2013 Hyundai Elantra Exterior lighting Problems

My brake lights are not functioning. The fuses and bulbs are good and others have had this same issue occurring

NHTSA ID

11740525

Incident

May 28, 2026

Break light keeps going out no matter how many time I get the light changed. Got the harness changed last year and that did not help either.

NHTSA ID

11697889

Incident

Dec 31, 1969

After the recall at Hyundai, my car wouldn't run and there were many lights on the dashboard. It was later checked and the instability light problem persisted. They fixed on the same time, and say something problem with the update. They later informed me that I have a problem with the brake switch, and the brake lights don't work because of it. I replaced and doesn’t work, I went back to the store and they want me to pay a fee to have it analyzed again. Even though before the recall, the lights and the car were working perfectly.

NHTSA ID

11681766

Incident

Aug 16, 2025

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the brake pedal stopper was fractured, causing the brake lights to remain illuminated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where an unknown diagnosis and an unknown repair were completed; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 199,500.

NHTSA ID

11606692

Incident

Jul 12, 2024

Mileage

199,500 mi

Blinkers hyper flash with head lights off, get stuck on one direction. dont work when head lights are on. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM with this car and it is known but nothing has ever been done.

NHTSA ID

11511532

Incident

Mar 13, 2023

The vehicle brake lamps, both left/right and center continually burn out. The bulbs burn out every few months. The tail lamps remain lit, but the stop lamps burn out regularly. There seems to be a recurring problems with this make and model. Hyundai must be aware as this safety issue presents a crash hazards. Non functioning brake lamps.

NHTSA ID

11500629

Incident

Jan 7, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact became aware that after it rained, there was water inside the driver’s and passenger’s side rear taillights assembly, causing the bulbs to become inoperable. The contact replaced the light bulbs. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that there was no recall regarding the failure. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 38,000.

NHTSA ID

11498685

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

Mileage

38,000 mi

I have had multiple headlights, turn lights and brake lights burn out - started less than a year of car ownership; with at least one outage every 2-3 months - both driver and passenger, and rear lights. Not just bulb replacements, I’ve had Expensive replacements for harnesses on both sides too, but issue keeps returning. Currently driver brake light went out, can’t see a Hyundai mechanic for another month due to they and surrounding Hyundai dealers are fully booked. The car is faulty. I am the original owner.

NHTSA ID

11484516

Incident

Sep 13, 2022

Good

NHTSA ID

11483567

Incident

Sep 7, 2022

Driver side airbag dash light goes on and off (mostly on). No accident or previous deployment of the airbag. Also, while under warranty the tail light and break light wiring was replaced as they would burn out approx. every 6 months. One light after another: tail light, break light, blinker, etc. It's happening again... seems to be a wiring or component issue. Have to keep bulbs in the car with me at all times.

NHTSA ID

11438582

Incident

Aug 1, 2021

I am having trouble with the exterior lights on my vehicle. That includes brake lights, tail lights, head lights, turn signals (front and rear). I am constantly replacing them as one or several are always out. My safety and/or the safety of others are put at risk because of no brake lights, someone may rear end me, or having difficulty seeing in front of me at night when head lights fail. I've taken my vehicle to several different locations to have my bulbs changed, and I've also changed a few myself. There is no way to know when a brake light is out, unless I'm getting an oil change, as I did today, and had to pay to have two more bulbs replaced, and thankfully he was kind enough to charge the 3rd at no cost. I've also been pulled over to let me know my bulbs weren't working, or having random people in traffic let me know.

NHTSA ID

11427525

Incident

Aug 2, 2021

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THE LICENSE PLATE BULBS IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE LICENSE PLATE BULB HOUSING, AS WELL AS THE OUTER TAIL LAMP HOUSINGS, SHOWED EVIDENCE OF THE INTERNAL PLASTICS MELTING. IT APPEARS THAT THE HEAT FROM THE LAMPS WAS ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE HOUSINGS AND INTERNAL LENSE PLASTICS TO HEAT BEYOND THE GLASS TRANSITION TEMPERATURE OF THE PLASTICS UTILIZED BY HYUNDAI. BOTH OUTER TAIL LAMP HOUSINGS AND LICENSE PLATE BULB HOUSES WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE DAMAGED. THE ORIGINAL BULBS WERE ALL CHECKED TO ENSURE THEY WERE CORRECT PER THE VEHICLE MANUAL, WHICH THEY WERE.

NHTSA ID

11413865

Incident

Mar 5, 2020

Mileage

107,400 mi

SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN 2013, WE HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE PARKING LIGHTS, AND SOMETIMES HEADLIGHTS, COMING BACK ON AFTER BEING OFF FOR SEVERAL HOURS OR WE WAKE UP TO HAVING A DEAD BATTERY. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER AND OVER. IN 2013 I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED FOR SAME PROBLEM AND/OR DEAD BATTERY. NEVER HAPPENED AT DEALERSHIP. OUR SECURITY CAMERA HAS CAUGHT IT POPPING ON, OR LIKE YESTERDAY, OUT NEIGHBOR CALLED US (AGAIN) TO TELL US LIGHTS WERE ON. THIS IS WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ALL THE WAY OFF. WE HAVE TRIED TO FIGURE IT OUT BUT CAN NOT. I DID REPORT AGAIN TO HYUNDAI THIS PAST FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL 2021. AGAIN, THE CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF EVERY SINGLE TIME WITH LIGHTS CONFIRMED OFF TO ONLY COME ON LATER WITH CAR OFF AND STILL LOCKED. IT HAS TO HAVE KEY IN IT TO START.

NHTSA ID

11413675

Incident

Feb 26, 2021

BRAKES DON'T WANT TO STOP EVEN AFTER I'VE GOT THEM REPAIRED BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT EVEN AFTER THE BULBS HAS BEEN REPLACED

NHTSA ID

11384881

Incident

Feb 1, 2020

Mileage

88,000 mi

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 HAD TO REPLACE SEVERAL EXTERIOR LIGHTS ( LIGHT BULBS) IN THE 7 YEARS I HAVE OWNED MY CAR, INCLUDING REAR BRAKE LIGHTS, REAR TURNING SIGNAL LIGHTS, REAR TAIL LIGHTS, AND FRONT HEADLIGHT BULBS. I CURRENTLY HAVE A LEFT SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHT THAT CONTINUES TO GO OUT EVERY 3-6 MONTHS, JUST HAD IT REPLACED BY MY AUTO SHOP 3-4 MONTHS AGO WITH INSPECTION OF THE WIRING TO THAT LIGHT (FOUND TO BE OK).

NHTSA ID

11350227

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

SINCE I OWNING THIS CAR I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH ALL LIGHTS. BOTH HEADLIGHT LAMPS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A DEFECT. ALSO I HAD BEEN REPLACING TAIL, BRAKE, AND TURNING SIGNAL LIGHTS AT EVERY OIL CHANGE BECAUSE ONE OR THE OTHER WILL BE OUT. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THIS MANY BULBS ON ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED. THIS OIL CHANGE JUNE 27, 2020 I HAD 3 BULBS OUT BREAK, TAIL LIGHT AND PARKING LIGHT ALL OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THIS HAS BEEN AND FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE AN ON GOING PROBLEM NOT TO MENTION THE COST EVERYTIME THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEM LIGHT ARE NOT CHEAP. *TR

NHTSA ID

11331656

Incident

Jun 29, 2020

Mileage

3,000 mi

THE PARKING LIGHT COME ON RANDOMLY. EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH IT TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. THIS CAUSES THE BATTERY TO RUN DOWN. THE ONLY WAY TO SHUT THEM OFF IS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY CABLE. WHEN 1ST NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR THREE DAYS. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I FIRST NOTICED IT. SEVERAL OTHER HYUNDAI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. MOSTLY WITH PARKING LIGHTS , BUT A FEW SAID IT WAS THEIR BRAKE LIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

11331124

Incident

Jun 23, 2020

Mileage

96,000 mi

I HAVE OWNED MY 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA SINCE MARCH 2019. AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SIGNAL LIGHT 2 TIMES. AND BRAKE LIGHTS 2 TIMES. IS THIS A NORMAL THING WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

11327841

Incident

May 12, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED OFF AND ON WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLAMP SWITCH HAD TO BE MANIPULATED BY HAND FOR THE HEADLAMPS TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULBS WERE REPLACED QUITE OFTEN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TAILLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, WHERE THE REAR THIRD BRAKE LAMP WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11322411

Incident

Sep 20, 2018

Mileage

90,000 mi

BRAKE LIGHT REPLACED COUNTLESS TIMES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. IT CONTINUES TO BURN OUT.

NHTSA ID

11301194

Incident

Oct 24, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

I HAVE REPLACED EVERY LIGHT IN THE REAR OF THIS CAR OVER AND OVER FOR THE PAST YEAR. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT ACTUALLY MELTED. I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH REAR LIGHTS IN A CAR.

NHTSA ID

11286446

Incident

Jul 23, 2019

Mileage

129,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULBS WOULD FAIL TO ILLUMINATE EVERY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS. ALSO, THE TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK EVEN WITH THE NEW BULBS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V769000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11268443

Incident

Oct 2, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

BRAKE LIGHT IS STAYING ON AT ALL TIMES. I EVEN REPLACED THEM AND ONE STILL STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES

NHTSA ID

11267817

Incident

Oct 10, 2019

BRAKE LIGHTS ALL BURNT OUT AT THE SAME TIME INCLUDING THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT - REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR AND ALL LIGHT BULBS - WAS NOTIFIED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK - THE COST FOR REPAIR WAS $135.00 - I CAN SEE MAYBE 1 LIGHT OUT BUT NOT ALL BRAKE LIGHTS OUT AT THE SAME TIME

NHTSA ID

11265339

Incident

Sep 27, 2019

Mileage

95,000 mi