NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
24 reportsClear category filter79,000 miles · Jan 3, 2019
Air BagsElectrical System
AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED LIT AFTER STARTING CAR, BEGINING IN OCTOBER 2018. PROBLEM SEEMED INTERMITTENT; STAYED OFF AFTER START UP WHEN THERE WAS WEIGHT IN PASSENGER SEAT. TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND A DIAGNOSIS WAS RAN. CODES SHOWED EITHER THE BATTERY OR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR. HAD THE 3 1/2 YEAR OLD BATTERY REPLA…
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AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED LIT AFTER STARTING CAR, BEGINING IN OCTOBER 2018. PROBLEM SEEMED INTERMITTENT; STAYED OFF AFTER START UP WHEN THERE WAS WEIGHT IN PASSENGER SEAT. TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND A DIAGNOSIS WAS RAN. CODES SHOWED EITHER THE BATTERY OR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR. HAD THE 3 1/2 YEAR OLD BATTERY REPLACED TO RULE THAT OUT. NO AIR BAG LIGHT ISSUE FOR ABOUT TEN DAYS, BUT PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN. A FEW MORE WEEKS PASS AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AT ALL TIMES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN THAT LIGHT IS ON. I WAS TOLD BY HYUNDI THAT AIR BAG PROBLEMS WOULD BE PAID BY THEM, BUT NOT FOR RELATED SENSOR ISSUES. SEEMS THE SENSOR IS EQUALLY AS DANGEROUS. NO AIR BAGS, ARE NO AIR BAGS. I BOUGHT THE CAR (USED) BECAUSE OF ITS HIGH SAFETY RATINGS FOR MY TWO TEENS TO DRIVE. I THINK ANY ITEM EFFECTING THE AIR BAGS SHOULD BE RECALLED ASAP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESEARCH INTO THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11165660
161,050 miles · Dec 21, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineStructureFire
STARTED THE CAR AND MOTOR/ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. IT WAS THE MORNING OF 12/18/18. IT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY MOMS HOUSE (ON THE STREET).
NHTSA ODI #11162908
70,000 miles · Oct 17, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineStructureFire
ON 09/17/2018 I WOKE UP AROUND 5 AM TO FIND THE ELANTRA FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN THE FRONT END. IT WASN'T RUNNING, NOTHING LEFT ON, IT HAD NOT BEEN RUN FOR 4 HOURS SO THE ENGINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN COLD. NO DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS BEFORE. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED, PUT THE FIRE OUT AND STATED THAT THEY SAW NOTHING SUSPI…
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ON 09/17/2018 I WOKE UP AROUND 5 AM TO FIND THE ELANTRA FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN THE FRONT END. IT WASN'T RUNNING, NOTHING LEFT ON, IT HAD NOT BEEN RUN FOR 4 HOURS SO THE ENGINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN COLD. NO DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS BEFORE. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED, PUT THE FIRE OUT AND STATED THAT THEY SAW NOTHING SUSPICIOUS ABOUT THE FIRE AND THAT I SHOULD CHECK ON PROBLEMS WITH HYUNDAI. THIS CAR ONLY HAD 70000 MILES ON IT WITH A 10 YEAR 100000 MILE WARRANTEE .I WENT TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT COVERED WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT. THIS CAR WAS COLD, PARKED, NOTHING ON, NO KEYS IN IT, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON IT SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA ODI #11140848
71,000 miles · Jan 13, 2016
Electrical System
MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA TOURING 2009 EPS LIGHT COMING ON.
NHTSA ODI #10819930
12,000 miles · Jul 10, 2015
Air BagsElectrical System
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD TURN ON WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS MOVED FORWARD. WE RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE ISSUE AND IT "APPEARED" TO FIX THE ISSUE ONCE COMPLETED, BUT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY THROUGHOUT THE PAST FOUR YEARS. TODAY, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES AS OF JULY 5, 20…
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AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD TURN ON WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS MOVED FORWARD. WE RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE ISSUE AND IT "APPEARED" TO FIX THE ISSUE ONCE COMPLETED, BUT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY THROUGHOUT THE PAST FOUR YEARS. TODAY, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES AS OF JULY 5, 2015.
NHTSA ODI #10733106
39,000 miles · Apr 25, 2015
Electrical SystemSteeringCrash
BACKING OUT OF A "FAST FOOD" DRIVE THRU LANE , CAR DID NOT TURN, AS NORMAL, AND STRUCK A POLE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK PANEL. AT THE TIME I HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR WHY CAR DIDN'T FOLLOW THE DRIVEWAY CURVE. I HAVE NEVER AS AN ADULT HAD AN AT FAULT ACCIDENT, AND HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS. THE PART HAS BEEN RECALLED ON MY CAR.…
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BACKING OUT OF A "FAST FOOD" DRIVE THRU LANE , CAR DID NOT TURN, AS NORMAL, AND STRUCK A POLE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK PANEL. AT THE TIME I HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR WHY CAR DIDN'T FOLLOW THE DRIVEWAY CURVE. I HAVE NEVER AS AN ADULT HAD AN AT FAULT ACCIDENT, AND HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS. THE PART HAS BEEN RECALLED ON MY CAR. I AM ON A FIXED INCOME & COULD NOT AFFORD TO GET CAR REPAIRED. I PUT REPORT INTO HYUNDAI, BUT NEED TO KNOW LIABILITY FOR "ACCIDENT" & REPAIRS. I CALLED YOUR PHONE LINE & WAS PUT IN TOUCH WITH HYUNDAI & HAVE CASE #[XXX]. THIS FORM WON'T ALLOW ME TO ENTER "EPS CONTROL UNIT". INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10712795
20,000 miles · Apr 22, 2015
Electrical SystemPower Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED HESITATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. IN ADDITION, THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTEN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED HESITATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. IN ADDITION, THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
NHTSA ODI #10712241
105,000 miles · Mar 6, 2015
Electrical SystemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRUNK LID OPENED INDEPENDENTLY, THE ALARM ACTIVATED, AND ALL THE DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHICH FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION. THE FIR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRUNK LID OPENED INDEPENDENTLY, THE ALARM ACTIVATED, AND ALL THE DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHICH FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DIAGNOSED THE FIRE AS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
NHTSA ODI #10692433
109,000 miles · Oct 24, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System
AIRBAG SENSOR PASSENGER SEAT ASSEMBLY READS THAT THERE IS SOMEONE SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT WHEN NO ONE IS IN SEAT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10649697
78,000 miles · Jul 4, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering
ON MY WAY TO WORK ON AUGUST 8, 2013, I WAS ON THE FREEWAY IN THE EARLY MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN MY POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETE OUT AND THE EPS LIGHT CAME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND AFTER THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, THEY INDICATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THEY HAD D…
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ON MY WAY TO WORK ON AUGUST 8, 2013, I WAS ON THE FREEWAY IN THE EARLY MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN MY POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETE OUT AND THE EPS LIGHT CAME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND AFTER THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, THEY INDICATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THEY HAD DEVELOPED AN UPDATE THAT THEY COULD UPLOAD IT TO TO THE COMPUTER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE UPDATE WAS RUN, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING LIKE NORMAL. THIS MORNING ON JULY 4, 2014, I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE AND WAS DRIVING AGAIN IN THE EARLY MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AND LOW AND BEHOLD THE EPS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND ASKING THEY INSPECT THE VEHICLE. I DOUBT THAT THIS TIME AN UPDATE WILL FIX THE PROBLEM AS IT HAS OCCURRED TWICE NOW AND EXPECT THAT IT WILL COST TONS TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THIS TIME I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON VARIOUS HYUNDAI FORUMS AND JUST GOOGLING THE TERM "EPS LIGHT HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2009" AND FOUND THAT MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE EPS LIGHT. THIS IS A HAZARD AND IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. IT COULD CAUSE SOMEONE SERIOUS INJURY IF THEIR POWER STEERING UNEXPECTEDLY GOES OUT ON THE FREEWAY OR IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10608260
Official recalls
4Feb 4, 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Elantra and 2009-2011 Elantra Touring vehicles. On February 21, 2020 Hyundai expanded the recall to include 46,425 model year 2007-2008 Entourage and 2007 Santa Fe vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 188.
Feb 23, 2015
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Elantra vehicles manufactured June 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010, and 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles manufactured November 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010. The electronic power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may sense a discrepancy in the steering input signals and, as a result, disable the steering power assist.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will verify the proper operation of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and update the EPS control unit, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 127.
Apr 1, 2013
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Mar 15, 2011
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 ELANTRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2006, THROUGH NOVEMBER 1, 2008. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATS IN THE VEHICLES CONTAIN A WEIGHT SENSOR DESIGNED TO DEACTIVATE THE RIGHT FRONTAL AIRBAG WHEN OCCUPANTS OF CERTAIN WEIGHTS OCCUPY THE SEAT. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE WEIGHT SENSOR IS LOCATED UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE, BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THE CONNECTOR COULD BECOME CONTAMINATED AND MALFUNCTION SUCH THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT OF THE OCCUPANT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY IN CRASHES IN WHICH IT SHOULD NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT FROM THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE WEIGHT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CONNECTOR TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTING TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP21003 · Throttle Control System Vulnerabilities
Opened Nov 12, 2021 · Closed Jun 20, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.
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