What 1,293 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Hyundai Elantra Gt

Starting in 2020, my 2013 Elantra GT, with very low mileage still less than 40K today , started to develop clicking sound when I turned the wheel. This year, the clicking sound is getting louder and more frequent. Today, I was advised by the mechanic who performed the required annual safety inspection that "steering wheel coupler" should be fixed ASAP. After doing some research this is a well known problem caused by the disintegration of the "steering wheel coupler" in the power steering motor. I received a quoted price of $599 from Hyundai Chantilly (dealer) in VA to fix it as it will take about 2.5 hours. I believe this Hyundai cross-models-cross-years wide issue should have been covered by the manufacturer extended warranty to avoid steering lockup accidents.

NHTSA ODI 11496817

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while his granddaughter was driving at an unknown speed, there was an abnormal clunking noise detected in the steering wheel. The contact stated that while he was driving there was a lot of play in the steering wheel and inside the vehicle. The vehicle was driving roughly, and he could feel the bumps in the road. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering coupler needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 122,007.

NHTSA ODI 11493995

My car only has low miles for the year. The coupling at the base of the steering shaft is loose causing me to not have full control over my steering. I especially feel it going over rough patches of road. It has affected my alignment causing the car to list right when straight. I’ve seen mechanic shops and they have seen the same issue many times with this year and make.

NHTSA ODI 11488757

My 2013 was stolen because of defective car . The manufacturer choose to sip safety for dollars they could have place a immobilizer in all Hyundai form 2011 until current but did not in the United States, but in Canada it is a must have item.

NHTSA ODI 11488343

My wife's car has had some play in the steering wheel for about 20,000 miles. It currently has 135,000+. I wrote it off as normal wear and tear. Recently it has started having a clunking noise and a little more play. I researched this and found that this is a common problem on a few years of Hyundai cars. It is the steering coupler in the steering motor on top of the steering column. I even saw posts that said that their vehicles steering had actually locked up while driving. I have tried contacting Hyundai motors themselves and all I get is an automated response. I have contacted the dealership and there is no recall or safety bulletin, or that's what I'm being told. It is a $10-$20 part but $400+ in labor to fix it. I don't have that kind of money laying around but I am scared to let my wife drive it more than a few miles. In my eyes this is a severe safety issue and think this should be taken very seriously by Hyundai but they don't seem worried at all. Myself I would like to have a safe car for my wife and not have to worry if she is going to be OK.

NHTSA ODI 11488220

I own an 2013 Elantra GT, that currently has about 89,000 miles. Over the last several months, there is a very loud clunk when I turn the steering wheel or when driving over uneven roads (like pot holes). As the noise got worse, I was concerned about something broken in the car. I took this to a national tire dealer (Big O) and was informed that the noise was from a very well known issue in the Elantra vehicles, I made an appointment at the Hyundai dealer and without looking at the car, I was told it did not fall under the service bulletin and the repair would cost over $400. This seems to be one of the few Elantras that Hyundai has not issued the extended warranty for. I'm very concerned that this issue will cause the loss of steering control and will cause an accident or even death. Hyundai needs to extend the warranty to cover the Elantra GT along with all the other Hyundai models

NHTSA ODI 11480134

Driving on highway and the steering locked up and unable to steer vehicle. I was able to roll to a safe area and vehicle was towed to a repair shop and steering column needs replacement. Thank God I was not injured.

NHTSA ODI 11478792

Sudden Play in steering with clunking noise before steer Upon googling I see many hyundai cars having this issue A 10$ part replacement that costs 500$ labor

NHTSA ODI 11469842

Steering column has clunking sound due to failed steering coupling adapter. This problem has been covered through recall in Elantra and Sonata sedans but not in Elantra coupes. (https://autoservice.hyundaiusa.com/TXX7/MicroSiteTemplate/MicroSiteTemplateVINValidat e/2688) This repair should be covered by Hyundai as a recall campaign to eliminate any potential safety issues.

NHTSA ODI 11463815

[XXX] Steering coupler failure. There is a recall on other Hyundai models for this same issue, but not the GT models. The flexible steering couple 56315-2k000fff is a known issue, yet Hyundai is saying its not a recall. This is a manufacture design flaw that renders the vehicle unable to be driven safely due to steering wheel shaking uncontrollably. It seems all Hyundai Elantra models using this coupler are covered under a manufacturers special warranty with the exception of the coupe models (this one). Hyundai's website states: "Hyundai Motor America is revising the warranty coverage for the rubber coupling in the motor driven power steering (MDPS) assembly on 2007-2015 Elantra Sedans, 2009-2012 Elantra Touring models, 2011-2014 Sonata Sedans, and 2011-2015 Hybrid Sonata Sedans to 10 years from the date of original delivery or the date of first use, or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first." This is a major safety hazard the manufacturer refuses to recall/repair. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11461973

I will upload the files. I wrote to Hyundai complaining that I needed to be reimbursed for an expense I incurred with my car. See attachments.

NHTSA ODI 11452900

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 ODI 11450707

Steering Coupler inside steering motor has disintegrate. Causing a clanking noise as you turn the steering wheel. There is just a service bulletin recommending you switch this part out, but no recall yet. If the coupler bushing were to completely disintegrate you would have a locked steering column or lose complete control of your electric steering.

NHTSA ODI 11442628

Subframe is rotted. It snapped while driving; braking the control arm in the process. The lives of my children and myself were put at risk. If we had been on a busy road or highway, ourselves and others would have been at serious risk of sever injury and/or possible death. It has not been seen by a service center, incident happened 11/29/2021. The vehicle was inspected by a personal mechanic to find the cause of the malfunction. There were know warning signs before the component failure.

NHTSA ODI 11442417

THE STEERING WHEEL HAS WEIRD NOICES THAT JERKS IN THE HIGH WAY. IT IS SCARY KEEPING CONTROL OF LANES.

NHTSA ODI 11438388

The HYUNDAI Genuine OEM Flexible Steering Couple 56315-2K000FFF has failed. The steering wheel clicks and has a clunking feel and is getting more pronounced. There is a manufacturing design flaw in the rubber compound causing it to disintegrate within the unit. For some reason, all Hyundai Elantra models using this coupler are covered under a manufacturers special warranty with the exception of the Coupe Models that they made for only 2 years.

NHTSA ODI 11437990

There was a recall on previous Hyundai models for this same issue. The HYUNDAI Genuine OEM Flexible Steering Couple 56315-2K000FFF. I began to notice a slight sound a year ago, & it got worse. This is a KNOWN issue, yet Hyundai is saying its not a recall. This is an $8.00 part but in a spot that will cost $300+ in labor. This is a manufacture design flaw that should have never happened. Driving down the road the wheel is not stable.

NHTSA ODI 11433089

1. There is an electrical issue with the power steering. 2. This poses a HUGE safety risk, as the power steering could completely give out and we could lose control of the vehicle. 3. A local mechanic we use confirmed this. 4. No warning lights came on. We had started to hear a "clunking" or "knocking" sound when turning the wheel so took it in to get inspected.

NHTSA ODI 11432825

There was a recall on previous Hyundai models for this same issue. The HYUNDAI Genuine OEM Flexible Steering Couple 56315-2K000FFF. Has failed some time ago and we had no idea it was this dangerous until today. The steering wheel would click and has done so for a long time over 2 years and we noticed it getting much worse so we looked up videos and parts to see what it could be. This is a manufacture design flaw that should have never happened. Driving down the road the wheel is not stable and bumps or thumps and is also very distracting while driving. The biggest concern is that it makes you think that the steering is going to fail and you will crash. If Hyundai did this to make people come in for a repair to just get money at the expense of fearful customers this is a corporate wrong that needs to be corrected and force them to repair all these at no cost for the life of the car and redesign these so this never happens again.

NHTSA ODI 11431860

The 2013 Hyundai Elantra's EPS light locks my steering wheel mid driving. The traction control light also comes on simultaneously, causing me to be unable to steer at an array of speeds.

NHTSA ODI 11431181

The steering system is clunking both at rest and while in motion. The dealer diagnosed the problem as the steering coupler. This part is the subject of a recall in other similar models but for some reason the GT model is excluded, even though it is an identical part. The problem is getting progressively worse while Hyundai is refusing to help. The dealer service writer was at a loss to explain why my car is not included in the recall. First reported to Hyundai in January 2021 at about 90,000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11429293

El auto comienza a tambalearse cuando va a velocidad y pasa por una carretera inestable. El guía tiembla como si el auto se fuera a salir de la carretera.

NHTSA ODI 11427002

MY STEERING WHEEL IS MAKING A CLANKING NOISE WHEN YOU TURN IT AND WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP OR GO DOWN A MOUNTAIN IT DOES IT LOUDER. IM JUST SCARED IT WILL BREAK AND THEN WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN

NHTSA ODI 11418366

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CAR STEERING BECAME HARD AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN. DUE TO STEERING ISSUE I COULDN’T KEEP CAR IN MY LANE AND I WAS ABOUT TO CRASH INTO OTHER CARS. AFTER PULLING CAR ON THE SIDE WITH EXTREME FORCE ON STEERING. AND CHECKING TIRES PRESSURE, IT WAS NORMAL. UNDER THE HOOD ALL FLUIDS AND OIL WERE NORMAL. COULDN’T FIND POWER STEERING FLUID TANK. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE FOUND OUT IT ONLY HAS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SO NO STEERING FLUID AND MANY HYUNDAI CAR HAS/HAD SAME ISSUE. IN FACT HYUNDAI HAS RECALLED CARS UPTO 2011 FOR THIS ISSUE. EVEN HIGHWAY PETROL SERVICE OFFICER SAID HIS 2012 ELANTRA HAD SAME ISSUE. FYI EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, IT WAS PURCHASED AROUND APR 2012, SO IT IS EARLY 2012 BUILT WITH POSSIBLY 2011 COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ODI 11416791

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A BANGING AND RUBBING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WERNER HYUNDAI (252 CAPITAL CIR SW, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32304) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ODI 11414397