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 · Dec 17, 2015
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

CAR WAS PARKED AND WHEN TRYING TO TURN IT ON IT WON'T START AND GIVES ME ERROR "BATTERY DISCHARGE" IT HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES THIS WEEK. TODAY CAR HAD A BAD/BURNED ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #10811014

2010 model year · 50,000 miles · Dec 11, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON 4/22/15 AT NO CHARGE. BOUGHT CAR FROM DAD ON 5/26/15. 7 MONTHS LATER THE (EPS) LIGHT COME ON AND I LOSE STEERING. IF YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURN ON THE LIGHT GOES OUT. ITS HAPPENING EVERY OTHER DAY. I THINK THIS STILL FALLS UNDER THE RECALL. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET FIXED FOR NO CHARGE. PLACES ARE WANTIN…

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RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON 4/22/15 AT NO CHARGE. BOUGHT CAR FROM DAD ON 5/26/15. 7 MONTHS LATER THE (EPS) LIGHT COME ON AND I LOSE STEERING. IF YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURN ON THE LIGHT GOES OUT. ITS HAPPENING EVERY OTHER DAY. I THINK THIS STILL FALLS UNDER THE RECALL. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET FIXED FOR NO CHARGE. PLACES ARE WANTING MONEY AND HAVE MY CAR FOR A FEW DAYS. RECALL SAYS 1HR . SAYS IF NOT SATISFIED TO WRITE YOU. PLEASE REVIEW. PRETTY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. HAVE NO OTHER CAR. EPS LIGHT COMES ON IN MOTION, TURNING, MOSTLY AT SLOW SPEEDS. THEN LOSE STEERING. HERE IS A PICTURE. I ALSO HAVE VIDEO ON THE ROAD BUT IT WONT SEND.

NHTSA ODI #10809781

2011 model year · 58,000 miles · Dec 7, 2015
Electrical System

WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR, THE LIGHTS AND ALL ELECTRICAL FEATURES COME ON, BUT THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER. THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY AND THEN IT SUDDENLY STARTS. I'VE READ THAT THIS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND IT MAY BE THE INHIBITOR SWITCH.

NHTSA ODI #10808736

2012 model year · 35,000 miles · Dec 1, 2015
Electrical System

INTERMITTENT START FAILURES. CAR FAILS TO START SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. HAD THE BATTERY TESTED AND IT CHECKED OK. SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER. THE SHIFTER SEEMS TO THINK THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK, BUT IS IS. SWITCHING IT BACK AND FORTH OUT OF PARK SOMETIMES WORKS, BUT NOT ALWAYS. VERY FRUSTRATING. …

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INTERMITTENT START FAILURES. CAR FAILS TO START SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. HAD THE BATTERY TESTED AND IT CHECKED OK. SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER. THE SHIFTER SEEMS TO THINK THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK, BUT IS IS. SWITCHING IT BACK AND FORTH OUT OF PARK SOMETIMES WORKS, BUT NOT ALWAYS. VERY FRUSTRATING. UNRELIABLE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY "CORRECTED A GROUNDING ANOMALY". FAILED TO START AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. ONLINE REPORTS HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN SEEING HOW WIDESPREAD THIS PROBLEM IS. IF HYUNDAI DOESN'T RECALL THIS PROBLEM, THEIR RISING REPUTATION WILL BE DASHED. I WISH I HAD NOT BOUGHT THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10807865

2010 model year · 32,000 miles · Nov 23, 2015
Electrical System

STOP LAMP SWITCH RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10806279

2012 model year · 42,000 miles · Nov 9, 2015
Electrical System

I PARKED MY CAR AT HOME AND SHUT IT OFF. I IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT IN ORDER TO ADJUST THE CAR'S POSITION, AND FOUND THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, BUT NOT THE ENGINE. 3 DASH LIGHTS--ENGINE, BATTERY, AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE THIRD ONE--REMAINED LIT. TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING MONDAY (10/19)…

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I PARKED MY CAR AT HOME AND SHUT IT OFF. I IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT IN ORDER TO ADJUST THE CAR'S POSITION, AND FOUND THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, BUT NOT THE ENGINE. 3 DASH LIGHTS--ENGINE, BATTERY, AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE THIRD ONE--REMAINED LIT. TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING MONDAY (10/19), AND THEY REPLACED THE STARTER.

NHTSA ODI #10789315

2011 model year · 8,000 miles · Nov 6, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA ODI #10788798

2013 model year · 45,000 miles · Nov 5, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineSteeringCrash

I OWN A HYUNDAI 2013 ELANTRA AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. THE CAR HAS SEVERAL TIMES REFUSED TO START AND THE BREAK PAD GETS STUCK AND I CAN'T MOVE THE CAR OUT OF PARK. I'VE HAD TO CALL THE TOW TRUCK SEVERAL TIMES AND THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE CAR START AGAIN IS TO MANUALLY SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL. THIS IS A HUGE SAF…

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I OWN A HYUNDAI 2013 ELANTRA AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. THE CAR HAS SEVERAL TIMES REFUSED TO START AND THE BREAK PAD GETS STUCK AND I CAN'T MOVE THE CAR OUT OF PARK. I'VE HAD TO CALL THE TOW TRUCK SEVERAL TIMES AND THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE CAR START AGAIN IS TO MANUALLY SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD, THE CAR ALMOST RAN OVER ME, ONCE WHEN I DIDNT APPLY THE EMERGENCY BREAK ON WHEN THE PERSON WAS MANUALLY PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL!!!! ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR SHAKES. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THEY INSPECTED IT. ONCE I CAME BACK THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, AND THAT THE SHAKING WAS DUE TO THE POWER OF THE MOTOR, THAT I NEEDED TO GET USE TO IT!! I'VE HAD TO ALSO REPLACE MY TIRES BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO WEAR OFF, AND I CAN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE OVER ANYTHING WITHOUT SWERVING. I'VE HAD THE CAR ALIGNED AND MY CAR STILL SWERVES/PULLS TO THE LEFT! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS CAR!! I CANT GET MY CAR FIXED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT! I AM NOW STUCK MAKING CAR PAYMENTS TO A LEMON CAR! I'VE HAD TWO ACCIDENTS ON THIS CAR ALREADY ONE I REPORTED TO THE MY INSURANCE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX IT. THERE WAS A TIRE ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS TOO SCARE TO SWIRVE THE CAR TO AVOID IT BECAUSE I KNOW THE CAR CANT HANDLE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO I HAD TO GET THE IMPACT OF IT. PLEASE RECALL THIS CAR!

NHTSA ODI #10788686

2013 model year · 45,235 miles · Nov 3, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

I HAVE OWNED MY CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS NOW. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY FOB NOT UNLOCKING MY CAR. I WOULD HAD TO PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES TO UNLOCK. THEN I ALSO STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN ON MY CAR(WITH THE PUSH START) BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS REALLY STIFF. I HAD TO PRESS HAR…

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I HAVE OWNED MY CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS NOW. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY FOB NOT UNLOCKING MY CAR. I WOULD HAD TO PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES TO UNLOCK. THEN I ALSO STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN ON MY CAR(WITH THE PUSH START) BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS REALLY STIFF. I HAD TO PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO SUCCESSFULLY TURN ON MY CAR. RECENTLY I'VE HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON SPORADICALLY. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHILE DURING MY DRIVES IN THE CITY. TWO DAYS AGO, I ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON MY CAR AND THE CAR BEGAN TO START, BUT CONTINUED TO MAKE THE IGNITION START SOUND FOR SEVERAL SECONDS--ABOUT 10 SECONDS-- THAN USUAL. THIS WAS OF COURSE NOT THE NORM, SO I PRESSED THE START UP BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON AGAIN, IT TURNED ON FINE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. I WENT TO PEP BOYS AND MENEIKE TO CHECK THIS OUT AND THEY SAID THAT I HAD A P2096 PROBLEM. THIS CODE WAS FOLLOWED WITH THE DESCRIPTION AS FOLLOWS: POST CATALYST FUEL TRIM SYSTEM TOO LEAN BANK 1. ESSENTIALLY I WAS TOLD THAT THE RATIO OF OXYGEN AND FUEL , THE ENGINE TAKE IS OFF. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A LEAK THAT WOULD CAUSE THE LACK OF FUEL GOING INTO THE ENGINE, BUT WHEN THEY INVESTIGATED IT, THEY DIDN'T FIND A LEAK. AS OF NOW, I DON'T HAVE A REAL DIAGNOSIS FOR MY CAR. I'M NOT SURE IF ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS CORRELATE OR HAVE A DOMINO EFFECT ON EACH OTHER, BUT THE ISSUE WILL TAKE A WHILE TO TAKE CARE OF.

NHTSA ODI #10788066

2013 model year · 16,000 miles · Oct 28, 2015
Electrical System

AT 16,000 MILES CAR WILL SIMPLY NOT TURN ON AGAIN. AAA HAS DONE TESTING OF BATTERY, STARTER, RECHARGING SYSTEM AND BATTERY DRAIN; ALL PASSED. DID SOME RESEARCH OF COMPLAINTS AND THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF SERIOUS, KNOWN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS (DRIVING THEMSELVES OFF THE ROAD, CATCHING FIRE). CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY ST…

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AT 16,000 MILES CAR WILL SIMPLY NOT TURN ON AGAIN. AAA HAS DONE TESTING OF BATTERY, STARTER, RECHARGING SYSTEM AND BATTERY DRAIN; ALL PASSED. DID SOME RESEARCH OF COMPLAINTS AND THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF SERIOUS, KNOWN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS (DRIVING THEMSELVES OFF THE ROAD, CATCHING FIRE). CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY STATE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY ISSUES. GETTING RID OF IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (AFTER AAA COMES BACK OUT TO GET IT TO TURN ON AGAIN).

NHTSA ODI #10786706

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.