HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE AIRBAGS MALFUNCTION DURING ACCIDENT AND OTHER VEHICLE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT. *JS
2014 Hyundai Elantra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Elantra years
Owner complaints for the 2014 Hyundai Elantra are substantially higher than the model-year median of 182.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Elantra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
213 reports with mileage · 169 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 163 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes complaints
41 reportsBRAKES FAILED IN A 60 MILE DRIVE. BRAKE PETAL TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKE FLUID WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER REPORTED THAT A PIECE IF ROAD DEBRIS CUT/PUNCTURED THE REAR RIGHT RUBBER- LIKE BRAKE LINE. INADEQUATE SHIELDING TO THIS VULNERABLE SAFETY ITEM. I HAVE THE ITEM FOR INSPECTION.
I WAS DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC APPROXIMATELY 30 - 35 MILES PER HOUR AND I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES OF MY 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA TO AVOID COLLISION WITH A CAR THAT WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC FOR NO APPARENT REASON APPROXIMATELY 8-9 CAR LENGTHS IN FRONT OF ME AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED ME HAVE AN ACCIDENT AS …
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I WAS DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC APPROXIMATELY 30 - 35 MILES PER HOUR AND I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES OF MY 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA TO AVOID COLLISION WITH A CAR THAT WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC FOR NO APPARENT REASON APPROXIMATELY 8-9 CAR LENGTHS IN FRONT OF ME AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED ME HAVE AN ACCIDENT AS I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE AND NO OTHER WAY TO STOP THE CAR EXCEPT TO REAR END THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THE CAR STOPPED. INSTEAD OF STOPPING WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES, I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL AND THE CAR SKIDDED OVER THE LENGTH OF 8-9 CARS AND ONLY STOPPED WHEN I HIT THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I INITIALLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES I FELT A "THUMP" THROUGH THE BRAKE PADDLE AND THEN I HAD NO BRAKES. THERE HAD BEEN RAIN EARLIER IN THE DAY, BUT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT IT WAS NOT RAINING. THERE WAS SLIGHT REAR BUMPER TO THE CAR THAT I REAR ENDED, BUT WITH THE IMPACT OF THE ACCIDENT MY CAR IS BASICALLY TOTALLED - FRONT BUMPER AND SIDE LIGHTS WERE DAMAGED AND FELL OFF OF THE CAR, MY ENGINE WAS PUSHED DOWN, ONE OF THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS WAS TOTALLY BROKEN OFF, THE HOOD AND THE RADIATOR WERE SMASHED IN, VALVES WERE DAMAGED, MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED, AC AND HEATER DAMAGED AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY BRAKES AS CAN BE VERIFIED BY MY MECHANIC. FOR THE SPEED THAT I WAS GOING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC I DON'T SEE HOW I COULD HAVE HAD THIS MUCH DAMAGE. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. ALL IN ALL I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AND UNINJURED. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR EVER AGAIN DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE.
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON INTERSTATE AT 65MPH WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON FOR OVER 30 SECONDS AND DRASTICALLY SLOWED THE VEHICLE TO UNDER 20MPH. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE COMPLETELY DRY AND ROAD SURFACE WAS SMOOTH. HAZARD LIGHTS WERE PUT ON TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS FROM POSSIBLE COLLISION AND I PULLED OVER. THIS HAS HAPPE…
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WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON INTERSTATE AT 65MPH WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON FOR OVER 30 SECONDS AND DRASTICALLY SLOWED THE VEHICLE TO UNDER 20MPH. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE COMPLETELY DRY AND ROAD SURFACE WAS SMOOTH. HAZARD LIGHTS WERE PUT ON TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS FROM POSSIBLE COLLISION AND I PULLED OVER. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TWO OCCASIONS IN A 3 WEEK PERIOD. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID NO CODES CAME UP AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE DESCRIBED PROBLEM. A RECALL WAS ISSUED IN 2011-2012 FOR SIMILAR ISSUE ON SAME MAKE AND MODEL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE PARKING, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND REPAIRED. ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE PARKI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE PARKING, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND REPAIRED. ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE PARKING AND APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASH INTO TWO CEMENT POLES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 06/08/17*LJ
THE ESC (TRACTION CONTROL) RANDOMLY COMES ON WHILE CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON STRAIGHT, LEVEL, DRY ROADS (OFTEN ON INTERSTATES). SOMETIMES THE ABS LIGHTS ALSO LIGHT UP. BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND POWER TO THE ENGINE IS SUSPENDED MAKING THE CAN NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL PROPERLY. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NOW UNDER WARRA…
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THE ESC (TRACTION CONTROL) RANDOMLY COMES ON WHILE CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON STRAIGHT, LEVEL, DRY ROADS (OFTEN ON INTERSTATES). SOMETIMES THE ABS LIGHTS ALSO LIGHT UP. BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND POWER TO THE ENGINE IS SUSPENDED MAKING THE CAN NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL PROPERLY. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NOW UNDER WARRANTY FOR OVER 60 CONSECUTIVE DAYS AND THE DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI CANNOT DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THIS MALFUNCTION. AFTER REPEATED REQUESTS TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I HAVE ASKED HYUNDAI TO DETERMINE THE RELEVANCE OF THIS REPEATED MALFUNCTION IN THE ACCIDENT WHERE THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP QUICKLY ENOUGH TO AVOID ANOTHER MOTORIST. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED USED WITH 20,185 MILES ON IT AND CURRENTLY HAS AROUND 22K MILES AND IS UNDER A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY.
08-26-16 WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A PUBLIC PARK WHILE DOING LESS THAN 5 MILES PER HOUR, I EXPERIENCED RAPID UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, PLOWED THROUGH A FENCE, SIDESWIPED A TREE, WENT OFF A GRASSY MEDIAN BACK UP ONTO A GRASSY MEDIAN AND THEN BOUNCED OFF OF THAT BEFORE THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO REST. MY BRAKES DID NOT WO…
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08-26-16 WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A PUBLIC PARK WHILE DOING LESS THAN 5 MILES PER HOUR, I EXPERIENCED RAPID UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, PLOWED THROUGH A FENCE, SIDESWIPED A TREE, WENT OFF A GRASSY MEDIAN BACK UP ONTO A GRASSY MEDIAN AND THEN BOUNCED OFF OF THAT BEFORE THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO REST. MY BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. IT IS A MIRACLE THAT I AM NOT DEAD AS THE PARK IS ON A VERY BUSY 4 LANE ROAD AND IS USUALLY FULL OF CHILDREN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST TWENTY TIMES DURING THE PAST YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ONCE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST TWENTY TIMES DURING THE PAST YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ONCE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. ...UPDATED 07/10/17 *BF UPDATED 09/22/2017 *JS
RETURNED HOME FROM WORK AND PARKED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY, GOT OUT AND GOT GROCERIES FROM PASSENGER SIDE. WENT INSIDE AND ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES LATER WAS INFORMED BY NEIGHBOR THAT MY CAR HAD ROLLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS A 55 MPH STREET, AND THROUGH DITCH INTO NEIGHBORS YARD. WHEN MYSELF AND THREE OTHER PEOPLE APPROACHED THE V…
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RETURNED HOME FROM WORK AND PARKED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY, GOT OUT AND GOT GROCERIES FROM PASSENGER SIDE. WENT INSIDE AND ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES LATER WAS INFORMED BY NEIGHBOR THAT MY CAR HAD ROLLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS A 55 MPH STREET, AND THROUGH DITCH INTO NEIGHBORS YARD. WHEN MYSELF AND THREE OTHER PEOPLE APPROACHED THE VEHICLE WE WERE ASTONISHED TO SEE THAT THE E-BRAKE HAD BEEN ENGAGED AND YET THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN DRIVEWAY WITH NO SIGNS OF TIRE DRAGGING. IT IS AS IF THE E-BRAKE COMPLETELY FAILED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THERE ARE OTHER HYUNDAI'S OF SIMILAR BUILD RECALLED FOR "PARKING BREAK ISSUES CAUSING DRAGGING WHILE DRIVING AND POSSIBLE ROLLAWAY WHILE PARKED". SADLY HYUNDAI IS NOT HELPFUL BECAUSE MY EXACT CAR DOES NOT HAVE A CURRENT RECALL GOING. I BELIEVE THAT MY CAR HAS AN ISSUE THAT IS A DEFECT OF THE CALIBER THAT CREATES THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGES NECESSARY TO RECALL A MODEL OF VEHICLE. DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY COULD HAVE RESULTED DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OF THE PARKING BRAKE IN MY CAR. MY VEHICLE HAS INCURRED ABOVE $3,000 WORTH OF STRUCTURAL AND BODY DAMAGE FROM ROLLING AWAY AT NO FAULT OF MY OWN. IT IS CURRENTLY AT A REPAIR SHOP AND I AM PURSUING A CLAIM WITH HYUNDAI BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR THE SAFETY OF CONSUMERS. AN INSPECTOR SHOULD BE OUT TO LOOK AT MY BRAKES REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME, CIRCUMSTANCE, OR FAULT. INSTEAD OF TRYING TO AVOID PAYING FOR MY CAR THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING INTO IF THIS MALFUNCTION COULD CAUSE HARM AND PROPERTY DAMAGE TO OTHER PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR CARS AND ROADS. *TR
I HAS RECENTLY TRADED IN MY 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA FOR A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE 2014 HAD STARTED DOING WHAT THE 2012 DID OCCASIONALLY, ACCELERATE WHEN I RELEASED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS TO SWITCH TO THE BRAKE TO BEGIN SLOWING DOWN FOR A LIGHT. AFTER I'VE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND I'M COASTING BEFORE I NEED TO APPLY IT AGAIN, THE CAR W…
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I HAS RECENTLY TRADED IN MY 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA FOR A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE 2014 HAD STARTED DOING WHAT THE 2012 DID OCCASIONALLY, ACCELERATE WHEN I RELEASED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS TO SWITCH TO THE BRAKE TO BEGIN SLOWING DOWN FOR A LIGHT. AFTER I'VE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND I'M COASTING BEFORE I NEED TO APPLY IT AGAIN, THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE. I USED TO THINK IT WAS MY IMAGINATION, THEN I READ OTHERS CONFIRMING IT DOES HAPPEN. LATELY I'VE ALSO HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR ACCELERATING WHEN I DO TOUCH THE GAS, THE ENGINE REVS UP AND BOLTS FORWARD LIKE I FLOORED IT, BUT I ONLY LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE GAS. I'LL BE BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER SOON FOR THESE ISSUES. *TR
Official recalls
223V651000 · 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.
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
2AQ23002 · 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.
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