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.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
18,460 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 - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2013 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments

problem #4

Jun 282021

Elantra

  • miles

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

After the completion of my work shift, I return to my vehicle and discovered a fire has taken place. Lucky, the fire didn't get out of control and wasn't active at the time. The passenger seat was completely burnt including the seat covers and the items in the seat. The items in the seat included: Steak & shake leftover trash, and a perfume bottle. This fire also damaged a door dash bag that I had in the back passenger seat. Not to mention, the impact of the fire that created black duct all over the vehicle windshields, radio, seats, dashboard etc... No police report, nor fire report has been reported at this given time.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #3

Jan 222021

Elantra

  • miles
1. the fabric on the seats is not colorfast. Any drop of clean water looks like a stain when it dries. 2. my steering wheel knocks when turned left and right, when in motion and stationary. It is the U-joint behind the break peddle from the steering column making a knocking/clunking noise.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #2

Oct 242019

Elantra

  • 69,949 miles
The trunk latch fails and there is no way to get into your trunk for spare tires, medications, safety items, etc. Without destroying and cutting through the back seat. If you google 2013 trunk latch failure, it is very very common. This should have been recalled. We carry life saving medications in our trunk daily. If someone were stranded on the side of the road, only to find out the latch failed, they would be in danger. $400 to repair this issue which happens repeatedly to some customers is not ok. How safe are seats that have to be cut through to get to the trunk latch? they said the parts won't show where it was cut behind the seats, but it seems like that would affect safety as well.

- Platte City, MO, USA

problem #1

Jan 182014

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 3,890 miles
My car was stopped in a 45 mph zone when it was rear-ended by a truck. At the time of collision my seat moved back rapidly on the rails and the back of the seat flipped down several stops. Of a passenger had been seated behind me she would have likely been injured. I wonder if this seat is safe and if there have been similar incidents? it could be a recall item. I was advised by Hyundai customer service to take it to the nearest dealer and have it checked. The car is in the body shop and nearest dealer is 60 miles...

- Ingram, TX, USA

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