[Aloha]

I've had my 2013 Elantra GLS for a few weeks. Just the other day, I braked hard and the gutteral, grinding noise shocked me. Thoughts of, oh, no, did I buy the wrong car, ran through my head briefly. The following day, I took the car on a test drive in the neighborhood -- speeding up and braking several times. Each time the car emitted the same grinding noise, though it didn't startle me as it did the first time. Talked to a friend/mechanic, then decided to call the service department. They think it might be something to do with the brake pads. I'm taking the car in next week. A brand new car, paid in full, I figured I should get the problem corrected. Hopefully, they'll be able to fix it to my satisfaction. Other than that, I love the car.

 

[SpringRolls]

Holy cow, I've had the same problems as well with my 2013 elantra! Only had it for maybe a month and a half with 1.3k miles on it. I had to brake really hard once and was totally shocked at what I heard. Scared the crap out of me; was thinking, "shoot did I damage the brakes on my new car?!?!?" I need to take the car in for service to check it out and hopefully fix the issue! This is the complaint I have about the car.

 

[Perpetuous Dreamer]

Although the brake pads and rotors are the most likely suspects, I have also driven certain other cars under very extreme situations under very hard braking and noticed a "grinding" or "growling" noise. The culprit? The tires. They would start making noise during threshold braking just prior to lock up (non-ABS car) or just prior to ABS activation.

 

[Citichap]

yes, my 2013 Elantra gls started this noise at the front right wheel for the first time. It seemed that that whole wheel was vibrating when I braked. I noticed that it was raining here in NYC for the past three days. Maybe rust on the rotors? I have 1300 miles on the car now. It sounded as if the caliper was loose on its mounting frame. I'll check it out over the week end to see if it is secure to the frame.

 

[stopdroproll]

Same deal with my 2013 GLS. Only happens if I brake really hard.

 

[Aloha]

Hey thanks for the replies everyone. It's sort of comforting to know this isn't just my issue, but, of course, it's not a good sign if it's prevalent in this model. I'm taking the car in on Tuesday to have it checked, and will file a follow-up post if there's anything worthy of sharing.

 

[Citichap]

YES ALOHA, Please let us know one way or another. thanks

 

[Aloha]

Citichap, etal: I took my 2013 Elantra to the service center this morning. They said there was a national bulletin (not a recall) to alert Hyundai service centers of this braking issue. They replaced the brake pad and turned the rotors (mechanic said it's recommended when installing new pads). At first, the mechanic thought the replacement might have been ceramic pads, but I had the fellow who supervised this visit to check and he told me it was another metallic one, but with a different composition from the original pads. The mechanic test-drove the car, and later I asked to do the same with him. It was noise-free! Drove the car on a few errands in the afternoon, and so far so good. Nice and quiet. I hope this issue has been resolved, and encourage anyone else to take their car to a service center. After all, there's no charge under the warranty -- plus, I got a free car wash! Good luck.

 

[Lissa]

I have had the grinding grunting noise, not that loud but a few times, new 2013 bought a month ago, but I also heard here that because of the Antilock braking system, sometimes the uneven rough roads will cause this sound, as someone said, the ABS seem to not like it when the road is not smooth & even.

Also when you have Antilock brakes they will grind & make some sounds in rain & bad weather since they are reacting to the road conditions.


Not sure if all of them are an actual problem with the brake's or pads....

 

[Aloha]

Hi Lissa. After being startled by the loud, growling noise the first time, I took the car (a month-old, too) on a nicely paved stretch of road, where I was able to accelerate and brake several times. Each time produced the same noise, although at different decibels. I've only driven in dry conditions (it's been hot here in Hawaii), so I don't think it was the ABS (I'm told that noise would be more squeal-like). I think it's worth having the service department check it out. It's nice driving (so far) without that annoying sound when I brake.

 

[Hawekeye]

Citichap, etal: I took my 2013 Elantra to the service center this morning. They said there was a national bulletin (not a recall) to alert Hyundai service centers of this braking issue. They replaced the brake pad and turned the rotors (mechanic said it's recommended when installing new pads). At first, the mechanic thought the replacement might have been ceramic pads, but I had the fellow who supervised this visit to check and he told me it was another metallic one, but with a different composition from the original pads. The mechanic test-drove the car, and later I asked to do the same with him. It was noise-free! Drove the car on a few errands in the afternoon, and so far so good. Nice and quiet. I hope this issue has been resolved, and encourage anyone else to take their car to a service center. After all, there's no charge under the warranty -- plus, I got a free car wash! Good luck.

I also have the Grinding Noise during flat dry conditions under moderate breaking. I was wondering where I could get that service bulletin or would it be safe to assume that if I took my car to my dealership service department they would know about the bulletin and replace the brake pads and turn the rotors with the metallic pad with the different composition?

 

[KCortest]

2013 Hyundai Elantra: Brakes make grinding noise

I purchased a new 2013 Hyundai Elantra on July 5, 2012. I joined this forum just to participate in discussion on this issue. Within 10 days of having the car, the brakes began grinding when I would come to a stop. I live in a suburban community, and do most of my driving in the 30-40 mph range. Even when I was driving at 25-30 mph and would come to a stop at a stop sign, the brakes would make a grinding noise that sounded like metal on metal; the kind of noise that you would expect from completely worn brakes or warped rotors. People driving with me insisted I take the car in to have the noise checked out. I scheduled an appt. and took the car to the dealer on July 18th. They reset the ABS in the car. I went out of town on July 19th for vacation, and the car was not driven until I returned on July 25th. The brakes immediately began grinding when I would come to a stop. I took the car into the dealer again on July 26th. I test drove my car with a dealer rep., and when I braked at a stop sign from a speed of approx. 30 mph, the brakes made the same grinding noise. The dealer rep. said he had not heard the noise before from the brakes on new models. The dealership gave me a loaner vehicle, and my 2013 Elantra is still being examined by the service department.

 

[sbr711]

I check latest releases of communications from Hyundai on the Dealer.com site, and HMASERVICE via dealer login.. nothing in regards to brake pads on the Elantra.

Only items listed is a couple new recall and the GDS Internet Update we did Monday.

 

[Aloha]

Re: the nationwide bulletin. When I pressed the service rep on exactly what that meant, he was a little vague but assured me that it was a reported issue and that they were instructed to replace the pads (did not mention ABS, did not even test drive it until AFTER the pads were installed). I also asked him to confirm that they didn't replace the pads with one from the same part #, and he said it wasn't. I asked him to find out what differentiated the new metallic pads from the original ones. When I called him back later in the day, he was a bit vague but reassuring that it had a different composition. I'm going to have to trust him on this. Yesterday, I purposely braked hard while driving around town, and later took the car to the same strip of roadway I did earlier where it it's safe to speed up and brake. Absolutely, no noise issues.
KCortest: I, too, was motivated to join the forum while researching for similar issues with my brakes. Could you update us as to the service department's findings once you get your car back? Thanks in advance.

 

[rodneyck]

I just made my appointment for next Friday to have them look at the brakes. He took my VIN number and said he was going to look to see if there were any postings on the dealer bulletin boards about the issue. Unfortunately, I will not know until his findings until then.

 

[B-Deef]

I have the 2013 elantra as well, experience the same grinding noise. This is the ABS kicking in for hard stops. Nothing to worry about, this happens with many NEW cars.

 

[Don67]

Re: the nationwide bulletin //// I'm going to have to trust him on this.

If sbr711 doesn't know about this "nationwide bulletin" then your service advisor might be simply making it up. When I worked in the car business I couldn't believe the storytelling that some of the service advisors indulged in... real actors.

That said, as long as your problem gets solved then that's all that matters.

 

[KCortest]

If the brakes only made a grinding noise on hard stop, I would not have been as concerned. I test drove my 2013 Elantra with someone from the service dept., driving 25-30 mph on a city street, and the brakes made the grinding noise as a result of natural braking at a stop sign; no sudden stops or hard braking involved. The road wasn't rough & uneven. I purchased my last car new in 2006. It had ABS & I NEVER experienced the kind of grinding from the brakes that I have in my new Elantra as a result of normal use...I haven't even used 2 tanks of gas. I refuse to believe that when the brakes grind constantly, even just in my 3 mile commute @ 25 mph most of the way, that it's some perk to having the ABS. Everyone I know drives cars with ABS, and I've never heard any braking noise that resembles the grinding noise I hear when I brake in the Elantra. I dropped my car off with the service dept. a week ago, after driving it with a dealer rep. to confirm the sound I was hearing, & still have not heard anything back on my vehicle.

 

[Aloha]

sbr711 & Don67: Appreciate your comments and feedback; that's what a forum is for. Respectfully, I agree with KCortest because my car is also new, and I don't think we should settle for driving a car that growls/groans/grinds nearly every time we hit the brakes -- whether it's hard or moderate. The issue was getting worse, and whether or not the service rep was fabricating the nationwide "bulletin" or "notice", I'm glad I took my car in and hope the change in brake pads has resolved this issue. I'm puzzled why KCortest's service department has held on to his/her car for a week.

 

[Clamp-it]

The grinding sound that is heard and felt occurs for me in cases where the driver is the only person in the vehicle as well as when there are passengers in the vehicle.

I'd be concerned, as you are.
There's something wrong with the car.
Im glad I got a 2011, I think the '13's might have issues.
I heard my engine making an awfull noise a few days ago, but thankfully, I awoke, cause I was only having a bad dream while I was fast asleep, you see. I guess it was some sort of stress manifesting itself from all these goldarned threads about grinding noises an such!