NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
252 reports39,000 miles · Sep 1, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION ON 7/30/10. THE CAR OF THE DRIVER WHO HIT ME HAD HER AIRBAGS DEPLOY, WHILE MINE DID NOT. THE IMPACT TO MY CAR WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT THE RADIATOR SUPPORT HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BUMPER HEADLIGHT AND HOOD. I WAS GOING 20 - 25 MPH AND THE OTHER DIVER WAS DOING APPROXIMATELY THE SAME SPEED. …
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I WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION ON 7/30/10. THE CAR OF THE DRIVER WHO HIT ME HAD HER AIRBAGS DEPLOY, WHILE MINE DID NOT. THE IMPACT TO MY CAR WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT THE RADIATOR SUPPORT HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BUMPER HEADLIGHT AND HOOD. I WAS GOING 20 - 25 MPH AND THE OTHER DIVER WAS DOING APPROXIMATELY THE SAME SPEED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10353243
24,454 miles · Jul 22, 2010
Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EPS LIGHT AND THE ETS LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN ON IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED WH…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EPS LIGHT AND THE ETS LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN ON IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24454.
NHTSA ODI #10344706
10,000 miles · Jun 21, 2010
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY AND IN AN UNEVEN MANNER. THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES EXHIBITED MORE WEAR THAN THE OUTSIDE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT ON THE VEHICLE. THE FRON…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY AND IN AN UNEVEN MANNER. THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES EXHIBITED MORE WEAR THAN THE OUTSIDE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT ON THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT TIRES WERE ALSO REPLACED. WITHIN 5,000 MILES THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000. UPDATED 10/27/10. *LJ
NHTSA ODI #10339373
4,000 miles · May 17, 2010
Visibility
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW RATTLES AND SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD FALL OUT; THE FAILURE WAS WORSE IN COLD WEATHER. ALSO, THE DOME LIGHT HAD MATERIAL COVERING IT THAT CREATED FIRE HAZARD. THE MANFACTURER, WHEN CALLED, STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY INSTALLED THE DOME LIGHT AN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW RATTLES AND SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD FALL OUT; THE FAILURE WAS WORSE IN COLD WEATHER. ALSO, THE DOME LIGHT HAD MATERIAL COVERING IT THAT CREATED FIRE HAZARD. THE MANFACTURER, WHEN CALLED, STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY INSTALLED THE DOME LIGHT AND THEY SHOULD BE CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,500.
NHTSA ODI #10330819
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2010
Air BagsEquipmentCrashInjury
COULDN'T STOP IN TIME TO AVOID REAREND COLLISION MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA 09 AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY ,THE FRONT CLIP WAS TOTALED. HYUNDI SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR MY INJURIES WHICH IS SEVERE NECK AND BACK PAIN. I NEED SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO PROCEED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10326932
5,000 miles · Mar 15, 2010
Tires
HYUNDAI IS EQUIPPING THESE ELANTRAS WITH SOLUS TIRES WHICH ARE VERY SUBSTANDARD ALL WEATHER TIRES FOR TRACTION. TIRES CONSTANTLY SLIDE AND LOOSE CONTACT WITH ROAD SURFACE ON WET, DRY SANDY AND SNOW COVERED PAVEMENT, CONSTANTLY CAUSING THE ABS BRAKES TO ENGAGE, AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WANDER ACROSS ROAD SURFACE. IT IS AT IT'S …
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HYUNDAI IS EQUIPPING THESE ELANTRAS WITH SOLUS TIRES WHICH ARE VERY SUBSTANDARD ALL WEATHER TIRES FOR TRACTION. TIRES CONSTANTLY SLIDE AND LOOSE CONTACT WITH ROAD SURFACE ON WET, DRY SANDY AND SNOW COVERED PAVEMENT, CONSTANTLY CAUSING THE ABS BRAKES TO ENGAGE, AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WANDER ACROSS ROAD SURFACE. IT IS AT IT'S WORST IN ANY KIND OF SNOW EVEN AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH. CAR ALMOST WENT OFF ROADWAY SEVERAL TIMES DURING SNOW WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 5 & 15 MPH. COMPLAINED TO DEALER WHERE CAR PURCHASED AND THEY COULD NOT CARE LESS! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10319873
5,000 miles · Feb 17, 2010
Power Train
2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA BRAND NEW BOUGHT. 1. WHEN THE CAR IS PUT ON 'PARKING' ON A HILL, IT SLIPS BACK ABOUT COUPLE OF FEET. IT SEEM LIKE GEARS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY (NOT IN POSITION) BECAUSE I FELT AND HEARD CLICKING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE GEARS SLIPPING BY NOT BEING IN CORRECT POSITION. 2. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME B…
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2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA BRAND NEW BOUGHT. 1. WHEN THE CAR IS PUT ON 'PARKING' ON A HILL, IT SLIPS BACK ABOUT COUPLE OF FEET. IT SEEM LIKE GEARS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY (NOT IN POSITION) BECAUSE I FELT AND HEARD CLICKING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE GEARS SLIPPING BY NOT BEING IN CORRECT POSITION. 2. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT QUITE OFTEN WHEN IT'S PARKED ON A HILL. ABOUT 1-2 TIMES A WEEK. WHEN IT HAPPENS AND I TRY TO SEE IF IT REPEATS, BY GOING BACK AND FORTH THE CAR AND PUT ON PARKING AGAIN, IT DOES NOT SEEM TO REPEAT. 3. I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WORKS AFTER THE SLIPPAGE. BUT I AM THINKING TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AS IN WORRY OF FURTHER TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ONLY CONCERN IS THAT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, NOT SURE IF DEALER WILL BE ABLE TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEY USUALLY DON'T CARE UNLESS THEY SEE THEM WITH THEIR OWN EYES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10311308
2,900 miles · Feb 16, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN THERE IS SNOWFALL AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED,THERE IS A HORRENDOUS GRINDING SOUND-BRAKES LOCK UP,WILL NOT WORK AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH SEVERAL INTERSECTIONS,AND ALMOST INTO PARKED CARS,ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND STREET POLES. THANKFULLY NO PEDESTRIANS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10310796
1,400 miles · Jan 16, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS DRIVING A NEW HYUNDAI ELANTRA AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER BACK AND FORTH. I WAS WAITING FOR THE ABS TO DO WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO , IT THEN PULLED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER TWICE. MY HEAD HIT THE ROOF TWICE MY NECK AND BACK WERE TWISTED, MY LEFT ARM AND SHOULDER WERE …
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I WAS DRIVING A NEW HYUNDAI ELANTRA AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER BACK AND FORTH. I WAS WAITING FOR THE ABS TO DO WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO , IT THEN PULLED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER TWICE. MY HEAD HIT THE ROOF TWICE MY NECK AND BACK WERE TWISTED, MY LEFT ARM AND SHOULDER WERE TWISTED AND KNEES HIT THE DASH I BELIEVE. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP THERE WAS GLASS EVERYWHERE INCLUDING ALL OVER ME. THIS CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS AND SIDE AIR BAG CURTAINS. NONE OF THESE SAFETY DEVICES WERE ACTIVATED. MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND GREAT GRANDSON WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THIS CAR TWENTY MINUTES LATER, MY GRANDDAUGHTER WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THIS ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS COMPLETELY GONE, SHATTERED INSIDE THE CAR. I HAVE ASKED HYUNDAI OF AMERICA TO RETRIEVE THIS VEHICLE TO FIND OUT WHY NONE OF THESE DEVICES ACTIVATED. THIS CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAD JUST PURCHASED IT ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. TWO WEEKS BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT I WAS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER TRAFFIC, I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED, MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR STARTED TO SLOWLY MOVE INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE. THE ROAD I WAS ON WAS FLAT SO IT WAS NOT SLIDING. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT A COMPLETE STANDSTILL. THIS CAR HAS VERY DANGEROUS DEFECTS. IT MUST BE RECALLED AND ANALYZED, OR MANY PEOPLE WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BY THESE CARS. THANK YOU *TR
NHTSA ODI #10299954
2,000 miles · Nov 5, 2009
Equipment Adaptive/mobilityVehicle Speed Control
2009 ELANTRA GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK UNDER FLOOR MAT. WHAT SHOULD I DO? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10291175
Official recalls
4Feb 4, 2020
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.
Feb 23, 2015
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.
Apr 1, 2013
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.
Mar 15, 2011
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
1DP21003 · 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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