years in a row, Elantra owners report significantly lower gas mileage than the EPA estimates, & there's a small trend of engine problems.

4.2

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,789 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Hyundai Elantra accessories - exterior problems

accessories - exterior problem

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2013 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments

problem #18

Sep 222023

Elantra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driver's side rearview mirror smashed by vandal. This is because of having to park away from structures due to Hyundai's recall # 251. The original recall notice was apparently dated 9/22/23, but no remedy is yet available. That's 4 months, and it's creating great hardship for me and probably many others. I am afraid to use my car because of possible engine fire and damage to people or other cars--but I need my car.

- Walnut Creek, CA, USA

problem #17

Feb 142023

Elantra

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while pulling the front drive side visor back in placed the visor could not stay in place. The vehicle dealer taken to the dealer and the dealer stated that the visor had fracture and the visor was replaced. On another occasion the front passenger side visor fracture. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the stated that the visor had to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer did not provide any assist. The failure mileage was 127,000.

- West Covina, CA, USA

problem #16

Nov 032021

Elantra

  • miles
I have an issue with my paint peeling off the hood and other parts of my car in large sections during rain and high winds adhering to the windshield hindering my field of vision at times. This has forced me to stop the vehicle on the roadside and remove it in order for me to continue. The paint peeling on the pearl white vehicles is a known issue since 2010. I've contacted the manufacturer numerous times over the past two years and they basically told me that they already knew about it and oh well. There's nothing they're going to do because the warranty has expired.

- Palm Bay, FL, USA

problem #15

Aug 102019

Elantra

  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. While driving approximately 55 mph, the passenger side visor suddenly exploded. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

- Wilson, NC, USA

problem #14

Apr 162019

Elantra

  • 39,000 miles
As I was driving home in rain the wipers stopped and resumed about 10 seconds later. After 5 minutes the wipers again stopped and resumed about 10 seconds later.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

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problem #13

Jul 242019

Elantra

  • 97,000 miles
While driving the vehicle anywhere at 35 mph or more with the sunroof tilted or open, massive amounts of air come through drivers side window to the inside of car. This makes it impossible to hear emergency sirens or your stereo. This is a safety hazard!!

- West Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #12

Oct 022017

Elantra

  • 45,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving down the interstate at about 65-70 mph when suddenly I heard a loud explosive noise like a gunshot going off inside the car. The car shook violently and I thought I had been hit, though there was not another car in my immediate vicinity. I was nowhere near an overpass. When I realized I was still going down the interstate on all 4 tires and not flipping end for end and had not been hit, it dawned on me that air was rushing into the car and glass was raining down on my head. I looked up and almost the entire sun roof was gone. It has literally exploded. I took the car immediately to the dealer. I was informed that this could happen again because of a defect in the design. How scary is that? I have been dealing with glass in the car every since.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #11

May 292017

Elantra

  • 66,800 miles
The windshield cracked and the rear view mirror housing broke apart along with the metal piece used to attach the mirror. I was driving on the highway going about 75mph when I heard a loud bang and saw the rear view mirror ejected like a projectile. The glass had several cracks running the length of the windshield, originating from the metal piece that held the rear view mirror. At first I thought it was a rock or flying debris from the road that came thru the windshield. I immediately pulled over and noticed that the origin of the cracks and point of breakage was from the inside of the car. There was no noticeable impact on the outside of the windshield, not even a minor scratch to indicate something had hit it from the outside. There were several pieces of glass on the inside where the metal piece broke off with some glass still glued to it. The piece that connected the mirror to the metal piece shattered into 3 pieces. I am unsure of what caused this, but it is concerning to know this could happen to other drivers.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #10

Jan 282017

Elantra

  • 55,000 miles
While driving on the freeway at around 70mph I heard a loud bang upon looking around realized my sunroof had blown outward from the center. I know nothing hit it from the inside and nothing fell on top of it either. I was left driving on the freeway with a large hole in the middle of my sunroof with cracked glass all along the sides.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #9

Nov 182015

Elantra

  • 17,000 miles
The drivers side sun visor does return to a flush position, so it is left partially blocking the windshield when driving and comes into contact with the top of the drivers head when operating the vehicle.

- Boca Raton, FL, USA

problem #8

Nov 072015

Elantra

  • 58,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car starts but won't stay on, new battery installed, still doesn't turn on, in garage and is being towed to dealership. Windowshied fog constantly, and all F a sudden after 10 minutes and only way to defog---open windows., happens every am as driving to work on freeway or home at nights. The car is well maintained. Gas mileage is not 33 miles per gallon. Disappointed. Also sun roof doesn't close, was fixed, and still doesn't close all the way without me doing fancy maneuver with switch. Concerned- major safety issue!!

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

problem #7

Aug 012013

Elantra

  • 200 miles
When turning a left hand curve it is hard to see around the ape hanger because it is to wide. Had a near miss a couple of times in my subdivision because it is hard to see around.

- Burlington, KY, USA

problem #6

Feb 222015

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 33,315 miles
Driving down highway with light rain. Temperature approx 34 degrees. While at speed limit (65mph) the moon-roof exploded! not simply shattered but exploded. (inside 'sun' cover was open at the time) there were no other cars on the road within 1/2 mile of me. I did not just pass under a bridge and no construction on the roadway at the time of the explosion. Almost lost control of car but managed to maintain until I could pull over on side of roadway. Suffered minor cuts to scalp, face and neck (nothing that required hospitalization). Significant shards of glass throughout the interior of the car and some minor damage to paint surface from shards of glass hitting the outside of the car; rear roof of car and rear deck lid of trunk. Lodged complain with corporate Hyundai (have case number), also went to local Hyundai dealership gave them case number and had them take photos. Dealership initial reaction is that glass is not covered. They suspect the dropping temperature may have had something to do with it. I have escalated my claim with Hyundai corporate; asking under the circumstances that this is obviously a manufacture defect, that they cover all costs of repair. Awaiting their response.

- Frisco, TX, USA

problem #5

Dec 182013

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 2,000 miles
Wiper fluid pressure and direction is not adequate to clear windshield during winter driving conditions. The majority of the fluid never contacts the wipers before running off to the side. Inver grove Hyundai dealership looked at this problem on two occasions. On the first visit, the technician who drove the car agreed there was a problem. They shimmied the nozzles and told me to bring it back if not improved. I brought it back again because I saw no improvement and the problem was getting worse with the cold weather. I told them I felt it was a safety concern. The response on the second visit was, after flushing the system, the wiper fluid was performing similar to other Elantras and, since there are no adjustments to make, there was nothing further they could do. They would not say if they agreed there was a problem or not. They referred me to corporate Hyundai. Their rep looked at the video referenced below and gave me the same response as the dealership. The dismissed my concerns and gave me no recourse. Here is the link to the video that shows the wiper fluid under-shooting the wiper blades, taken Feb 7 after my second visit to the dealership. The driver side is particularly bad on this occasion but both are effected and performance seems to vary depending on air temperature and speed: youtu.be/K4_xj-vylcc.

- Mendota Heights, MN, USA

problem #4

May 152013

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 7,000 miles
When the air conditioner is on and it is humid outside, the side windows fog up on the outside. There is no way to clear up the fog on the outside of the windows. In previous cars, there was a brush in the window well and all you had to do was lower the window and raise it and the fog would be removed. I have contacted Hyundai three times and they refer me to my local dealer. Each time the dealer acknowledges the problem and says there is no solution that they can provide. Please help me convince Hyundai to put a brush in the window well.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #3

Aug 152013

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 7,980 miles
I heard an explosion and started feeling something falling down on me as I was driving. I looked up to see the sunroof part of my panoramic roof had shattered and shards of glass were falling down on me. This was in the morning, nothing above me or around me, no trucks.. just a random break. I called the dealership and was told to contact my insurance. I looked online and see there have been many issues with the sunroofs doing the same thing on different models. The dealership is ordering the replacement right now.

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #2

May 102013

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 1,900 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 mph the panoramic sunroof suddenly shattered. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 1,900.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #1

Sep 122012

Elantra

  • miles
I started my car, pushed the wipe blade once so that it would get the dew off windshield. Wiper blades got stuck, pushed again, it came down a bit, pushed and pushed, it continued to get stuck. Took my car to the dealer 4 times now and problem still exist. They put a new switch in on 9/28/12. Drove my car that night, it was raining, wipers started doing the same thing again. Took it back on 10/1/12. On that date driving to work, it stuck again. By the time I got to dealer, it was working properly. On 10/2/12, the same thing happened. Dealer cannot find out why this is happening and states they cannot do anything unless they see what the wipers are doing as if they haven't already seen it before. The day I took it there, the wipers started doing all kind of crazy things so they know exactly what the wipers were already doing.

- Henderson, NC, USA

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