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

I was never informed through mail, email, or phone call about a potential fire hazard safety recall from Hyundai. In turn, due to my unawareness of the recall, my 2013 Elantra’s ABS pump had caught on fire, melted into the control module, and melted the ABS electrical harness to the module, short circuiting the ECU and starter as well.

NHTSA ODI 11619075

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal became loose while depressing and the steering wheel was abnormally stiff. An unknown warning light illuminated. In addition, the driver saw an abnormal amount of smoke coming from under the hood and had inhaled smoke while attempting to exit the vehicle. The vehicle caught on fire moments later when the driver safely exited the vehicle. The local fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. No police report was filed. The driver sustained minor injuries but no medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to an insurance lot for further investigation. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000. 

NHTSA ODI 11617715

I was driving under 10 miles an hr because the roads were still wet from the night before as i am on the ramp to get on the highway barely turning the wheel it locks all the lights come on the dashboard such as abs and i crash into a railing because i couldn't move anything. Again only last week after this has been supposedly resolved driving barely going 2 miles my bf was actually driving and again roads were wet same thing all the abs sensor lights come on the dash the wheel locks and the car doesn't move, it's scary and ridiculous the amount of others I have found experiencing the same issue and from that accident I can barely drive now my anxiety and ptsd from the event has even affected my work so now I am losing money I didn't think I would ever fear being in a car and I hope you guys fix this so no one experiences what I am currently experiencing.

NHTSA ODI 11614022

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked for approximately 7 hours and upon starting, the ABS and traction control warning lights. The contact began to drive to her residence and an abnormal humming sound was present from the engine compartment. Upon arriving at her destination, the vehicle was parked in the driveway and a neighbor who was a firefighter disconnected the battery to the vehicle. Shortly afterward, flames were coming from the driver-side engine compartment. The fire was extinguished on its own and the fire department did not come to the scene. A police and fire report was not filed. There were no injuries reported. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and informed an inspector would inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was 135,000. The VIN was invalid.

NHTSA ODI 11590458

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the ABS warning light was illuminated and a smoke odor was present inside the vehicle. The contact was able to enter a nearby gas station to inspect the vehicle. While attempting to inspect the hood, the contact noticed smoke and a few flames coming from the passenger's side engine compartment near the ABS module. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with sand and the fire was caught in time. A fire department report and a police department report were not filed. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact was able to drive a short distance to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic; however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.  The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 190,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11588517

Traffic ahead of me rapidly decelerated. Upon applying the brakes, the peddle froze and then went to the floor without any resistance. I attempted to pump the brakes without success. I impacted the car ahead of me at 40 mph, the posted speed limit, creating substantial damage to both vehicles. The brakes failed to operate and the airbags failed to deploy upon impact. The vehicle failed to slow down and was reacting as if the accelerator was stuck. There were no system warnings at the time of the accident or afterwards. Braking abilities resumed immediately after impact. There is no visible evidence of any fluid leaks, brake fluid or otherwise. The vehicle was last serviced by the dealership for an oil change at the end of January 2024. A brake inspection was performed at that time. I was aware of a recall notice Campaign 251 regarding the brake ABS system. When I inquired at the last service date, I was informed no fix was available at that time. Current mileage is 49,779. I am still in the process of locating a repair shop.

NHTSA ODI 11584131

A vehicle fire occurred while the vehicle was parked in an open carport, and caused significant fire damage estimated at approximately $2,000. No injuries occurred. Due to early actions of residents and neighbors, the fire was confined to the vehicle and it did not spread to the carport or single family dwelling. The fire originated in the engine compartment, and was probably due to an internal brake fluid leak within the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module, which caused an electrical failure or malfunction. The vehicle has one (1) open safety recall that is incomplete at this time, and a remedy is not yet available. The vehicle owner stated that the ABS, Engine, and Traction warnings lamps did recently come on. The insurance company involved was notified of this vehicle fire, and may have examined or inspected the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11583637

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that after she had parked the vehicle in her residential driveway and had turned the vehicle off after shifting to park (P) she had noticed that the "vehicle in a skid" symbol was illuminated. The contact was in her residence when she began to smell a burning odor. The contact observed that white smoke was being emitted from under the hood. The contact stated that her father used a garden hose to attempt to cool the hood off but was unable to open the hood. The contact stated that the fire department was called, however the engine compartment had been engulfed in flames. The contact stated that the fire department arrived and the firemen had pried open the hood and extinguished the flames with water. The contact stated that the engine had been damaged and all plastic parts and hoses had been melted. The contact stated that fire had caused the air bags to deploy and had melted the dash board. The contact stated that the police arrived on scene and wrote an incident report. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V800000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was 63,666.

NHTSA ODI 11535029

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 ODI 11390100

PURCHASED WHAT I BELIEVE IS A LEMON FROM THE STAMFORD HYUNDAI. VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND RECALL ISSUES NOT ADDRESSED. ANOTHER CAR THAT HIT MINE STATED THAT MY CAR BRAKE LIGHTS INDICATED I STOPPED WHEN I ACTUALLY RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL. I BELIEVE THAT THE DEALERSHIP OVER CHARGED ME FOR A DEFECTED VEHICLE AND FAILED TO ADDRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL ISSUE WHICH CAUSED MY LANE CHANGE ACCIDENT. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT IF SOMEONE CAN ASSIST ME WITH THIS SERIOUS INFRACTION. AGAIN MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION BUT THE OTHER DRIVER SAID IT APPEARED TO BE. I WASN'T INFORMED BY THE SALESMAN OF ANY DEFECTS OR ISSUES. THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT I WAS DRIVING IN BROOKLYN NY ON REMSEN AVENUE. IMPACT OCCURRED ON REMSEN AND KINGS HIGHWAY. ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS WILL BE APPRECIATED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR CASH 6405.70 WHEN THE ASKING PRICE WAS 4670. I'VE BEEN RIPPED OFF AND COULD HAVE GOTTEN KILLED. HELP PLEASE.

NHTSA ODI 11376058

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK BROKEN, BURN TO NECK, BURIES ALL OVER THE BODY, AND LACERATIONS TO THE HEAD. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS CONTACTED AND AS TOOK THE CONTACT TO THE HOSPITAL HOWEVER THE CONTACT HAD TO BE TRANSFER TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL WHERE SHE RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION BETWEEN SEPT 9/11/2020 TO 9/14/2020. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE TRAUMA UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE POLICE TO A LOT WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTALED LOSS. GEICO ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER (THOMAS HYUNDAI 10325 MT SAVAGE ROAD, CUMBERLAND, MD 21502) WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE REPAIRS THAT WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ECM WAS UPDATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL STOPPER WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT 0 RECALLS WERE UNDER THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,486.

NHTSA ODI 11360479

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

NHTSA ODI 11349756

TAKATA RECALLS. MY RADIO BLUETOOTH DOESN'T WORK NOR DOES THE USB. I'M CONSTANTLY HAVING TO CHANGE REAR LIGHTBULBS. WHEN MY CAR REACHES A CERTAIN SPEED IT STARTS TO SHAKE. MY TIRE SENSOR PUT A HOLE IN MY TIRE. MY SEAT BELTS WILL NOT CONNECT. I'M JUST HAD TO CHANGE THE ALTERNATOR. AND THE ENGINE MAKES A TICKING SOUND.

NHTSA ODI 11208562

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK AND LEFT SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,569.

NHTSA ODI 11161095

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF TRACTION. THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY THE LENGTH OF TWO VEHICLES AHEAD OF HER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER HAD THE WIND KNOCKED OUT OF THEM, BUT WERE NOT INJURED. AMBULATORY CARE WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A FACILITY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER OR A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V769000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AFTER THE CRASH, BUT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION IN THE MAIL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH MONTHS LATER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,154.

NHTSA ODI 11127908

IN DECEMBER 2017 & JANUARY 2018 ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE CARS ABS LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AS IF THE BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED AT ALL. A VIBRATION WAS NOTICED LIKE THE BRAKES WOULD IN A SKIDDING SITUATION BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A COUPLE FEW CALLS AND FINALLY AN ACCIDENT . IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHERE WE WERE TOLD THERE WERE NO FAILURES OR CODES IN THE COMPUTER TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. A WEEK LATER WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM HYUNDAI - NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 17V-769 (HYUNDAI CAMPAIGN 170). THIS WAS THE STOPPER PAD RECALL AND IT DID FIX THE PROBLEM. LOOKING AT THE INVOICE FROM THE DEALER THE RECALL WAS DONE BUT WE WERE NEVER TOLD IT WAS RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. THE RECALL NOTICE DID NOT SEEM TO PROPERLY STATE THE SERIOUS RISK OF THE PROBLEM. IT DID STATE IT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH BUT ALSO STATED "A DETERIORATED STOPPER PAD DOES NOT AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE'S SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM". THIS WAS FOUND OBVIOUSLY TO NOT BE TRUE. I BELIEVE THE NOTICE SHOULD HAVE STATED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED. WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO BE INJURED BUT THE CAR DID HAVE OVER A THOUSAND IN DAMAGE. WE CALLED AND EMAILED THE MANUFACTURER BUT NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE.

NHTSA ODI 11091289

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT A BUSINESS PARK. IT WAS MID DAY AND DRY. I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND HALF WAY INTO THE SPACE WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. IT SEEMED LIKE THE CAR WENT OUT OF MY CONTROL. THE CAR WAS STOPPED BY A 3' SHRUB OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO THE BUILDING. IN THE PROCESS, A CAR PARKED BESIDE ME WAS ALSO DAMAGED.

NHTSA ODI 11090188

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. WHILE TRYING TO AVOID OTHER VEHICLES, THE CONTACT STRUCK A TREE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS AIRLIFTED TO A HOSPITAL IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH WHIPLASH SYMPTOMS, SPINAL INJURIES, AND LEG BRUISES. THE CONTACT HAD TO STAY AT THE HOSPITAL FOR TWO DAYS. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE PRESENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN IMPOUND LOT NEARBY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

NHTSA ODI 11079087

CAR WAS PARKED WITH PARKING BREAK ENGAGED, WENT IN MY HOME, AFTER 15 MINS LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND CAR HAD SOME OUT OF PARK AND ROLLED INTO NEIGHBORS CAR CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS

NHTSA ODI 11005499

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE BUILDING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10933952

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE PATIO. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BRUISES TO THE ARMS AND LEGS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10915620

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING FACILITY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT ARM AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE EYES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10913979

SEPT. 2ND, 2016, MY 26-YR-OLD DAUGHTER (AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER) LEFT WORK, APPROACHED A "T" COUNTRY ROAD INTERSECTION AT MODERATE SPEED, ON A SOMEWHAT ROUGH ROAD, AND APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. NOTHING HAPPENED - THE CAR DID NOT SLOW. THE CAR DROVE ACROSS THE INTERSECTION INTO A FARMYARD. SHE PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT IT DID NOT STOP THE CAR. IT SKIDDED, BUT SHE WAS ABLE TO STEER AROUND A WOOD PILE AND AVOID TREES. CAR STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A DIRT MOUND. THIS WAS TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. BUMPER WAS RUINED, AND THERE IS DAMAGE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NO FIRE OR INJURIES. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHO NEXT DAY DROVE CAR AROUND DEALERSHIP LOT AND FOUND NO BRAKE PROBLEM. CRASH DAMAGE MADE CAR NOT ROAD-WORTHY TO TEST BRAKES AT HIGHER SPEED. CAR HAS ABOUT 42,200 MILES ON IT. BACK IN MID-SUMMER, THE DEALER HAD REPAIRED A PROBLEM THAT APPARENTLY WAS BRAKE STOPPER RECALL-RELATED (A LATE-AUGUST RECALL). WE REPORTED THE FAILURE AND CRASH TO HYUNDAI AMERICA.

NHTSA ODI 10906252

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT IN THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE STOPPED BY CRASHING INTO THE BUSHES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,026.

NHTSA ODI 10885136

I WAS PARKING MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT OF A STORE. I SLOWED DOWN AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. SOMEHOW THE BRAKES FAILED AND I HIT ANOTHER CAR. THE COLLISION STOPPED THE CAR. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 1 YEAR AND FEEL VERY UNSAFE.

NHTSA ODI 10781778