Page 7 of 7 · complaints 301–315 of 315

2008 Hyundai Elantra complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2008 record →

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 16, 2008100 milesWI

I PURCHASED A BRAND-NEW, 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS ON JULY 8. I DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 100 MILES FROM THE TIME I DROVE OFF THE LOT THROUGH THE END OF THE 24-HOUR NEW OWNERSHIP PERIOD. ABOUT 24-25 HOURS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER DURING A TYPICAL LEFT-HAND TURN THAT I MADE WHILE PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 125 MILES ON IT. THE CAR LOST COMPLETE POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED AT ABOUT 5:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 9. I HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTART IT (STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION DURING THE MALFUNCTION). I DROVE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALER AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO GET TOWING ASSISTANCE THROUGH HYUNDAI. THE HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT RAN TESTS ON IT FOR TWO DAYS. THEY FOUND A "MISFIRE CODE ON CYLINDER 1", BUT COULD NOT FIND HOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED BACK TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FROM WEDNESDAY, JULY 9 AT 8:56PM UNTIL TODAY. THE CAR POSES A DANGER TO ME AND OTHERS. THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WHILE I WAS TRYING TO DRIVE IN NORMAL CONDITIONS. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSIER ROAD, I MAY HAVE BEEN HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jul 16, 20082,061 milesVA

I HAD AN ISSUE IN EARLY JUNE REGARDING MY 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE AND STALLED OUT. IT WAS TOLD BACK TO DEALERSHIP, WHICH COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND INFORMED ME IT WAS A FUEL INJECTION MISFIRE, REBOOTED COMPUTER AND SAID IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. ON JULY 3RD, I HAD THE EXACT SAME SITUATION OCCUR ON MY TRIP WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 TO VISIT FAMILY IN DELAWARE. DEALERSHIP IN DELAWARE ON JULY 7TH INFORMED ME I HAD A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP AND REPLACED IT ON JULY 8TH. LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT WAS PROBLEM IN JUNE AND DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED CAR FROM DID NOT INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM PROPERLY. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jul 15, 20081,015 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH GASOLINE ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND EACH TIME, FUEL SHOT BACK OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED YET, BUT PLAN TO DO SO ON JULY 17, 2008. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SHE COULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IN GASOLINE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,015. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/15/08 *JB

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Jul 13, 20083,100 milesNY

I HAD A NEW 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 3,000 MILES ON IT. I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. IT WAS A DIRECT FRONT HIT AT ABOUT 40-45 MPH. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN TO HOLD EITHER MYSELF OR MY PASSENGER BACK. THE AIR BAGS FOR MYSELF AND MY PASSENGER DID NOT DEPLOY. ALL PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE (FIRE DEPT, MECHANICS, TOW YARD, POLICE) STATED REPEATEDLY THAT THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELTS NOT TO WORK. *TR

Fuel System, OtherCrash3 injured
Filed Jul 12, 2008339 milesNY

MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT 2 BRAND NEW 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS PZEV ENGINES ON JUNE 6, 2008. ON JULY 2, 2008 WITH LESS THAN 400 MILES ON MY HUSBAND'S CAR HE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY GOING 55 MILES AN HOUR AND BECAUSE OF HIM BEING IN THE LEFT HAND LAND THERE ENDED UP A 3 CAR ACCIDENT. MY HUSBAND DID NOT GET HIT, BUT IN ORDER TO AVOID HIM A CAR SWERVED, GOT REAR-ENDED AND PUSHED INTO AN 18 WHEELER ON RTE 24 IN MILLBURN NJ. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT BECAUSE OF THIS. IT TURNS OUT HYUNDAI KNOW THERE IS A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. OUR SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US AFTER ROAD SIDE ASSISTANT TOWED MY HUSBAND'S ELANTRA UP FROM NJ TO GOSHEN NY. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO SAID HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT ARE NOT ORDERING A RECALL TO HAVE THE 2008 FUEL PUMPS CHANGED. WE CALLED HYUNDAI TO FIND OUT WHY THERE IS NO RECALL AND THEY SAID OUR SERVICE MANAGER WAS LYING ABOUT THE FUEL PUMPS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY SAID KOREA STOPPED MAKING THE FUEL PUMPS AND ARE RE-DESIGNING A NEW ONE. TO DATE THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE FUEL PUMPS WILL BE SHIPPED FROM KOREA. BUT THEY ARE STILL DENYING THERE IS A PROBLEM. IF YOU GO TO WWW.EDMUNDS.COM AND THEN CLICK ON CARSPACE DISCUSSION AND TYPE IN 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA YOU WILL SEE PEOPLE ARE GETTING STRANDED ALL OVER THE US. HYUNDAI CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM BUT YET THEY ARE LEAVING THESE UNSAFE CARS ON THE ROAD. WE HAD OURS LESS THAN A MONTH. MY SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE FUEL PUMPS ARE GOING FROM 5 MILES TO 1500 MILES AND THAT HYUNDAI DOES NOT FIX THEM TILL THE

Fuel System, Other
Filed Jul 12, 2008583 milesVA

A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING MY BRAND NEW 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA MY CAR CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND FAILED TO START. I LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY GET IT STARTED IN LIEU OF WAITING A HOUR IN THE HEAT AT RUSH HOUR FOR THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE CAR SPUTTERED TO THE DEALESHIP WHERE I GOT A LOANER. I WAS CALLED TODAY AND TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I THEN DECIDED TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE BECAUSE A BRAND NEW CAR SHOULD NOT BE SHUTTING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING FROM HYUNDAI ACKNOWLEDGING THE ISSUE. AFTER READING THIS WEBSITE( HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F14FFD5) I REALIZED THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FACING NEW ELANTRA OWNERS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED! *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jul 7, 20081,700 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IN HER VEHICLE WAS DEACTIVATED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATED THAT IT WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. SHE CONSULTED THE DEALER AND SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR JUNE 11, 2008. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. SHE WOULD HAVE TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH MAXIMUM PRESSURE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO GAIN SPEED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 1,700.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jun 19, 20082,839 milesMD

WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN APRIL OF 2008. THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY LOOSES ENGINE POWER, SHUTS DOWN AND STOPS. THIS HAS NOW OCCURRED THREE TIMES. ON JUNE 6TH THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN IN TRAFFIC. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY REPAIRED A PVC HOSE THAT HAD COLLAPSED. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE SAME EVENT OCCURRED, STRANDING US IN THE MIDDLE OF A DIVIDED, HEAVILY TRAVELED, ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THIS TIME THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. AFTER WAITING FIVE DAYS FOR THE PART TO BE DELIVERED, I PICKED UP THE CAR ONCE AGAIN. MY WIFE HAD EARLIER NOTICED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AFTER WE BROUGHT IT HOME. ON JUNE 19TH I WAS OUT RUNNING ERRANDS WITH MY CHILDREN. THE VEHICLE, AGAIN SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I AGAIN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE MANAGER THEN INFORMED ME HE HAD JUST FOUND OUT HYUNDAI WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEMS ON THEIR 2008 ELANTRA MODELS. I THEN CALLED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE VEHICLE. I ALSO ASK THE REPRESENTATIVE TO CHECK ON ANY RECALLS OR CAMPAIGNS AGAINST MY VEHICLE. AFTER CHECKING HIS SYSTEM HE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WERE NO CAMPAIGNS OR RECALLS REGISTERED AGAINST THE CAR. SO FAR THIS DANGEROUS EVENT HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WHEN WE USE THIS VEHICLE. SO FAR THE COLLAPSED PVC HOSE AND FUEL PUMP HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITHOUT CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. I JUST RECEIVED

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jun 7, 2008600 milesFL

NEW 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS, HAD PROBLEMS IN 1ST GEAR ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD RUN VERY RUFF ,SOMETIMES STARTING THE CAR I WOULD TURN THE KEY AND IT WAS LIKE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD HAD TO DO IT 2 OR 3 TIMES BEFORE THE STARTER WOULD CATCH ON AND START THE CAR. I ONLY DROVE THIS CAR FOR 12 DAYS BEFORE TAKING IT INTO THE DEALER FOR A COMPLETE CHECK UP ALSO THE ALARM WASNT WORKING. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS BAD (NEW CAR ONLY 1000 MILES????) AND IT SHOULD TAKE A FEW DAYS TO GET THE PART IN, THEN AFTER A WEEK THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE STILL WAITING ON THE PART AND THERE IS A "NATL BACK ORDER ON THIS PART" AND THEY SHOULD BE GETTING IN THE PART SOON THEY HOPE. WEEK 2 THERE STILL WAITING ON THE PART AND HE HAS 4 CARS WAITING FOR THE SAME PART ALL ELANTRAS (3FROM THEIR STOCK). WEEK 3 STILL WAITING, STILL NO PART, I CALLED HYUNDAI THEY TOLD ME THEY DONT KNOW OF ANY PROBLEMS OR POSSIBLE RECALLS ON THE PART AND PROMISED TO CALL ME BACK IN 24 TO 48 HRS, I HAD TO CALL THEM BACK 4 DAYS LATER ASKING WHY I DIDNT GET A CALL BACK, ANOTHER CUSTOMER CARE AGENT HELPED ME THIS TIME SAYING THAT SHE IS SO SORRY IM HAVING SUCH PROBLEM AND PROMISED TO CALL ME BACK THAT SAME DAY AFTER SHE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP. IM ONCE AGAIN WAITING WITH NO CALL BACKS......THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN IN THEIR HANDS FOR 22 DAYS WITH NO PART IN HAND TO REPAIR MY CAR????????. THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT... *TR

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Jun 3, 2008PA

THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDOW DOES NOT ROLL DOWN ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN DEPRESSING THE BUTTON AND SOMETIMES IT FUNCTIONS PROPERLY. *TR

Air Bags › Side/WindowCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 1, 20082,200 milesCA

WHILE ON VACATION IN MICHIGAN, MY SPOUSE AND I WERE HIT BY A DRUNK DRIVER. WE WERE TRAVELING NORTH BOUND ON US 127 AT 35MPH, CROSSING OVER ADDISON RD (IN THE TOWN OF ADDISON) WHEN THE OTHER DRIVER CROSSED THE ROAD HITTING US. (HE WAS ARRESTED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT.) HE STRUCK US ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND DENTED THE FRONT AND REAR DOOR TO THE POINT THAT NEITHER DOOR COULD BE OPENED, AND BUCKLED THE REAR FENDER. THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT IT BLEW OUT ALL THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOWS, BLEW OUT THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE, BENT THE B-PILLAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND RIPPED THE TOP HINGE COMPLETELY OFF THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR. IT ALSO CREASED THE TOP MIDDLE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ROOF. NONE OF THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND WE FELT THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE. AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, MY SPOUSE INCURRED A BUMP, 2 ' IN DIAMETER BY ' TALL, ON THE BACK RIGHT REAR SIDE OF HER HEAD. *TR

SteeringCrash
Filed May 30, 2008104 milesMD

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING BEGAN TO VIBRATE WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS OF MAY 30, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 104.

Air Bags2 injured
Filed May 5, 2008170 milesIA

WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 NORTH IN MARYLAND, A MOTORIST CUT ME OFF SUDDENLY, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, THE BRAKES LOCKED AND CAR SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, CROSSED ALL LANES, AND ROLLED OVER TWICE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE. AS A RESULT, I RECEIVED A FRACTURED STERNUM. *TR

Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights
Filed Feb 6, 2008OH

WHEN YOU OPEN THE TRUNK AFTER A RAIN OR DURING IT RUNS OUT OF THE TAIL LIGHTS INTO THE TRUNK ON BOTH SIDES ON THE TRUNK LID FROM THE TAIL LIGHT LENSES DESIGN OF THE CAR IS THE PROBLEM I HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Dec 19, 2007800 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WOULD WOBBLE EXCESSIVELY. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND A CRASH NEARLY OCCURRED. THE DEALER HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 2,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES IT FELT STRANGE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A BURNING TYPE SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, BUT THE DEALER TOLD HER IT WOULD GO AWAY. THE CONSUMER STATED IT HAS BEEN A MONTH AND THE SMELL WAS STILL PRESENT. UPDATED *JB

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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