Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Hyundai Elantra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
2013 Hyundai Sonata has a loud knocking noise from engine. Purchases 8/5/25 at 43K miles, currently at 44K miles. There is a Technical Service Bulletin, # 22-EM-009H dated June 2022 about an extended warranty but its time limit is questionable. Unknown and undocumented when purchased. Not listed as an official recall so not covered under warranty repair and the only course of action I have been given is install a new motor quoted at $15K from local Hyundai dealer. Further research shows that driving should be limited to avoid further engine issues/fires. Occurrence since January 2026. Progressively worsening. Cause for concern. Is there an official recall on for the piston flap pending? Unsure if accident noted below is due to the issue.
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.
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.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while reversing at approximately 2 MPH, the vehicle stopped responding. The contact stated that she moved the gear shifter into neutral (N) position, then shifted back into reverse (R), and the vehicle responded. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there were no transmission issues. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated upon the depression of the accelerator pedal. The contact also stated that the vehicle would shut off while idling with the check engine warning light illuminated. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
A significant engine failure occurred while driving, presenting as loud knocking from the engine. The issue developed without prior warning lights or messages. The vehicle was inspected by a dealership and the problem was confirmed as internal engine failure (piston slap/engine knock). The dealership recommended full engine replacement. The engine is available for inspection upon request. There was no evidence of sludge or lack of maintenance noted during inspection. The most recent oil change had been performed less than 1,000 miles prior to the failure, indicating the issue was not caused by lack of maintenance. This condition creates a safety concern due to the potential for sudden engine failure, loss of power, or engine seizure while driving, which could increase the risk of an accident, especially at highway speeds. …
The car failed to go into the park. The vehicle was in park and continued to roll, and we placed the emergency brake on. The vehicle was towed to the dealership. The dealership replaced it with a new shift cable clip, and now the car operates. We noticed the vehicle had a previous recall that was repaired in 2019. The shift clip repair is for the same clip that failed, resulting in being unable to shift in gear. When asked why we were charged for a recall repair that didn't last, we were told we could only fix a repair once and that we needed to pay. The concern is if this vehicle was Parked on an incline I could roll forward running into something and someone. From the record there was roughly 40k miles between recall repair and the failure of the clip that was supposed to fix this problem.
The car experienced (1) poor acceleration, (2) check engine light come on, (3) engine stalling, (4) Tachometer drops to zero. It was first found the MAP sensor was faulty. After the sensor was replaced, the car ran but stalled again intermittently. It was found the problem was caused by crank shaft position sensor (fault code P0335). After the senor was replaced about three weeks ago, the car has been running fine.
I was stopped at a traffic light, when my car stalled out and shut off, completely random, no warning signs whatsoever. No warning lights, no weird unusual sounds from the vehicle, just all of a sudden it shuts off! So I had to hurry and put it into park, turn the key back to off, and try to turn it back on. It BARELY started, once it was started we had a green light plus it sounded like it was going to stall out on me again. BUT when I pressed down on the gas peddle, there wasn't any normal acceleration. The car was in 5th gear and wouldn't shift down to allow it to accelerate at all like it should. So I am trying to get out of the middle of the intersection, had the peddle to the floor, and it's barely moving. While I'm trying not to die, I also noticed that there was NO RPMS being shown on the dashboard. Like absolutely 0 RPMS. This isn't the only time this has done this to me!! …
In March of 2022 I took my car to have its regularly scheduled oil change at Mellow Motors and while I was there the service technician recommended I make a follow up appointment with the Hyundai dealership due to irregularities he noticed in the engine. I took my car to the dealership and dropped it off hoping this would be a minor concern that would be resolved quickly. When Hyundai initially contacted me that they would need to do a more thorough evaluation/diagnosis, I was surprised and concerned that something more significant may be wrong with the engine as the car was relatively new (previously garaged and serviced every 6 months), had low miles (54,000 miles), and had been taken care of extremely well since it was purchased new off the lot by my grandparents. …
Transmission complaints in other Elantra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2013 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA has 57 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2013 Hyundai Elantra, 4% of the model year's 1,329 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Hyundai Elantra transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2013 Hyundai Elantra, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Hyundai Elantra transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.