Problems · by component

2013 Hyundai Elantra exterior lighting problems

73 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Hyundai Elantra cite exterior lighting, 5% of all 1,330 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
73
5% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2025Exterior lighting, Service brakes, EngineODI 11681766
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 6, 2024Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 11606692
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2023Exterior lightingODI 11511532
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 7, 2023Exterior lightingODI 11500629
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 23, 2022Exterior lightingODI 11498685
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 5, 2022Exterior lightingODI 11496100

Showing 6 of 73 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

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.

Exterior lightingReported Aug 2, 2016NHTSA 16V574000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.