Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
230–25K
3125–50K
3550–75K
4675–100K
40100–150K
11150K+
186 reports with mileage · 66 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 to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Steering. Review the 132 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
28 crash reports11 fire reports20 injury reports
What owners actually said
252 reports
64,000 miles · Jul 11, 2019
Steering
WE HAVE HAD THE RECALL FOR THE EPS REPAIRED A FEW YEARS AGO. A FEW YEARS LATER THE EPS CAME ON AGAIN AND ALMOST CRASHED THE CAR/NO POWER STEERING. WE AGAIN TOOK IT TO A DEALER IN LAUREL, MD AND THEY SAID WE HAD ANOTHER RECALL AND THEY DOWNLOADED THE FIX/NO CHARGE. WELL ABOUT 2 YEARS LATER/TODAY THE EPS CAME ON AND AGAIN ALMOST C…
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WE HAVE HAD THE RECALL FOR THE EPS REPAIRED A FEW YEARS AGO. A FEW YEARS LATER THE EPS CAME ON AGAIN AND ALMOST CRASHED THE CAR/NO POWER STEERING. WE AGAIN TOOK IT TO A DEALER IN LAUREL, MD AND THEY SAID WE HAD ANOTHER RECALL AND THEY DOWNLOADED THE FIX/NO CHARGE. WELL ABOUT 2 YEARS LATER/TODAY THE EPS CAME ON AND AGAIN ALMOST CRASHED THE CAR. IT IS INTERMITTENT, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT HOME NO PROBLEM. WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO A BOWIE, MD DEALER WHO CAN'T GET TO IT FOR 10 DAYS! WE ARE CONCERNED IT IS THE SAME RECALLED ISSUE AND CAN NOT BE FIXED. NOW WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR IN FEAR THERE IS NO SOLUTION AND WE CAN NOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR AT THIS TIME. PLEASE HELP! THANKS! REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #11231122
123,000 miles · Jun 26, 2019
Air Bags
TAKATA RECALL ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO OR 3 MONTHS AGO MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND NEVER WENT OFF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT THAT SAYS OFF GOS OUT WHEN SOMEONE SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BUT THE LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYS ON I REPLACED THE BATTERY A MONTH LATER BECAUSE SOMEONE SAID TO TRY THAT IT DID NOT WORK I LO…
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TAKATA RECALL ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO OR 3 MONTHS AGO MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND NEVER WENT OFF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT THAT SAYS OFF GOS OUT WHEN SOMEONE SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BUT THE LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYS ON I REPLACED THE BATTERY A MONTH LATER BECAUSE SOMEONE SAID TO TRY THAT IT DID NOT WORK I LOOKED UP RECALLS AND YOU DO HAVE THEM FOR 2009 ELANTRAS ONLY FOR CERTAIN MANUFACTURERS MONTHS I BELIVE MY VEHICLE WAS AFFECTED TOO
NHTSA ODI #11222819
106,517 miles · Jun 10, 2019
SteeringCrash
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I TRIED TO STEER OFF TO THE LEFT TO AVOID A CAR FROM HITTING ME FROM THE RIGHT. THIS LED TO THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING AND THE CAR SPINNING OUT. I TRIED TO GET CONTROL OF THE WHEEL BUT COULD NOT. THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPIN UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAILING, SMASHING THE RIGHT SIDE AND RIGHT FRO…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I TRIED TO STEER OFF TO THE LEFT TO AVOID A CAR FROM HITTING ME FROM THE RIGHT. THIS LED TO THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING AND THE CAR SPINNING OUT. I TRIED TO GET CONTROL OF THE WHEEL BUT COULD NOT. THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPIN UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAILING, SMASHING THE RIGHT SIDE AND RIGHT FRONT. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS DENTED INTO THE CAR MAKING IT UNDRIVEABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11218944
74,000 miles · May 14, 2019
EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS EXITED AND PARKED IN THE OWNERS GARAGE, A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. A NEIGHBOR ALERTED THE CONTACT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND PROVIDED AN INSPECTION REPORT. A DEALER HAD NOT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE YET…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS EXITED AND PARKED IN THE OWNERS GARAGE, A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. A NEIGHBOR ALERTED THE CONTACT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND PROVIDED AN INSPECTION REPORT. A DEALER HAD NOT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE YET TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS TO INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE SO THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE MAY BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL PARKED AT THE OWNERS RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED TO DETERMINE IF THEY MAY INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
NHTSA ODI #11207451
92,000 miles · Apr 3, 2019
Steering
THE EPS LIGHT WENT ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY OR I COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE. HYUNDAI DID A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BACK IN 2015 BUT IT WAS JUST A SYSTEM UPDATE FOR THE STEERING MODULE BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A SHORT TERM SOLUTION. I HAVE FOUND OVER A HUNDRED COMPLAINTS WHERE OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING …
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THE EPS LIGHT WENT ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY OR I COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE. HYUNDAI DID A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BACK IN 2015 BUT IT WAS JUST A SYSTEM UPDATE FOR THE STEERING MODULE BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A SHORT TERM SOLUTION. I HAVE FOUND OVER A HUNDRED COMPLAINTS WHERE OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING TH SAME SAFETY ISSUE AND I REALLY THINK HYUNDAI NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THE STEERING IN THE '09 ELANTRAS ARE UNSAFE AND WILL EVENTUALLY POSSIBLY KILL SOMEONE.
NHTSA ODI #11193603
213,000 miles · Mar 29, 2019
Steering
EPS LIGHT CAME ON DASH 3-1313/2019-19 .FILLED OUT VIN # ONLINE AND WAS TOLD VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL AND TO MAKE APPOINTMENT AT BOB KING DEALERSHIP FOR FRIDAY AT 5 PM 3-15-19 IN WINSTON SALEM N.C. SO WE DROVE 27 MILES ONE WAY TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT . 1 HOUR LATER WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED . GOT IN VEHICLE TO LEAVE AND NOTIC…
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EPS LIGHT CAME ON DASH 3-1313/2019-19 .FILLED OUT VIN # ONLINE AND WAS TOLD VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL AND TO MAKE APPOINTMENT AT BOB KING DEALERSHIP FOR FRIDAY AT 5 PM 3-15-19 IN WINSTON SALEM N.C. SO WE DROVE 27 MILES ONE WAY TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT . 1 HOUR LATER WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED . GOT IN VEHICLE TO LEAVE AND NOTICED LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND WENT BACK IN TO TELL THEM . WAS TOLD TO BRING BACK NEXT DAY 3-16-19 SAT AT 8 AM . WAS THERE WHEN OPENED UP AND AFTER APPROX.1 HR. WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $120.00 PER HR. TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT , SO WE AGREED TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $ 2390.00 FOR REPLACEMENT OF PART THAT IS OR SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER RECALL .TECH SAID HE WOULD SEE IF HYUNDAI WOULD COVER COST AND WOULD LET US KNOW THE FOLLOWING MON. OR TUES. . DID NOT HEAR FROM BOB KING TILL WE CALLED THEM BACK ON 3-21-19 AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HYUNDAI . CALLED THEM BACK 3-28-19 AND WAS TOLD HYUNDAI WOULD NOT COVER REPLACEMENT . THAT IS TWO TRIPS EACH WAY . I DO NOT KNOW IF HYUNDAI OR BOB KING IS RESPONSIBLE , BUT NOW THE VIN # IS NOT UNDER RECALL . I SUSPECT UNDER HANDED DEALINGS FROM ONE OR THE OTHER OR BOTH . I COULD UNDERSTAND IF CAR HAS BEEN FIXED UNDER RECALL BEFORE , BUT WAS TOLD THIS VIN # WAS VALID AND NOW THE HYUNDAI COORP. REFUSES TO HONOR THEIR RECALL ! SO FAR LIGHT IS ONLY SIGN OF PROBLEM , BUT STEERING MAY LOCK UP WHY VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AND POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCIDENT . RECALL # 127
NHTSA ODI #11192351
26,500 miles · Jan 27, 2019
EngineUnknown Or Other
WAS DRIVING HOME ON INTERSTATE AND ALL OF SUDDEN ALL MY DASH LIGHTS CAME ON WITHOUT WARNING, CAR DIED. PULLED OVER AND PARKED IT . DIDN'T OVERHEAT OR ANYTHING. I'M CONFUSED WHY NOW MY CAR WON'T START . OR ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER . HELP!!
NHTSA ODI #11172352
Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train
ENGINE START VIBRATING AT LOW SPEED
NHTSA ODI #11166641
79,000 miles · Jan 3, 2019
Air BagsElectrical System
AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED LIT AFTER STARTING CAR, BEGINING IN OCTOBER 2018. PROBLEM SEEMED INTERMITTENT; STAYED OFF AFTER START UP WHEN THERE WAS WEIGHT IN PASSENGER SEAT. TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND A DIAGNOSIS WAS RAN. CODES SHOWED EITHER THE BATTERY OR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR. HAD THE 3 1/2 YEAR OLD BATTERY REPLA…
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AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED LIT AFTER STARTING CAR, BEGINING IN OCTOBER 2018. PROBLEM SEEMED INTERMITTENT; STAYED OFF AFTER START UP WHEN THERE WAS WEIGHT IN PASSENGER SEAT. TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND A DIAGNOSIS WAS RAN. CODES SHOWED EITHER THE BATTERY OR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR. HAD THE 3 1/2 YEAR OLD BATTERY REPLACED TO RULE THAT OUT. NO AIR BAG LIGHT ISSUE FOR ABOUT TEN DAYS, BUT PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN. A FEW MORE WEEKS PASS AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AT ALL TIMES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN THAT LIGHT IS ON. I WAS TOLD BY HYUNDI THAT AIR BAG PROBLEMS WOULD BE PAID BY THEM, BUT NOT FOR RELATED SENSOR ISSUES. SEEMS THE SENSOR IS EQUALLY AS DANGEROUS. NO AIR BAGS, ARE NO AIR BAGS. I BOUGHT THE CAR (USED) BECAUSE OF ITS HIGH SAFETY RATINGS FOR MY TWO TEENS TO DRIVE. I THINK ANY ITEM EFFECTING THE AIR BAGS SHOULD BE RECALLED ASAP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESEARCH INTO THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11165660
94,000 miles · Dec 30, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System
MY CAR IS ACCELERATING EVEN WHEN I'M NOT PRESSING THE GAS AND IT SHOOTS UP WHEN I SHIFT. THE RPMS ARE GOING UP TO SEVEN AND EIGHT THOUSAND.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Elantra and 2009-2011 Elantra Touring vehicles. On February 21, 2020 Hyundai expanded the recall to include 46,425 model year 2007-2008 Entourage and 2007 Santa Fe vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 188.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Elantra vehicles manufactured June 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010, and 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles manufactured November 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010. The electronic power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may sense a discrepancy in the steering input signals and, as a result, disable the steering power assist.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will verify the proper operation of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and update the EPS control unit, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 127.
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 ELANTRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2006, THROUGH NOVEMBER 1, 2008. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATS IN THE VEHICLES CONTAIN A WEIGHT SENSOR DESIGNED TO DEACTIVATE THE RIGHT FRONTAL AIRBAG WHEN OCCUPANTS OF CERTAIN WEIGHTS OCCUPY THE SEAT. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE WEIGHT SENSOR IS LOCATED UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE, BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THE CONNECTOR COULD BECOME CONTAMINATED AND MALFUNCTION SUCH THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT OF THE OCCUPANT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY IN CRASHES IN WHICH IT SHOULD NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT FROM THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE WEIGHT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CONNECTOR TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTING TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
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
1
DP21003 · Throttle Control System Vulnerabilities
Opened Nov 12, 2021 · Closed Jun 20, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.
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