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

Unknown Or Other complaints

34 reports

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92,000 miles · Jun 19, 2017

Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUN VISOR HINGE BROKEN. WON'T STAY UP. HANGS DOWN IN THE DRIVERS FACE AND HINDERS DRIVERS ABILITY TO SEE.

NHTSA ODI #11000093

47,440 miles · Jun 17, 2017

EngineUnknown Or Other

WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR STALLED. THE TACH READING DROPED TO ZERO, AND ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I TRIED RESTARTING MY CAR. I COULD DRIVE SLOWLY, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON, AND THE TACH READING WAS STILL ZERO. THIS HAPPENED FOR A FEW TIMES --- WHEN I DROVE ON HIGHWAY, ON A LOCAL STREET, AND WHEN I WAITED FOR A LONG LIG…

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NHTSA ODI #10995707

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2017

Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

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THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FLEW OFF OF MY CAR DURING A RAIN STORM WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS TOLD BY THE PLACE THAT REPAIRED IT THAT THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T FASTEN THEM ON CORRECTLY. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID HE FIXED MY RECALL AS WELL - THE CAR NEVER HAD A RECALL REPAIR NOTICE ! AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT WORK - WHEN SERVICE DID OIL CHANGE THEY TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS GOING TO BE 415 DOLLARS TO FIX THE AIR BECAUSE THE DISCHARGE HOSE IS LEAKING. THE DISCHARGE HOSE COSTS 11.00 ON THE INTERNET & VALVOLENE INSTANT OIL CHANGE WILL REFILL THE FREON IN YOUR CAR FOR LESS THAN 140 DOLLARS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ALL HAVE NEEDED REPLACED CONSISTENTLY EVERY OTHER MONTH - I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS SOME KIND OF SHORT IN THE WIRING?

NHTSA ODI #10980774

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2017

EngineUnknown Or Other

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CITY DRIVING; THERE WAS THE USUAL AMOUNT OF "STOP AND GO". AS I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, I NOTICED SOME SMOKE/STEAM COMING FROM SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE MY CAR. I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER LOOKING AT MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO SEE IF IT WAS RUNNING HOT; BUT IT WAS STILL IN THE NORMAL RANGE. I ASSUMED IT WAS COMING FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE AROUND ME. THE NEXT TIME I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, I SAW THE SMOKE/STEAM AGAIN; THIS TIME I NOTICED THE DISTINCT "SWEET" SMELL ASSOCIATED TO A VEHICLE OVERHEATING. MY TEMP GAUGE WAS STILL REGISTERING AS NORMAL, BUT IT WAS CLEAR IT WAS COMING FROM MY VEHICLE. I TURNED THE HEAT ON UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO THE NEXT AVAILABLE PARKING LOT TO TURN OFF MY CAR AND LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. AFTER RESTARTING IT, THE TEMP GAUGE REGISTERED AS NORMAL AGAIN, SO I DROVE OFF. SHORTLY AFTER, THE TEMP GAUGE STARTED TO REGISTER THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING AND SMOKE/STEAM WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. JUST AS I WAS PULLING INTO ANOTHER PARKING LOT, THE TEMP GAUGE SPIKED. AFTER I PARKED AND LET THE ENGINE COOL A BIT, I OPENED THE HOOD AND IT WAS CLEAR THAT A HOSE OR SOMETHING HAD BURST; THERE WAS COOLANT SPEWED EVERYWHERE AND I SAW A SMALL HOLE IN ONE OF THE HOSES. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP; AFTER LOOKING AT IT, THEY SAID THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE SOME OIL/FLUID HAD BACKED UP INTO IT, APPARENTLY AT SOME POINT DURING THAT ORDEAL. I BELIEVE ONE OF TWO THINGS TO BE THE CAUSE: EITHER THE TEMP GAUGE/COMPONENT FAILED, THEREFORE NOT NOTIFYING ME OF THE ENGINE OVERHEATING; OR THE ENGINE WAS FAULTY. MY "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS NOT ON, AND DID NOT COME ON UNTIL AFTER THE TEMP GAUGE SPIKED. THIS ISSUE COST ME A TOTAL OF NEARLY $6000 IN REPAIRS, INCLUDING A NEW ENGINE AND THE COMPONENT THAT "TALKS" TO THE TEMP GAUGE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD; I BOUGHT IT USED AND HAD LESS THAN 2 YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #10965848

70,000 miles · Sep 19, 2016

Unknown Or Other

IN THE LAST YEAR THE MPG HAS DROPPED DRASTICALLY. WHEN PURCHASED IN 2011 (ELANTRA LIMITED), I GOT 35 MPG. IN THE LAST MONTH, I'M GETTING 16.9-20.9 MPG. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR THE SCHEDULED RECALLS, BUT NOTHING WAS DETECTED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY SUCH PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10907592

41,000 miles · Jun 4, 2016

Unknown Or Other

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2015 WINTER ENGINE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE TOOK CAR TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE LIFTER WAS MAKING THE KNOCKING NOISE I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AT ANOTHER GARAGE AND THE OIL COULD HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED.THE KNOCKING STARTED 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO HAVING MY OIL CHANGED.I KNOW ANOTHER PERSON THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND AFTER A BATTLE WITH THE GARAGE THEY REPLACED HER ENGINE AT NO COST.I HAVE HAD MY CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THEY FELT I SHOULD PURSUE THE MATTER

NHTSA ODI #10872544

77,500 miles · Nov 23, 2015

Power TrainSuspensionUnknown Or Other

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MY HYUNDAI MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. IT HAPPENS WHENEVER I SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE/REVERSE, DRIVE TO REVERSE, AND VICE VERSA, AND ALSO IF I SPEED UP, OR SLOW DOWN QUICKLY. I TRIED GETTING THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT AT A DEALER, AND I WAS TOLD "I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT MANY OF THE ELANTRA'S COME FROM FACTORY MAKING THAT NOISE, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHY. OBVIOUSLY, IF IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, THEN HYUNDAI WOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL BY NOW." I WAS UPSET BY THIS STATEMENT, BECAUSE IT DOES CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO JERK WHEN I AM ACCELERATING AND BREAKING, AS WELL AS OTHER STRANGE THINGS, SO I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE. I DID BUY THIS VEHICLE PRE-OWNED, AND IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO TRY TO GET IT REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO FIX THE ISSUE. I FEEL REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING MY OWN VEHICLE WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT, AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10806338

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2015

Unknown Or Other

ENGINE KNOCKING DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE IT WAS A FACTORY ISSUE LOOSE PISTONS ON A SMALL BLOCK.I HAD JUST TURNED ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE NOISE STARTED AND NOW IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME. I BEEN READING REVIEWS AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ODI #10789259

61,000 miles · Sep 17, 2015

EngineUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

WHEN DRIVING IT IS DIFFICULT AT TIME TO REGULATE MY SPEED. IF I STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN TRY TO DRIVE ON A GREEN LIGHT MY CAR WILL JOLT FORWARD. IT IS HARD TO SPEED UP, IT FEELS LIKE MY CAR IS STUCK IN ON SPEED. IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY AS IT IS SLOW TO PICK UP SPEED.

NHTSA ODI #10764580

34,000 miles · Sep 13, 2015

Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

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CAR WILL NOT START. HAVE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTED ALL TESTED AND ARE GOOD. EVERY SO OFTEN GO TO START THE CAR AND WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY TO FIRST POSITION EVERYTHING TURNS ON. WINDOWS WORK, RADIO WORKS, LIGHT ON DASH TURN ON. GO TO START THE CAR AND IT DOES NOTHING. DOES NOT EVEN TRY TO START THE STARTER MAKES NO NOISE. YOU JUST HERE A CLICKING NOISE. WAS TOLD BE DEALER THAT IT MIGHT BE INHIBITOR SWITCH (RANGE SWITCH), THAT WAS REPLACED AND A WEEK LATER IT AGAIN WILL NOT TRY TO START. IF YOU LET IT SIT AND COME BACK A DAY LATER MANY TIME IT WILL CRANK RIGHT OVER. THERE ARE MANY FORUMS ONLINE WITH THE SAME ISSUE FROM THIS MODEL.

NHTSA ODI #10763357

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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