general problems of the 2013 Hyundai Elantra - part 1

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.

After the recall at Hyundai, my car wouldn't run and there were many lights on the dashboard. It was later checked and the instability light problem persisted. They fixed on the same time, and say something problem with the update. They later informed me that I have a problem with the brake switch, and the brake lights don't work because of it. I replaced and doesn’t work, I went back to the store and they want me to pay a fee to have it analyzed again. Even though before the recall, the lights and the car were working perfectly.

On August 9, 2025, my 2013 Hyundai Elantra suffered catastrophic engine failure while driving. The engine seized, creating immediate danger on the road. This vehicle is under NHTSA recall 23v651000 (Hyundai recall 251), which warns of fire/engine compartment risks both while parked and driving. Hyundai denied my claim, citing a vendor report that found “no thermal damage” to the abs wiring. However, the dealer’s inspection confirmed internal engine failure with thermal damage, and I directly witnessed flames. The recall does not require abs wiring itself to burn , it covers the broader safety hazard of fire and failure, which is exactly what occurred. In addition, Hyundai tried to shift blame onto owner maintenance. Their own recall language acknowledges failures occur due to the defect, not neglect. Furthermore, the handling by Hyundai’s case managers was unacceptable: my case was transferred without notice, calls were ignored, and I was left without clear instructions or remedy while my vehicle was disabled. I have attached the denial letter, the dealer report, the recall notice, and proof of maintenance. I request NHTSA review Hyundai’s mishandling of this recall obligation and require them to provide remedy and compensation.

I was driving and my car just shut down. Thank goodness I was only in a drive thru because my car was still in gear. I got it restarted and it was making a terrible noise. I took it to hyandai where they told me that I had a piston slap. Hyandai corporate knows that this is a problem. I am lucky to have not been on the highway it could have caused serious injury or death to me or anyone around me. Hyandai corporate should replace the engine that they know is bad or if someone has had it replaced they should be reimbursing. Them. It's dangerous the 1. 8l 4-cylinder nu engine.

Vehicle issue description for NHTSA complaint: component/system failure: the engine of my 2013 Hyundai Elantra (VIN: [insert VIN]) completely failed at 51,000 miles. The alternator also failed and had to be replaced. There was a persistent smell of gasoline inside and outside the vehicle, creating a fire hazard. All components are available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: the engine failure left the vehicle completely inoperable. The gas smell created a serious fire hazard and caused me to experience health issues, requiring an er visit. The combination of engine malfunction, electrical issues, and fuel leaks posed a risk to my safety and the safety of others while driving. Confirmation by dealer / mechanic: independent mechanics inspected the vehicle and confirmed the engine failure and alternator issues. Multiple mechanics advised not to drive the car due to the fire hazard. The original selling dealer (larry h. Miller Toyota) inspected the car and acknowledged engine problems in writing on a business card. Inspection by manufacturer / others: Hyundai corporate has been notified, but they declined warranty coverage as the vehicle is a second-owner car and beyond the original warranty. The dealer has also been made aware of the engine failure. Warning lamps / symptoms: no warning lamps indicated imminent engine failure prior to the engine dying. The first symptoms were mechanical issues, gas smell, and eventual total engine failure. Alternator failure and repeated maintenance issues occurred within 8 months of purchase. Additional notes: vehicle purchased at 34,000 miles; engine failed at 51,000 miles. Independent repair receipts, er paperwork, are available to support the case.

My 2013 Hyundai Elantra with the 1. 8l nu engine suffered catastrophic engine failure. A mechanic found metal shavings in the oil and diagnosed a failed connecting rod bearing. The Hyundai dealership quoted $10,000 for a new engine and refused warranty coverage because I am over 120,000 miles, even though this is a well-documented defect. Hyundai issued TSB 22-em-007h covering rod bearing wear in this engine, and there have been class actions and warranty extensions for similar failures. This failure creates a safety hazard, as the engine can seize or stall suddenly while driving, increasing risk of an accident. I request NHTSA investigate this known defect in the 1. 8l nu engine, as it poses a safety risk to myself and others.

This seems to be a very common and serious issue with Hyundai vehicles. 2013 Hyundai elanta, believed to be a frequent crankshaft position sensor issue. When driving the car, they vehicle will feel that it is losing power. When coming to a stop the engine will idle so low that it feels like it will stall or it does stall. The tachometer registered zero rpm's, even when accellearting. Attempting to accelerate up any incline and the car can not provide enough power. Sometimes the car will crank up, other times it will require time to restart. The car has stalled and low power idling multiple times, but it did happen in the middle of a 4 way intersection twice, and when the issue is present. Although we've been fortunate, no accidents have occurred, it is very unsafe for the owner and other drivers. This occurance has happended several times over the past year. Two times it was immediatley brought into the dealer service, the second time it did stall with the service member there. Both times they were unable to diagnose the problem and stated no error codes were reported. You have already issued a recall for this same issue with a different model. Oct. 13, 2017 – Hyundai motor America has recalled more than 400 vehicles potentially equipped with defective crankshaft assemblies, according to documentation submitted to the national transportation safety administration. There are so many others that have reported this same issue and have been corrected with the replacement of the crankshaft position sensor. . Read more...

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with piston failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

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.

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.  .

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30-40 mph, there was an abnormal tapping sound coming from the vehicle. While the vehicle was parked, the tapping sound continued. The engine and abs warning lights were illuminated. 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 local dealer was contacted. The dealer determined that a software update was needed. The dealer informed the contact they were waiting on a technician. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

I was driving down a busy highway when my car decided to die I pulled into the turning lane cause that was the closest thing to me I turned my car off and went to turn it back on in hopes that it would just fire back up and smoke went rolling from my engine. I ended up having to contact a tow truck along with an officer to block the road come to find out my engine was completely blown, I contacted the service department along with warranty services and everything and nobody is willing to assist with this issue. Apparently this is an ongoing issue with Hyundai cars.

While pulling out onto a major main road, my car just stopped. The rpm's remained on zero after I restarted the car. I had to get it towed. The engine light was on, and it had trouble restarting. The code read camshaft. The mechanic replaced the camshaft and no other codes registered. It shut off two times after the camshaft was replaced. I took it back to the mechanic and it shut off on him 5 times. This car is unsafe. I am afraid to drive it, especially with have a young child.

My car had trouble starting then shut off while driving. Engine light was on and the rmp's stayed at zero. Code was for camshaft. Camshaft was replaced and the car shut off three more times while driving. I only have 83,000 miles on my car.

The engine of my 2013 Hyundai Elantra gt failed due to a known piston-slap issue, and it is available for inspection for a limited time before being sold to a junkyard. This failure occurred suddenly while I was on the highway, putting my safety and the safety of others at risk as I had to maneuver the car to the side of the road amidst heavy traffic. The problem has been confirmed by both the Hyundai dealership and an independent service center, who diagnosed the piston-slap issue and found the engine filled with sludge, a known issue with these engines. Despite having 28 documented service records and regular oil changes, Hyundai denied the warranty claim, citing engine neglect. Hyundai representatives have inspected the vehicle and provided a technical bulletin documenting this defect. Prior to the failure, there were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms indicating a problem with the engine.

Engine has "piston" slap or knocking, a precursor to catastrophic engine seizure, diagnosed at joe machen's Hyundai at 132k miles on 5/17/24. Engine could seize causing rapid deceleration at any moment, while pulling out into traffic or travelling at high speeds on the highway. First noticed a clicking or ticking noise the engine made when it was cold around 130k mi, which goes away as engine warms up. Sound has gotten louder and more persistent and has turned into a knocking. Dealer told me that the entire engine needs replaced, which is prohibitively expensive. So I'm driving it now until I can get a new car or engine replacement. I've submitted a claim to the dealer and Hyundai corporate, but was denied. I don't believe that Hyundai is taking responsibility for the safe operation and reliability of their cars. I have also not found the dealer to be a support and advocate. There was a limited class action lawsuit where Hyundai settled for some faulty engines where there were metal burrs leftover in the oil passagways during manufacturing that causes engines to fail even when oil changes were done regularly (https://hyundaithetaenginesettlement. Com/docs/theta_settlement_notice. Pdf). However, I don't think anything close to the number of engines with actual problems have been addressed. Mine wasn't in the recall but has the piston slap. I got regular oil changes with average 4,405 mi interval through today, while 7,500 mi interval is recommended in manual. I have another friend with a 2017 Elantra that failed at 95k miles, and another with a kia that failed. Since Hyundai/kia are very common cars, and owners often don't have the ability to replace the entire engine, and sometimes get no warning, the engine manufacturing defect needs to be looked into further by the NHTSA and Hyundai/kia as a grave safety concern. Hyundai/kia need to act promptly to prevent death and injury to their customers due to catastrophic engine failure. We don't feel safe.

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.

After taking my 2013 Hyundai Elantra in for service at a local mechanic due to hearing a new engine sound but no check engine light, I was informed that there was a much bigger problem involving a misfiring cylinder requiring a brand new engine replacement. My mechanic directed me to take in my car to a local Hyundai dealer where I was made aware that this was a known issue with Hyundai Elantras but was never made a recall leaving owners to hope that their vehicles fell under an arbitrary warranty extension that was put out by Hyundai (https://autoservice. Hyundaiusa. Com/txxk/micrositetemplate/micrositetemplatevinvalidate/3767) if undiagnosed or not replaced this can cause an engine seizure which could in turn lead to collisions, accidents, injury or death. I have entered my VIN into the website provided which tells me that my vehicle qualifies, however after taking my car into the dealership I was informed that my vehicle will not be covered since I bought the car pre-owned and it has been over 8 years since the manufacture of my vehicle. So because I fall out of that range I'm unable to have a known issue fixed that should be a recall? how does that make sense? my car has now been at a local Hyundai dealer for over two weeks with Hyundai corporate kicking the tires on getting back to the service department on if they will cover any portion of the new engine. This has caused major issues and impediments in my daily work and personal life as I've had to rearrange and work around transportation.

Complaint: failure to notify or repair while under service at a Hyundai dealer of a potentially hazardous defect. Foremost, Hyundai motors America (hma) never notified us of the potentially hazardous defect with motor. We have owned the car since October 2013 and have been notified of other defects through recalls from hma. Which were serviced and completed on December 20,2023. 1. Recall 170: brake pedal stopper replacement, Dec 20, 2023 2. Service campaign 933service2011-13 Elantra, (ud), a/t shift lever clip installation, Dec 20, 2023 3. Service campaign 993serviceibu/bcm anti-theft software upgrade and decal application, Dec 20, 2023 in conclusion, while driving in bellevue, ne on February 24, 2024, the motor developed piston slap, rod knock, and loss of power. Had this occurrence happened on a wet, snow or hail covered road whether on an incline, decline or level surface, physical injury would have been likely. Realizing that the vehicle would not make the return trip to kansas city. Mo, the vehicle was traded in at loss for a Chevrolet bolt.

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled into a parking lot. The vehicle was towed to two independent mechanics, who informed the contact that the oil level was significantly low, although an oil change was performed two weeks prior to the failure. The mechanics determined that the timing components, timing cover gasket, water pump belts, valve cover, spark plugs, and other unknown components needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. Additionally, 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 local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

There is no fix for the car and I cannot park the car where it would not injure persons or property the solution is for Hyundai to replace the car or give me a free rental car till there is a fix -2013 Elantra is subject to fire.

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.

See attached document for complaint.

Car has a ticking sound, car has died on me multiple times. The vehicle has stopped moving regardless of pressing on accelerator and died leaving me stranded, feeling unsafe. I have been driving at 40 mph and then seem to lose power, making it to where can only go 10 to 20 mph or totally dying. I was also having issues with key fobs not working. Door would open, unlock and then not, car stalling. No lights illuminating on dash. Battery in fob replaced after car being towed to shop after stalling, dying issue and I was basically told they didn't know what was up with the stalling, maybe fobs. I had an oil change done and full diagnostic, sent on way without answers. Happened again, electrical issues, fob not working, stalling, start hesitation and dying, no power. I had it towed to different shop and was told had couple of codes showing up even though no check engine light on, they stated a caliper was leaking along with other oil leak and crankshaft sensor needed replaced, which got fixed. The car has 98000 miles on it (around there) and I see safety recall posted. I finance this car and have literally only had it not even 5 months. I do not feel safe driving it. I've been stranded, at times key fobs and locks act up on it still, the ticking is definitely a concern, rpms off and revs up at times while also lacking pick up and go. I contacted my local Hyundai and they stated no resolution on safety recall yet, can schedule an appointment and pay for diagnostic, which would make my 3rd diagnostic over the last month or so. I need something remedied. I transport myself and at times my children and I do not feel safe in this vehicle which again purchased just about 5 months ago from car max. Help please!.

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, the contact had heard an abnormal noise and noticed the vehicle had lost power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed by an independent mechanic or dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

My car keeps breaking down whenever I slow down or press on the brakes. I have a malfunction indicator lamp and I was notified via letter to call Hyundai ASAP to get a service so that my car doesn’t light on fire. I went to a mechanic who told me the engine is bad and it’s also a real from Hyundai. I called numerous times, and every time I am told there’s nothing they can do about it at this time. They keep telling me to wait and they don’t give me any options. This is a frustrating situation. I drive two small children in my car and I don’t want anything to happen to them because the Hyundai dealership refused to fix their mistake.

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shook and then lost motive power. The contact stated that failure had occurred four times. The contact stated the failure had previously occurred while the daughter was driving, stopped a stop light and in the middle of the street. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the failure was unable to be duplicated because the check engine warning light was not illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle lost all motive power. The driver was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle then stalled and failed to restart. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a general engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 155,000.

Unknown - the safety of myself and my kids are being put at risk with the recent fire risk recall not being resolved by Hyundai immediately. I do not feel safe driving this car and I have notified/called my insurance company/my finance company, and the local Hyundai dealership for assistance and no help was provided to me. I need this resolved immediately.

Due to the nature of the manufacturer's recall; (Hyundai Elantra 2013- manufacturer recall number 251 "urgent: fire risk when parked" & NHTSA recall number 23v651000) that has been issued to my car, I am now at risk and in danger, both physically and financially. This recall notice has made me aware that I can no longer park my car safely in my garage, nor in my driveway, without putting myself, my family and all neighbors residing in the surrounding houses at risk of causing a residual house fire. In addition, I fear for the safety of all innocent bystanders while driving this vehicle where other cars are present due to the fact that this potentially immanent electrical shortage may occur while parked or driving on the street. Since this issue has caused me to take these measures to protect myself and others, I have come to the realization that I must now look into selling and replacing my beloved car, however as stated above, the urgent recall notice that now exists on this vehicle will make it impossible to obtain a fair asking price from any potential buyers, leaving me unable to compensate for the financial investments I've made in regards to purchasing and maintaining this vehicle over the years. This issue now deems my car essentially worthless in its current state, and with no remedy available, I'm unable to sell this vehicle for any sum that's close to the fair market value that I deserve. Thus far, I have been fortunate enough to not experience any malfunctions that have led to a fire, but with a remedy not being available to solve this issue I'm left with the constant stress & fear that I may cause harm to myself or others by simply going about my daily tasks, and have no way to financially recover from the necessary purchase of a substitute vehicle that is required for me to get to work, tend to my family, and ultimately pay my bills. I hope I have made you aware how crucial it is this gets resolved promptly before substantial harm does come to me.

1. Coolant hose leaked into the engine causing the engine to smoke and head gasket to be blown. Available for inspection upon request until I sell the vehicle since I need a vehicle for work. 2. The engine failure could have occurred on a roadway, and the coolant in the engine could have combusted further. When the engine is on, you can smell smoke. 3. The problem was confirmed by an auto shop and they recommended that the Hyundai dealership perform a repair. 4. The component has not been inspected by anyone other than two auto shops at this time, who both confirmed that either the head gasket could be replaced as an attempted fix, but that the issue could remain/become worse if the entire engine is not replaced. 5. Check engine light came on, checked codes at a shop within 10 minutes - only code present was an engine thermometer. Drove 20 minutes home. Drove to shop in am. Shop described issue and recommended taking it to dealership for repair. Drove home and engine was riding rough, and began to smoke. I have done research online and communities online refer to this as "sudden engine death" and an issue that occurs often with this make and year of vehicle.

My engine is ticking. The auto shop told me that my motor is shot and the same thing happened to my sons car. We both have the same car same year. There has been a law suit for this issue.

My engine will not turn over 70% of the time. My radio switches on and off on its on and changes stations randomly. Even with new brakes, it sounds like they are constantly grinding. When my gas gets low the issue gets worse to the point I can't arm my car. I have a small child and my car started smoking. I was also stranded for almost an hour because my car would not start. I just got off the phone with pearson Hyundai and they told me there is no remedy for this issue and just wait. This issue started mid last year when my engine started to shake at a stop light. I have had 3 mechanics look at my car and they won't touch the issue due to the recall.

The engine shut down while driving, it turns on again if I go neutral and turn it on but very dangerous since it already happens me on the freeway also when you’re on a stop or light with the brakes on the car start to try to move even whit the brakes all the way down, engine make some noise when you start it when is cold. Car has been well maintained.

Car randomly shuts off while idling . Will restart , but will not go past 10 mph leaving me either stranded in the middle of the road or causing me to pull over in unsafe areas . When restarting , engine is very hesitant. Car will be very shaky so I have to keep the car off for about 5 minutes before I restart the car . At that time the check engine light will turn on , as well as the wheel alignment and the battery .