23 of the
424 complaints about the 2008 Hyundai Elantra are about the
other systems — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
112,000 miles.
F
23
Complaints
0
Crashes
9
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Unknown OR Other
2295.7%
Other/I am not Sure
14.3%
Other & Unspecified across every Hyundai Elantra year
The engine bay of my car caught fire due to the abs pump and module not turning off. I bought a part but never opened the box because I received a piece of mail stating the recall of that exact issue that they would replace all parts damaged. Which they didn't just installed their relay After Hyundai recall 188 was completed, my ABS pump failed. I believe it was caused by continuous power being applied post-shutdown — the exact defect the recall was meant to fix. The dealer performed an inspection but misrepresented the results and refuses to replace the damaged component under recall. This ABS pump failure is a direct result of the original recall condition — or a failed installation of the relay fix — which continued to keep power applied to the pump while the vehicle was off. This is the exact scenario the recall was intended to prevent. If the failure is caused by that condition, Hyundai is still responsible under recall. The facility which did the recall falsely recorded the mileage on my vehicle as to void any "warranty" associated with the recall as the car hasn't been driven since the module was replaced. I also instructed the diagnosis team of Wesley chapel Hyundai to keep my battery unplugged due to the parasitical drain in order to protect the battery from being dead celled and now I have to replace the battery as well. They also illegally opened a mailed box I had in my car with a part I bought prior to the recall being mailed out which I never took out of the box nor did I open the box and it was fully sealed which is a federal crime. I opened a case in which Hyundai denied helping with this faulty service and are refusing to provide me documents Case no. 41355389.
NHTSA complaint #11681965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marietta, GA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Has not yet been officially diagnosed by a dealer or independent service center, but while turning into a neighborhood at around 15-25 mph the car jerked and the engine suddenly stalled while I was still in the middle of the road. Thankfully I rolled into the neighborhood before an oncoming car made its way over, but it was close. The gas pedal no longer worked, and I had to restart the car. It only drove once more before shutting down and the engine will no longer turn over.
NHTSA complaint #11674602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
New Holstein, WI
Other/I am not sure
When we rotate the car seat to lock it in place, the shell doesn't immediately lock in and we have to try several times to get it to lock in. Weve had this issue happen multiple times and fear for our son's safety. Our son's safety was put at risk when it didn't immediately lock into place. It has not been inspected by any one.
NHTSA complaint #11579001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Atlanta, GA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This unit was purchased from RockAuto in July 2023; they sent another defective product. When the rear engine mount was installed on the subframe--one bolt was not getting tight and a bolt inside the unit was already broken. This may have caused the disjointed connection for this rear engine mount.
NHTSA complaint #11530965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Atlanta, GA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The company, RockAuto, knowingly has many content quality errors describing automobile parts. This is a general safety concern to the general public because my rack and pinion set initially on the website said it came with both inner as well as outer tie rods. The rack and pinion set only came with inner tie rods with outer tie rods to be purchased separately. The company refunded the outer tie rods by giving a store credit.
NHTSA complaint #11529994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Norcross, GAFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When removing the key from the ignition, the cars engine was still running, as I was unable to turn the vehicle off. After a few tries the car was off and the engine stopped. I drove 1/2 mile, smelled something burning, looked down and saw smoke coming up from my lap area, and immediately turned the car off and jumped out of the vehicle..The engine continued to run while the key was removed... Car was eventually towed by Insurance Company tow company to the Factory Authorized service center
NHTSA complaint #11513588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little Rock, AR
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
brakes locked up and engine was knocking and car stopped running , it won’t turn over anymore and when it does it just shuts off .
NHTSA complaint #11438448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Davenport, FLFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Our car was sitting under our carport and got know on door that our car was on fire! We call 911 the cam and put fire ot that had also taken all the siding off the side of the house. Firemen said fire started under hood they thought. We believe that this fire was caused by a short circuit in abs module. We looked at recalls tonight and found this out.
NHTSA complaint #11430960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shafter, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When I am driving the vehicle all of a sudden it will jump back really fast And the check engine will go on and If I continue to drive the vehicle it seems like I'm putting pressure on the gas for it to go But then once I turn off the vehicle the check engine light will all of a sudden be gone. If I drive the vehicle again the problem won't happen right away it will be some time before it happens again all of a sudden.
NHTSA complaint #11417455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Belleview, FLFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS LAYING ON THE COUCH ASLEEP AND WOKE UP TO A SOUND ALMOST LIKE FIREWORK GOING OFF LOOKED OUT MY WINDOW AND SAW THE ENTIRE FRONT END IN FLAMES. CAR HADN'T BEEN DRIVEN SINCE 6PM THAT NIGHT. NOTICED FIRE AROUND 12AM.
NHTSA complaint #11406786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kansas City, MO
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HI, THERE IS A RECALL ON MY CAR THAT HAS BEEN OUT FOR A MONTH NOW AND NO REMEDY IS AVAILABLE. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THIS CONSIDERING I USE MY CAR ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY. THIS IS THE RECALL NUMBER: 20V061000
NHTSA complaint #11316738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 104,000 milesSpring Hill, FLFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON JUNE 21, 2019 I WAS ON MY WAY TO TAKE MY SON TO WORK AND I HAD MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. I PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT APPROX. 7:30A.M. AND DROVE ABOUT 100 FEET WHEN MY CAR STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD, I QUICKLY BACKED UP INTO OUR YARD. I GOT EVERYONE OUT OF THE CAR, MY SON LIFTED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS SMOKE AND FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM BEHIND THE BATTERY. WE QUICKLY CALLED 911. MY CAR IS TOTALED. I ONLY HAD PIP INSURANCE AND I AM CURRENTLY WITHOUT A VEHICLE. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALLS BECAUSE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER IN 2009 OR 2010. PICTURES ARE ATTATCHED. I NOTICED THE DAY BEFORE THAT MY PASSANGER WINDOWS DID NOT WORK, AND THE MORNING OF THE FIRE WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON MY BREAK LIGHT WAS ON THE DASH, BUT MY EMERGENCY BREAKS WERE NOT LIFTED. . I DROVE THE CAR THE DAY BEFORE AND DID'NT DRIVE IT AGAIN UNTIL THE MORNING OF THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #11222531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 23,630 milesJamaica, NY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CAR [ HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2008 -MANUAL TRANS] HAS JUST REACHED 23,630 MI. TODAY 11/15/2018, { I PURCHASED OF THE CAR NEW 11/2007. I SAW THAT KUHMO SOLAS KH16 TIRES WERE ON THE CAR.} A TIRE LOST AIR SHORTLY AFTER AN AIR FILL ON 11/15/2018 AND WAS TOTALLY FLAT BY 10P THAT EVENING HAVING SAT PARKED ONLY 7HRS AFTER AN AIR FILL. I MEASURED THE TREAD DEPTH LEVEL AND ABOUT 1/16 INCH LEFT. THESE IDENTICAL FOUR TIRES WORE OUT PRE-MATURELY AND THE SIDEWALLS LOOK DRY.ROT. AS PRECAUTION I NOW MUST FIND ANOTHER COMPLETE SET OF TIRES THAT WILL HAVE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY RELIABLE OF WARRANTY MILEAGE LIMITS. CANNOT RISK A 260MI DRIVE. JUST REFILLED WITH AIR TO GET ME TO A TIRE RETAILER FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES OF ANOTHER BRAND.
NHTSA complaint #11152021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesJacksonville, FLFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS LAST OCTOBER (2017), I WAS WOKEN UP BY NEIGHBORS INFORMING US THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM OUR GARAGE. THERE WAS A FIRE THAT STARTED IN THE ENGINE BAY OF MY 2008 (REGULARLY MAINTENANCED) HYUNDAI ELANTRA, AND TOTALED MY CAR, MY WIFE'S CAR, AND EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED MY GARAGE ($15,000 WORTH). THE VEHICLE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF IT ACTING STRANGELY AT ALL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CHALKED IT UP TO A "UNEXPLAINED ELECTRICAL FIRE" AS IT SEEMED LIKE IT STARTED FROM AROUND WHERE THE BATTERY WAS.
NHTSA complaint #11139165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesIola, TXFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AT 1:15 AM AUGUST 4TH 2018. IT HAD NOT BEEN TURNED ON SINCE 5PM AUGUST 2ND. I WAS NOT HAVING ANY ISSUES AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #11115718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 164,500 milesLittle Rock, AR
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I ENTERED VIN (XXXX) ON THE CHECK FOR RECALLS PAGE AND IT TELLS ME THAT ONE OR MORE PARMAMETERS ARE INVALID. CARFAX FOUND THIS VIN AND REPORTED ONE OPEN RECALL ON THIS CAR. WHY IS IT DOING THIS? THE VIN IS VALID. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11114472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 91,000 milesRoosevelt, NY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN MY VEHICLE IS ON PARK GEAR IT KEEPS MOVING FORWARD DOWN A HILL OR ANY SLOPE, I'M FORCED TO APPLY PARKING BRAKE TO STOP IT FROM MOVING. WHEN THIS OCCURS, CRANKING THE ENGINE TO START DOES NOT HELP; THE VEHICLE STARTER BECOMES DISABLED. IM THEN FORCED TO PUT IT ON NEUTRAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. NOW, PLACING THE GEAR ON DRIVE TO MOVE THE CAR: OFTEN AND OFTEN, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE AND ACTS AS IT IS ON NEUTRAL; AND BY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, THE KEY CAN'T BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. MOREOVER, WHEN THE VEHICLE HAPPENS TO MOVE AND IS BEING DRIVEN, ON A HIGHWAY ACCELERATING ON NORMAL TRAFFIC SPEED, IT TENDS TO SLOW THE SPEED AS TO LOOSING CONTACT WITH THE DRIVE GEAR. ALL THESE CAUSE ME NOT TO USE THE CAR FREQUENTLY. IF I MUST DRIVE IT, I HESITATE DOING SO AND LIMIT IT FROM USING ANY HIGHWAY TO AVOID POTENTIAL OF BEING CRASHED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE; SINCE MY VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS MAINTAIN THE NORMAL ONGOING TRAFFIC SPEED. I'M URGING YOUR AGENCY TO PLEASE ADDRESS MY SITUATION. BECAUSE I STRONGLY BELIEVE OTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLES OF THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEM OF THIS KIND. I HESITATE CONTACTING HYUNDAI FOR NOW, FEARING THEY MAY CONNECT MY SITUATION WITH A NEED FOR REPAIR AND SEIZE THE OCCASION TO BILL ME FOR THEIR OWN MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTS. I THANK YOU WELL AHEAD OF TIME FOR YOUR INPUT ON THIS PROBLEM. RESPECTFULLY YOURS, VEHICLE OWNER
NHTSA complaint #11104165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesMiami, FLFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, WHILE PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY THE ENTIRE DAY. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THE CAUSE OF FIRE IS UNKNOWN BUT IT APPEARED TO HAVE START AT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #11075623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 161,000 milesExport, PAFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DROVE CAR TO GROCERY STORE 6 MILE ROUND TRIP PARKED CAR IN GARAGE AT 10:15 AM. I PERFORMED YARD WORK IN FRONT OF AND WAS IN AND OUT OF GARAGE FOR 4 HOURS. AT NO TIME WAS THERE A HINT OF SMOKE OR BURNING. THEN CUT GRASS FOR 2 HOURS. AT ABOUT 4 PM SMOKE WAS BILLOWING OUT OF THE GARAGE. I OBSERVED FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND THE FRONT HOOD. UNABLE TO LIFT HOOD TO REACH FIRE SOURCE WITH EXTINGUISHERS OR GET CAR INTO NEUTRAL TO PUSH OUT OF GARAGE. I WAS DRIVEN BY SMOKE AND FLAME OUT OF GARAGE. BOTH THE 2008 HYUNDAI AND ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE TWO CAR GARAGE BURNED COMPLETELY. ALL CONTENTS IN GARAGE DESTROYED EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE THROUGHOUT HOUSE. FIRE FORENSIC INVESTIGATOR THINKS IT WAS CAUSED BY THE BATTERY BUT THERE WAS TOO MUCH DAMAGE TO MAKE MUCH OF AN INFORMED COMMENT AS TO PRECISE REASON CAR CAUGHT FIRE. REASON FOR FIRE IS UNKNOWN. ADVANCED AUTO BATTERY PURCHASED OCTOBER 17, 2014. PART # 121R1. #420 D2LNM1C1Q21B5J. REPAIR OF REAR MAIN SEAL IN JULY 2016 BY COCHRAN OF MONROEVILLE HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT. FOG LIGHTS MINI LAMPS A TOTAL OF TWENTY, 20, LIGHTS (FOG, BREAK, HEADLIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE) FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT, REAR RIGHT AND LEFT WERE REPLACED. REAR LEFT LAMP AND BULB HOUSING REPLACED JUNE 28, 2016 AT A COST OF $236 BY DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10993003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 127,500 milesMount Holly, NC
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HORN WILL SUDDENLY NOT WORK FOR EXTENDED PERIOD AND THEN LATER WILL WORK. WITHOUT WARNING THERE WILL BE NO HORN HAS BEEN HAPPENING OFF AND ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT RECENTLY HAS BEEN MORE FREQUENT ( THREE MORNINGS LAST WEEK!)
NHTSA complaint #10959649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 27,700 milesGreenwood, IN
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WOULD LIKE THE US DOT NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) ON MY 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PURPOSE OF AN ABS IS TO PREVENT LOSS OF TRACTION AND STEERING CONTROL DURING AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION. DURING A RECENT ROUND OF WINTER SNOW, I FOUND THAT THE SYSTEM DID NOT SHORTEN MY STOPPING DISTANCE AND DID NOT PREVENT THE FRONT WHEELS FROM LOSING THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF THE CAR ON SNOW. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 465 AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, I WAS UNABLE TO DECELERATE SUFFICIENTLY IN THE LENGTH OF THE DECELERATION LANE TO MAKE THE CURVE OF THE CLOVERLEAF AND LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE WHILE THE ABS WAS ACTIVATED. I DID SOME EXPERIMENTING AND FOUND THAT I COULD STOP IN A SHORTER DISTANCE WITH MORE CONTROL, IF I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL WHEN TRYING TO STOP. I ALSO FOUND THAT I COULD SLOW THE VEHICLE BETTER AND NOT LOSE STEERING CONTROL IF I DOWNSHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR, THAN I COULD USING THE BRAKES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER NEAR MY HOME AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ABS. THEY DROVE THE CAR AND TOLD ME THAT NO REPAIRS WERE NEEDED AND THAT THE ABS PERFORMED SIMILARLY TO OTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLES. WHEN I ADVISED THEM THAT THE ABS DID NOT ALLOW ME TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE TECH AGREED, BUT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREFORMING AS DESIGNED. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WHEN HE RETURNED FROM VACATION TODAY AND HE AGREED THAT THE ABS DID NOT WORK LIKE IT SHOULD, BUT THAT REPLACING PARTS WOULD NOT RESOLVE MY CONCERNS WITH THE ABS. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS ABS AS IT PERFORMS ON SNOW AND ICE AND I AM REQUESTING A FORMAL INVESTIGATION. I HAVE OBSERVED THE SAME RESULT OF ENGAGEMENT OF THE ABS ON WET PAVEMENT IN THE PAST, BUT TO A LESSER DEGREE.
NHTSA complaint #10373074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 44,000 milesLynwood, IL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA IN APRIL, 2008. IN JUNE OF 2008, CAR SURGED WHILE AT RED LIGHT. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM, NO REPAIR MADE. SURGING HAPPENED AGAIN IN JUNE OF 2008, DEALER REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. IN APRIL OF 2009, SURGE HAPPENED AGAIN, DEALER REPLACED FUEL SENSOR. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, SO WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, I OPENED A CASE FILE WITH HYUNDAI. EACH SUBSEQUENT TIME, I REPORTED IT TO HYUNDAI, AS WELL. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS IN OCTOBER OF 20L0. AT THIS POINT, I TRADED THE CAR IN AT THE HYUNDAI DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. I TOLD THEM THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE AND SHOULD NOT BE PUT ON THEIR USED CAR LOT FOR SALE. TODAY, I DISCOVERED THAT THE CAR IS FOR SALE ON THEIR LOT. I SPOKE WITH THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THAT HE WOULD REQUEST TIME FROM HYUNDAI TO "TEAR THE CAR DOWN" IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOCATE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE SURGING HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IDLING AT A STOP, SO A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING IN FRONT OF THE CAR IS IN DANGER, OR A REAR-END COLLISION COULD EASILY HAPPEN AT A STOPLIGHT. I REPORTED THIS TO HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS TODAY.
NHTSA complaint #10364047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100 milesKenosha, WI
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I PURCHASED A BRAND-NEW, 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS ON JULY 8. I DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 100 MILES FROM THE TIME I DROVE OFF THE LOT THROUGH THE END OF THE 24-HOUR NEW OWNERSHIP PERIOD. ABOUT 24-25 HOURS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER DURING A TYPICAL LEFT-HAND TURN THAT I MADE WHILE PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 125 MILES ON IT. THE CAR LOST COMPLETE POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED AT ABOUT 5:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 9. I HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTART IT (STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION DURING THE MALFUNCTION). I DROVE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALER AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO GET TOWING ASSISTANCE THROUGH HYUNDAI. THE HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT RAN TESTS ON IT FOR TWO DAYS. THEY FOUND A "MISFIRE CODE ON CYLINDER 1", BUT COULD NOT FIND HOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED BACK TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FROM WEDNESDAY, JULY 9 AT 8:56PM UNTIL TODAY. THE CAR POSES A DANGER TO ME AND OTHERS. THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WHILE I WAS TRYING TO DRIVE IN NORMAL CONDITIONS. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSIER ROAD, I MAY HAVE BEEN HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10234536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.