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:
39 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
42 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,016 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2013 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments (Page 2 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #133

Nov 012021

Elantra

  • 36,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 - 30 mph, her vehicle crashed into another vehicle's front and rear passenger doors when the other driver ran a red light. No air bags deploy upon impact. The contact and her daughter, who was a passenger sustained bruising to their knees, and the contact's head jerked forward and back from the impact. The contact received medical attention on the scene and was later admitted to the hospital, while her daughter went to urgent care. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, where it remained. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

- Greendale, WI, USA

problem #132

Aug 012021

Elantra

  • miles
Driver side airbag dash light goes on and off (mostly on). No accident or previous deployment of the airbag. Also, while under warranty the tail light and break light wiring was replaced as they would burn out approx. every 6 months. One light after another: tail light, break light, blinker, etc. It's happening again... seems to be a wiring or component issue. Have to keep bulbs in the car with me at all times.

- Daytona Beach, FL, USA

problem #131

Jun 052020

Elantra

  • miles
Airbag warning light illuminated for months and will not turn off. Every once in a while it randomly goes away but then comes back on soon after. This is a safety issue if the airbag is not functioning properly and this safety system defect needs to be recalled and fixed for free. Also, I have replaced my brake lights 3 times in the last few years but as soon as I do a different tail/brake light goes out. What seems to be an electrical issue is also a hazard and safety issue if my brake lights cannot illuminate indicating braking.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #130

Aug 172021

Elantra

  • 134,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the airbag warning light illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.

- Delevan, NY, USA

problem #129

Jul 012021

Elantra

  • miles
My airbag light on dashboard is remaining on dashboard and vehicle check in progress is reported on my radio display information when i begin to start driving my car for past several weeks i have reset light as informed but does not correct the problem. i have had steering wheel bracket replaced and never have had a problem before now. I am a single mother of two and i rely on my airbags incase of accident for me an my family. How do i resolve this issue?

- Magnolia, AR, USA

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problem #128

Jul 032021

Elantra

  • miles
The airbag light on my hyundai elantra has been turning on for a couple of minutes when i start the vehicle and then will turn off. After a few more minutes it will happen again as if there is a malfunction with the airbags and the computer is trying to trouble shoot the problem but still finding an error. I would like a follow up to insure that if someone were to hit my vehicle that the airbags would deploy properly.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #127

Jun 012021

Elantra

  • miles

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

Air bag lights has been on for quite some time. Reason: Unknown Engine light is on: Diagnose something dealing with taking on too much fuel Steering wheel: clicking every time I hit a bump or turn the wheel

- Starke, FL, USA

problem #126

Jun 192021

Elantra

  • miles
I have only had this car for three months. Two weeks ago the Air Bag light OFF kept appearing while driving. Then 3 days ago the driver side seat belt locked. It will NOT release. I have read a lot of forums from many others with the same problem from Hyundai cars. The dealership charges 500-1500$ just to fix 1 seatbelt. Its a safety problem as well as fraud.

- Madera, CA, USA

problem #125

May 232020

Elantra

  • 90,000 miles
Certain steering wheel controls -- including the volume controls and bluetooth phone controls -- stopped working. A few months later, more steering wheel controls -- such as other audio and media controls -- stopped working. A year later, the ability to change the steering tension, from comfort to normal to sport, stopped working. Within the past year, the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel have stopped working, and the red airbag light is on continuously. Although Hyundai has issued a recall for certain 2011-2014 Elantra vehicles, and my vehicle meets that year range and model, the dealership will not cover replacing the airbag clock spring assembly because my VIN does not match their criteria. As such, the dealership has quoted $480 to fix my vehicle's airbag clock spring assembly. If my vehicle experiences the same airbag safety issues that covered vehicles have experienced and which prompted the recall, my vehicle also should be covered under the extended clock spring warranty.

- Decatur, GA, USA

problem #124

May 012021

Elantra

  • miles
My airbag light came on. I have had no accident. I called the dealer and they want $185 diagnostic fee. Shouldn't airbags and safety be covered by the dealer if no accident has occurred? I am driving without an airbag right now due to no fault of my own. The airbag light just appeared about a week ago.

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #123

Mar 042021

Elantra

  • 0 miles

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

Air bag sensor just went on fir no reason. Told steering wheel would have to be removed and cost would be close to $400 for entire job. This seems like a defect to me as never had any vehicles with this important safety issue.

- Oakville, AK, USA

problem #122

Mar 012021

Elantra

  • miles
Im the original owner of a 2013 Hyundai Elantra which I just took in to local Hyundai dealer for oil change and to also see about getting airbag malfunction warning light checked out...they told me there is no recall issued on this car......how can that be with something as dangerous as that?

- Parrish, FL, USA

problem #121

Oct 122020

Elantra

  • 70,000 miles
My air bag light turned on a few months ago. At first, it was when I was only turning my steering wheel or when I was in park. Now, it's always on. I have seen this issue so often and for it to be such a common issue and not recalled is very disappointing. This is a huge safety issue and can be fatal if I were to be in an accident because my air bag wouldn't deploy properly.

- Crown Point, IN, USA

problem #120

Mar 042021

Elantra

  • miles
2013 Hyundai Elantra. Consumer writes in regards to tire mobility kits safety recall. The consumer stated the dealer advised the recall expired. The airbag light was on.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #119

Dec 302020

Elantra

  • 55,000 miles
I was in motion and my emergency brake did not work. I continue down hill and to avoid on coming traffic, ,I turn to the right to hit the fence. My air bags never open. Tha K god I always were my seat belts.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #118

Nov 182020

Elantra

  • 45,000 miles
SRS air bag light stays on all the time. Same issue as described in so many other complaints. 70,000 miles on vehicle.

- Round Rock, TX, USA

problem #117

Dec 122020

Elantra

  • 10,010 miles
Airbag light gos on and off

- New Kent, VA, USA

problem #116

Dec 092020

Elantra

  • 66,500 miles
Every time I turn the vehicle on my air bag light comes on. Some times stay on all the time and some times it goes off and on while I'm driving.

- Apopka, FL, USA

problem #115

Oct 052020

Elantra

  • 78,000 miles
Airbag warning light came on for no reason while I was driving and remains on. I called dealership and was told I would have to pay $169 just to diagnose the problem. Reading the other complaints on this website it appears GT has the same airbags as other Elantras but is not on recall for this part" why not? isn't this a safety issue"

- Auburn, AL, USA

problem #114

Oct 072020

Elantra

  • 40,150 miles
The airbag light came on and I got it diagnosed and it was the clock spring. The clock spring needed to be replaced and the tech said that the clock spring itself wasnt broken, just that it shorted out. This should be covered under the warranty since this is a safety issue. I googled this problem before I got it fixed and there was a consensus that Elantra have an issue with the clock spring. Hyundai did a partial recall of Elantra within 2011-2014 for this issue, but my vehicle wasn't included in this recall.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

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