NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
382 reports52,000 miles · Sep 11, 2017
Suspension
THE CAR SWAYS FROM SIDE TO SIDE, IT IS NOTICEABLE AT AROUND 25 MPH AND IT BECOMES AN ISSUE REACHING SPEEDS OF 70MPH AND ABOVE (AT THIS PINT THE CAR SWAYS FAR TOO MUCH AND FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE). I THOUGHT THIS COULD BE TIRES, BALANCING, OR ALIGNMENT, BUT AFTER DOING MAINTENANCE WITH THOSE THREE THINGS, THE CAR CONTINUES TO SWAY …
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THE CAR SWAYS FROM SIDE TO SIDE, IT IS NOTICEABLE AT AROUND 25 MPH AND IT BECOMES AN ISSUE REACHING SPEEDS OF 70MPH AND ABOVE (AT THIS PINT THE CAR SWAYS FAR TOO MUCH AND FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE). I THOUGHT THIS COULD BE TIRES, BALANCING, OR ALIGNMENT, BUT AFTER DOING MAINTENANCE WITH THOSE THREE THINGS, THE CAR CONTINUES TO SWAY A LOT. WHEN I GO OVER A SMALL BUMP THE CAR SHIFTS TO THE SIDES. UPON FURTHER ONLINE RESEARCH, THERE ARE MANY CAR BLOGS AND COMPLAINS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR STRUTS. I BOUGHT THE CAR AT 48,000 AND I NOTICED THE ISSUE THEN, BUT I THOUGHT I WAS BEING TOO PICKY. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO REASON THE CAR SHOULD BE DOING THIS. ONLY CONCLUSION IS A POOR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THIS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND HYUNDAI SHOULD BE LOOKING INTO IT.
NHTSA ODI #11022666
132,000 miles · Aug 14, 2017
Engine
SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE METAL. CAR WAS OPERATING NORMALLY ON HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING ON AND OFF. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY KNOCKING WHICH GOT PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER OVER SHORT PERIOD. ROLLED INTO SERVICE STATION TO FIND ENGINE BLOWN. SERVICE STATION SUGGESTED TOWING TO HYUNDAI FOR EVALUATI…
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SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE METAL. CAR WAS OPERATING NORMALLY ON HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING ON AND OFF. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY KNOCKING WHICH GOT PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER OVER SHORT PERIOD. ROLLED INTO SERVICE STATION TO FIND ENGINE BLOWN. SERVICE STATION SUGGESTED TOWING TO HYUNDAI FOR EVALUATION. HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TORE DOWN ENGINE TO FIND "SIGNIFICANT" METAL AND BLOWN CYLINDER. HYUNDAI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS A DEFECT.
NHTSA ODI #11015120
70,000 miles · Jun 9, 2017
EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BLACK SMOKE BEGAN TO APPEAR FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH EVENTUALLY TURNED TO FLAMES. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BLACK SMOKE BEGAN TO APPEAR FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH EVENTUALLY TURNED TO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 10309640. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
NHTSA ODI #10994093
54,000 miles · May 23, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
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.
NHTSA ODI #10991263
10,500 miles · May 9, 2017
EngineSteering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN SHE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT BACK, BUT DID NOT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,500. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA ODI #10984515
28,000 miles · Apr 24, 2017
Power Train
THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY DOES NOT START. CAR WILL START AFTER IT SITS FOR A LENGTH OF TIME (COULD BE HOURS OR DAYS) OR AFTER IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. MOVEMENT SEEMS TO SHAKE THE CONNECTION IF THAT IS THE PROBLEM, INTO WORKING. HAS LEFT OWNER STRANDED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN THE LAST 5 WEEKS. DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT IF …
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THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY DOES NOT START. CAR WILL START AFTER IT SITS FOR A LENGTH OF TIME (COULD BE HOURS OR DAYS) OR AFTER IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. MOVEMENT SEEMS TO SHAKE THE CONNECTION IF THAT IS THE PROBLEM, INTO WORKING. HAS LEFT OWNER STRANDED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN THE LAST 5 WEEKS. DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT IF IT CAN NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE THEY CAN NOT DIAGNOSE IT. VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME IF I GET STRANDED IN AN UNSAFE AREA. DEALER CHANGED THE STARTER BUT IS UNWILLING TO TRY ANYTHING ELSE. I STATED THAT I DID NOT WANT THE CAR UNTIL IT WAS FIXED AND SAFE TO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO BUY ANOTHER CAR SINCE "I DIDN'T WANT" THIS CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10980166
48,000 miles · Apr 5, 2017
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash
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
NHTSA ODI #10970732
20,000 miles · Mar 29, 2017
Unknown Or Other
CAR INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START WITHOUT WARNING, PARK RUNNING FINE, GET BACK IN AND IT WILL NOT START, HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES, TOOK TO DEALER UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY CANNOT GET IT TO REPLICATE .. NO ERROR CODE... THEY JUST SCRATCH THEIR HEAD AND SAY SORRY WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO... TELL THAT TO MY WIFE WHEN SHE IS STRANDED.
NHTSA ODI #10969237
18,588 miles · Mar 23, 2017
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO RIGHT TO UNLOCK THE STEERING. THE FAILURE RECURRED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO RIGHT TO UNLOCK THE STEERING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,588. UPDATED 06/13/17* LJ *AS
NHTSA ODI #10968013
52,000 miles · Feb 27, 2017
Unknown Or Other
CAR RANDOMLY COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE DRIVING IT AT LOW SPEEDS. ALL LIGHTS COME ON AND VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE. I TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND VEHICLES STARTS BACK UP AGAIN. OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES IN SEVERAL DAYS. HYUNDAI TOLD ME THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE UNLESS IT REPLICATES WHILE IN THEIR POSSESSION.
NHTSA ODI #10957236
Official recalls
2Sep 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.
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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