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
2012 model year · Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

SOLD A LEMON LAW BUYBACK CAR WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND I WAS TO SIGN A DOCUMENT STATING THAT I NEW THAT I WAS PURCHASING A LEMON LAW BUYBACK CAR. I DID NOT FIND OUT UNTIL I WENT TO GET THE PLATES FOR MY CAR AND THEY SHOWED ME THE TITLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND BASICALLY MY LOSS THEIR GAIN. MAY 2015 HAD…

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SOLD A LEMON LAW BUYBACK CAR WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND I WAS TO SIGN A DOCUMENT STATING THAT I NEW THAT I WAS PURCHASING A LEMON LAW BUYBACK CAR. I DID NOT FIND OUT UNTIL I WENT TO GET THE PLATES FOR MY CAR AND THEY SHOWED ME THE TITLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND BASICALLY MY LOSS THEIR GAIN. MAY 2015 HAD TO REPLACE HOSE AND HAVE A/C RECHARGED COSTING ALMOST $300 JULY 2015 HAD TO HAVE BOTH FROM WHEEL BEARING REPLACED ALONG WITH TIRES COSTING ME $800 JUNE 2016 HAD TO HAVE END LINKS ON SWAY BAR AND CV JOINT AND SHAFT REPLACED. THIS WAS UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY STILL IN PLACE ON THE CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. WHEN TESTED SAID IT WAS AN O2 SENSOR. THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK STICKS. SO I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK IT FOR MY KEY FOB TO LOCK ALL OF THE DOORS. TODAY WAS JUST TOLD I NEED WHEEL BEARINGS AND TIRES ON THE FRONT END. I BELIEVE THIS CAR HAS TOO MANY ISSUES BEING A NEWER CAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WITH THIS MANY ISSUES. ESPECIALLY A NEWER CAR. I CANNOT GET OUT OF THE LOAN BECAUSE IT IS A LEMON LAW BUYBACK AND THE RESALE ON IT IS HORRIBLE. I CANNOT AFFORD THE UPKEEP ON THE PROBLEMS IT KEEPS HAVING. SOMETHING IS WRONG THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10939521

2012 model year · 57,000 miles · Dec 28, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ENGAGED, THE OPPOSITE SIGNAL WOULD ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY AFTER THE TURN WAS COMPLETED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ENGAGED, THE OPPOSITE SIGNAL WOULD ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY AFTER THE TURN WAS COMPLETED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10937990

2014 model year · 79,679 miles · Dec 22, 2016
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR ON MY CAR DIED AFTER ABOUT 78000 MILES AND CAUSED THE CAR TO LOCK UP WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. STAYED IN 3RD GEAR AND FOR A FEW WEEKS BEFORE WOULD LOCK UP WHILE IN PARK, NEUTRAL, REVERSE AND DRIVE (MOST COMMONLY WHILE IN PARK). THIS NEARLY CAUSED A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS APP…

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THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR ON MY CAR DIED AFTER ABOUT 78000 MILES AND CAUSED THE CAR TO LOCK UP WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. STAYED IN 3RD GEAR AND FOR A FEW WEEKS BEFORE WOULD LOCK UP WHILE IN PARK, NEUTRAL, REVERSE AND DRIVE (MOST COMMONLY WHILE IN PARK). THIS NEARLY CAUSED A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ELANTRAS DATING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2007 AND EVEN HAS CONTINUED PAST MY MODEL YEAR (2014) INTO 2015 MODELS. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN REFERRED TO IT ASO A FAULTY RANGE SENSOR WHICH TO ME SEEMS TO IMPLY THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I COULDN'T SHIFT AND HAD A MORE DIFFICULT TIME SLOWING DOWN AND SPEEDING UP THAN USUAL. THE PART IS RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE PLUS LABOR TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE FAULTY MECHANICAL PART WAS WELL OVER $150, RESULTING IN A TOTAL BILL OF $210. A PART FAILURE THAT CAUSES THE VEHICLES COMPUTER, TRANSMISSION AND DRIVETRAIN TO LOSE ALL CONNECTION TO ONE ANOTHER CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. AT FIRST IT HAPPENED ONLY WHILE STATIONARY IN PARK, THE CAR WOULD LOCK UP WHILE SITTING WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING FOR A WHILE. I WOULD TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RE-ENGAGE THE VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL. THEN IT OCCURRED WHILE BACKING DOWN THE HILL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, LOCKED UP IN REVERSE, I APPLIED THE BRAKES, SET THE PARKING BRAKE AND TURNED OFF THE CAR WHILE STILL IN REVERSE. (I LIVE IN A QUIET SUBDIVISION OF A SMALL TOWN OF 12,000, WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED IN A BUSIER OR MORE HEAVILY POPULATED AREA?) I WAS STILL ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE WHILE IN REVERSE AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER WHILE IN NEUTRAL. THEN TUESDAY MORNING WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE (I-95) THE GEAR AND DRIVE MODE INDICATOR ON THE TACHOMETER WENT BLANK, I WAS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR (LIMP MODE) AND MY CAR ONCE SLOWING DOWN HAD A DIFFICULT TIME ACCELERATING AFTER STOPPING.

NHTSA ODI #10936844

2012 model year · 20,000 miles · Dec 20, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LIMITED. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED RANDOMLY AT FIRST THEN REMAINED ON CONSTANTLY. OVER TIME, FUNCTIONALITY OF ALL STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS FOR CRUISE CONTROL, TRIP COMPUTER, BLUETOOTH, AUDIO SYSTEM, AND HORN WERE LOST. I DISASSEMBLED THE STEERING COLUMN TO ACCESS AND REMOVE THE AIR BAG CLOCKSP…

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2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LIMITED. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED RANDOMLY AT FIRST THEN REMAINED ON CONSTANTLY. OVER TIME, FUNCTIONALITY OF ALL STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS FOR CRUISE CONTROL, TRIP COMPUTER, BLUETOOTH, AUDIO SYSTEM, AND HORN WERE LOST. I DISASSEMBLED THE STEERING COLUMN TO ACCESS AND REMOVE THE AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING. I TESTED THE CONNECTIONS FOR CONTINUITY WITH A HANDHELD METER AND FOUND NONE ON ANY TERMINAL. THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #10936383

2013 model year · 35,000 miles · Dec 15, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT TURN OVER. BATTERY IS FINE. INHIBITOR SWITCH WAS CHANGED, ALL RECALLS PERFORMED. HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY CANNOT REPLICATE. HAD IT TOWED THERE LAST TIME. IF YOU FIDDLE WITH THE SHIFTER, AND KEY LONG ENOUGH (10 MINUTES OR SO, IT WILL EVENTUALLY TURN OVER AND START AS NORMAL. THERE H…

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INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT TURN OVER. BATTERY IS FINE. INHIBITOR SWITCH WAS CHANGED, ALL RECALLS PERFORMED. HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY CANNOT REPLICATE. HAD IT TOWED THERE LAST TIME. IF YOU FIDDLE WITH THE SHIFTER, AND KEY LONG ENOUGH (10 MINUTES OR SO, IT WILL EVENTUALLY TURN OVER AND START AS NORMAL. THERE HAS BEEN NO HELP ON THIS, AND THE DEALER KEEPS CHARGING FOR DIAGNOSTICS, EVEN THOUGHT THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE EXTREMELY MORE PREVALENT IN THE WINTER OR WHEN THE TEMP IS BELOW 35 DEGREES F.

NHTSA ODI #10935488

2010 model year · 83,000 miles · Dec 7, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE, AIR BAG, AND ADDITIONAL UNSPECIFIED WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH A DEALER TO INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE, AIR BAG, AND ADDITIONAL UNSPECIFIED WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH A DEALER TO INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ODI #10933654

1999 model year · 91,000 miles · Dec 6, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED, LUNGED, AND LOST POWER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED, LUNGED, AND LOST POWER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR NEEDED TO BE RE-ROUTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V259001 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000.

NHTSA ODI #10930144

2012 model year · 107,000 miles · Nov 22, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

RANDOM NO START. PUSH BUTTON START WILL JUST MAKE ONE CLICK SOUND AND NOT START (THIS IS NOT A LOW BATTERY CLICKING SOUND). AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THE ENGINE WILL START. ONE TIME IT TOOK OVER 10 MINUTES OF PUSHING THE START BUTTON ON AND OFF TO FINALLY GET IT TO START. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT RANDOM TIMES. IT WILL START FINE FO…

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RANDOM NO START. PUSH BUTTON START WILL JUST MAKE ONE CLICK SOUND AND NOT START (THIS IS NOT A LOW BATTERY CLICKING SOUND). AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THE ENGINE WILL START. ONE TIME IT TOOK OVER 10 MINUTES OF PUSHING THE START BUTTON ON AND OFF TO FINALLY GET IT TO START. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT RANDOM TIMES. IT WILL START FINE FOR MONTHS AND THEN JUST RANDOMLY NOT START. IT HAPPENED IN THE PAST AN JUST STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN ABOUT A WEEK AGO.

NHTSA ODI #10927480

2012 model year · 30,000 miles · Nov 14, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)EngineCrashInjury

ON NOVEMBER 8TH, 2016, SAINT PAUL, MN, MY CAR WOULD NOT START UP. NO WARNING SIGNALS CAME ON AND JUST MADE A "CLICKING" NOISE". I CALLED HYUNDAI'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHEN THEY ARRIVED HE TOLD ME TO TRY TO START IT UP. THE CAR THEN CAME ON WHICH WAS APPROX. A 45 MINUTE WAIT. IN OCTOBER 2015- EAGAN, MN, I WAS DRIVING ON THE H…

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ON NOVEMBER 8TH, 2016, SAINT PAUL, MN, MY CAR WOULD NOT START UP. NO WARNING SIGNALS CAME ON AND JUST MADE A "CLICKING" NOISE". I CALLED HYUNDAI'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHEN THEY ARRIVED HE TOLD ME TO TRY TO START IT UP. THE CAR THEN CAME ON WHICH WAS APPROX. A 45 MINUTE WAIT. IN OCTOBER 2015- EAGAN, MN, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I FELT DIZZY, NAUSEOUS AND HAD A PANIC ATTACK. I TRIED PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP DESPITE STEPPING ON BREAKS, THE CAR KEPT PULLING TOWARD THE SIDE OF THE GRASS THAT WAS SURROUNDED WITH GRAVEL. I ENDED UP HITTING AND STOPPING AT A GUARDRAIL. THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS BLOWN AND ALONG THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER DOOR WAS SCRATCHED, THERE WAS ALSO SOME FRONT END DAMAGE WHICH GOT REPAIRED. IN APPROX. MARCH 2015- WEST SAINT PAUL, I JUST GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR LOST POWER. I STARTED IT UP, PRESSED ON THE GAS AND ENDED UP REAR ENDED THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME. IN 2014, MAPLEWOOD, MN,I WAS AT A RESTAURANT'S DRIVE-THRU AND MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND STEERING FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES. I CALLED HYUNDAI'S ROADSIDE'S ASSISTANCE TO REPORT THE INCIDENT. IN 2014, EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I CALLED HYUNDAI'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO REPORT THE INCIDENCE. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR STARTED UP AND NO LONGER NEEDED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE'S TOWING SERVICE.

NHTSA ODI #10925952

2013 model year · 85,000 miles · Nov 2, 2016
Electrical System

PUSH BUTTON START. CAR WILL NOT START RIGHT AWAY AFTER DEPRESSING THE START BUTTON. WHEN START BUTTON IS DEPRESSED, INDICATING LIGHTS ON THE DASH WILL ILLUMINATE, AND APPROXIMATELY 10 SECOND LATER, THE RADIO AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WILL KICK IN. AT THIS POINT I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS TO ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR AND 75…

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PUSH BUTTON START. CAR WILL NOT START RIGHT AWAY AFTER DEPRESSING THE START BUTTON. WHEN START BUTTON IS DEPRESSED, INDICATING LIGHTS ON THE DASH WILL ILLUMINATE, AND APPROXIMATELY 10 SECOND LATER, THE RADIO AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WILL KICK IN. AT THIS POINT I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS TO ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR AND 75% OF THE TIME THE CAR WILL START; OTHERWISE, I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND ATTEMPT TO RESTART AGAIN. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS NOW. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AS THE CAR STARTED FOR THEM EVERY TIME APPARENTLY AND COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO SOLVE MY ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMITTEDLY TIGHTENED UP TERMINALS FOR THE BATTERY. THE CAR SEEMED TO START EVERY SINGLE TIME FOR ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE VISIT, AND NOW IT'S DOING IT AGAIN. CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT ISSUE. I'VE RESORTED TO TAKING VIDEO TO HELP DESCRIBE THE ISSUE TO TECHNICIANS, AND THE LATEST DEALERSHIP BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT THEY STILL WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE MY VIDEO BUT WOULD HAVE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES. THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY BAD IF I'M STUCK IN SOMEWHERE BECAUSE MY CAR WON'T START AND HYUNDAI CLAIMING THEY CANT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI #10923787

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.