Engine. Review the 92 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 77 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports8 fire reports9 injury reports

Engine complaints

92 reports

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139,000 miles · Apr 9, 2019

Engine

RATTLING/KNOCKING NOISE WHILE CAR IS RUNNING, INCREASE IN NOISE AS YOU ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ODI #11194899

78,942 miles · Apr 8, 2019

Engine

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ENGINE TICKING AT IDLE AND ACCELERATION. HAD LIFTERS REPLACED AND OIL PUMP COSTING $1500. ENGINE CONTINUED WITH TICKING NOISE. BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHICH IS 2.5 HOURS AWAY. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW MOTOR. HYUNDAI HAS DECLINED THE REQUEST RELATED TO MILEAGE AND TIME. REALLY. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 79,000 MILES ON IT. HYUNDAI CURRENTLY HAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT RELATED TO THE TICKING NOISE. HYUNDAI KNOWS THAT THE ENGINES ARE FAULTY BUT REFUSE TO PUT OUT A RECALL. HOW CAN YOU LET HYUNDAI CONTINUE TO RESELL THESE CARS. THIS IS BASICALLY FRAUD. HYUNDAI ELANTRAS FROM 2011-2016 WITH THE 1.8L ENGINE ARE THE ONES AFFECTED. HYUNDAI DOESN'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A MOTOR GOING WITH ONLY 79,000 MILES ON IT. SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE HYUNDAI ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR FAULTY PRODUCTS. TAKE THE VEHICLES WITH THE 1.8L OFF THE MARKET.

NHTSA ODI #11194753

108,000 miles · Apr 8, 2019

EngineSteering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS DETECTED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING MORE THAN 60 MPH OVER A BUMP, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE DETECTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CYLINDER COUPLING AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ODI #11194687

73,000 miles · Apr 2, 2019

Engine

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I NOTICED A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM MY VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS 73,000 MILES AND WAS MAINTAINED (OIL ALWAYS CHANGED ON TIME). I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM MY GRANDFATHER AND HAD IT LESS THAN A YEAR. BECAUSE I WAS THE SECOND OWNER, I WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 10 YEAR/1000,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ENGINE TO SEE IF HYUNDAI WOULD COVER ANY OF THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE. HYUNDAI DECLINED TO COVER ANY OF THE COST OF THE ENGINE. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS ASSIGNED A CASEWORKER TO LOOK AT THE SUBMITTAL IN GREATER DETAIL. THE CASEWORKER INFORMED ME THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE COST REGARDLESS THAT MANY PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ENGINES.

NHTSA ODI #11193292

120,000 miles · Mar 25, 2019

Engine

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THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY STRIPPED FROM CRANKSHAFT! ABOUT 30K MILES BEFORE WE STARTED NOTICING ENGINE NOISES - LOUD TICKING NOISES. AFTER HAVING MY SPOUSE PARK THE VECHICLE BECAUSE WAS HARD KNOCKS, I TOOK IT OUT WITH MY DAUGHTER TO TAKE HER TO GUITAR LESSONS AND TO LISTEN TO IT AS I DROVE. ON THE WAY BACK TO THE (LESS THAN 3 MILES) THE ENGINE DIED AS THERE WAS A LOUD SCREECH/KNOCK. I RESTARTED THE ENIGNE AND DROVE BACK HOME. THE COOLANT AND OIL WAS EVERYWHERE. THAT'S WHEN I NOTICES THE PULLEY WAS LOOSE AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OFF THE CRANKSHAFT. THE ODDEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN. THE ENGINE (I BELIEVE) STILL STARTS BUT TICKETING DOES PERSIST. NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED BUT CLEARLY THE ENGINE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH IT. THERE WAS NOTHING WE'VE DONE WITH THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN NORMAL, HIGHWAY DRIVING. I'VE CONTACT CORPORATE HYUNDAI AND THEY HAVE INDICATED IT'S NOT LONGER COVERED AND NO WORK CAN BE DONE ON IT. MY CONCERN - OUTSIDE OF 5K LOST ON THE VEHICLE IS THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR ALL THE VEHICLES OUT THERE - ESPECIALLY AT THE LOWER MILEAGE. I FREAKED OUT ON THE ROAD WHEN I HEARD THE NOISES AND FELT LIKE MY ENGINE COMPLETELY FELL APART. MY SAFETY WAS MY CONCERN. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS ENGINE AND IT'S NOT JUST MINE. IF IT HAPPENED TO ME...A SIMILAR OCCURRENCE IS HAPPENING TO OTHERS. I SENSE HYUNDAI IS NOT DOING IT'S PART TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE ESPECIALLY WITH SUCH A CORE/CRITICAL PART OF THE VEHICLE. I'VE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THEIR VEHICLES...ESPECIALLY WITH LACK OF OWNERSHIP OF THE ISSUES. (VEHICLE IS STILL AT DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE WRITING). I'LL BE PICKING IT UP TODAY. I"M ESTIMATING THE DATE THIS HAPPENED...BECAUSE I DIDN'T MARK IT DOWN. I TRIED TO TOW IT MYSELF TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH MY TRUCK BUT I TOOK THE BUMPER OFF SO FINALLY GOT A REAL TOW IN TO PICKER IT UP AND RELIEVED IT.

NHTSA ODI #11191370

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2019

Engine

THE ENGINE IN THIS CAR IS KNOCKING SEVERELY. IT'S REALLY BAD UPON START UP AND CONTINUES TO KNOCK.

NHTSA ODI #11186672

123,000 miles · Mar 8, 2019

Engine

KNOWN HYUNDAI ENGINE PROBLEMS THE ENGINE HAS A TICKING NOISE THAT I HAVE FOUND TO BE A MANUFACTURED ISSUE IN HYUNDAI ELANTRAS. THE CAMSHAFT BUSHINGS ARE WORN AWAY AND NEEDS A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE. ALL OF WHICH IS A MANUFACTURING FAULT. THE TICKING IS AUDIBLE WHEN IDLING AND EVEN MORE SO WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED.

NHTSA ODI #11185050

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2019

Engine

2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOUD TICKING NOSE FROM ENGINE. *LD *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER FOUND DEBRIS IN THE OIL PAN AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO ASSIST WITH REPAIRS DUE TO THE VEHIC…

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NHTSA ODI #11175552

78,000 miles · Jan 18, 2019

Engine

CAR STALLS WHEN IDLING AND AT TIMES WHEN DECELERATING. THE CAR STARTS RIGHT BACK UP AS SOON AS I AM ABLE TO BRING IT TO A STOP. WHEN DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED ON THE FREEWAY I DON'T NOT HAVE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #11170745

70,000 miles · Dec 26, 2018

Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine

TAKATA RECALL: WE HAVE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO GET INSPECTED DUE TO ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF AND HAVE HAD TO MAKE PAYMENTS ABOUT DIFFERENT FIXES THAT WOULD APPARENTLY HELP ONLY TO NOTICE NO CHANGE AND THE LIGHT WOULD COME BACK WITHIN DAYS OR WEEKS AND COME ON AND OFF . THERE IS A SUDDEN CHANGE IN THE WAY THE VEHICLE DRIVES A…

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NHTSA ODI #11163605

Official recalls

23V651000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

Sep 22, 2023

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.

20V393000 · Equipment:electrical

Jul 2, 2020

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Hyundai Elantra and Sonata Hybrid, 2012 Accent and Veloster vehicles. The 12V accessory socket outlet may have been over-tightened during installation, possibly disabling the thermal fuse and allowing the outlet to overheat with prolonged use, such as by using the Tire Mobility Kit air compressor to inflate a tire.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An overheated accessory outlet increases the risk of fire.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Tire Mobility Kit accessory outlet plug with a direct-to-battery connection wire harness kit, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 193.

15V871000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc)

Dec 23, 2015

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Elantra vehicles manufactured October 29, 2010, to October 25, 2011. Due to an electronic stability control (ESC) sensor malfunction, the brakes for one or more wheels may be applied unexpectedly and the engine power may be reduced. These symptoms will be accompanied by illumination of the ESC indicator lamp in the instrument cluster.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the one or more of the brakes are inappropriately applied, control of the vehicle may be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will verify the proper operation of the ESC sensors, and update the ESC system's calibration, free of charge. The recall began June 6, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 137.

15V629000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

Oct 7, 2015

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011 Elantra vehicles manufactured November 12, 2010, to March 31, 2011, and Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, to February 28, 2010, originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Road salt may corrode the front coil springs, possibly resulting in the coil springs fracturing.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front coil springs, free of charge. Interim notifications were mailed on November 17, 2015. The recall began on January 6, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 133. Note: Vehicles that were previously registered in salt belt states but are currently registered elsewhere are eligible to be inspected and repaired.

13V115000 · Air Bags:side/window; Structure

Apr 1, 2013

Hyundai Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured from November 12, 2010, through March 5, 2013. A support bracket attached to the headliner may become displaced during a side curtain airbag deployment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration injury.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will apply adhesive strips to the headliner, free of charge. The safety recall began during April 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 109.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Structure

Consequence: If the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration injury.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will apply adhesive strips to the headliner, free of charge. The safety recall began during April 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 109.

Air Bags:side/window

Consequence: If the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration injury.

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

AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.

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.

EA12008 · Headliner Bracket Detachment

Opened Sep 13, 2012 · Closed Dec 9, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window; Structure:body:roof And Pillars; Unknown Or Other

In March 2013, Hyundai issued a safety recall to reinforce the attachment of the metal support brackets to the headliner assembly in approximately 186,254 model year 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra vehicles built in Korea and sold in the U.S. (see NHTSA recall 13V-115 for more information).The recall covers vehicles built up to March 5, 2013.After that date, Hyundai began using headliners with reinforced bracket attachments in the Korea-built Elantra vehicles.ODI has opened a Recall Query (RQ13-004) to investigate model year 2009-2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring vehicles.During EA12-008, ODI found these vehicles are equipped with a support bracket design and layout similar to that in the above-mentioned Elantra vehicles.Also, the headliner manufacturing processes used were similar for both models.Like the Elantra vehicles built before the recall, the Elantra Touring model headliner does not contain reinforced bracket attachments.This Engineering Analysis is closed.See attached report for additional information.The ODI report cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification number: 10457696

Additional source detail variants (3)

Air Bags:side/window

Structure:body:roof And Pillars

Unknown Or Other

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