Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
230–25K
3125–50K
3550–75K
4675–100K
40100–150K
11150K+
186 reports with mileage · 66 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Steering. Review the 132 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
28 crash reports11 fire reports20 injury reports
What owners actually said
252 reports
83,402 miles · Mar 19, 2017
Service Brakes
I WAS DRIVING DOWN HE ROAD ABOUT 25 MILES PER HOUR AND MY BAKES WENT OUT I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE IN SLOW MOVING AREA WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC. IF I HAD BEEN IN THE FREEWAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. DEALER SHOWED ME AND EXPLAINED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HYUNDAI HAD PUT A PLASTIC COVER OVER THE BRAKE LINE. AFTER YEARS OF SALT AND WINTER W…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN HE ROAD ABOUT 25 MILES PER HOUR AND MY BAKES WENT OUT I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE IN SLOW MOVING AREA WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC. IF I HAD BEEN IN THE FREEWAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. DEALER SHOWED ME AND EXPLAINED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HYUNDAI HAD PUT A PLASTIC COVER OVER THE BRAKE LINE. AFTER YEARS OF SALT AND WINTER WEATHER THE ENCLOSURE OF THIS BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTING AWAY UNKNOWINGLY. MOISTURE, WET AND WINTER ELIMINATES WERE TRAPPED WITHIN THIS PLASTIC COVER CAUSING THE BRAKE LINE TO RUST. THE CAR IS NOW 8 YEARS OLD SO IT TOOK 8 YEARS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I FEAR THERE ARE MANY CARS IN THIS SITUATION AND THE DRIVERS DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. THE BRAKE LINE BROKE AT THE RUSTED AREA AND THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT CAUSING THE LOSS OF MY BRAKES. THE DEALER PERMANENTLY REMOVED THE PLASTIC COVER AND SEALED THE BRAKE LINE. THIS COVER SHOULD NOT BE COVERING THE BRAKE LINE, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURERS INTENTIONS WERE GOOD, BUT THIS WAS NOT A GOOD WAY TO PROTECT THE BAKE LINE FOR THOSE WHO LIVE INCLEMENT WINTER WEATHER. NOT ONLY WAS I AT RISK AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSE A FATAL SITUATION FOR OTHERS. THIS REPAIR ALSO COST ME $400.00. PLEASE DO SOMETHING THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE MONEY COST, BUT THIS WAS A TERRIFYING SITUATION. I WAS ALSO VERY FORTUNATE THAT THERE WERE NO CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND I WAS MOVING SLOWLY. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. I DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO UPLOAD THE INVOICE FROM THE DEALER, BUT WILL BE HAPPY TO MAIL THIS TO YOU.
NHTSA ODI #10967034
58,000 miles · Mar 3, 2017
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
NHTSA ODI #10958388
92,000 miles · Dec 29, 2016
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, WHILE PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SURGED WITH A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND INDEPENDENTLY CRASHED INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLIS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, WHILE PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SURGED WITH A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND INDEPENDENTLY CRASHED INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER AND THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE STICKING. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY CONFIRMATION THAT THE MANUFACTURER INVESTIGATED THE FAILURE OTHER THAN REPLACING THE PARTS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
NHTSA ODI #10938450
62,000 miles · Dec 12, 2016
SteeringCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND STRUCK A GUARDRAIL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND RIBS. THE FRONT PASS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND STRUCK A GUARDRAIL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND RIBS. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED CHEST PAINS. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER BOTH RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. ONLY THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
NHTSA ODI #10934849
65,423 miles · Nov 22, 2016
Air Bags
THE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR AIR BAGS CAME ON AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED IT AS MY WIFE AND I ARE VERY CAREFUL WITH OUR ASSETS...WE ARE BOTH 75.
NHTSA ODI #10927565
93,000 miles · Nov 22, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering
DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE MY EPS LIGHT CAME ON AND MY STEERING LOCKED UP. I CANNOT TURN THE WHEEL AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AFTER PULLING OVER I TURNED CAR ON AND OFF BUT THE POWER STEERING WILL NOT RETURN. I SEE THAT HYUNDAI ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS FOR MY CAR YEAR, BUT MY VIN WASN'T INCLUD…
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DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE MY EPS LIGHT CAME ON AND MY STEERING LOCKED UP. I CANNOT TURN THE WHEEL AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AFTER PULLING OVER I TURNED CAR ON AND OFF BUT THE POWER STEERING WILL NOT RETURN. I SEE THAT HYUNDAI ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS FOR MY CAR YEAR, BUT MY VIN WASN'T INCLUDED. THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WANTS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING SHAFT AND COLUMN AND SAYS THAT IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THE RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10927497
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2016
Steering
I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS. MY STEERING HAS PLAY IN IT, AND MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHEN SLIGHTLY TURNED. I'M TOLD THERE IS A PLASTIC COG IN THE POWER STEERING UNIT THAT BREAKS. IT DOES THIS ANYTIME THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10919127
114,000 miles · Oct 18, 2016
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE EPS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V100000 (STEERING), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE EPS WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED TWO DAYS AFTER THE RECALL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE EPS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V100000 (STEERING), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE EPS WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED TWO DAYS AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,000.
NHTSA ODI #10916748
41,700 miles · Aug 25, 2016
Steering
I BROUGHT MY 2009 ELANTRA (DRIVEN LESS THAN 42,000 MILES) TO A LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP MID JULY BECAUSE EPS WAS LIGHT ON AND I HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF A RECALL PERTAINING TO THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THE RECALL WAS REPORTED ADDRESSED THROUGH SOFTWARE RESET/UPDATE AND EPS LIGHT WAS OFF WHEN I PICKED THE CAR BACK UP. EARLIER THIS…
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I BROUGHT MY 2009 ELANTRA (DRIVEN LESS THAN 42,000 MILES) TO A LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP MID JULY BECAUSE EPS WAS LIGHT ON AND I HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF A RECALL PERTAINING TO THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THE RECALL WAS REPORTED ADDRESSED THROUGH SOFTWARE RESET/UPDATE AND EPS LIGHT WAS OFF WHEN I PICKED THE CAR BACK UP. EARLIER THIS MONTH THE EPS LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I NOTED A BRIEF CLICKING/KNOCKING SOUND WITH TEMPORARY INCREASED RESISTANCE AS I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION BOTH WHILE MOVING OR AT A STOP. THE CAR WAS REASSESSED AT THE DEALERSHIP AUG 23RD, I WAS TOLD THAT AN "INTERNAL FAILURE OF STEERING COLUMN" HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE FULL STEERING ASSEMBLY FOR AN ESTIMATED $2,244.40. I ASKED FOR FURTHER DETAILS REGARDING THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COUPLER NEEDS REPLACEMENT BUT ALSO THAT THE "HOLOGRAM SENSOR" HAS MALFUNCTIONED, NECESSITATING A FULL STEERING ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT, AND THAT THIS IS UNRELATED TO THE PREVIOUSLY SERVICED POWER STEERING RECALL. I HAVE NOT HAD THE REPAIR YET BUT AM WARNED THAT THE CAR IS AT RISK OF UNPREDICTABLE POWER STEERING FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #10898518
233,451 miles · Aug 15, 2016
Air Bags
DRIVING HOME WITH NO PASSANGER AND PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED BREAKING WINDSHIELD .
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.
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.
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.
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
1
DP21003 · 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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