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 3, 2013

EngineSteeringSuspension

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I HAVE THE 2012 ELANTRA AND FROM THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT I NOTICED IT WAS HARD TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE OUT ON THE HIGHWAY THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME BECAUSE MY WIFE NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT IT THEN I STARTED SEEING COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE I AGREE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HYUNDIA NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO LATELY WHEN U TRY TO RESTART THE CAR AFTER SITTING SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT START UNLESS U PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL ITS BEEN IN THE DEALER SHOP TWO TIMES (BUSTED STRUT AND WAS POPPING IN FRONTEND) AND THE CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AS FAR AS THE STEERING I KNOW ITS NOT THE TIRES OR THE ALIGNMENT JUST HAD NEW TIRES INSTALLED AND REALIGNED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505514

15,000 miles · Mar 15, 2013

Steering

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WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IT IS VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CAR IN A STRAIGHT LINE BECAUSE THE CAR LIKES TO VEER TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT AND YOU HAVE TO TRY REAL HARD TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT. THE STEERING BECOMES STIFF AT TIMES, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AND STARTED LOOKING UP REVIEWS AND NOTICED ABOUT 300 COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS NOT SAFE AND I ALMOST WENT OFF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN AND THEY CHANGED THE COMPUTER SETTING TO 15 TO MATCH THE TIRES. THEY SAID THAT SHOULD HELP. WELL IT DIDN'T CHANGE A THING. I AM TAKING THE CAR IN AGAIN TOMORROW. OTHER PEOPLE SAID THAT THEY AS WELL HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK NUMEROUS TIMES AND WERE GIVEN THE RUN AROUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503088

14,192 miles · Mar 1, 2013

Tires

MY LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I PULLED INTO THE NEXT GAS STATION AND NOTICED THAT 3 OUT OF MY 4 TIRES HAD A BUBBLE ON THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10500902

14,190 miles · Mar 1, 2013

TiresWheels

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MY LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON SO I PULLED INTO THE NEXT GAS STATION AND NOTICED THAT 3 OUT OF MY 4 TIRES HAD A BUBBLE ON THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALLS. TIRES ARE HANKOOK P215 45R 17 87H - DOT 5M24 DLH - ONLY ONE OF THE TIRES HAD THIS NUMBER AT THE END (4711). I CALLED HANKOOK HQ AT (855) 275-8899 AND THE PERSON WAS VERY SHORT WITH ME TELL ME THEY NEVER HAD A TIRE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THEY DID HAVE A VOLUNTARY RECALL. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAITING FOR THEIR RETURN CALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10500895

3,010 miles · Feb 28, 2013

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A C…

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NHTSA ODI #10500768

12,500 miles · Feb 26, 2013

Steering

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I AM THE OWNER OF A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. I BELIEVE THIS CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM! I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE SELLING DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT AT A COST OF $90.00 (NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY). I HAD THE ALIGNMENT DONE AND IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM! I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR EVALUATION. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME TO EXPECT TO BE CHARGED FOR REPAIRS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY! THE SECOND DEALER ALSO SAID THE CAR NEEDED ALIGNMENT AT A COST OF $100.00! I DECLINED THIS REPAIR; IT HAD NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME! I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THIS IS BEING MOVED UP REGIONAL! I HAVE NOT HAD ANY CONTACT FROM HYUNDAI REGIONAL AS OF THIS DATE! I BELIEVE HYUNDAI IS AWARE THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SYSTEMS ON 2011, 2012 AND 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA AND HAS NO PLAN TO ISSUE A RECALL UNTIL SOMEONE DIES! I BELIEVE HYUNDAI'S PUBLIC POSITION ON THIS MATTER IT TO TELL CUSTOMERS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEIR CARS; THEY JUST NEED ALIGNMENT, AT THE CUSTOMERS EXPENSE! I BELIEVE HYUNDAI HAS ADOPTED THE POSITION THAT IF A CUSTOMER IS CHARGED OFTEN ENOUGH, THEY WILL STOP COMPLAINING, DRIVE THE CAR OR TRADE IT FOR ANOTHER BRAND! EITHER WAY, HYUNDAI IS OFF THE HOOK! I DO NOT PLAN TO BE HYUNDAI'S TEST SUBJECT!!! I WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM UP TO ASKING HYUNDAI TO BUY THE CAR BACK FROM ME! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10500127

18,000 miles · Feb 11, 2013

EnginePower TrainSteering

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ALMOST EVERY TIME I HAVE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED IN DRIVE FROM REVERSING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE JOLTS AND SEEMS THAT TRANSMISSION IS LAGGING OR CHANGING GEARS ABRUPTLY. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND I HAD MADE AN APPOINTMENT. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR INSPECTION, THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE WHAT I WAS TALKING DESCRIBING. IN ADDITION, WHEN I DRIVE THE POWER STEERING HAS HAD SOME ISSUES. IT HAS NEVER DROVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE AFTER TWO ALIGNMENTS. AND IT CAN BE TOUGH TO TURN THE WHEEL. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT HOW I HEAR A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS, HE TEST DROVE IT AND WAS CONFIRMED THAT HE AGREES THAT THERE IS CLUNKING NOISE, BUT SAID HE CANT PINPOINT IT AND IT WILL HAVE TO GET WORSE BEFORE HE COULD TELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10497802

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2013

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE STEERING SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPGRADED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HER BACK AT A LATER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,200. .... UPDATED 03/08/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER OFF TO THE RIGHT, HEADING TOWARD OTHER LANES OF TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER STATED HER MOTHER WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND THEN IT WOULD OVER-STEER. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALER DIDN'T FIX THE VEHICLE, THE SECOND TIME, THEY STATED A COMPUTER UPDATE WAS NEEDED, THE THIRD TIME, THEY STATED A STEERING COLUMN WAS NEEDED AND THE LAST TIME, THE DEALER CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS THE STEERING COLUMN AGAIN. WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SPINNING LOSE ON TURNS. UPDATED 03/13/12

NHTSA ODI #10496745

5,000 miles · Jan 31, 2013

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO PEEL AT APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED HIM THAT IT WAS DUE TO HIM WEARING CERTAIN LOTIONS, ETC. THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ANOTHER 5,000 MILES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND PICTURES WERE TAKEN SO THAT IT WOULD BE SENT TO THE HEADQUARTERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

NHTSA ODI #10495338

6,996 miles · Jan 11, 2013

Suspension

CLUNKING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. DEALER REPLACED RIGHT REAR SHOCK. SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN DECEMBER 14, 2012. CAR HAD 17,059 MILES. THIS TIME DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK AGAIN, AND ALSO REPLACED THE LEFT REAR SHOCK. COULD THERE BE A DEFECT IN THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM OF THIS MODEL AND YEAR CAR? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492216

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 →