NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes complaints
44 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Feb 28, 2018
Service BrakesCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE V…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE BODY SHOP; HOWEVER, A DETERMINATION HAD NOT BEEN MADE REGARDING IF THE VEHICLE WAS STILL OPERABLE. THERE WAS ALSO A PREVIOUS BRAKE FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN A CRASH. THERE WAS ONE INJURY, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MODERATE ABRASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.
NHTSA ODI #11075481
17,000 miles · Feb 22, 2018
Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE AIR BAGS PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. THE DRIV…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE AIR BAGS PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
NHTSA ODI #11074238
10,000 miles · Jan 16, 2018
Air BagsService BrakesCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED, BUT SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION THE FOLLOWING DAY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED, BUT SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION THE FOLLOWING DAY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY FROM THE SCENE OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11063003
Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2017
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other
LEASED A BRAND NEW HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2017 WITH A KNOWN BRAKE SAFETY ISSUE WITHOUT THE ISSUE BEING REPAIRED PRIOR TO OR BEING NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY OF THE ISSUE AT THE TIME OF THE SALE. THE PURCHASE WAS MADE 4 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL STARTED FROM THE BAY RIDGE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN BROOKLYN, NY. NHTSA RECALL #17V063000
NHTSA ODI #11055093
48,000 miles · Dec 9, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesWheels
AS OF LAST WEEK, MY TRANNY SEEMED LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING. SOMETIMES IT DID , OTHER TIMES IT JERKE.. ANYWAY, IT SNOWED HERE IN UPSTATE NY. I AMAL OVER THE ROAD. MY TIRES SEEM OK. BRAKES ARE GRINDING. CARS ONLY A YEAR OLD SOON. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I AM ALWAYS IN MOTION. GETTING SCARED TO DRIVE. IT FEELS LIKE THE TI…
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AS OF LAST WEEK, MY TRANNY SEEMED LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING. SOMETIMES IT DID , OTHER TIMES IT JERKE.. ANYWAY, IT SNOWED HERE IN UPSTATE NY. I AMAL OVER THE ROAD. MY TIRES SEEM OK. BRAKES ARE GRINDING. CARS ONLY A YEAR OLD SOON. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I AM ALWAYS IN MOTION. GETTING SCARED TO DRIVE. IT FEELS LIKE THE TIRES THOUGH TOO.. WHAT KIND OF TIRES DOES THIS CAR HAVE.. DOES IT HAVE ALLSEASONS? DOESNT FEEL LIKE IT. ANYWAY THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.. HELP.
NHTSA ODI #11053686
Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2017
Service BrakesSteeringUnknown Or Other
LEASED THE NEW HYUNDAI ELANTRA SE ON JUNE 28TH 2017 AND ON AUGUST7 2017 THE DEALER CALLED AND WAS TOLD THE CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED AND HAS TO BE SERVICED. THE RECALLS WERE FROM FEB2017 AND APRIL 2017 AND NEVER REPAIRED. I WAS LEASED THIS CAR AS NEW WITH TWO EXISTING RECALLS AND NEVER BEEN INFORMED.
NHTSA ODI #11034440
3,200 miles · Oct 14, 2017
Service Brakes
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND EXITING AN OFFRAMP. HITTING THE CAR'S BRAKES MADE THE BRAKE PEDAL TURN REALLY LOOSE AND ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. INSTANT BRAKING ABILITY WAS LOST AND THE CAR WENT INTO A SLOW BRAKE WHILE WOBBLING LEFT TO RIGHT. SPLIT SECOND TIMING OF TURNING THE WHEEL AVOIDED CRASHING INTO THE CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT. …
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND EXITING AN OFFRAMP. HITTING THE CAR'S BRAKES MADE THE BRAKE PEDAL TURN REALLY LOOSE AND ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. INSTANT BRAKING ABILITY WAS LOST AND THE CAR WENT INTO A SLOW BRAKE WHILE WOBBLING LEFT TO RIGHT. SPLIT SECOND TIMING OF TURNING THE WHEEL AVOIDED CRASHING INTO THE CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT. AFTER THAT THE BRAKES RESUME NORMAL FUNCTION. ...UPDATED 10/18/17 *BF UPDATED 9/10/18*JB
NHTSA ODI #11033387
5,500 miles · Sep 19, 2017
Service BrakesCrash
THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 5,500 MILES ON IT AND IT WAS BEING DRIVEN 10-15 MILES AN HOUR ON A CITY STREET. WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES RETURNED TO NORMAL. THERE IS A CURRENT RECALL ON THIS…
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THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 5,500 MILES ON IT AND IT WAS BEING DRIVEN 10-15 MILES AN HOUR ON A CITY STREET. WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES RETURNED TO NORMAL. THERE IS A CURRENT RECALL ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR TO REPLACE THE BRAKE BOOSTER BUT IT DOESN'T CURRENTLY INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE'S MANUFACTURED DATE. IT'S HYUNDAI RECALL NUMBER 157 AND NHSTA SAFETY CAMPAIGN #17V063000.
NHTSA ODI #11024519
7,500 miles · Sep 19, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
3 OCCURRENCES: LEAVE FROM PARKING SPACE- TURN ON ENGINE- WAIT UNTIL TACHOMETER GOES TO 1- WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, SHIFT INTO D- TACHOMETER REACHES 5 ON SPEEDING ENGINE BEFORE ABLE TO TURN OFF IGNITION. DRIVING VERY SLOW- WITH FOOT ON BRAKE- IN FORWARD TO LARGE PARALLEL PARKING- SPEEDS UP- BRAKES SPONGY- DOES NOT STOP CAR. ONLY HIGH …
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3 OCCURRENCES: LEAVE FROM PARKING SPACE- TURN ON ENGINE- WAIT UNTIL TACHOMETER GOES TO 1- WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, SHIFT INTO D- TACHOMETER REACHES 5 ON SPEEDING ENGINE BEFORE ABLE TO TURN OFF IGNITION. DRIVING VERY SLOW- WITH FOOT ON BRAKE- IN FORWARD TO LARGE PARALLEL PARKING- SPEEDS UP- BRAKES SPONGY- DOES NOT STOP CAR. ONLY HIGH CURB PREVENTS CAR FROM CLIMBING ON SIDEWALK AND GIVING ME TIME TO TURN IGNITION OFF. STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT ON ROAD WITH A 35 MILE SPEED ZONE. AFTER STOP, BRAKE BECOMES SPONGY, CAR'S WHEELS BEGIN SKIDDING- CAN ONLY TURN OFF IGNITION TO STOP THE CAR. EVERYTHING BACK TO NORMAL WHEN I TURNED IGNITION BACK ON, AS WAS THE CASE WITH THE FIRST AND SECOND OCCURRENCES LISTED ABOVE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, WAS IN MOTION IN A PARK IN THE SECOND OCCURRENCE AND ON A COUNTY ROAD WITH A SLIGHT TURN TO THE LEFT IN THE THIRD OCCURRENCE.
NHTSA ODI #11024195
Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2017
Service BrakesStructure
2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE AND BRAKE ISSUES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING IN THE RAIN THE BRAKES BECAME HOT. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT THE BRAKES MAY MALFUNCTION. ALSO, BEHIND THE MOTOR THERE WAS A LARGE OPENING THAT MAY COLLECT LEAVES NEAR THE ENGINE AND CAUSE A …
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2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE AND BRAKE ISSUES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING IN THE RAIN THE BRAKES BECAME HOT. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT THE BRAKES MAY MALFUNCTION. ALSO, BEHIND THE MOTOR THERE WAS A LARGE OPENING THAT MAY COLLECT LEAVES NEAR THE ENGINE AND CAUSE A FIRE. UPDATED 08/31/2017*JS
NHTSA ODI #11004448
Official recalls
4Mar 28, 2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Elantra vehicles. The affected vehicles may have a damaged Electronic Power Steering (MDPS) connector resulting in a loss of electric power steering assistance.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EPS motor, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-243-7766. Hyundai's number for this recall 161.
Jan 26, 2017
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Elantra vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake booster may fail, resulting in a loss of power brake assist.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A loss of power brake assist can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai has notified owners, and dealers will replace the brake system booster assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 157.
Dec 30, 2016
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2017 Hyundai Elantra vehicles manufactured April 15, 2016, to September 13, 2016, and Sonata vehicles manufactured May 27, 2016 to September 16, 2016. In these vehicles, the end seal for the driver's frontal air bag inflator may not have been properly installed, possibly resulting in reduced inflation of the frontal air bag in the event of a crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate fully increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 156.
Apr 21, 2016
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 29, 2014 to February 11, 2016, 2017 Elantra vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016 to February 22, 2016, and one 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicle manufactured October 15, 2015. In these vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may be missing a chemical enhancer required for the second stage air bag deployment, resulting in the second stage not deploying in certain crashes. The primary stage will deploy as intended.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An air bag that does not inflate increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 5,2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 144.
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
1DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power
Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing. There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
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