Steering. Review the 271 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 233 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 168 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

93 crash reports31 fire reports48 injury reports

Engine complaints

233 reports

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45,000 miles · Nov 5, 2015

Electrical SystemEngineSteeringCrash

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I OWN A HYUNDAI 2013 ELANTRA AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. THE CAR HAS SEVERAL TIMES REFUSED TO START AND THE BREAK PAD GETS STUCK AND I CAN'T MOVE THE CAR OUT OF PARK. I'VE HAD TO CALL THE TOW TRUCK SEVERAL TIMES AND THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE CAR START AGAIN IS TO MANUALLY SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD, THE CAR ALMOST RAN OVER ME, ONCE WHEN I DIDNT APPLY THE EMERGENCY BREAK ON WHEN THE PERSON WAS MANUALLY PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL!!!! ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR SHAKES. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THEY INSPECTED IT. ONCE I CAME BACK THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, AND THAT THE SHAKING WAS DUE TO THE POWER OF THE MOTOR, THAT I NEEDED TO GET USE TO IT!! I'VE HAD TO ALSO REPLACE MY TIRES BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO WEAR OFF, AND I CAN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE OVER ANYTHING WITHOUT SWERVING. I'VE HAD THE CAR ALIGNED AND MY CAR STILL SWERVES/PULLS TO THE LEFT! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS CAR!! I CANT GET MY CAR FIXED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT! I AM NOW STUCK MAKING CAR PAYMENTS TO A LEMON CAR! I'VE HAD TWO ACCIDENTS ON THIS CAR ALREADY ONE I REPORTED TO THE MY INSURANCE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX IT. THERE WAS A TIRE ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS TOO SCARE TO SWIRVE THE CAR TO AVOID IT BECAUSE I KNOW THE CAR CANT HANDLE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO I HAD TO GET THE IMPACT OF IT. PLEASE RECALL THIS CAR!

NHTSA ODI #10788686

45,235 miles · Nov 3, 2015

Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

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I HAVE OWNED MY CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS NOW. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY FOB NOT UNLOCKING MY CAR. I WOULD HAD TO PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES TO UNLOCK. THEN I ALSO STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN ON MY CAR(WITH THE PUSH START) BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS REALLY STIFF. I HAD TO PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO SUCCESSFULLY TURN ON MY CAR. RECENTLY I'VE HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON SPORADICALLY. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHILE DURING MY DRIVES IN THE CITY. TWO DAYS AGO, I ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON MY CAR AND THE CAR BEGAN TO START, BUT CONTINUED TO MAKE THE IGNITION START SOUND FOR SEVERAL SECONDS--ABOUT 10 SECONDS-- THAN USUAL. THIS WAS OF COURSE NOT THE NORM, SO I PRESSED THE START UP BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON AGAIN, IT TURNED ON FINE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. I WENT TO PEP BOYS AND MENEIKE TO CHECK THIS OUT AND THEY SAID THAT I HAD A P2096 PROBLEM. THIS CODE WAS FOLLOWED WITH THE DESCRIPTION AS FOLLOWS: POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO LEAN BANK 1. ESSENTIALLY I WAS TOLD THAT THE RATIO OF OXYGEN AND FUEL , THE ENGINE TAKE IS OFF. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A LEAK THAT WOULD CAUSE THE LACK OF FUEL GOING INTO THE ENGINE, BUT WHEN THEY INVESTIGATED IT, THEY DIDN'T FIND A LEAK. AS OF NOW, I DON'T HAVE A REAL DIAGNOSIS FOR MY CAR. I'M NOT SURE IF ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS CORRELATE OR HAVE A DOMINO EFFECT ON EACH OTHER, BUT THE ISSUE WILL TAKE A WHILE TO TAKE CARE OF.

NHTSA ODI #10788066

30,000 miles · Oct 26, 2015

Engine

MY JOB REQUIRES ME TO DRIVE A LOT. LATELY, ABOUT ONCE A MONTH NOW, MY CAR WILL NOT START. IT TAKES A 2-3 ATTEMPTS BEFORE IT WILL TURNOVER. I LITERALLY DOES NOT MAKE A SOUND BUT THE LIGHTS AND INDICATORS COME ON. I HAVE 2013 ELANTRA GT 5 DOOR. I STARTED NOTICING THIS AT ABOUT 30K MILES. I NOW HAVE OVER 50K MILES. THIS HAS ONLY BE…

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NHTSA ODI #10785894

36,000 miles · Sep 29, 2015

Engine

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THE CAR SEEMS TO IDLE MORE THAN IT SHOULD, CONSIDERING IT IS A 2013. I HAVE FELT IT IDLING HEAVILY AT DEAD STOPS WAITING AT A RED LIGHT, IN WHICH I WILL INCH UP AND THE IDLING STOPS. I'VE NOTICED THIS AFTER ONLY ABOUT 5K MILES ON THE CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. THERE IS ALSO A WHINING BUILD-UP SOUND WHEN I HAVE A COLD START. I TURN ON THE ENGINE AND HEAR A SLIGHT WHINE FOR ABOUT 4-5SECS. IT DIDN'T DO THIS IN THE VERY BEGINNING. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR, IT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS AN ELECTRIC CAR BECAUSE IT WAS SO QUIET. NOW IT IDLES AND WHINES AT START-UP. THE CAR SHAKES WHEN IT IDLES AND THE ONLY TIME I HAVE FELT THAT MUCH SHAKING WAS IN MY DAD'S OLD TRUCK FROM THE 90'S.

NHTSA ODI #10778436

36,000 miles · Sep 29, 2015

EngineService Brakes

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BRAKES: AT 36K, I HAD TO CHANGE THE BRAKE PADS WHICH MAY NOT BE UNCOMMON, HOWEVER, IT WAS THE BACK BRAKES. THE FRONT BRAKES HAD MORE THAN HALF THE LIFE LEFT ON IT AND THE BACK BRAKES WERE ALMOST BARE. ENGINE: IN SUMMER (JULY?) OF 2013, I CAME OUT FROM WORK, AFTER A FULL DAY OF THE CAR SITTING OUT IN THE SUN (APPROXIMATELY 85 WEATHER), I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE ENGINE AND IT CONTINUED TO TURN, BUT NOT WOULD NOT IGNITE/ START. AFTER TRYING IT FOR ABOUT 5MIN, I GAVE IT A BREAK AND LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 10MIN. AFTER WHICH, I TRIED AGAIN AND IT WAS VERY HESITANT TO START (YOU COULD HEAR IT WANTED TO), THEN EVENTUALLY STARTED. I DROPPED IT OFF TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE ISSUE. ALMOST A YEAR LATER (JULY?) 2014, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CAR SAT OUT IN THE 80 WEATHER IN THE SUN ALL DAY. I CAME OUT FROM WORK AND MY CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON; THIS TIME, THE ENGINE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN CONTINUE TO TURN LIKE WHEN YOUR BATTERY IS DEAD. I CALLED ROADSIDE AND HE JUMPED THE CAR. HE ALSO CHECKED THE BATTERY AND SAID IT SHOULDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO DEAD. I AGAIN TOOK INTO THE DEALER AND THEY TRIED TO REPLICATE MY ISSUE, LEAVING IT IN THE SUN; NO LUCK. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AGAIN. I HAVEN'T SEEN THE ISSUE SINCE, BUT I AM WORRIED THAT A NEW CAR COULD EVEN HESITATE TO START LIKE THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10778430

13,995 miles · Sep 17, 2015

Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

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I'M WRITING TO NOTIFY YOU OF MY REOCCURRING ISSUE ON MY 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. UPON PURCHASING MY VEHICLE ON OR ABOUT 5,000 MILES, MY CAR WOULD HAVE FALSE STARTS. I BROUGHT THE ISSUE UP DURING ONE OF MY EARLY MAINTENANCE VISITS AT DANBURY HYUNDAI WHICH WAS ON DECEMBER 1, 2012, IN WHICH THEY STATED TO ME THAT THEY WERE MY HEADLIGHTS. ANY INDIVIDUAL WITH COMMON SENSE KNOWS TRANSMISSION AND STARTER ISSUES HAVE NO CORRELATION TO HEADLIGHTS. IN ANY EVENT, MY CAR BEGAN NOT IGNITING AT ALL ON OR ABOUT 56,000 MILES (VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THIS WILL BE PROVIDED IF NEEDED). PRIOR TO THIS, IT WOULD HAVE FALSE STARTS OCCASIONALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BUT NEVER ON A DAILY BASIS UNTIL RECENTLY. I'VE HAD MY CAR TOWED TWICE IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST TO DANBURY HYUNDAI AND BOTH OCCASIONS THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, HAVING LEMON OF A CAR SINCE THE PURCHASE IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING AND I WARN EVERYONE AROUND ME TO NEVER PURCHASE A HYUNDAI UNLESS YOU WANT TO PUMP YOUR GAS AND WAIT AN HOUR FOR YOUR CAR TO START, IF THAT'S THE KIND OF RELIABILITY YOU WANT THEN GO FOR IT. ON SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2015, MY CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME AND WAS WORKING PROPERLY UNTIL YESTERDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT AT 4:08 P.M. LEAVING WORK MY CAR WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE GEARS AND WOULD NOT START AND AT 7:19P.M. THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED. GOOGLE SEARCH YIELDED OTHERS WITH MY CAR WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE! THESE ARE BRAND NEW CARS BEING ISSUED!! HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/HYUNDAI/ELANTRA/2013/ELECTRICAL/ENGINE_WONT_TURNOVER_WONT_START.SHTML HTTP://WWW.HYUNDAI-FORUMS.COM/MD-2011-PRESENT-ELANTRA-SEDAN-COUPE/161056-2013-ELANTRA-WILL-NOT-START.HTML HTTP://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T40609_DS554427

NHTSA ODI #10764598

400 miles · Sep 10, 2015

Engine

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WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IT STALLED OUT ON THE FREEWAY. TOOK IT TO HYUNDAI BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO HAD THICK WHITE SMOKE COME OUT OF THE TRAIL PIPE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE SMOKE IS SO HEAVY THAT I CAN'T SEE THE CARS BEHIND ME. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO CAN'T DUPLICATE THIS WHEN I TAKE IT IN SO I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. TO TOP IT OFF I TRADED IN A V6 THAT WAS GETTING 23 MPH FOR THE ELANTRA SO THAT I COULD SAVE MONEY ON THE COMBINED 32 MPG. NOT EVEN CLOSE. IN TOWN IS 21 MPG. COMBINED IS NORMALLY 23 MPG. ANOTHER ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN I BRAKE. IF I NEED TO BRAKE FAST AND HARD IT SOUNDS AND FEELS LIKE THE CAR IT'S GOING TO FALL APART. THIS ISSUE I HAVEN'T BOTHERED TO REPORT AS I AM JUST SO DISAPPOINTED WITH ALL THE ISSUES. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL HYUNDAI OWNER OF DIFFERENT MODELS SINCE 1999. I HAVE A FEELING THIS WILL BE MY LAST HYUNDAI.

NHTSA ODI #10762753

61,000 miles · Aug 28, 2015

Electrical SystemEngine

VEHICLE WILL NOT START DESPITE A CHARGED BATTERY AND FOLLOWING PROPER STARTING PROCEDURES. THE VEHICLE IS A PUSH-TO-START VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. AFTER A TIME (10-15 MINUTES), AND TRYING DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES, IT DOES START. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH MULTIPLE HYUNDAI ELANTRA OWNERS, WHETHER IT IS PUSH-TO-START …

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NHTSA ODI #10759899

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2015

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

CAR WILL NOT START! EVERYTHING COMES ON LIGHTS RADIO N ETC. I HAD MY BATTERY CHECK IT GREAT. CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION. I HAVE BEEN OUT SEVERAL TIMES AND THIS HAS HAPPENED. I HAVE LOST INCOME BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10732994

30,923 miles · Jul 8, 2015

Electrical SystemEngine

CAR WILL NOT START. EVERYTHING TURNS ON , RADIO, LIGHTS, BLUETOOTH WORKS, BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. HAVE NOT FOUND A SOLUTION YET.

NHTSA ODI #10732678

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.

17V769000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages

Nov 30, 2017

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Elantra sedan, coupe and GT vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 8, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 170. This campaign expands recall 16V574.

16V574000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Aug 2, 2016

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model 2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured December 1, 2012, to April 30, 2013. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released.

Consequence & remedy

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad with an improved part, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on September 30, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 146.

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.

EA21003 · Engine Fires

Opened Dec 22, 2021 · Closed Feb 5, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles. During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types. The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement. Additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modification known as Knock Sensor Detection Software (KSDS) which is intended to detect impending engine failure, alert the driver, and limit engine power (to lessen likelihood of engine failure).KSDS is being installed under recalls and non-safety field actions, and both companies have extended limited engine warranties (see recall files). On December 22, 2021, ODI upgraded PE19-003 and PE19-004 to this Engineering Analysis (EA21-003, covering both Hyundai and Kia) to evaluate the scope of the prior recalls related to engine failures/fires and the efficacy of the recall remedies for the recalls, as well as the long-term viability of related programs and non-safety field actions being conducted by Hyundai and Kia. The former issue involved approximately 550,000 MY 2013 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2011 Kia Sorento, and MY 2012-2015 Kia Rio. The latter issue involved approximately 2.5 million recalled vehicles, which have been identified as displaying potential remedy concerns: Hyundai recalls 15V-568, 17V-226, 20V-746, and 21V-727; and Kia recalls 17V-224, 19V-120, 20V-750, and 21V-844. Regarding the recall scope issue, among all of the scope vehicles identified at EA opening, ODI found only the MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with both the Theta II 2.4L 4-cylinder Multi-Point Injection (MPI) and the Lambda II 3.5L 6-cylinder MPI engines experienced relatively high rates of reported fires. In December 2023, Kia issued recall 23V-877 that will cover about 80,000 MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with the Theta II 2.4L MPI engines. The remedy will involve an inspection, and if necessary, a replacement of the engine, as well as the installation of KSDS. It should be noted that in 2021 these vehicles were included in a KSDS product improvement campaign with warranty extension. For the MY 2011 Sorento vehicles equipped with the Lambda II 3.5L engines, ODI believes that future engine failures/fires involving these vehicles will likely be due to a lax in adhering to the proper or scheduled engine maintenance (regular engine oil changes), rather than a design or manufacturing engine issue. Regarding the issue of the efficacy of the recall remedies, ODI found the majority of the recalled Hyundai and Kia vehicles, by model, experienced lower reported fire rates after the remedies were applied. Furthermore, ODI found that for most vehicles that did not receive the recall remedies, by model, experienced relatively high fire rates. To address this problem, Hyundai informed ODI in December 2023, that it will renotify all of its owners covered by the Hyundai recalls of engine failures/fires every 8 months for the next 3 years. In December 2023, Kia stated that it will renotify the majority of its owners every 8 months for the next 3 years.Several previously recalled Kia models are excluded from the renotification due to their lower reported rates of engine fires. Overall, the renotification actions will help to increase the recall completion rates, thus reduce the frequency of engine fires in the future. In view of the recall action being taken by Kia and renotification actions being taken by both Kia and Hyundai, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis. Also, both companies have been released from the 2020-iniated Consent Orders (Kia since November 2022 and Hyundai since November 2023). The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

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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