Showing the 2013 Elantra Base. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
About every 2013 Elantra
The 2013 Hyundai Elantra has 1,345 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, most often about steering (273). It gets 30 to 32 mpg combined and a 5-year fuel cost of $10,150 to $10,830 at U.S. average prices, based on 15,000 miles a year. NHTSA gives it 5 overall stars. There are 4 recall campaigns covering brakes, lights, air bags, and others, which may apply to this car.
Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.
Fuel economy
30–32 mpgcombined; city 26–28, highway 37–38; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$10,150–$10,830U.S. average; Ohio $9,070–$9,680 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2013 Elantra. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 1,345 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Elantra. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Steering
273
8
2
0
Engine
238
7
15
3
Air bags
171
42
0
45
Service brakes
165
27
3
11
Electrical system
155
7
13
1
Unknown or other
128
4
3
6
Service brakes, hydraulic
123
1
5
1
Suspension
99
3
1
0
Wheels
81
8
1
4
Exterior lighting
74
1
1
2
Power train
57
3
0
1
Tires
57
1
1
2
19 more parts
Structure
51
13
6
5
Vehicle speed control
50
18
1
7
Electronic stability control (ESC)
47
6
1
0
Visibility
28
1
0
2
Fuel/propulsion system
27
3
2
0
Visibility/wiper
19
0
1
0
Seat belts
17
4
0
2
Forward collision avoidance
8
1
0
1
Fuel system, gasoline
5
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
4
0
0
0
Seats
4
1
1
1
Service brakes, air
4
0
0
0
Traction control system
4
1
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
3
0
0
0
Equipment
2
0
0
0
Lane departure
2
0
0
0
Back over prevention
1
0
0
0
Equipment adaptive/mobility
1
1
0
0
Parking brake
1
1
0
1
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2013 Elantra over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Elantra sedan, coupe and GT vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.
Risk: If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 8, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 170. This campaign expands recall 16V574.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model 2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured December 1, 2012, to April 30, 2013. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released.
Risk: If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad with an improved part, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on September 30, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 146.
Hyundai Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured from November 12, 2010, through March 5, 2013. A support bracket attached to the headliner may become displaced during a side curtain airbag deployment.
Risk: If the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration injury.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will apply adhesive strips to the headliner, free of charge. The safety recall began during April 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 109.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 165 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2013 Elantra, the latest on Oct 8, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (43), equipment (42), power train (30), steering (14), engine and engine cooling (12).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Audit query AQ23002 Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires · covers 3 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2013 Elantra.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: midsize cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 8 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Elantra Front-Wheel Drive
1.8 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
28 / 38 / 32
Elantra Front-Wheel Drive
1.8 L, 4 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
28 / 38 / 32
Elantra Front-Wheel Drive
1.8 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
27 / 37 / 31
Elantra Blue Front-Wheel Drive
1.8 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
28 / 38 / 32
Elantra GT Front-Wheel Drive
1.8 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
27 / 37 / 30
Elantra GT Front-Wheel Drive
1.8 L, 4 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
26 / 37 / 30
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data