Hyundai Elantra Complaints
8,883 consumer complaints on file.
- #10446051January 31, 2012AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE THAT WAS FOLLOWING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE PASSENGERS SIDE AIR BAG DID. THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR INJURIES TO HER CHEST AND SHOULDER BLADES. THE DOCTOR DIAGNOSED HER WITH A CHEST CONTUSION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10445803January 30, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED (AS IF I HIT SOMETHING ON THE ROAD) COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. DASH, RADIO, NAVIGATION, POWER STEERING WENT DEAD. A FEW SECONDS LATER POWER CAME BACK WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL ROLLING AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART BY DEPRESSING BRAKE AND "START/STOP" BUTTON. A FEW MINUTES LATER WHILE TRAVELING AT LOWER SPEED, THE EVENT REPEATED. THIS TIME POWER WOULD NOT RETURN. CAR WAS IN MOTION AND WAS ABLE TO ROLL TO EMERGENCY SHOULDER. CAR WAS STUCK IN NEUTRAL SO EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED TO PREVENT ROLL BACK. POWER GONE, UNABLE TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS, ACTIVATE SUNROOF, RADIO OR ANYTHING REQUIRING POWER. WHILE CALL WAS BEING MADE TO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND AFTER 10 MINUTE WAIT ON HOLD, DASH ILLUMINATED POWER AND CAR WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED WITH START/STOP BUTTON. DECISION WAS MADE TO LEAVE INTERSTATE AND TAKE BACK ROADS TO AVOID FATALITY IN EVENT OF REPEAT. FAILURE EXPERIENCE 3 ADDITIONAL TIMES. WAS ABLE TO VIDEO TAPE FAILURE: HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=XN9BPQ9FOGM&LIST=FLE9MKXPPKTQATS9TX4ZU9FQ&FEATURE=MH_LOLZ *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10445825January 30, 2012LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
HATCHBACK/TRUNK LOCK GETS STUCK AND DOESN'T OPEN WHEN PRESSING THE HANDLE. THE KEY ITSELF OR USING REMOTE ALARM OR BY DEPRESSING THE POWER LOCKS INSIDE THE CAR, DOESN'T UNLOCK THE TRUNK. THE LOCK GETS STUCK AND YOU CAN'T OPEN THE TRUNK AND IT TAKES MANY ATTEMPTS TO GET IT UNLOCKED. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN. TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10445794January 29, 2012POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED THE NIGHT I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY BUCK/JOLT/JERK AS IF HITTING A SPEED BUMP IN A VERY JARRING MANNER. THIS ALSO HAPPENED DURING A TEST DRIVE OF A VEHICLE OF THE SAME TYPE AND COLOR (I'M NOT SURE IF THEY SOLD ME THE ONE DURING THE TEST DRIVE.). I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WHICH JOLTED IN THIS MANNER WAS REPAIRED AND SOLD TO ANOTHER CUSTOMER. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WERE TELLING THE TRUTH OR IF THEY GAVE ME THE SAME VEHICLE. STILL, THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT IS POTENTIALLY A BIG SAFETY HAZARD. THE SALESMAN WHO SAT NEXT TO ME WAS ALSO CONCERNED WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED TWICE IN THE SPAN OF ONE 10 MINUTE TEST DRIVE. I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW VEHICLE NOT EXPECTING THIS TYPE OF SERIOUS, INTERNAL ISSUE. AFTER SOME TESTING, I BELIEVE THAT THIS SUDDEN BUCK WILL MORE LIKELY OCCUR AFTER ACCELERATING THEN DECELERATING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10445637January 27, 2012STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. NONE OF THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,450 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10445449January 26, 2012FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HAD BEEN LOSING MPG FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS (WENT DOWN FROM AVERAGE 28 TO 21) AND DEALER SAID COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. FINALLY, ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND BROUGHT CAR BACK TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED A FAULTY OXYGEN SENSOR. DEALER ORDERED PART AND REPLACED SENSOR COUPLE DAYS AGO. ENGINE LIGHT IS OFF BUT IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS TO CHECK THE MPG. IMPROVEMENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10445463January 26, 2012AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING DOWN MY RESIDENTIAL STREET, MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DETONATED FOR NO REASON. THE CAR WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED HYUNDAI, WHO MADE ME DO ALL SORTS OF PAPERWORK, SAYING THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE AND HAVE AN ANSWER AS TO WHETHER THEY WOULD REPLACE THE AIRBAG, RIPPED UPHOLSTERY AND NOW BROKEN SEAT BELTS. THEY CLAIMED THEY WOULD HAVE AN ANSWER WITHIN 6-8 WEEKS OF RECEIVING MY PAPERWORK. THEY RECEIVED IT ON OCTOBER 3, 2011. I STILL DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER, AND NOW HYUNDAI WILL NOT RESPOND TO MY EMAILS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10445214January 25, 2012AIR BAGS
HEAD ON CRASH. MY SPEED APPROX. 10 MPH. OTHER CAR SPEED APPROX. 30 MPH. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10445049January 24, 2012POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE, THE TRANSMISSION MADE A LOUD CLUNKY NOISE AND SHIFTED GEARS NOISILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 218.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10444969January 23, 2012AIR BAGS
I WAS BROADSIDED WITH MAJOR DAMAGE BEGINNING AT THE FRONT DOOR CONTINUING TO THE BACK DOOR AND THE REAR QUARTER PANEL. THE PILLAR BETWEEN THE FRONT AND BACK DOOR AND THE REAR PILLAR WERE BOTH SIGNIFICANTLY BOWED. THE SUV THAT HIT ME WAS PROBABLY GOING ABOUT 25 MPH. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10444847January 23, 2012STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AT MY 30,000 MILE MAINTENANCE WORK ($600.+), I WAS CALLED BACK TO SHOP TO SHOW ME "VERY DANGEROUS" CORROSION AROUND REAR AXLE/FRAME PARTS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW FROM SAME DEALER AND WAS SOLD A $800. WARRANTY RUST-PROOFING APPLICATION. IT WAS CLEAR THAT WHERE NO COATING WAS APPLIED, RUST WAS THERE AND I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE RISKY DRIVING THE CAR. THE LOW MILLAGE AND NO HISTORY OF THE CAR BEING DRIVEN IN SALT WATER CONDITIONS, I WAS AMAZED AT ITS CONDITION.(I GREW-UP IN THE NORTH RUST-BELT) I RETIRED CLOSE TO THE SOUTH OCEAN AREA BUT NEVER HAD A CAR WITH SUCH ADVANCED RUST. (SEVERAL CARS) THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY AND HYUNDAI'S WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER IT. I THINK POOR QUALITY OF METAL WAS USED IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS VEHICLE. IT'S OBVIOUS THE DEALER IS ALSO AT FAULT AND REFUSES TO HONOR HIS WARRANTY. I GUESS THAT IS A LEGAL PROBLEM THAT I'M STUCK WITH. THE POSSIBLE SAFETY PROBLEM COMES UNDER YOUR CONCERN FOR SUB-STANDARD MANUFACTURING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10444848January 23, 2012STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION. UPON RESTART, THE CONTACT REGAINED STEERING AND MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING MOTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 02/27/12*LJ UPDATED 02/28/12
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10444885January 23, 2012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS
ON DECEMBER 10, 2011, I WAS TURNING FROM NORTHBOUND GARY AV. ONTO EASTBOUND LAWRENCE AVE. AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. WHILE I WAS TURNING MY ACCELERATOR STUCK THE ENGINE SPED OUT OF CONTROL TO AT LEAST 40 MPH. I SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING A TRUCK TURNING ONTO GARY AND MY CAR WENT OVER THE SOUTH CURB.. AND MY ATTEMPTS TO BREAK WERE FAILING ALL THIS TIME... I CRASHED THROUGH A FENCE INTO SOMEBODY'S BACK YARD WENT DOWN HILL ABOUT 50 FEET AND RAN INTO A TREE. I THEN TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE INVESTIGATING BLOOMINGDALE POLICE OFFICER STARTED THE CAR AND THE ACCELERATOR WAS STILL STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION. THE BODY SHOP PERSONNEL ALSO CONFIRMED THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10444819January 22, 2012SUSPENSION
I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I HEARD A NOISE AND FELT MY CAR JOLT. I GOT OUT AND MY PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SNAPPED OFF THE CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10444724January 21, 2012STEERING
VEHICLE SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN BRAKING, JUST LEFT AND RIGHT OF CENTER. FEELS AS IF THE POWER ASSIST IS EITHER FAILING OR RESISTING - REQUIRES UNDUE EFFORT TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE EPS UNIT. PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED, BUT NOW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. STATES THAT EVEN THOUGH IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT THEY HEAR ABOUT THIS CAR, AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF IT, IT IS "NORMAL" FOR THIS MODEL. THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING, AND THAT IT IS NOT DANGEROUS. HOWEVER, I AM AFRAID IT IS POTENTIALLY QUITE DANGEROUS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10444330January 18, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SINCE NEW, OUR 2001 ELANTRA HAS HAD AN INTERMITTENT "THUMPING" SOUND IN THE REAR WHEELS WHILE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. IT WOULD GO AWAY FOR MONTHS, THEN RETURN, USUALLY AFTER SOME MAINTENANCE EVENT SUCH AS A TIRE ROTATION. INTERNET SEARCHES REVEAL THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT. PEOPLE HAVE REPLACED ALL SORTS OF PARTS; WHEEL BEARING, SUSPENSION PARTS ETC., USUALLY WITH NO FIX. I FOUND THE CAUSE, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL !! ON OUR MODEL, THE WHEEL NUTS ARE "CLOSED", MEANING THAT THEY ARE NOT DRILLED AND TAPPED ALL THE WAY THOUGH. ON OUR CAR, SOME OF THE WHEEL NUTS BOTTOM OUT ON THE WHEEL STUDS BEFORE THE BRAKE DRUM IS SECURED. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE RESULTING LOOSE BRAKE DRUM CAN "WOBBLE" ON THE STUDS, MAKING THE SOUND,. ANOTHER ISSUE CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEM: THERE IS ONE PHILLIPS SCREW WHICH SECURES THE BRAKE DRUM TO THE HUB. IN MY CASE THIS SCREW WAS MISSING, PROBABLY HAVING BEEN LEFT OFF DURING A SAFETY INSPECTION. HOWEVER, IF THE NUTS WERE NOT BOTTOMED OUT, THE DRUM WOULD BE SECURE EVEN IF THE SCREW IS MISSING. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THIS CONDITION COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO STUD FAILURE. AT THE VERY LEAST, IT IS A SERIOUS AGGRAVATION. PROBABLY THE LEAST EXPENSIVE WAY TO FIX THIS WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE WHEEL NUTS WITH ONES THAT ARE DEEPER, ALLOWING MORE CLEARANCE FOR THE END OF THE WHEEL STUD.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10443774January 14, 2012VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2012 IS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT AND REAR SEAT WARMERS. THE SWITCH FOR THE FRONT SEATS RESETS TO OFF WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. THE SWITCH FOR THE REAR SEATS, HOWEVER, REMAINS IN THE ON POSITION. THE NEXT TIME THE CAR IS TURNED ON, THE REAR SEAT WARMERS WILL BE ACTIVATED AGAIN UNTIL THEY ARE MANUALLY DEACTIVATED. A CAVEAT IN THE HYUNDAI MANUAL STATES: "WITH THE SEAT WARMER SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION, THE HEATING SYSTEM IN THE SEAT TURNS OFF AND ON AUTOMATICALLY DEPENDING ON THE SEAT TEMPERATURE." THIS SAFETY FEATURE IS TO PREVENT INJURY TO SOMEONE USING THE SEAT. MY CONCERN IS THE POTENTIAL HAZARD THE REAR SEAT WARMERS POSE WHEN THEY ARE NOT BEING USED BY A PASSENGER AND THE DRIVER IS UNAWARE THEY ARE ACTIVATED. ON COLD WINTER DAYS THE REAR SEAT WARMERS COULD BE HEATING AT MAXIMUM WATTAGE EVERY TIME THE CAR IS TURNED ON, UNBEKNOWNST TO THE DRIVER. WITH THIS BEING A SEATING AREA OFTEN USED BY CHILDREN, I BELIEVE THERE IS A HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT THESE SWITCHES COULD BE LEFT IN THE ON POSITION FREQUENTLY AND FOR LENGTHY PERIODS OF TIME. THIS POSES BOTH A HEALTH RISK, AS WELL AS, UNDUE WEAR ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND REAR SEAT COMPONENTS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10443541January 12, 2012TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO TIRES, TIRE SIZE 205/55R/16 H426. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE TIRES EXHIBITED BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE CENTER WHERE BOTH DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10443277January 10, 2012STEERING
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, COMING BACK FROM GYM, WHEN MY EPS LIGHT WENT ON--SECONDS AFTER THE LIGHT APPEARED, MY POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN. I STRUGGLED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, THEN RAN OFF THE ROAD AFTER PULLING WITH BOTH ARMS TO PULL THE CAR OVER. I EVENTUALLY DROVE THE CAR HOME WITH MY HAZARDS AT A VERY SLOW SPEED SINCE I HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY TURNING THE CAR ETC. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY. I CALLED HYUNDAI (CUSTOMER CONNECT ) MY CASE NUMBER IS[XXX]. THEY HAVE ONLY RESPONDED THAT THEY WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME ANY OF THE 2400 DOLLARS IT COST TO REPLACE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10443139January 9, 2012VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE PEDAL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0