Car Issues Tracker
Vehicle complaints, recalls & safety data — sourced from NHTSA

2013 Hyundai Elantra: Complaints, Recalls, and Known Problems

Owners have filed 1,324 safety complaints about the 2013 Hyundai Elantra with U.S. regulators. Here's what the federal data shows, system by system.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · Retrieved July 14, 2026 · Counts change as new reports are filed

1,324
Complaints
4
Recalls
4
Investigations

Complaints for this vehicle report 95 crashes, 30 fires, 68 injuries. No deaths have been reported.

Key findings
  1. Brakes & stability leads the complaint list, cited in 314 of 1,324 complaints, followed by Steering.
  2. Complaints peaked 11 years after the model year (158 filed in 2024) — a pattern consistent with wear-out failures rather than assembly defects.
  3. 4 NHTSA defect investigations are associated with this vehicle.

What owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA name the vehicle system involved. For the 2013 Hyundai Elantra, here is how reports break down by system.

Complaints by vehicle system
System mentions in 1,324 complaints · a complaint can cite more than one system
Brakes & stability
314
Steering
271
Engine & cooling
237
Airbags & restraints
176
Electrical
155
Other / unspecified
133
Visibility & lighting
116
Wheels & tires
110

"Brake failure. Corroded brake lines. There is a recall in Canada for this model year for the same exact issue [XXX] ). Why did NHTSA not force a recall for the same issue at least in cold-weather states? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)"

Owner complaint filed May 2025 · Service Brakes · NHTSA ODI 11663905

"I was never informed through mail, email, or phone call about a potential fire hazard safety recall from Hyundai. In turn, due to my unawareness of the recall, my 2013 Elantra’s ABS pump had caught on fire, melted into the control module, and melted the ABS electrical harness to the module, short circuiting the ECU and starter as well."

Owner complaint filed October 2024 · Electrical System,Service Brakes,Engine · NHTSA ODI 11619075

Complaints didn't fade — they kept coming

For most vehicles, complaint volume spikes early and tapers off. The 2013 Hyundai Elantra inverts that curve — filings peaked in 2024, 11 years after the model year.

Complaints filed per year — 2013 Hyundai Elantra
Year the complaint was filed, not the incident year
18
71
146
112
77
88
122
152
93
71
53
110
158
35
18
121314151617181920212223242526
2026 is a partial year (through July 14, 2026). A late peak is the signature of wear-out failures: parts that don't fail until the vehicle has years and miles on it.

Recall history: 4 recalls

4 recalls apply to some or all 2013 Hyundai Elantra vehicles. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit.

Apr 201313V-115
Air Bags:Side/Window

Hyundai Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured from November 12, 2010, through March 5, 2013. A support bracket attached to the headliner may become displaced during a side curtain airbag deployment.

Aug 201616V-574
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model 2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured December 1, 2012, to April 30, 2013. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released.

Nov 201717V-769
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Elantra sedan, coupe and GT vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continu…

Sep 202323V-651
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Br…

Does your car have an open recall?

Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit. Look up your 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA site to see open recalls for your specific vehicle. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov →

Frequently asked questions

How many complaints does the 2013 Hyundai Elantra have?

As of July 14, 2026, owners have filed 1,324 complaints about the 2013 Hyundai Elantra with NHTSA. The most-reported system is brakes & stability.

How many recalls does the 2013 Hyundai Elantra have?

The 2013 Hyundai Elantra has 4 NHTSA recalls on file. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.

Methodology & source

All figures come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public APIs: the Office of Defects Investigation complaint database, the recalls database, and NCAP safety ratings, retrieved July 14, 2026.

Complaints are self-reported by consumers and are not verified by NHTSA or by this site. A single complaint may cite multiple vehicle systems, so system mentions can sum to more than the complaint total. Complaint volume is influenced by fleet size, media attention, and recall notices, and is not by itself a measure of defect rates.

This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Nothing here is repair, purchase, or legal advice. For your specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and consult a qualified technician.