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

My engine has a piston slap. I have the 1.8l 4cy nu engine. It causes the car to stall unexpectedly creating a potential for serious accidents.

NHTSA ODI 11697517

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 took my car into Hyundai due to the recall sent out to car owners. I had my ABS and Brake light that went on randomly around September. I scheduled an appointment and took it in to get it checked. Hyundai sent me away stating there were no parts to fix the issue and told me to pay for a diagnostic if I needed it looked at and to wait until the recall is remedied. Two months later my car exploded and caught fire while parked on my property putting my life and home at risk. As well as my neighbors lives who came in to help me Put out the fire.

NHTSA ODI 11591542

My 2013 Hyundai starter would not stop trying to start the car even when the ignition was off and the key was not in the ignition. Then it got so hot it caught fire and destroyed the alternator as well as the starter. It was so hot it melted the alternator. Also the plastic that is used to hold the headlamps and other engine parts has disintegrated. I barely touch what's left and the plastic crumbles apart. My car no longer has the plastic under the hood. I use tape to hold up the lights. Car was stopped and in a parking lot when this happened.

NHTSA ODI 11583926

MY 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH APPROX. 75,000 MILES, AND NO MECHANICAL OR COSMETIC ISSUES, CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AND TURNED OFF FOR 10 MINUTES AT TAVERN IN THE SQUARE RESTAURANT IN LOWELL, MA. PATRONS WHO WERE PARKED NEARBY HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE ELECTRICAL SPARKS AND THEN WITNESSED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD WHICH THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. THEY RAN IN TO RETRIEVE MY FAMILY AND I AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME WITHIN 10 MINUTES TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES BUT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY THAT TIME. I HAVE VIDEOS AND PICTURES THAT CAN BE FORWARDED TO YOU. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT WAS ON HOLD FOR 40 MINUTES AND IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED BEFORE SPEAKING TO ANYONE. THIS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY STRESSFUL EMOTIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY. THE CAR WAS IN OUR GARAGE JUST 30 MINUTES PRIOR AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A HISTORY OF ISSUES WITH SOME OTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLES WHICH I WASN'T AWARE OF UNTIL NOW BUT I DON'T SEE THAT MY CAR WAS LISTED AS A POSSIBLE RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL FIRES. IT WAS MY ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND EVERY PENNY I EARNED WAS USED TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE LESS THAN ONE YEAR AGO. I DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE THAT WOULD COVER THIS SITUATION SO THIS IS A TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW TO PROCEED AND ALSO WHERE TO FORWARD THE VIDEO AND PHOTO DETAILS.

NHTSA ODI 11375940

HYUNDAI REPLACED MY 2013 ELANTRA'S ENGINE (68K MILES) AS A "GOODWILL GESTURE" DUE TO A FLAW IN THE ORIGINAL ENGINE WHICH WASN'T ALLOWING ENOUGH OIL TO GET TO THE ENGINE. TWO DAYS AFTER THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT THE CAR DIED WHILE BEING DRIVEN IN WHICH THEY SUSPECTED IT BE A FUEL PUMP ISSUE. AFTER RESOLVING THAT SUSPECTED ISSUE THE CAR AGAIN SHUT OFF WHILE IN MOTION DURING THE TEST DRIVE AND CAUGHT FIRE WHILE THE CAR WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF A CITY STREET AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR ONLY ONE BLOCK.

NHTSA ODI 11112279

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE PROFUSELY WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (ADVANTAGE HYUNDAI, 440 PLAINVIEW ROAD, HICKSVILLE, NY 11801) WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 11057072

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND DECELERATING FROM APPROXIMATELY 60-35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 15 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SHAFFER HYUNDAI WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BAR FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EMITTING AN ODOR OF BURNING OIL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND THE OIL AND BATTERY INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE WEBB HYUNDAI DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED SHORTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ODI 10993695

THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY AROUND 1PM. I WAS HEADING HOME WHEN I APPROACHED A INTERSECTION WHEN A LADY COMING FROM A STREET ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS COMING OUT AND EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD A STOP SIGN SHE FAIL TO FULLY STOP AND ME HAVING NO TIME TO REACT I HIT THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR (T-BONE HER).

NHTSA ODI 10810164

I OWN A HYUNDAI 2013 ELANTRA AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. THE CAR HAS SEVERAL TIMES REFUSED TO START AND THE BREAK PAD GETS STUCK AND I CAN'T MOVE THE CAR OUT OF PARK. I'VE HAD TO CALL THE TOW TRUCK SEVERAL TIMES AND THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE CAR START AGAIN IS TO MANUALLY SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD, THE CAR ALMOST RAN OVER ME, ONCE WHEN I DIDNT APPLY THE EMERGENCY BREAK ON WHEN THE PERSON WAS MANUALLY PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL!!!! ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR SHAKES. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THEY INSPECTED IT. ONCE I CAME BACK THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, AND THAT THE SHAKING WAS DUE TO THE POWER OF THE MOTOR, THAT I NEEDED TO GET USE TO IT!! I'VE HAD TO ALSO REPLACE MY TIRES BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO WEAR OFF, AND I CAN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE OVER ANYTHING WITHOUT SWERVING. I'VE HAD THE CAR ALIGNED AND MY CAR STILL SWERVES/PULLS TO THE LEFT! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS CAR!! I CANT GET MY CAR FIXED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT! I AM NOW STUCK MAKING CAR PAYMENTS TO A LEMON CAR! I'VE HAD TWO ACCIDENTS ON THIS CAR ALREADY ONE I REPORTED TO THE MY INSURANCE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX IT. THERE WAS A TIRE ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS TOO SCARE TO SWIRVE THE CAR TO AVOID IT BECAUSE I KNOW THE CAR CANT HANDLE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO I HAD TO GET THE IMPACT OF IT. PLEASE RECALL THIS CAR!

NHTSA ODI 10788686

SNOW PREDICTED. LEFT HOME TO GO RUN ERRANDS AT 9:30 AM, CAR LOOKED SHOWROOM NEW, GOT 1/2 MILE, CAR PULLED ITSELF RIGHT (AS IT HAS PREVIOUSLY) AND BUMPED A SMALL TREE, NO DAMAGE. CAR BACKED UP TO ROADSIDE 10', CAR CUT ITSELF OFF (AS IT HAD BEFORE), WINDSHIELD WENT FROM 30 DEGREES TO 450 DEGREES IN 3 SECONDS. I LEFT MY PURSE (WITH $1200 IN IT) AND EVERYTHING AND FLED ACROSS ROAD TO SAVE MY LIFE. ASKED MAN THERE IF HE HAD A FIRE EXTINQUISHER, HE DIDN'T, ASKED ME TO STAY BECAUSE IT WAS SO COLD, AND I SAID NO, I WANTED TO CHECK MY CAR AND IN THAT 60 SECONDS, I WALKED OUT AND STOOD IN HIS DRIVEWAY AND CAR WAS TOTALLY A BLAZE. IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY I WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED HAD I NOT FLED THE VEHICLE THE CAR FROM DAY 2 RARELY CRANKED, OFTEN CUT OFF GOING 5-55 MPH, PULLED OFF ROAD TO RIGHT, AND SCARED ME SPEECHLESS. LIKE IT WAS HAUNTED AND DROVE ITSELF. I ONLY HAD IT 4 MONTHS. IT WAS A DEATH TRAP AND SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE HIGHWAY. FOR SOME REASON, I GOT ARRESTED, I WAS TOTALLY SOBER AND HAD NO MEDICATION IN MY SYSTEM. TROOPER HAD A BREATH ALYZER, NEVER USED IT. CUFFED ME VERY TIGHTLY, READ ME NO RIGHTS, AND TOOK ME TO STATION ENTRANCE. HE GRABBED MY ARM AND DREW BLOOD (ILLEGALLY) , NO PHONE CALL, FINALLY READ MY RIGHTS, AND DENIED ME SEEING MY LAWYER 3 TIMES. ILLEGALLY. FOR 3 DAYS & NIGHTS, I WAS NEVER ALLOWED A PHONE CALL OR CODE, AM DISABLED AND HAVE OSTEOPOROSIS & HAD TO SLEEP ON A 1/4" OF FLAT PLYWOOD, THOUGH MY JOINTS DON'T TOUCH, I HAVE RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME & MUST SLEEP ELEVATED, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. I ALSO WENT WITHOUT ANY OF MY PRESCRIPTIONS 3 DAYS. ALL BECAUSE THIS SCARY CAR BURNED TO BENT METAL WITH NO DASH, NO ENGINE OR PARTS, NO TIRES, SEATS, NOTHING. SO NOT ONLY WAS I IN SHOCK, OUT OF ANY CONTACT WITHOUT MY PRESCRIPTIONS, AND HAD TO PAY $475 BOND, THOUGH I ONLY GET $969 , THIS CAR RUINED MY LIFE OVER A YEAR AGO, AND I HAVEN'T HAD A CAR SINCE.

NHTSA ODI 10716373

2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. WAS PULLING ONTO MY PARKING SPOT, WHEN THE CAR JUST ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO MY BUILDING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10702695

CAR LOOSELY STEERED BARELY OFF ROAD, 1/8 MILE FROM HOME,BUMPED TREE 15' AWAY, BACKED UP, ENGINE SHUT OFF (AS USUAL SINCE DAY 2 OF LEASE), WINDSHIELD HEATED TO OVER 150 DEGREE'S IN 35 DEGREE WEATHER, SO I VACATED CAR, WHICH WAS IN FLAMES 2-3 MINUTES AND BURNED TO ASH..HAD 5 MONTHS, DAILY PROBLEMS, BATTERY, FUSES, IGNITION, NUMEROUS CALLS TO DEALER, SHOP, NO HELP, COULD EASILY HAVE DIED IN FIRETRAP ALIVE, CAR DOVE ITSELF, WHEN & WHERE IT PLEASED, AND WAS UNCONTROLLABLE.EVEN HYUNDAI MOTOR FINANCE HAS NOT PAID ON GAP COVERAGE IN 11 MONTHS, RUINING MY CREDIT TO BOOT, AND WAS OVER FINANCED PAST LEGAL LIMITS, ON A TOTAL NEW LEMON AND NOT ONLY WAS CAR NOT REPLACED AS PROMISED,I CANNOT GET A RESPONSE FROM HYUNDAI, OR HYUNDAI FINANCE.,THIS WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE, AND I WILL TELL EVERYONE TO NEVER PURCHASE A HYUNDAI PRODUCT. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED.AND LOSE YOUR FRANCHISE LICENSE.I WILL HAVE TO SUE TO EVER BEGIN TO BE COMPENSATED FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE TO ME, AND BECAUSE OF YOUR PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10654133

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR. IT WAS A DARK ROAD IN THE NIGHT. PERHAPS SHE DIDN'T SEE THE STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE COMING FROM RIGHT HAND SIDE, GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION MY WIFE WAS GOING. MY WIFE CRASHED THE OTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. IT WAS SERIOUS CRASH IN WHICH THE ENTIRE FRONT PORTION OF THE CAR IS DAMAGED. BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT COME OUT. MY WIFE HAD HER HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND HAD AN INJURY. MY COMPLAINT IS "WHY DID THE AIR BAG NOT INFLATE IN SUCH A SERIOUS CRASH?" ..UPDATED 10/06/14 *BF. UPDATED 05/13/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10639325

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS POWERED ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES WHEN DARK GRAY SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA. THE VEHICLE QUICKLY BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,200. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 4/4/14*CN *TR

NHTSA ODI 10565791

VEHICLE OWNER SMELLED A BURNING TYPE SMELL ON A COLD DAY WHEN HAVING THE HEATER ON FULL TO WARM THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS SMOKE OR FIRE. THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE OWNER HAD THE HEATER ON FULL TO WARM THE CAR, A FIRE RESULTED. THE FIRE CAUSED SO MUCH DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE THAT THE INITIAL CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10565292

I REAR ENDED A CAR AND NEARLY TOTALED MY CAR. FOR SOME ODD REASON THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED DURING THE TIME OF IMPACT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10543592

THE 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY AND TURNED OFF, AND AN ELECTRIC FIRE STARTED IN IT. IT BURNED COMPLETELY UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10502070