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
2011 model year · Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2017
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FLEW OFF OF MY CAR DURING A RAIN STORM WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS TOLD BY THE PLACE THAT REPAIRED IT THAT THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T FASTEN THEM ON CORRECTLY. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID HE FIXED MY RECALL AS WELL - THE CAR NEVER HAD A RECALL REPAIR NOTICE ! AIR CONDITIO…

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THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FLEW OFF OF MY CAR DURING A RAIN STORM WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS TOLD BY THE PLACE THAT REPAIRED IT THAT THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T FASTEN THEM ON CORRECTLY. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID HE FIXED MY RECALL AS WELL - THE CAR NEVER HAD A RECALL REPAIR NOTICE ! AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT WORK - WHEN SERVICE DID OIL CHANGE THEY TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS GOING TO BE 415 DOLLARS TO FIX THE AIR BECAUSE THE DISCHARGE HOSE IS LEAKING. THE DISCHARGE HOSE COSTS 11.00 ON THE INTERNET & VALVOLENE INSTANT OIL CHANGE WILL REFILL THE FREON IN YOUR CAR FOR LESS THAN 140 DOLLARS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ALL HAVE NEEDED REPLACED CONSISTENTLY EVERY OTHER MONTH - I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS SOME KIND OF SHORT IN THE WIRING?

NHTSA ODI #10980774

2013 model year · Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

ON OR ABOUT 10/20/2016 MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD NOT START, I WAS WORKING OUT IN THE FIELD WENT INTO A PATIENTS HOME AND THE CAR AS I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND OFF. CALLED LUTES KIA FOR SERVICE. THEY SAID IT WAS BATTERY PUT NEW BATTERY IN. THE NEXT DAY THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENE…

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ON OR ABOUT 10/20/2016 MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD NOT START, I WAS WORKING OUT IN THE FIELD WENT INTO A PATIENTS HOME AND THE CAR AS I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND OFF. CALLED LUTES KIA FOR SERVICE. THEY SAID IT WAS BATTERY PUT NEW BATTERY IN. THE NEXT DAY THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED WOULD NOT START, CALLED LUTES KIA AFTER SEVERAL DAYS I WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT SURE WHAT WAS WRONG AND REPLACED THE STARTER. I GET MY CARS OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES, KEEP UP ON MY MAINTENANCE. ELECTRICAL IS AFFECTED SOMETHING KEEPS SHORTING OUT HEAD LIGHTS/ TAIL LIGHTS. I HAVE RECEIPTS AND SERVICE ORDERS. IT LOSES POWER ON LOAD AND IS VERY UNSTABLE. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURNS ON WHEN IT WANTS TO.

NHTSA ODI #10971240

2013 model year · 69,000 miles · Mar 27, 2017
Electrical System

O2 SENSOR NEEDS RECALIBRATION

NHTSA ODI #10968763

2012 model year · 24,000 miles · Mar 21, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE ESC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING AND ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND SEEMED TO LOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE ESC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING AND ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND SEEMED TO LOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ODI #10967620

2007 model year · 108,215 miles · Feb 25, 2017
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

WHILE I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD, WEATHER IT BE AT 10MPH OR 55MPH, MY EPS LIGHT AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND MY CAR WILL STOP. IT WILL NOT TURN OFF UNTIL MY CAR IS STOPPED, TURNED OFF. AND TURNED BACK ON AGAIN. SINCE THE POWER STEERING IS LOST I CAN NOT JUST TURN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE TO PRAY THAT NO ONE WILL …

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WHILE I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD, WEATHER IT BE AT 10MPH OR 55MPH, MY EPS LIGHT AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND MY CAR WILL STOP. IT WILL NOT TURN OFF UNTIL MY CAR IS STOPPED, TURNED OFF. AND TURNED BACK ON AGAIN. SINCE THE POWER STEERING IS LOST I CAN NOT JUST TURN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE TO PRAY THAT NO ONE WILL BE COMING UP BEHIND ME AND HIT ME CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. BEFORE THAT WILL HAPPEN FOR TWO WEEKS MY ALARM WILL GO OFF AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT. OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL MY CARS EPS AND E BRAKE LIGHTS TURN ON WHILE I AM DRIVING, BUT THEN THE CYCLE WILL START ALL OVER AGAIN. THE MOST FREQUENT TIEM THIS HAPPENED WAS WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 99W IN DUNDEE OREGON, I WAS GOING ABOUT 45MPH AND MY CARS EPS AND E BREAK .LIGHT TURNED ON AND I HAD TO TURN IT OFF AND THEN RESTART IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT MANY TIMES TO A DEALERSHIP TO FIX BUT THEY JUST CHARGE ME MONEY AND SAY ITS FIXED, BUT THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I WILL SUE, I AM SO OVER MY CAR THREATENING MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MY LOVED ONES.

NHTSA ODI #10956876

2012 model year · 78,000 miles · Feb 23, 2017
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS CORRECTLY AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS CORRECTLY AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #10956618

2012 model year · 32,160 miles · Feb 18, 2017
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

CAR WON'T START INTERMITTENTLY. HAD BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED. LIGHTS GO ON,RADIO WORKS BUT CAR WON'T START. CAR IS USUALLY PARKED IN A PARKING LOT OR DRIVEWAY. WEATHER IS NICE NOT TOO HOT OR TOO COLD.

NHTSA ODI #10955405

2013 model year · 36,110 miles · Jan 21, 2017
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

THE ENGINE OF MY 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS FAILED TO START THE MORNING OF 1/3/17 WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T START OR EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. AFTER APPX. 15 ATTEMPTS, IT FINALLY STARTED. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY …

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THE ENGINE OF MY 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS FAILED TO START THE MORNING OF 1/3/17 WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T START OR EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. AFTER APPX. 15 ATTEMPTS, IT FINALLY STARTED. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY HOPING THAT WOULD FIX PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM REPEATED ON 1/18/17, AGAIN WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. AFTER ROUGHLY 50 ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR AND TRYING TO WIGGLE THE GEAR SHIFT, IT FINALLY STARTED. I THEN DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LEFT THE CAR WITH THEM OVERNIGHT. THE FOLLOWING DAY I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT SINCE THEY COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR TRIGGER ANY DIAGNOSTIC CODES, THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT OR REPLACE ANY PARTS. FORTUNATELY, TO DATE I HAVE BEEN IN SAFE PLACES DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS WHEN MY CAR FAILED TO START. HOWEVER, I MAY NOT ALWAYS BE SO FORTUNATE AND COULD POSSIBLY BE STRANDED IN A VERY VULNERABLE LOCATION IN THE FUTURE. OUT OF THE 430 COMPLAINTS LISTED AGAINST THE 2013 ELANTRA ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, ROUGHLY 7% OF THE OWNERS REPORTED EXPERIENCING THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM. A FURTHER SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALS MANY, MANY MORE SUCH COMPLAINTS. ONE MIGHT BELIEVE THAT COULD INDICATE THE EXISTENCE OF A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM; YET, IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED ANY RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS SPECIFIC TO MY VEHICLE MODEL TO ADDRESS/FIX THIS ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10946883

2012 model year · 64,170 miles · Jan 20, 2017
Air BagsElectrical System

ALL OF THE ISSUES I AM HAVING APPEAR TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE COMPONENTS OF/ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO MY STEERING WHEEL. THE RED AIRBAG "ERROR" LIGHT CAME ON (INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST) ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD APPROX 64K MILES ON IT. OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THE HORN HAS STOPPED WORKING (ANOTHER POTENTIALLY LARGE S…

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ALL OF THE ISSUES I AM HAVING APPEAR TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE COMPONENTS OF/ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO MY STEERING WHEEL. THE RED AIRBAG "ERROR" LIGHT CAME ON (INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST) ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD APPROX 64K MILES ON IT. OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THE HORN HAS STOPPED WORKING (ANOTHER POTENTIALLY LARGE SAFETY ISSUE), AND THE BUTTONS THAT CONTROL THE UPWARD VOLUME AND RADIO STATION BROWSING HAVE BEEN WAVERING BETWEEN WORKING SOMETIMES AND NOT WORKING AT ALL. I DID SOME RESEARCH ABOUT THE AIRBAG AND HORN PROBLEMS, AND THERE WERE MANY STORIES FROM OTHER OWNERS OF HYUNDAI ELANTRAS OF VARIOUS YEARS WITH THE SAME ISSUES. IN ADDITION, THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH DEALERS SOUNDED VERY MUCH LIKE MINE IN THAT THEY (THE DEALER(S)) WANT TO CHARGE A SUM OF MONEY TO FIRST INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THEN CHARGE FOR THE REPAIR(S). BECAUSE THE AIRBAG AND HORN PROBLEMS ARE POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS, I FELT THE NEED TO REPORT THESE CONCERNS. I AM ATTACHING A PICTURE THAT I TOOK WITH MY CELL PHONE ON 8/17/16 FOR REFERENCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10946609

2013 model year · Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2017
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

PARKING LIGHTS WON'T TURN OFF, CAR WON'T START WITHIN MINUTES/SECONDS LATER, HAD 7 ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO JUMP START ME IN TWO MONTHS, PLUS OTHERS FROM SECURITY GUARDS, ETC. MY CAR IS ON RECALL FOR THESE PROBLEMS, JUST MY VIN NUMBER ISN'T, THE HYUNDAI-IT DIES WITHIN SECONDS.IT HAPPENS WHEN I AM WAITING IN MY CAR, NO ENGINE ON, …

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PARKING LIGHTS WON'T TURN OFF, CAR WON'T START WITHIN MINUTES/SECONDS LATER, HAD 7 ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO JUMP START ME IN TWO MONTHS, PLUS OTHERS FROM SECURITY GUARDS, ETC. MY CAR IS ON RECALL FOR THESE PROBLEMS, JUST MY VIN NUMBER ISN'T, THE HYUNDAI-IT DIES WITHIN SECONDS.IT HAPPENS WHEN I AM WAITING IN MY CAR, NO ENGINE ON, WHEN I RUN THE RADIO ENGINE OFF, ALWAYS AFTER THE ENGINE IS OFF, WITH OR WITHOUT RADIO PLAYING OR EVERYTHING IS SHUT OFF, IT HAPPENS--MY PARKING LIGHTS STAY ON UNLESS I GET OUT OF THE CAR, OPEN THE DOOR, AND LOCK IT IMMEDIATELY IF I TAKE A FEW STEPS AND COME BACK TO LOCK IT, IT'S ALREADY DEAD, HAS LEFT ME AT WORK, SCHOOL, IN MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, EVERYWHERE, ANYWHERE, ENGINE CUTS OF AND ON WHEN TAKING OFF OR MAKING A SLOW CURVE, CAR DIES WHILE PARKED DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD APPROVE MY ISSUES TO BE FIXED BECAUSE NO RECALL ON MY VIN # BUT I HAVE NO CAR HALF THE TIME ENGINE CUTS OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING, BRAKES GRIND STRANGE NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10945546

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.