RoadVitals

2013 Hyundai Equus

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest May 6, 2024
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Feb 29, 2016
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2013 Hyundai Equus, most frequently naming the driver assistance, other / unspecified and powertrain (other) categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 60 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance320.0%
  • Other / unspecified213.3%
  • Powertrain (other)213.3%
  • Brakes213.3%
  • Suspension213.3%
  • Fuel system16.7%
  • Electrical16.7%
  • Airbags16.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

Feb 29, 2016
18,700 units potentially affected
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2012 Genesis vehicles manufactured August 1, 2011, to April 30, 2012, and 2011-2013 Equus vehicles manufactured July 10, 2011, to June 12, 2012. The windshield wiper motor cover seal on the affected vehicles may degrade allowing corrosion on the wiper motor's circuit board. The corrosion can cause intermittent or total loss of wiper function.
The risk: Inoperative wipers during inclement weather can decrease driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper motor cover and seal, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 140.
Hyundai Motor AmericaManufacturer number 140View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

ElectricalSteering
Filed May 6, 2024

Tilt/telescopic functions just stopped working. Replaced switch, and module and still not working. Dealer now wants $10k for a new dash wiring harnesses. Found TSB for similar issue on sister vehicle (Genesis). Not sure if that needs to be expanded to this vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11587098
Incident
Apr 29, 2024
Brakes
Filed Apr 5, 2024

ABS light is on and diagnosed needs replaced shortly after purchased the car November 2022, and is ongoing and currently an issue 4/5/24. The original ABS began to go out, would have to pump the brakes to stop and would not always catch. I have concerns this would be closely related to your current recall and believe the 2013 Equus be considered for inclusion in this risk. [XXX] recalls?nhtsaId=23V651000 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11581385
Incident
Apr 5, 2024
Brakes
Filed Jan 27, 2023

When I press my brakes sometime I have to pump the pedal.

NHTSA ID
11503913
Incident
Nov 1, 2022
Airbags
Filed Mar 4, 2021
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 HYUNDAI EQUUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A STOP, A UNKNOWN TOYOTA CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE SPLEEN AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW LOT. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS.*DT*DT*JB*JB

NHTSA ID
11399101
Incident
Feb 17, 2021
Mileage
99,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 17, 2018

I WAS DRIVING ON I-85 S FROM NORTH CAROLINA WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR STARTS TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS DRAGGING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE FOR A FEW MORE EXITS TO SEE IF IT WOULD STOP. I GOT OFF AFTER FOUR EXITS, TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND CHECKED THE TIRES. NOTHING APPEARED WRONG. I WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES AND I STILL COULD NOT DETERMINE A PROBLEM SO, I RETURNED TO I-85 S. THE PROBLEM HAD STOPPED. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN SUDDENLY THE DRAGGING FEEL BEGAN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD TO RETURN WHEN/IF THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR IN THE CITY BUT PERIODICALLY IT WOULD FEEL LOPSIDED AND IT WOULD DRAG. ONCE I TURNED THE CAR OFF, IT WOULD RESET ITSELF AND STOP DRAGGING AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES WHICH TURNED INTO SEVERAL HOURS. ONE DAY, IT FELT SO LOPSIDED, I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT IT AGAIN. THIS TIME, I NOTICED THE BACK WAS ALMOST SITTING ON THE TIRE. I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP.THE SERVICE MAN SAW THE PROBLEM BUT BY THE TIME HE PULLED INTO A STALL, THE PROBLEM HAD FIXED ITSELF. I WAS TOLD THERE ARE OFTEN PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT AIR SPRINGS BUT THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. SINCE THE BODY OF THE CAR WAS BASICALLY SITTING ON THE TIRE, THE TIRE COULD HAVE BECOME FLAT OR STOPPED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
11120749
Incident
Jun 20, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 1, 2016

SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR I HAVE EXPERIENCED HESITATION AT TIMES WHEN I STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR DOESN'T RESPOND FOR 1-2 SECONDS AND I HAVE TO HIT THE ACCELERATOR VERY HARD TO MAKE IT CATCH AND MOVE FORWARD. IT IS INTERMITTENT BUT WHEN I AM TRYING TO GET INTO TRAFFIC IT IS VERY SCARY. I HAVE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES BUT HAVE RECEIVED NO CORRECTIVE ACTION AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO HESITATE.

NHTSA ID
10823417
Incident
Jan 31, 2016
Other / unspecified
Filed Sep 26, 2015

.WE HAVE HAD 3 BLOWOUTS ,ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.THE TIRES ARE CONTINENTAL ,275/40/19.THE FIRST ONE WAS IN,NEW JERSEY,DRIVING AT APPROX 35-40MPH,APPROX WITH10K WEAR ONTHE TIRE.TIRE WAS REPLACED AT BRAD BENSON RTE 1,NJ.THE SECOND BLOWOUT WAS IN MAY 2015 WITH ABOUT 20K ONTHE TIRE IN MIAMI,FL,SPEED 35MPH..TIRE WAS RELACED AT DEL RAY HYUNDAI RTE 1FL.THE THIRD BLOWOUT WAS IN MARYLAND ON I95 ,SEPT 18,2015,WITH 23K WEAR ON THE TIRE.APPROX SPEED 70-75MPH.TIRE WAS REPLACED,AT BEL AIR HYUNDAI MD.THE MGR MALCOLM DUNCAN,TEL.NO.410-838-0222 AT BEL AIR HAS TAKEN PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE TO THE TIRE.HE WOULD WELCOME AN INQUIRYAS TO WHY THIS TIRE FAILED.IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE TIRE THEY HAD TO CUT THE TIRE BY HAND OFF THE WHEEL.ON EACH OCCASION WE DID NOT HIT ANY DEBRIS.I HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI,EQUUS,ON EACH OCCASION, ABOUT THESE INCIDENTS ,SO THAT THEY MIGHT RECONSIDER USING THESE TIRES ON THEIR CARS.I I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED CONTINENTAL TIRE ,INFORMING THEM OF THE INCIDENTS.I WAS MET BY TOTAL COMPLACENCY,ABOUT THE INCIDENTS.ON EACH OCCASION THEY OFFERED ME MILEAGE ADJUSTMENT TOWARDS A NEW TIRE.I AM HAVING THE FOURTH TIRE REPLACED ON SEPT30,AS I NO LONGER TRUST THESE TIRES.I THINK THAT THEIR SHOULD BE SOME INVESTIGATION AS TO WHY THESE TIRES FAILED,AT VARIOUS TIMES AND SPEEDS.THESE TIRES WERE ALL ORIGINAL TIRES FROM HYUNDAI.

NHTSA ID
10777816
Incident
Sep 18, 2015
Mileage
10,000 mi
Driver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 20, 2015

I WOULD LIKE THIS EMAIL FORWARDED TO THE CEO OF HYUNDAI USA OR WHO EVER CAN HELP A CUSTOMER WHO HAS PURCHASED AN EQUUS. I REFUSE TO SPEAK WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AS THEY ARE TOTALLY USELESS AND DON'T UNDERSTAND MY CONCERNS. MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE KEIFFER HYUNDAI SHOP FOR NOW GOING ON 5 MONTHS. TO THIS DAY YOU HAVE SPENT OVER $30,000.00 ON PARTS AND LABOR ON MY CAR AND YET TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON. MY QUESTIONS IS - ARE YOU USING MY CAR AS A TEST BED IF SO THEN WHY AM I PAYING $575.00 PER MONTH LOAN ON MY CAR WHEN YOU SHOULD BE DOING THAT. THE SERVICE DEPT. MANAGER IS ALSO VERY FRUSTRATED IN HOW YOU ARE HANDLING THIS. IF I GOT AN EQUUS TO DRIVE WHILE YOU ARE FIXING MINE THEN I WOULD NOT BE COMPLAINING - BUT I HAVE HAD EVERYTHING EXCEPT THAT - ELANTRA AND SANTA FE. I HAVE ASKED YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE TO HELP BUY BACK MY CAR AND THEY REFUSE. I HAVE ASKED TO EXCHANGED MY CAR AND THEY ALSO REFUSED. WHAT IS NEXT??? WHEN WILL I GET MY CAR BACK??? HOW LONG IS TOO LONG WHEN IT COMES TO CUSTOMER NOT HAVING THEIR CAR. IF I HAD A CHANCE I REPORT THIS ALL OVER. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN LIMA, OH THEREFORE IT WAS CHECKED OUT ... WHY DID A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP SELL ME A LEMON??? *TR

NHTSA ID
10700759
Incident
Nov 1, 2014
Mileage
12,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

DTN DL

AIR BAGS

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehicle manufacturers and have primarily been found in vehicles that previously experienced a crash and underwent airbag replacement using non-genuine parts. These dangerous inflators have ruptured during deployment, posing a serious risk of injury or death due to metal fragments entering the vehicle cabin. To date, Hyundai is aware of three people who have died while driving a Hyundai vehicle with one of these substandard replacement airbag inflators that deployed in what likely would have been a survivable crash. NHTSA has issued a public advisory urging vehicle owners and service professionals to have vehicles inspected if there is reason to believe that a non-genuine replacement airbag may have been installed. Vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles, prior airbag deployments, or unknown repair histories may present a higher risk. NHTSA strongly cautions against self-inspection by vehicle owners and recommends inspection by trained technicians.

DTN DCS

AIR BAGS

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been identified in U.S. vehicles following prior crashes, theft, or non‑certified airbag replacements. These inflators are not approved for use, may rupture during deployment, and have caused serious injuries and fatalities. Please see attached announcement, provided by NHTSA, for more details.

25-BD-012H TSB

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes or during normal driving operation.

24-AT-002H

POWER TRAIN

This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and replace, if necessary, an automatic transmission with Incorrect Ratio DTC (transmission clutch slip in gear above limit) listed on Page 2.

24-BD-001H

VISIBILITY; VISIBILITY/WIPER

This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. If the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert and rail spring becoming partially separated on the inner side of the wiper blade, which could lead to poor wiping performance and/or possible scratching of the windshield glass. Follow the procedure in this bulletin to properly remove the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all new wiper blades.

23-EM-005H

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Hyundai Equus by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017000
2016900
2015911
2014361141.8
2013Viewing101038.2
2012810
2011242053.4
2010000
2009000

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.