Engine. Review the 139 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 126 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 124 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

47 crash reports11 fire reports30 injury reports

What owners actually said

652 reports

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2014

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CPSC: I1440033A. 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BRAKE SYSTEM. *LN THE MECHANIC RESURFACE THE ROTORS, BUT STATED THE CALIPERS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE GRINDING NOISE RETURNED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10584869

49,000 miles · Apr 23, 2014

Engine And Engine Cooling

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I ACCELERATED OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND THEN LOST POWER BECAUSE THE CAR WENT OUT OF TIME AND STARTED MISFIRING. THEN WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF MY TAILPIPE. THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY CAR HAS MISFIRED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE REASON I KNOW IT MISFIRED IS BECAUSE I HAVE A CODE READER AND IT SAID CYLINDER 1 & 2 MISFIRE. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR, WAITED ABOUT 5 MINUTES, RESTARTED IT AND THE CAR RUNS FINE. THE DEALER CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND BY THE TIME I GET THE CAR TO THEM THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF. STRANGE BEHAVIOR WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10584854

30,000 miles · Mar 14, 2014

Air BagsElectrical SystemService BrakesCrashInjury

DRIVER ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE BUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND HIT ANOTHER CAR, ALSO UPON IMPACT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED TO PROTECT THE DRIVER CONSIDERING HOW SEVERELY THE FRONT AREA OF THE CAR WERE DAMAGED. 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, CAR WAS NOT STARTING, WAS JUMPED- START AND VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO HYUNDAI SERVICE AND THE…

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NHTSA ODI #10569243

9,000 miles · Mar 10, 2014

SteeringTiresWheels

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POTHOLE INDUCED TIRE FAILURE - TORN SIDEWALL. THE LIMITED EDITION OF THIS CAR IS FITTED WITH 17" RIMS -- STOCK TIRE IS A 215.45.17. WITH APPROXIMATELY 22,000 MILES OF DRIVING, WE HAVE DESTROYED THREE TIRES ON POTHOLES, FORTUNATELY ALL WERE AT LOW SPEED AND THERE WAS NO LOSS OF CONTROL. HOWEVER, HITTING A POTHOLE OR OTHER BREAK IN THE PAVEMENT AT HIGH SPEED COULD EASILY DESTROY THE TIRE AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. THE ASPECT RATIO IS SIMPLY TO SMALL FOR SAFETY. A REVIEW OF AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR HYUNDAI ELANTRAS WITH 17" RIMS. I WAS HESITANT TO LET MY CHILDREN DRIVE THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. AT OUR OWN EXPENSE WE HAVE REPLACED THE STOCK WHEELS AND TIRES WITH A 16" WHEEL AND LARGER ASPECT TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568232

20,638 miles · Feb 21, 2014

SteeringCrashInjury

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNSTABLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES, WHO PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT AND REPLACED THE AXLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,638....UPDATED 03/25/14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS INVOLVED IN A AUTOMOBILE COLLISION ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2013, TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR NECK AND BACK INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565287

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2013

Electrical SystemPower Train

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I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN JUNE 2011 AND THERE HAVE BEEN THREE SEPARATE TIMES THAT MY CAR WILL NOT START. THE FIRST TIME WAS A FEW MONTHS AFTER I FIRST PURCHASED MY CAR. I WENT TO START MY CAR IN THE MORNING AND IT WOULD NOT CUT ON. AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR THE DAY I TRIED IT AND IT TURNED ON WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED SEPTEMBER 2013. I WENT TO START MY CAR IN THE MORNING. IT WOULD CRANK BUT NOT TURN OVER. I LET IS SIT FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS AND EVERYDAY I WOULD TRY IT AND IT STILL WOULD NOT START. I FINALLY HAD IT TOWED TO A HYUNDAI DEALER NEAR ME AND THEY RAN TESTS AND EVERYTHING CAME BACK FINE AND WAS TOLD THE CAR STARTED FOR THEM WITH NO PROBLEM AND I PROBABLY DIDN'T PUSH IN ON THE CLUTCH ALL THE WAY. EVEN THOUGH THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ALSO TRIED IT AND WOULD NOT START FOR HIM TOO. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED. CAR WOULD CRANK AND NOT TURN OVER. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND SAW FROM ANOTHER HYUNDAI OWNER THAT THEY HAD TO PUMP THEIR GAS PEDAL TO GET THEIR CAR TO START. ONCE I TRIED THAT THE CAR STARTED AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THIS TIME I DROVE IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND ONCE AGAIN ALL TESTS CAME BACK FINE AND THEY CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550151

36,000 miles · Oct 27, 2013

TiresWheels

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TWO! NOT ONE BUT TWO OF THE OEM TIRES HAVE BUBBLES IN THE SIDEWALL. THAT IS A BLOW OUT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND GOD KNOWS WHAT DAMAGE THAT CAN DO. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR THAT ONE OF THE TIRES COULD BLOW OUT AND SEND ME OFF INTO A DITCH. TO TOP IT OFF, THE CAR DID NOT COME WITH A SPARE TIRE (TO SAVE WEIGHT AND IMPROVE GAS MILEAGE) SO IF IT DOES BLOW OUT AND I CAN SAFELY CONTROL THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I'M SCREWED AND STRANDED. THIS HAPPENED TO ME LAST YEAR AND I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND BUY A NEW TIRE. BLOW OUTS ARE VERY DANGEROUS. NOW I HAVE TO CALL A TOWING COMPANY TO GET MY CAR AND GO GET NEW TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10549712

26,000 miles · Oct 25, 2013

Tires

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO H426 TIRES, SIZE 215/45/17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXHIBITED A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO DETECTED A TEAR IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. A SEALANT WAS APPLIED TO THE TIRE AS A PRECAUTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA ODI #10549566

63,000 miles · Oct 16, 2013

Electrical System

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VEHICLE WILL NOT START ONCE STOPPED. AFTER AN HOUR OR SO IT WILL RESTART. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ABOUT A YEAR. IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MORNING (OCT. 16). THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED IN BAYTOWN TEXAS. ALSO AT NTB STORE IN ATASCOCITA, TX. AFTER THOROUGHLY CHECKING ALL POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR THIS TYPE PROBLEM, THROUGH VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS THEN REPLACING THE BATTERY, NEITHER SERVICE CENTER HAS DETECTED A PROBLEM. THEY HAVE GIVEN A RESOLUTION OF NO PROBLEM FOUND. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR A YEAR NOW. THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548132

34,000 miles · Sep 5, 2013

Electrical System

MY ELANTRA LIMITED WILL NOT START OCCASIONALLY FOR NO REASON. I HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND BACK TO PARK, THEN REPEAT TO GET IT TO START. THIS HAPPENS SO OFTEN I AM USED TO IT DOING THIS, SO I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL. THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS IT UP. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10541976

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.

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

PE12012 · Side Curtain Air Bag Improper Deployment

Opened May 10, 2012 · Closed Sep 17, 2012

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:side/window

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is aware of one incident of an improper deployment of the driver-side curtain air bag that deployed as a result of a crash involving a model year (MY) 2012 Hyundai Elantra.An inspection of this vehicle showed that a metal bracket (stiffener) in the headliner assembly had detached and was forced downward by the deploying air bag.The metal bracket caused a laceration to the driver's ear and other possible injuries.Approximately 75,000 MY 2012 Hyundai Elantra vehicles, built in Korea and sold in the U.S., have stiffeners in the headliners while the MY 2012 Elantra vehicles built in the U.S. utilize a different headliner that does not use a stiffener. Thus, the latter vehicles are not included in this investigation.Hyundai has inspected the headliner assemblies from eight Elantra vehicles (which were sold in the Korean market) with production dates in the same range as the field incident vehicle.Hyundai reported to ODI that the metal brackets from these vehicles were found to be securely attached to the headliners.Hyundai also has conducted several static deployment tests in attempts to replicate the field incident. In one test, the metal bracket detached from the headliner but the test condition did not replicate or explain the condition observed in the incident vehicle.This Preliminary Evaluation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA12-008) to further assess whether incidents like the single field incident could potentially occur with other subject vehicles.In addition to the subject vehicles, ODI also will collect and review information on MY 2011 and 2013 Elantra vehicles that have headliners with stiffeners similar to those in the subject vehicles. To date, there have been no reports on the MY 2011 and 2013 vehicles.The ODI report cited above can be viewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification number: 10457696

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags

Air Bags:side/window

Go deeper into Hyundai Elantra problems

Hyundai Elantra electrical problems →Hyundai Elantra transmission problems →