2013 Hyundai Elantra Driver assistance Problems

Car developed a sudden loss of power. Would start, although roughly (took a couple of times to start), then once shifted into Drive, the engine was very sluggish, like it was stuck in a lower gear. Upon stopping and restarting the engine, the problem would sometimes resolve and the car could be driven normally, however it felt unsafe to drive at normal speeds. No warning signs appeared. After consulting with a family member with this same year and model of Hyundai Elantra, it was suggested that the crankshaft position sensor might be at fault. After researching online, we discovered that this is a common issue with 2011-2016 Elantras with a 1.8 liter engine. (Reddit forums, also this link: [XXX] ). After trying transmission and other fluid flushes without luck, we took the car to a local Hyundai dealer. They said they were unable to replicate the issue but we told them to please replace the crankshaft position sensor, which they finally did. We were charged a total of $711.40 for this repair of a simple part. Please note, another Hyundai dealer in town replaced this part for my brother's vehicle free of charge. This should be a recall item for this vehicle and it should be replaced for free. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11740674

Incident

Feb 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while in the process of parking the vehicle at the residence and driving 1-5 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle unintendedly accelerated and hit another unoccupied parked vehicle, causing the other vehicle to move 50-60 ft. away. The rear end of the other vehicle was damaged, and the front end of the contact's vehicle was damaged. The air bags did not deployed. There was no injury sustained. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

NHTSA ID

11672334

Incident

Jul 7, 2025

Mileage

72,000 mi

In the winter of 2024 I became aware, during a routine pre-trip inspection under the hood of my 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT, that the level of brake fluid was low enough not to be visible in the "overflow" container. About a quarter of a quart of brake fluid was then added. I then began checking the brake fluid level often and noticed that over time, I had to add brake fluid at least once a week. The problem increased to the point that I was going through a quart of brake fluid each month. In the meantime, I attempted to get various mechanics to find the leak but had a hard time convincing anyone I was leaking brake fluid as THERE WAS NEVER A WARNING LAMP OR MESSAGE ACTIVATED. After paying for other "suggested" repairs such as replacing brakes the leak continued and at times the brakes became squishy until finally a mechanic acknowledged a leak coming from the area of the ABS module actuator which he said was "fried". My car had to be in a Hyundai shop 90 miles away for three weeks awaiting the ABS actuator part and repairs as I was advised the vehicle was dangerous and I could lose the use of my brakes. Again, this issue would have never been highlighted if I had not been diligent about checking the brake fluid and could have ended with much more serious consequences than inconvenience and expense. Again, there was never a warning light indicator to emphasize a potential hazard.

NHTSA ID

11608706

Incident

Feb 1, 2024

We received the recall notice, advising us to call Hyundai to make an appointment to correct the safety problem. We made an appointment to fix the problem at their Richmond, CA location. When we went there, they told us that they could not fix it because their system was down. We made another appointment in Vacaville, CA. When we arrived there on the day of the appointment, they told us that their system was down. We do not know what to do now.

NHTSA ID

11604623

Incident

Jul 20, 2024

- Brake and fuel leak smell - yes - yes - no - no

NHTSA ID

11580416

Incident

Sep 10, 2023

I’m having issues with braking and steering and I have made complaints to Hyundai and they have failed me they brush it off as though I need a new car but there are dangerous issues with this car. I also notified Hyundai Corporate Office on several occasions and a case manager by the name of Jose didn’t help at all nothing was resolved he only left voice messages and nothing was done.

NHTSA ID

11574974

Incident

Oct 20, 2023

FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THIS RECALL IS NOW 5 MONTHS OLD WITH NO REMEDY AVAILABLE. As a senior citizen I am not confident driving this vehicle with the possibility of a fire while driving. I would like someone to put pressure on Hyundai to get this remedied quickly. I have another vehicle but I should not have to NOT drive this vehicle. I want my vehicle fixed!

NHTSA ID

11574673

Incident

Feb 29, 2024

Car has a ticking sound, car has died on me multiple times. The vehicle has stopped moving regardless of pressing on accelerator and died leaving me stranded, feeling unsafe. I have been driving at 40 mph and then seem to lose power, making it to where can only go 10 to 20 mph or totally dying. I was also having issues with key fobs not working. Door would open, unlock and then not, car stalling. No lights illuminating on dash. Battery in fob replaced after car being towed to shop after stalling, dying issue and I was basically told they didn't know what was up with the stalling, maybe fobs. I had an oil change done and full diagnostic, sent on way without answers. Happened again, electrical issues, fob not working, stalling, start hesitation and dying, no power. I had it towed to different shop and was told had couple of codes showing up even though no check engine light on, they stated a caliper was leaking along with other oil leak and crankshaft sensor needed replaced, which got fixed. The car has 98000 miles on it (around there) and I see safety recall posted. I finance this car and have literally only had it not even 5 months. I do not feel safe driving it. I've been stranded, at times key fobs and locks act up on it still, the ticking is definitely a concern, RPMS off and revs up at times while also lacking pick up and go. I contacted my local Hyundai and they stated no resolution on safety recall yet, can schedule an appointment and pay for diagnostic, which would make my 3rd diagnostic over the last month or so. I need something remedied. I transport myself and at times my children and I do not feel safe in this vehicle which again purchased just about 5 months ago from Car Max. Help please!

NHTSA ID

11557215

Incident

Nov 1, 2023

The airbag light is on and no fuses are out and cruise control and other buttons on steering wheel is not working. If airbags are faulty or do not deploy it is a huge safety concern. Someone could be killed or extremely hurt. It has not been confirmed by a dealer but willing to take it in to be checked. It has not been checked yet by a professional. My warning lamps have been on for about two weeks now.

NHTSA ID

11533964

Incident

Jul 9, 2023

The driver owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra with 37,657 miles. While slowly turning left into a parking space, the car had a sudden acceleration event. The Elantra sped into the parking space and ran over two concrete parking spot blocks. The Elantra glanced off a grey pickup truck and scraped by a grey SUV. The Elantra entered the empty parking space opposite the SUV and proceeded to impact the side of a blue car in an adjacent spot. The blue car stopped the Elantra. Fortunately, the other affected vehicles were unoccupied and no pedestrians were present. The driver was wearing a seat belt and was not injured. The Elantra air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to the driver's residence and is available for inspection along with all maintenance records. A claim has been filed with insurance; the appraiser came yesterday. There was no warning or symptoms of a problem prior to the accident. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by anyone. The police came and helped identify the owners of the other vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11518091

Incident

Apr 17, 2023

Good

NHTSA ID

11483567

Incident

Sep 7, 2022

Sometime around last November or December, I took my vehicle for oil change and other services performed at Pep Boys, I was notified that all four tires are almost worn out and needs to be replaced. All four tires were replace sometime in December 2021 and they also did the wheel balance and wheel alignment. Around January 2022, while driving, I could feel the tightness on the steering wheel and also my car pulling left and at times crossing into the adjacent lane and was tough on the steering wheel to bring it back to the previous lane. I informed Pep Boys and they carried out some tests and also did a wheel alignment at no cost. The problem hasn't been fixed, there's a knocking noise in the steering wheel and the car is still pulling right, there's also the sensor light flashing in the dashboard, which the mechanic at Pep Boys is unable to fix even after carrying out diagnostic tests. The vehicle is available for inspection, it has been inspected by Pep Boys, the warning lamp for the wheels is continuously flashing and Pep Boys has been unable to determine the course.

NHTSA ID

11450707

Incident

Jan 27, 2022

At approximately 35,000 to 45,000 miles my car started stopping violently on its own. It would jerk violently,make loud grinding and squealing noises and stop randomly on its own free will. This started happening repeatedly. Then after it would happen the car would not go when pressing the gas pedal. It would take quite a while before the car would get momentum back. This became very dangerous to myself and my kids. I purchased this car brand new. I got rid of it by trading it in at 78,000 miles. I contacted Hyundai and tried to resolve the issue and they were no help whatsoever.

NHTSA ID

11435389

Incident

Oct 4, 2021

I have an 8 year old 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT. For the past month I have had several incidences where the accelerator to the car does not work. This has occurred getting on the freeway, going up hills, attempting to "go" when stopped at a red light, etc. The accelerator virtually does not work even though my foot is pressed on the gas pedal to the floor board. There are not safety warnings on the dashboard to warn me of this malfunction. The check engine light has come on and off but not consistent with these episodes. I have taken the car to the Hyundai dealer for service and they have been unable to find the problem telling me the codes are all ok and that the technician drove the car several miles and could not replicate the problem. I have found several blogs and posts with the exact same problem I have been having. I cannot drive my car for fear of it not accelerating as I get onto the freeway with the cars honking at me as I have had to manually move my car out of oncoming traffic. I told the dealer when I took it in today not to give it back until they tell me what the problem is. I can't even trade it in knowing it is unsafe to drive due to the "mysterious" accelerator problem. The dealer states the problem could be due to many reasons but it will be cost prohibitive to attempt to just go through a list in an attempt to find the problem. I know there is no recall on this issue but it is a serious safety hazard. I don't know what to do.

NHTSA ID

11423664

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID

11416304

Incident

May 23, 2020

Mileage

90,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11390100

Incident

Dec 30, 2020

Mileage

55,000 mi

ONLY WHEN WET BRAKING STARTS TO MAKE NOISE AND ACT LIKE IT WANT STOP. IT HAS NEW BRAKES.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11385327

Incident

Dec 25, 2020

FOR THE BRAKES AND LIGHTING ISSUE, MY BRAKE LIGHTS GO BAD EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS AND NEED CHANGED. I BELIEVE THIS IS POSSIBLY TO DO WITH THE RECALL FOR BRAKES. I HAVE HAD PEOPLE ON MANY OCCASIONS STOP ME IN TRAFFIC TO LET ME KNOW AN ENTIRE SIDE OF LIGHTS WERE OUT AT ONCE. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER MORE THAN ONCE AS WELL FOR MY BRAKE LIGHTS IN THE FOUR YEARS I'VE HAD MY CAR. I ALWAYS KEEP SPARE LIGHTS IN MY CAR FOR THIS REASON. I CALLED A&B KIA, WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR, WHO SAID MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, WITH THE MANY ISSUES I'VE HAD WITH MY BRAKE LIGHTS I BELIEVE IT IS RELATED. MORE RECENTLY THAN MY BRAKES, MY CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING. WITHIN THE PAST YEAR IT HAS SLOWLY WENT FROM WORKING SOMETIMES TO NOT WORKING AT ALL. OTHER FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, SUCH AS VOLUME AND RADIO CONTROLS HAVE NOT BEEN AFFECTED.

NHTSA ID

11383253

Incident

Dec 1, 2019

I HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF CONTROL OF THIS VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, INCLUDING TODAY. AS I HAVE FAITHFULLY MAINTAINED MY CAR, I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THE DESIGN OF THE CAR IS THE ISSUE. SPECIFICALLY, WHEN I ATTEMPT TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE CAR WILL NOT BRAKE PROPERLY AND IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. TODAY, I EXPERIENCED THE CAR HYDROPLANE AND THANK GOODNESS NO OTHER CAR WAS IN FRONT OF ME OR ON THE SIDE BECAUSE IT TOOK ME AT LEAST TWO MINUTES BEFORE I COULD GAIN CONTROL AGAIN. THIS OCCURED WHEN I MADE A RIGHT TURN WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25MPH AND NO PUDDLES OF WATER WERE PRESENT. EARLY APRIL, I HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT WHERE I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES, ALTHOUGH MY BRAKES WERE REPLACED A FEW WEEKS PRIOR. BACK IN DECEMBER 2019, I HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY I-95 WHILE DRIVING HOME. I HAVE IT DOCUMENTED THROUGH AAA. MY TIRE BLEW AND THE CAR FAILED TO STOP. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER AND ADVISED WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY INSISTED MY TIRES AND BRAKES WERE FINE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE TODAY AND FOUND I AM NOT THE ONLY CUSTOMER EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. I SAW SEVERAL CUSTOMERS STATING THEY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ONE. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY TO THE POINT I NO LONGER WANT TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11351455

Incident

Aug 24, 2020

Mileage

88,000 mi

I HAD A ACCIDENT TRIED TO BRAKE QUICK MY BRAKES SKIPPED AND I ENDED UP HITTING A VAN BECAUSE I COULDN'T STOP

NHTSA ID

11349756

Incident

Aug 13, 2020

Mileage

144,000 mi

THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FOR THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) HAS BECOME DAMAGED THROUGH USAGE OVER TIME. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT EXPERIENCES A HIGH RESISTANCE CONDITION, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG TO NOT DEPLOY. THE CLOCK SPRING DEVELOPS HIGH RESISTANCE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES. HYUNDAI HAS ISSUED A RECALL/TSB FOR THE 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA SEDAN, BUT NOT THE HATCHBACK WHICH UTILIZES THE EXACT SAME PART. THE REPAIR COST IS ALMOST $500 AT THE DEALER AND BECAUSE THE REPAIR INVOLVES REMOVING THE AIRBAG AND REMOVING THE STEERING WHEEL IT POSES A SAFETY RISK FOR SHADE TREE MECHANICS. THE ATTACHED TSB SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO THE ELANTRA HATCHBACK AS WELL,

NHTSA ID

11348543

Incident

Aug 9, 2019

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER WORK. MANY OTHER ELANTRA OWNERS HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THEY WANT ME TO PAY TO FIX A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAGS AND IT HAPPENED BEFORE I HIT 60000 BUT COULDN'T GET IN UNTIL LATER SO THEY USED THAT TO NOT FIX IT ON THERE ON DIME.

NHTSA ID

11341010

Incident

Jun 4, 2018

Mileage

59,989 mi

I WAS GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY ON THE OFF RAMO AND CAME TO A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED GREEN MY CAR DIED AND I WAS IN LEFT TURN LANE. I COULDN'T MOVE THE CAR FORWARD. I DIDN'T HAVE AC AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

11324348

Incident

May 6, 2020

Mileage

102,100 mi

BRAKE LIGHTS KEEPS BURNING OUT CONSTANTLY AFTER REPLACING THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

11323776

Incident

May 3, 2020

Mileage

86,548 mi

THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT CAN'T GET POWER SHAKES SLOW TO ACCELERATE FOR HALF A BLOCK THEN ACCELERATION. IT'S HAPPENED 5 TIMES TODAY. OTHER DAYS IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S NOT RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND THEN DOES OK AFTER AWHILE. THIS HAPPENED WITH CAR IN PARK, BACKING UP, GOING FORWARD, 2 DIFFERENT STOPS AT LIGHTS AND 2 MORE STOPS TIL I GOT HOME.

NHTSA ID

11315884

Incident

Mar 3, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi