COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Hyundai Elantra electrical problems

1,059 distinct owner reports with an electrical-system component in this snapshot.

Includes the electrical-system component and its detailed subcategories. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.

38 crash reports69 fire reports20 injury reports

Reports by model year

Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

506 reports with mileage · 553 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 owners actually said

1,059 reports
2017 model year · 74,000 miles · Oct 3, 2020
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

PURCHASED A HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2017 FROM A DEALERSHIP ON JULY 7, 2020. THE 2ND DAY IT STALLED ON ME FEELING LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL WITH ENGINE LIGHT ON. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACE THE IGNITION COIL AS AND SAID THEY ORDERED A PART TO RETURN IN 2 WKS. THIS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE AIRBAG UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT.…

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PURCHASED A HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2017 FROM A DEALERSHIP ON JULY 7, 2020. THE 2ND DAY IT STALLED ON ME FEELING LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL WITH ENGINE LIGHT ON. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACE THE IGNITION COIL AS AND SAID THEY ORDERED A PART TO RETURN IN 2 WKS. THIS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE AIRBAG UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THEY KEPT THE CAR ANOTHER 2 WEEKS. I WAS HAPPY WHEN THEY CALLED THAT IT WAS READY. EACH TIME I HAD TO PAY THE 2 TOLLS TO GO TO THEM IN JERSEY. BEFORE I GOT ON THE GARDEN STATE GOOD, THE CAR STARTED SHAKING, COULDN'T GO OVER 45 MPH WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. I RETURNED IT. THEY KEPT IT 2 WEEKS. I HAVE MY CAR WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON STILL AND CALLED TO COMPLAIN BUT UNABLE TO REACH A MANAGER EACH TIME. I USED UP OVER $200 OF TOLL MONEY WHICH I USED UP PLUS GETTING SOMEONE TO TAKE ME TO DROP OFF OR PICK UP THE CAR HAD TO PAY FOR GAS AND TOLL. PRODUCED THE E-ZPASS RECEIPTS AND EVERYTHING AND EVERY TIME I GO AND ASK FOR THE REFUND, THE OWNER IS NEVER THERE. I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE MY NEW CAR BREAK DOWN WITH ME IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. I REQUESTED A LIST OF THE THINGS THAT WERE DONE TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE ENGINE LIGHT ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES EVEN FROM THE SALESMAN WHO DOES NOT TAKE MY CALLS OR WHEN HE DOES, HE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL ME. SAID HE'LL ASK AND GET BACK TO ME. NO RESPONSE. THE FIRST DAY I PAID FOR THE CAR AND WE WERE HAPPY TO BE GOING HOME, MY DAUGHTER AND I NOTICED THE FRONT BUMPER ALL BROKEN UP AND IT WASN'T LIKE THAT WHEN WE INSPECTED AND CHOSE IT BEFORE PAYING. THE SALESMAN SAL SAID THERE'S NOTHING HE CAN DO ABOUT THAT AS I ALREADY PAID FOR THE CAR AND MUST ACCEPT IT THAT WAY. I BROUGHT IT TO A SALESWOMAN ATTENTION THE LAST TIME I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR AND THEY ONLY SAID THE MANAGER/OWNER WILL REACH OUT TO ME. NEVER HEARD FROM THEM. STILL DIDN'T RECEIVE PLATES. I FEEL LIKE THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME AS A SENIOR CITIZEN.

NHTSA ODI #11362497

2008 model year · Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2020
Electrical SystemSteering

EPS LIGHT IS ON. KNOCKING NOISE WHEN MOVING STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. DIAGNOSED PROBLEM THAT WOULD COST ME $3000 TO REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER LONG RESEARCH, RECALL 127 SHOULD HAVE COVERED MY VEHICLE, BUT IT DID NOT. PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ODI #11361171

2013 model year · 51,486 miles · Sep 22, 2020
Electrical SystemService BrakesCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK BROKEN, BURN TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK BROKEN, BURN TO NECK, BURIES ALL OVER THE BODY, AND LACERATIONS TO THE HEAD. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS CONTACTED AND AS TOOK THE CONTACT TO THE HOSPITAL HOWEVER THE CONTACT HAD TO BE TRANSFER TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL WHERE SHE RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION BETWEEN SEPT 9/11/2020 TO 9/14/2020. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE TRAUMA UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE POLICE TO A LOT WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTALED LOSS. GEICO ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER (THOMAS HYUNDAI 10325 MT SAVAGE ROAD, CUMBERLAND, MD 21502) WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE REPAIRS THAT WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ECM WAS UPDATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL STOPPER WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT 0 RECALLS WERE UNDER THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,486.

NHTSA ODI #11360479

2017 model year · Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

TPMS MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON. CAR IS SHAKING . ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON

NHTSA ODI #11360284

2012 model year · 83,000 miles · Sep 17, 2020
Electrical System

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE CAR ALARM WENT OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON (THE CAR WAS SITTING IN OUR GARAGE AND NO ONE WAS ATTEMPTING TO STEAL IT). WHEN IT WENT OFF IT WAS VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING...LIKE 2 OR 3 AM. WE TRIED EVERYTHING WE KNEW TO TRY TO SHUT IT UP...FINALLY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL HYUNDAI DEAL…

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SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE CAR ALARM WENT OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON (THE CAR WAS SITTING IN OUR GARAGE AND NO ONE WAS ATTEMPTING TO STEAL IT). WHEN IT WENT OFF IT WAS VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING...LIKE 2 OR 3 AM. WE TRIED EVERYTHING WE KNEW TO TRY TO SHUT IT UP...FINALLY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER WHERE WE WERE LATER TOLD THAT ONE OF THE MANY SENSORS HAD GONE BAD AND THEY WOULD ORDER A REPLACEMENT PART. THAT SEEMED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM INITIALLY...BUT A FEW MONTHS LATER THE ALARM WENT OFF AGAIN AT 2 OR 3 AM FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WE CALLED THE DEALER AND WERE TOLD THEY HAD NO AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS FOR TWO WEEKS. WE WAITED THE TWO WEEKS WHILE THE CAR SAT UNUSED AND DISCONNECTED FROM THE BATTERY AND THEN BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME THEY HAD THE CAR FOR MOST OF A WEEK SAYING THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ALARM DISCHARGING. WE FINALLY JUST PICKED UP THE DEFECTIVE CAR...AND THAT VERY SAME DAY...AGAIN AT 2 AM, THE ALARM WENT OFF AGAIN. MY HUSBAND TRIED EVERYTHING HE WAS TOLD TO TRY TO SHUT IT UP...NOTHING WORKED. SO, HE WENT TO AGAIN DISCONNECT THE BATTERY...BUT THE DEALER HAD TIGHTENED THE CABLES TO THE BATTERY TOO TIGHTLY. AFTER SPENDING AN HOUR AND HALF A CAN OF WD40 WE WERE ABLE TO DISCONNECT ONLY THE POSITIVE CABLE TO THE BATTERY...AND THERE IT HAS SAT FOR NEARLY A MONTH...UNUSED AND DISCONNECTED. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI DIRECTLY AND THEY SEEM UNABLE MUCH ADVICE OTHER THAN 'TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER OR BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND ASK THEM TO TRY AGAIN.' WE WOULD LIKE TO JUST GET RID OF THIS CAR BUT COULD NOT SELL IT IN GOOD FAITH WITH THIS CURRENT PROBLEM...SO IT IS BOTH UNUSABLE AND NOT WORTH MUCH AS A TRADE IN.

NHTSA ODI #11355600

2017 model year · 30,000 miles · Sep 17, 2020
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE DOORS WOULDN'T UNLOCK, THEN DECIDED TO UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WILL ONLY MAKE THIS LOUD CLICKING NOISE. THE BATTERY TESTS GOOD. THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS KEEP COMING ON AND OFF EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS NOT ON AT ALL. ALL SWITCHES ARE TUNED OFF AND IT'S NOT IN ACCC MODE. HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY AND WAIT FOR TOW TRUCK.

NHTSA ODI #11355624

2017 model year · 2 miles · Sep 9, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

ONCE AGAIN THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND STARTED LUNGING FORWARD WHILE DRIVING WITHIN CITY LIMITS. CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED AND THE CAR SEEMED TO DRIVE SOMEWHAT NORMALLY. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIM…

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ONCE AGAIN THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND STARTED LUNGING FORWARD WHILE DRIVING WITHIN CITY LIMITS. CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED AND THE CAR SEEMED TO DRIVE SOMEWHAT NORMALLY. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL BY READING OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING THESE ISSUES AS WELL. IT APPEARS TO BE THE ECM, ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE ASAP. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO SAY YOU NEED NEW SPARK PLUGS OR A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS A RECALL IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ODI #11354016

2012 model year · 130,000 miles · Sep 3, 2020
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER PARKED ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ARRIVED AND JUMPED STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HER RESIDE…

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TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER PARKED ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ARRIVED AND JUMPED STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE DRIVER HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED. THE DRIVER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRIORITY HYUNDAI LOCATED AT 1499 S MILITARY HWY, CHESAPEAKE, VA 23320, (757) 420-5450 HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE DRIVER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE VIN WAS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V393000 (EQUIPMENT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #11353003

2017 model year · 39,000 miles · Aug 26, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

MY CAR HAD RECENTLY BEGAN TO SHAKE AND BUCK VIOLENTLY WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATORS AT 38,000 MILES. THREE WEEKS AGO BEFORE A REGULAR MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENT AT MY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE !CAR, AS I TURNED OVER THE IGNITION AND ACCELERATED THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK AND SHAKE VIOLENTLY. AS I PRESSED…

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MY CAR HAD RECENTLY BEGAN TO SHAKE AND BUCK VIOLENTLY WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATORS AT 38,000 MILES. THREE WEEKS AGO BEFORE A REGULAR MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENT AT MY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE !CAR, AS I TURNED OVER THE IGNITION AND ACCELERATED THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK AND SHAKE VIOLENTLY. AS I PRESSED THE GAS, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC IN WASHINGTON, D.C. SO ONCE I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MOVE OVER, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK OVER. NO SHAKING AND CONTINUED AS NORMAL. ONCE I TOOK THE CAR IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND MADE SURE TO MENTION THE SHAKING AND BUCKING AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. THE NEXT DAY FOLLOWING SERVICE AND RECEIVING MY CAR BACK, MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AGAIN. STILL NO WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC WHERE MY COIL PACKS WERE UPDATED (I BOUGHT MY CAR MARCH 2017 AND WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT ANY RECALLS ON COIL PACKS THAT RELEASE LATE 2017 UNTIL THIS MOMENT). ONCE I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK I WAS INFORMED THAT EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. WELL IT WAS NOT. THE NEXT DAY I'M DRIVING MY CAR A SHORT DISTANCE WHEN TWO HARD SHAKES HAPPENED. ONE SOUNDED LIKE TWO METAL PIECES COLLIDING. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK OVER. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT IS NOW PERMANENTLY ON. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED AND NOW BEING TOLD IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION BUT NO UPDATES. SERIOUSLY UNSAFE AND COULD'VE NOW BEEN IN MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS ALTHOUGH I'VE REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11351302

2012 model year · Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2020
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

THE DASH CONSOLE CONTINUES TO GO GO OUT TO THE POINT THE ODOMETER, SPEED , MILEAGE AND OTHER INSTRUMENT PANEL INFORMATION IS NOT VISIBLE. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THEY REPLACED THE DASH CONSOLE AND 2 YRS LATER IS NEEDING REPLACEMENT AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11350040

Related Official recalls

2

00V259001 · Electrical System:wiring

Sep 11, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SOME SONATA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5 LITER V-6 ENGINES AND ALL ELANTRA MODEL VEHICLES MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOW-SPEED ENGINE STALLING, WHICH COULD OCCUR IF THE MAF (MASS AIR FLOW) SENSOR ELECTRICAL SIGNAL IS INTERRUPTED AS A RESULT OF ENGINE VIBRATION TRANSMITTED TO THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR WIRING HARNESS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR WIRING HARNESS.

94V090000 · Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator

May 11, 1994

IN SOME VEHICLES, THE MANUFACTURER'S PROTECTIVE INTERNAL COATING OF THE ELECTRONIC CRANK ANGLE SENSOR DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS, WHICH CAN CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT AT HIGH OPERATING TEMPERATURES. THIS CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ENGINE STALLING HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH IF IT OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE SENSOR IS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL, AND REPLACE ANY SENSOR FOUND WITH THE DEFECTIVE INTERNAL COATING.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Related NHTSA investigations

0

No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.