Home · 2013 Hyundai Elantra Gt · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (1,293)Crash / fire / injury (122)Brakes (271)Steering (266)Engine (223)Airbags (166)Electrical system (150)Suspension (98)Wheels (81)Lights (70)Tires (57)Transmission & drivetrain (54)

70 of 1,293 complaints match · Lights · clear filters · page 1 of 3

Aug 6, 2024LightsBrakes

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the brake pedal stopper was fractured, causing the brake lights to remain illuminated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where an unknown diagnosis and an unknown repair were completed; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 199,500.

NHTSA ODI 11606692

Mar 13, 2023Lights

Blinkers hyper flash with head lights off, get stuck on one direction. dont work when head lights are on. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM with this car and it is known but nothing has ever been done.

NHTSA ODI 11511532

Jan 7, 2023Lights

The vehicle brake lamps, both left/right and center continually burn out. The bulbs burn out every few months. The tail lamps remain lit, but the stop lamps burn out regularly. There seems to be a recurring problems with this make and model. Hyundai must be aware as this safety issue presents a crash hazards. Non functioning brake lamps.

NHTSA ODI 11500629

Dec 23, 2022Lights

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact became aware that after it rained, there was water inside the driver’s and passenger’s side rear taillights assembly, causing the bulbs to become inoperable. The contact replaced the light bulbs. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that there was no recall regarding the failure. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 38,000.

NHTSA ODI 11498685

Dec 5, 2022Lights

MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE STUCK AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME TO DRIVE. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO GET THIS REPAIR COMPLETED. IT STATES I HAVE NO ACTIVE RECALLS, HOWEVER, THE PAGE I JUST WAS ON TO GET TO THIS SITE STATED I HAVE ONE FOR MY BRAKE PEDAL STOP.

NHTSA ODI 11496100

Sep 14, 2022Electrical systemLights

I have had multiple headlights, turn lights and brake lights burn out - started less than a year of car ownership; with at least one outage every 2-3 months - both driver and passenger, and rear lights. Not just bulb replacements, I’ve had Expensive replacements for harnesses on both sides too, but issue keeps returning. Currently driver brake light went out, can’t see a Hyundai mechanic for another month due to they and surrounding Hyundai dealers are fully booked. The car is faulty. I am the original owner.

NHTSA ODI 11484516

Sep 8, 2022LightsBrakesLane Departure

Good

NHTSA ODI 11483567

Oct 28, 2021LightsAirbags

Driver side airbag dash light goes on and off (mostly on). No accident or previous deployment of the airbag. Also, while under warranty the tail light and break light wiring was replaced as they would burn out approx. every 6 months. One light after another: tail light, break light, blinker, etc. It's happening again... seems to be a wiring or component issue. Have to keep bulbs in the car with me at all times.

NHTSA ODI 11438582

Aug 2, 2021Lights

I am having trouble with the exterior lights on my vehicle. That includes brake lights, tail lights, head lights, turn signals (front and rear). I am constantly replacing them as one or several are always out. My safety and/or the safety of others are put at risk because of no brake lights, someone may rear end me, or having difficulty seeing in front of me at night when head lights fail. I've taken my vehicle to several different locations to have my bulbs changed, and I've also changed a few myself. There is no way to know when a brake light is out, unless I'm getting an oil change, as I did today, and had to pay to have two more bulbs replaced, and thankfully he was kind enough to charge the 3rd at no cost. I've also been pulled over to let me know my bulbs weren't working, or having random people in traffic let me know.

NHTSA ODI 11427525

Apr 25, 2021Lights

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THE LICENSE PLATE BULBS IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE LICENSE PLATE BULB HOUSING, AS WELL AS THE OUTER TAIL LAMP HOUSINGS, SHOWED EVIDENCE OF THE INTERNAL PLASTICS MELTING. IT APPEARS THAT THE HEAT FROM THE LAMPS WAS ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE HOUSINGS AND INTERNAL LENSE PLASTICS TO HEAT BEYOND THE GLASS TRANSITION TEMPERATURE OF THE PLASTICS UTILIZED BY HYUNDAI. BOTH OUTER TAIL LAMP HOUSINGS AND LICENSE PLATE BULB HOUSES WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE DAMAGED. THE ORIGINAL BULBS WERE ALL CHECKED TO ENSURE THEY WERE CORRECT PER THE VEHICLE MANUAL, WHICH THEY WERE.

NHTSA ODI 11413865

Apr 24, 2021Electrical systemLights

SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN 2013, WE HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE PARKING LIGHTS, AND SOMETIMES HEADLIGHTS, COMING BACK ON AFTER BEING OFF FOR SEVERAL HOURS OR WE WAKE UP TO HAVING A DEAD BATTERY. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER AND OVER. IN 2013 I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED FOR SAME PROBLEM AND/OR DEAD BATTERY. NEVER HAPPENED AT DEALERSHIP. OUR SECURITY CAMERA HAS CAUGHT IT POPPING ON, OR LIKE YESTERDAY, OUT NEIGHBOR CALLED US (AGAIN) TO TELL US LIGHTS WERE ON. THIS IS WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ALL THE WAY OFF. WE HAVE TRIED TO FIGURE IT OUT BUT CAN NOT. I DID REPORT AGAIN TO HYUNDAI THIS PAST FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL 2021. AGAIN, THE CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF EVERY SINGLE TIME WITH LIGHTS CONFIRMED OFF TO ONLY COME ON LATER WITH CAR OFF AND STILL LOCKED. IT HAS TO HAVE KEY IN IT TO START.

NHTSA ODI 11413675

Dec 24, 2020Electrical systemLightsBrakes

BRAKES DON'T WANT TO STOP EVEN AFTER I'VE GOT THEM REPAIRED BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT EVEN AFTER THE BULBS HAS BEEN REPLACED

NHTSA ODI 11384881

Dec 13, 2020LightsBrakesDriver assistance

FOR THE BRAKES AND LIGHTING ISSUE, MY BRAKE LIGHTS GO BAD EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS AND NEED CHANGED. I BELIEVE THIS IS POSSIBLY TO DO WITH THE RECALL FOR BRAKES. I HAVE HAD PEOPLE ON MANY OCCASIONS STOP ME IN TRAFFIC TO LET ME KNOW AN ENTIRE SIDE OF LIGHTS WERE OUT AT ONCE. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER MORE THAN ONCE AS WELL FOR MY BRAKE LIGHTS IN THE FOUR YEARS I'VE HAD MY CAR. I ALWAYS KEEP SPARE LIGHTS IN MY CAR FOR THIS REASON. I CALLED A&B KIA, WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR, WHO SAID MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, WITH THE MANY ISSUES I'VE HAD WITH MY BRAKE LIGHTS I BELIEVE IT IS RELATED. MORE RECENTLY THAN MY BRAKES, MY CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING. WITHIN THE PAST YEAR IT HAS SLOWLY WENT FROM WORKING SOMETIMES TO NOT WORKING AT ALL. OTHER FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, SUCH AS VOLUME AND RADIO CONTROLS HAVE NOT BEEN AFFECTED.

NHTSA ODI 11383253

Aug 19, 2020Lights

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SEVERAL EXTERIOR LIGHTS ( LIGHT BULBS) IN THE 7 YEARS I HAVE OWNED MY CAR, INCLUDING REAR BRAKE LIGHTS, REAR TURNING SIGNAL LIGHTS, REAR TAIL LIGHTS, AND FRONT HEADLIGHT BULBS. I CURRENTLY HAVE A LEFT SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHT THAT CONTINUES TO GO OUT EVERY 3-6 MONTHS, JUST HAD IT REPLACED BY MY AUTO SHOP 3-4 MONTHS AGO WITH INSPECTION OF THE WIRING TO THAT LIGHT (FOUND TO BE OK).

NHTSA ODI 11350227

Jun 30, 2020Lights

SINCE I OWNING THIS CAR I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH ALL LIGHTS. BOTH HEADLIGHT LAMPS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A DEFECT. ALSO I HAD BEEN REPLACING TAIL, BRAKE, AND TURNING SIGNAL LIGHTS AT EVERY OIL CHANGE BECAUSE ONE OR THE OTHER WILL BE OUT. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THIS MANY BULBS ON ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED. THIS OIL CHANGE JUNE 27, 2020 I HAD 3 BULBS OUT BREAK, TAIL LIGHT AND PARKING LIGHT ALL OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THIS HAS BEEN AND FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE AN ON GOING PROBLEM NOT TO MENTION THE COST EVERYTIME THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEM LIGHT ARE NOT CHEAP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11331656

Jun 26, 2020Electrical systemLights

THE PARKING LIGHT COME ON RANDOMLY. EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH IT TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. THIS CAUSES THE BATTERY TO RUN DOWN. THE ONLY WAY TO SHUT THEM OFF IS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY CABLE. WHEN 1ST NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR THREE DAYS. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I FIRST NOTICED IT. SEVERAL OTHER HYUNDAI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. MOSTLY WITH PARKING LIGHTS , BUT A FEW SAID IT WAS THEIR BRAKE LIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11331124

Jun 8, 2020Lights

I HAVE OWNED MY 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA SINCE MARCH 2019. AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SIGNAL LIGHT 2 TIMES. AND BRAKE LIGHTS 2 TIMES. IS THIS A NORMAL THING WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327841

Apr 27, 2020Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED OFF AND ON WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLAMP SWITCH HAD TO BE MANIPULATED BY HAND FOR THE HEADLAMPS TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULBS WERE REPLACED QUITE OFTEN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TAILLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, WHERE THE REAR THIRD BRAKE LAMP WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11322411

Jan 22, 2020Lights

BRAKE LIGHT REPLACED COUNTLESS TIMES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. IT CONTINUES TO BURN OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11301194

Dec 2, 2019Lights

I HAVE REPLACED EVERY LIGHT IN THE REAR OF THIS CAR OVER AND OVER FOR THE PAST YEAR. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT ACTUALLY MELTED. I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH REAR LIGHTS IN A CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11286446

Oct 15, 2019Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULBS WOULD FAIL TO ILLUMINATE EVERY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS. ALSO, THE TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK EVEN WITH THE NEW BULBS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V769000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11268443

Oct 10, 2019Lights

BRAKE LIGHT IS STAYING ON AT ALL TIMES. I EVEN REPLACED THEM AND ONE STILL STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES

NHTSA ODI 11267817

Oct 1, 2019Lights

BRAKE LIGHTS ALL BURNT OUT AT THE SAME TIME INCLUDING THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT - REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR AND ALL LIGHT BULBS - WAS NOTIFIED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK - THE COST FOR REPAIR WAS $135.00 - I CAN SEE MAYBE 1 LIGHT OUT BUT NOT ALL BRAKE LIGHTS OUT AT THE SAME TIME

NHTSA ODI 11265339

Jun 18, 2019Electrical systemLightsAirbags

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE RECENTLY HAD MY AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON ON MY CAR. I HAVE WAITED A MONTH OR TWO AND THE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. I HAVE DONE NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY POPULAR MALFUNCTION WITH HYUNDAI SONATAS AND HYUNDAI ELANTRAS FROM THE YEAR OF 2012. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER I ROLLED OVER MY 100,000 MILE WARRANTY SO IT WAS COVERED NO LONGER. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN TO MANY PEOPLE AS THIS IS A VERY POPULAR CAR. I'VE HAD DIAGNOSTICS DONE ON MY CAR AND TOLD IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRING THAT HAS MALFUNCTIONED. REVIEWS ALSO HAVE THE SAME MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ODI 11221102

Jun 7, 2019LightsBrakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. NORTH FREEWAY HYUNDAI (20440 INTERSTATE 45 N, SPRING, TX 77373, (832) 446-4000) DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V574000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE STOPPER AND SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA ODI 11218452

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Working with the data? Download all 1,293 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Hyundai Elantra Gt verdict →