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 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,105 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Hyundai Elantra:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2013 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments (Page 3 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #10

Oct 022015

Elantra

  • 62,000 miles

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

My 2014 Hyundai Elantra did not start on three separate occasions over the past month. The dash lights and indicators came on but the engine did not crank or make any sound. Eventually after multiple attempts over 10 minutes, the engine started. I am concerned that the car will not start at all and leave me stranded. On one other occasion after starting, the gear shift would not move out of the park position.

- Fallston, MD, USA

problem #9

Dec 012012

Elantra

  • 13,995 miles
I'm writing to notify you of my reoccurring issue on my 2013 Hyundai Elantra. Upon purchasing my vehicle on or about 5,000 miles, my car would have false starts. I brought the issue up during one of my early maintenance visits at danbury Hyundai which was on December 1, 2012, in which they stated to me that they were my headlights. Any individual with common sense knows transmission and starter issues have no correlation to headlights. In any event, my car began not igniting at all on or about 56,000 miles (video footage of this will be provided if needed). Prior to this, it would have false starts occasionally throughout the year but never on a daily basis until recently. I've had my car towed twice in the month of August to danbury Hyundai and both occasions they said there is nothing they can do for me. As you can imagine, having lemon of a car since the purchase is extremely frustrating and I warn everyone around me to never purchase a Hyundai unless you want to pump your gas and wait an hour for your car to start, if that's the kind of reliability you want then go for it. On September 9th, 2015, my car was returned to me and was working properly until yesterday September 16th. Please be advised that at 4:08 P.M. leaving work my car would not recognize the gears and would not start and at 7:19P.M. the same issue occurred. Google search yielded others with my car who have the same issue! these are brand new cars being issued!! www.carcomplaints.com/Hyundai/Elantra/2013/electrical/engine_wont_turnover_wont_start.shtml www.Hyundai-forums.com/md-2011-present-Elantra-sedan-coupe/161056-2013-Elantra-will-not-start.html www.cargurus.com/cars/discussion-T40609_ds554427

- Carmel, NY, USA

problem #8

May 122015

Elantra 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the key was difficult to turn over and start the vehicle. The contact had to make several attempts to get the key to turn over in the ignition. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle also hesitated while driving various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the authorized dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery had low voltage and needed to be replaced. The dealer did not provide an in-depth diagnosis and only replaced the part. The contact also continued to experience the vehicle being difficult to shift out of park into other gears and that the failure was progressing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000. Updated 09/08/15 updated 10/26/2017

- Spring, TX, USA

problem #7

Feb 162015

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 20,095 miles

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

After backing into a parking space put the shifter into park it the interment panel said it was in reverse. Could not get the transmission out of reverse and shifter would not move.. towed to dealer dealer said this is the same problem that the sonata had with transmission linkage falling off the shifter. Fixed they said they would not be surprised if the Elantra got a recall for this problem.

- Richmond, VT, USA

problem #6

Feb 132015

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 45,000 miles
The car did not start! I drove to pick up my son, turned off and parked the car, got my son, went back in the car, and the car did not turn on. I could hear the noise of the starter. The car only has 45,000 miles. This is unbelievable! this is my first and only complaint of the car, but enough not to buy another Hyundai.

- Aventura, FL, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #5

Feb 272014

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 36,000 miles
Transmission made a loud scraping noise as I started out from a stop. It was hard to get the car going, but I got the car to go a short distance (about 1/4 mile) but it was too difficult to drive. When I pulled over, I heard the scraping again. I had to call twice for a tow; the first driver said there was nothing wrong except oil under the car. I could not get it going, so I had it towed by a second driver to the closest dealer, who refused to consider that the transmission might have a problem and the fluid might be from that. He refused to check the car unless I paid $110 upfront. Since he had taken out the oil filter, I told him to change the oil; they finally did after some time and then when they tried to drive it, they could not get it to go more than 10 mph, and decided it was the transmission. They kept the car and did not give me a work order, which is contrary to California state law. I had to call the next day to insist that they email it to me. It took seven days for the part to arrive and for them to fix the car, which I picked up on March 5. I am currently having pickup problems in the lower gears (from 0 to 35 mph) with the new transmission.

- Altadena, CA, USA

problem #4

Jul 012014

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 34,000 miles

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

I purchased this vehicle in June 2013. I had no complaints until July of 2014, wherein my car picks and chooses when to start. I have looked online and there are many others who seem to have this complaint. I finally gave in on Aug. 24, after my car sat for two days because I could not get it to start. I called the Hyundai 24 hour roadside and had them tow it to the nearest dealership. The tow truck driver initially tried to start it, and it didn't. he popped the button nearest the top of the shifter and pressed it in, and put the car in neutral, it then started but sputtered like it wanted to turn off. He was able to drive the car onto the tow truck. The next morning, I spoke with the mechanic at the dealership who indicated that the car was starting for them just fine. He said there are so many sensors that it could be one, but they wouldn't know where to start as there are so many and could not make an educated guess. He wanted to keep it overnight to see if it would act up for them. It is now 2pm two days later and the mechanic claims there is still no issue, he said they have let it run all morning and it is fine. This has become ridiculous, especially when I see so many others with the same complaint, yet nothing being done. Help, NHTSA!

- Madera, CA, USA

problem #3

Aug 032014

Elantra

  • 11,500 miles
On July 18, 2014, my 2013 Hyundai Elantra ran into a subway restaurant at 12150 S. cicero, alsip, il. I was going into the subway parking lot, my goal was to park, but my car did not stop when I put on my brakes. My car kept going; it drove over the sidewalk, through the scrubs, and hit the building head on. Hitting the building is what stopped my vehicle, my air bag did not deploy. I then put on the brakes, put it in reverse and backed off the building, backing into the parking place that I was originally going into to park. Once my car was parked, it began to smoke. I got out of the car, looked at the damage to my car and the subway building, called my insurance company, state farm and my son. The 2 employees in the subway, called the police and the subway restaurant owner.

- Alsip, IL, USA

problem #2

Apr 102014

Elantra 4-cyl

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle suddenly decelerated to 25 mph and the traction warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted and resumed normal operation. The failure occurred on several occasions. The dealer was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. Updated 08/11/14 updated 08/23/2017

- Terre Haute, IN, USA

problem #1

Aug 122013

Elantra

  • 2,100 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to safely pull over and restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 2,100.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

Not what you are looking for?