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#BS-2013-HYUELA-38C7

2013 Hyundai ElantraProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 1,865 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
1,865
Crashes
159
Fires
57
Recalls
4
TSBs
157
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 1,865 complaints, 159 crashes, 57 fires, and 4 recalls. Complaint rate is 5.2x the class average. This is the worst model year for this vehicle.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

brakes make grinding noise

47 complaints • Severity 6.9/10

$X,XXX
2

ticking in engine

43 complaints • Severity 7.8/10

$X,XXX
3

mpg not close to epa estimates

42 complaints • Severity 8.5/10

$X,XXX
4

engine wont turnover wont start

36 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
5

engine failure

32 complaints • Severity 9.1/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the BrakesHIGH

279 owners reported brakes issues — failures commonly reported around 44K miles.

!Inspect the SteeringMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

430
0–30K
267
30–60K
214
60–90K
137
90–120K
76
120–150K
37
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (430 reports) • Median: 44K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Brakes (279 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Brakes279 (15%)
Steering269 (14%)
Engine234 (13%)
Airbags168 (9%)
Electrical152 (8%)
Other124 (7%)
Wheels & Tires117 (6%)
Suspension95 (5%)

2013 Hyundai Elantra: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Brakes Issues

Brakes complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2013 Hyundai Elantra, with 279 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 44,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 44K-mile mark.

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2013 Hyundai Elantra, with 269 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to steering-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 2013 Hyundai Elantra, with 234 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2013 Hyundai Elantra, with 168 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

25
12
105
13
227
14
166
15
108
16
121
17
174
18
200
19
138
20
92
21
77
22
139
23
212
24
45
25
36
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2013 Hyundai Elantra. Recent trend: stable.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (4 recalls)

13V115000Apr 2013

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.

16V574000Sep 2016

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.

17V769000Jan 2018

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 continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.

23V651000Park OutsideApr 2024

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 Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2013 Hyundai Elantra NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (4)

1 investigation still open: NHTSA is examining whether a defect warrants a recall.

AQ23002OpenOpened Nov 2023

Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

DP21003ClosedOpened Nov 2021 · closed Jun 2023

Throttle control system vulnerabilities

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:THROTTLE

EA12008ClosedOpened Sep 2012 · closed Dec 2013

Headliner Bracket Detachment

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

EA21003ClosedOpened Dec 2021 · closed Feb 2024

Engine Fires

ENGINE

This is the worst model year for the Hyundai Elantra according to owner complaint data. The biggest problem area is engine.

2013 Hyundai Elantra vs. Class Average (Midsize Cars)

This vehicle

1,865

Class avg

358

5.2x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical midsize cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,865 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Hyundai Elantra Model Years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992
View all Hyundai Elantra years →

2013 Hyundai Elantra: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2013 Hyundai Elantra?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2013 Hyundai Elantra is related to the brakes, with 279 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2013 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
The 2013 Hyundai Elantra has 1,865 complaints, 159 crash reports, and 57 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 5.2x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2013 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA rates the 2013 Hyundai Elantra 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2013 Hyundai Elantra problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2013 Hyundai Elantra have any recalls?
Yes, the 2013 Hyundai Elantra has 4 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Hyundai Elantra problems start?
Based on 1161 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 44,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2013 Hyundai Elantra data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,865 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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