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:
3 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,951 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.
Vehicle keeps shutting off/ stalling. First dealer claimed it was a yaw rate sensor. Sensor was changed and did not solve issue. It was also experiencing fuel pump problems, gas would leak when filling and gas would not calculate mileage or update. Second dealer did not see a fuel pump problem. Now believes its a ECM problem. They did not want to cover it under warranty.
"takata recall" 2013 Elantra will disperse a huge cloud of smoke when accelerating quickly making it impossible for drivers behind me to see. This happens intermittently but most often when pulling out onto a busy highway making it incredibly unsafe for people behind me. There is so much smoke it takes about 30 seconds to a minute to for me to see the cars behind me. There are numerous complaints on line about this and videos of it happening. Dealer told me it was because of an overflow of oil because I was getting oil changes outside the dealer. The deal changed my oil it continues to happen. Different dealers have different excuses of why this is happening. It's very dangerous for the drivers behind these vehicles and I am sure not good for the car.
While driving (roughly 55-60 mph) on hwy 50 to Tahoe the panoramic sunroof on my 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT spontaneously exploded. There was a loud shotgun sound which was followed by the glass of the sunroof falling between the cloth cover into the car on us. There was no rocks or giant pinecones near by that could have struck the car or caused the damage.
While driving on the turnpike at 75 mph my car shut off completely. It jerked violently and then powered back on. This happened in the dark and I didn't have any lights either. This has happened a total of 4 times while driving at speeds of 70 or more. Prior to this the eps light came on I took it in dealer and they couldn't find anything wrong with the car. I haven't taken in to the dealer as it will need to be towed. It is not safe to drive.
The airbag light came on and stayed on - took to dealer to find out why - told the air bag control module needed replaced (code B1620) at a whopping cost of $1400! plus the $110 it cost me to have it diagnosed. I have a warranty however this safety issue is not covered and I find that very upsetting as there are many complaints on air bags not going off because of this unit! the car is 5 years old and has less than 100,000 miles on it. This should not go bad and if it does Hyundai should take care of it as it is a safety issue! how many people have to be seriously injured or worse die before Hyundai gets involved? its a safety issue that should be covered - obviously profits out weigh safety with them.
- Canal Fulton, OH, USA
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My daughter was driving home, city street, approximately 30 miles per hour, dry weather, 8 P.M., still daylight but indirect, approximately 70 degrees, heard a very loud explosion and was immediately showered with very sharp shards of glass.her infant daughter in the rear seat was not injured as her car seat cover protected her from the flying glass. My daughter received numerous small cuts from the glass. Original owner of the car, original equipment. She quickly closed the interior sunroof cover to prevent the remainder of the glass from raining onto herself and the baby. Pictures will be forthcoming when we can safely open the interior cover- we tried to do so to get a photo to submit but more glass shards came down on her, cutting her again
1. engine noise (knocking sound, ticking sound) 2. air conditioning system failed too early and replaced it around 45,000 miles. 3. axle boot (left side) grease leaked too early (around 50,000 miles) 4. inner fender (right side) tore down. Replaced 5. two bubble tires (we changed the tire eight months ago!) replaced 6. clicking sound on passenger side door when I changed the gear (50,200 miles) 7. engine mount replacement (35,570 miles)
Exploding sunroof while driving on a clear, sunny, 70 degree day on a smooth interstate at 60 mph, right lane about to exit, scared me half to death. Saw absolutely nothing around me that could have hit me and not knowing what, quickly slowed to pull over on shoulder before my destined exit, where I determined on a highway of fast moving cars, that my forward piece sunroof was shattered. Had car towed as I didn't want more flying glass on hwy. Original owner for 25000 miles, garage kept and have taken care of minor recalls to date. My Elantra GT model is close to velostar, both similar with full panoramic sunroofs, which I understand has had roof recalls since. Elantras have not? dealer denied this being anything but a fluke and first examined for a rock or bullet, which was never found. I provided my insurance info. While it has since been verbally represented to me by dealer that manufacturer would do the right thing by me and waive the one month purportedly beyond 5 yr warranty and replace, car is still with dealer one week later as mechanic having difficulty with install. Glass still in track rendering it immovable I've been told, still working on it although initially suggested a one day job after part came. I have no car 1 week later, no loaner allowed from dealer no info on completion. Dealers need to be educated on this defect they seem to deny, their mechanics trained and public notified of this concern. I also don't expect to purchase a car they don't know how to later fix. I was lucky my inner slide was closed as glass pieces floated on top. The effects on my nervous system remain. The main inner part of the glass disappeared on the highway; never saw where in my rear view. Hope no one behind me suffered which I never did see. Chp was informed. Help do the right thing by the public safety and recall these explosive monsters.
When attempting to start vehicle the "P" does not show in the information panel and the car will not start. Vigorous shaking of the gear selector sometimes allows the "P" to illuminate and then the car will start. The vehicle is not in motion and has been parked in garage. This started in October and happens more and more frequently.
My vehicle had an ongoing water leak into the rear hatch area and under into the spare tire area under the carpet/removal floor. The leak could not be traced for months and came and went. Finally from another owners help we traced it to the panoramic sunroof. The outer plastic "frame" that helps support and fit the sunroof to the car cracked on the passenger side rear. It was approximately above the rear seat headrest or just behind it under the headliner. Dropping the headliner was necessary to find the crack and leak. If the car sat on a slight incline with the rear of the car at the lowest point about.5" of water would accumulate into the spare tire area over time. Granted the amount of water that leaked in depended on how much it rained and for how long. Also during this same time that the leak was ongoing, the sunroof would make excessive creaking and noise when driving over uneven pavement. I cant help but assume that the crack was either developing or already present while the noise was heard. The sunroof ended up being replaced under warranty.
Driving on the interstate when a loud explosive sound like a gunshot occurred. The car shook violently, I thought I had been hit, although nothing had been close to me. When I realized I was still driving on all four tires and not flipping end for end, though the wheel was still vibrating violently, I felt glass raining down on my head and there was extensive air noise. I looked up and almost all the entire panoramic sunroof was gone, and what was left was falling on my head. The road was smooth, there was no overpass near, and no cars were in my immediate vicinity. I pulled off the interstate and called the dealership.
My car intermittently won't start. It happened for the third time in 10-11 months just two days ago and is in the shop again. The shop hasn't been able to find anything wrong with it, but the lights have never been left on nor has a door been left ajar because it wouldn't allow me to set the alarm if this were the case and the alarm has been set correctly each time. Last time this happened, 6 months ago, they performed a test on the battery and it tested poor so they replaced it convinced that was it, though I told them I didn't think that was the issue with it. Now, one of my warranties has timed out, but it did the same thing again with a brand new battery. I did a search and someone pointed me to this website because others have had this issue with it. I am trying to figure out the best way to get the dealership to correctly identify what the issue is so it can be fixed once and for all. I have seen, in the search I did, that others mentioned things like the shift interlock, range switch, faulty rain sensor, shifter assembly, or shifter assembly cable. I am wondering if this is a common complaint with this car? the car was sitting in my garage and had been driven with no issues less than 24 hours before. It was so dead it wouldn't even unlock using the key fab. I used the key to unlock the door, no lights went on, it was completely dead. When the tow truck came, they hooked it up to the charger to be able to move it out of the garage onto the truck and within just a few seconds the car's lights turned on and the alarm started going off. He was able to start it and drive it onto the truck then with no issues. I have invoices from the past showing what tests were performed, but essentially they have tested the alternator and starter and said they tested for a parasitic draw, but so far the only actual fix they have done is to replace the battery 6 months ago.
Over the past two years the car will get shifted into drive and a blank space will go where the D is supposed to next to the speedometer. Upon stopping and trying to park, the gear shifter gets stuck in neutral and will not move to park. You must restart the car in neutral just to put it in park. This has happened at least three times in the past two years.
The car intermittently won't start. Sometimes it starts on the second attempt. Sometimes on the fifth. So far, I haven't had to have it towed, but I never know when this is going to happen. I've taken it to the dealer twice and an independent car shop once, and they haven't been able to fix the problem. There are many complaints online about this happening; a recall is needed.
10/2015 vehicle stalled, when putting car in park and turning engine off, interior/exterior lights flickered until car died, would not restart. Interior soaked from headliner down windshield, behind dash to floor, water marks down door windows, door panels to floor, carpet wet rollin down under dash, seats moist, interior glovebox moist. Vehicle was found to have crack in panoramic sunroof frame and was fixed under warranty, service could not duplicate stalling. 12/2015 filed a claim with manufacturer, vehicle dead or stalling continued, vehicle mildewed. 6/2016 on interstate 70mph car shut off steering locked up, then started after a period of time, engineer came 7/2016 several months after first seen made repairs attached. 4/2017 vehicle stalling again while diving, does not start immediately but will usually restart after sitting awhile. 52 plus days and currently ati service dept.sunroof opened and closes spontaneously, power seats work sporadically, driver passenger window opens spontaneously, rear light are intermittently dim.
Low to no visibility when reversing/backing up. The consumer stated the there was a very large blind spot looking in the mirror while reversing. The consumer would like to be advised on options concerning returning the vehicle to the dealership. Updated 07/10/2017
On or about 10/20/2016 my car all of a sudden would not start, I was working out in the field went into a patients home and the car as I turned the ignition key, nothing happened. The lights would come on and off. Called lutes Kia for service. They said it was battery put new battery in. The next day the exact same thing happened would not start, called lutes Kia after several days I was told they were not sure what was wrong and replaced the starter. I get my cars oil changed every 3000 miles, keep up on my maintenance. Electrical is affected something keeps shorting out head lights/ tail lights. I have receipts and service orders. It loses power on load and is very unstable. I have been pulled over several times because of the headlights and turns on when it wants to.
The engine of my 2013 Hyundai Elantra gls failed to start the morning of 1/3/17 while parked in the driveway. I turned the key in the ignition numerous times without success. The dash lights would illuminate, but the car wouldn't start or even try to turn over. After appx. 15 attempts, it finally started. I bought a new battery hoping that would fix problem. However, the problem repeated on 1/18/17, again while parked in driveway. After roughly 50 attempts to start the car and trying to wiggle the gear shift, it finally started. I then drove to the dealership and left the car with them overnight. The following day I was advised by the service department that since they could not get the car to duplicate the problem or trigger any diagnostic codes, they could not repair it or replace any parts. Fortunately, to date I have been in safe places during daylight hours when my car failed to start. However, I may not always be so fortunate and could possibly be stranded in a very vulnerable location in the future. Out of the 430 complaints listed against the 2013 Elantra on the NHTSA website, roughly 7% of the owners reported experiencing this identical problem. A further search of the internet reveals many, many more such complaints. One might believe that could indicate the existence of a widespread problem; yet, it does not appear that the manufacturer has issued any recalls or service bulletins specific to my vehicle model to address/fix this engine failure.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lawrence, KS, USA