2013 Hyundai Elantra Reliability
The 2013 Hyundai Elantra has 1,331 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and steering. Compared with other Elantra model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Elantra's typical year, while the 2015 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
1,331
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Recall campaigns
95
Complaints citing a crash
31
Complaints citing a fire
2013 Hyundai Elantra complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2012 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 284 | 21% |
| Steering | 271 | 20% |
| Engine | 235 | 18% |
| Air bags | 169 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 155 | 12% |
| Unknown or other | 128 | 10% |
| Suspension | 99 | 7% |
| Wheels | 81 | 6% |
2013 Hyundai Elantra recalls
4 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V115000 | Apr 1, 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. |
| 16V574000 | Aug 2, 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… |
| 17V769000 | Nov 30, 2017 | Service brakes — 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… |
| 23V651000 | Sep 22, 2023 | Service brakes — 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…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
How the 2013 compares with nearby Elantra years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Elantra analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 461 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2012 | 676 | 4 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2013 (this page) | 1,331 | 4 | Service brakes | Avoid |
| 2014 | 387 | 2 | Engine | Caution |
| 2015 | 262 | 3 | Engine | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2013 Hyundai Elantra on the used market
- 46 of 1,148 2013 Hyundai Elantra listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2013 Hyundai Elantra
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 4 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2013 Hyundai Elantra can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2013 Hyundai Elantra reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
The 2013 Hyundai Elantra has 1,331 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and steering. Compared with other Elantra model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Elantra's typical year, while the 2015 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2013 Hyundai Elantra problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Hyundai Elantra are service brakes (284), steering (271), engine (235), air bags (169). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 Hyundai Elantra have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2013 Hyundai Elantra, including 13V115000 (air bags — side/window) and 16V574000 (exterior lighting — brake lights / switch). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 Hyundai Elantra compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 676 complaints and 4 recalls (avoid); the 2014 has 387 complaints and 2 recalls (caution). The 2013 has 1,331 complaints and 4 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 Hyundai Elantra?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Hyundai Elantra research
Other Hyundai Elantra model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2013 Elantra, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.