2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA Electrical System Problems
28 NHTSA complaints on file
Electrical System Issues in the 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
28 electrical system complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. Of these, 2 involved a crash, 8 involved a fire, and 3 resulted in injury.
28
Complaints
2
Crashes
8
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Electrical System Complaints
The car was being driven nomore than 1hr. It began to smoke under the hood. The ABS EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE Then the EPS lights were on. The vehicle was pulled over and stopped. Fire was then observed falling from under the car. The hood was then popped to see the engine mainly on the driver side was totally catching fire. Then it spread. The engine needle never showed over heated. The car took no more than 6 minutes to catch fire from the time it started smoking. It was very scary
The engine bay of my car caught fire due to the abs pump and module not turning off. I bought a part but never opened the box because I received a piece of mail stating the recall of that exact issue that they would replace all parts damaged. Which they didn't just installed their relay After Hyundai recall 188 was completed, my ABS pump failed. I believe it was caused by continuous power being applied post-shutdown — the exact defect the recall was meant to fix. The dealer performed an inspection but misrepresented the results and refuses to replace the damaged component under recall. This ABS pump failure is a direct result of the original recall condition — or a failed installation of the relay fix — which continued to keep power applied to the pump while the vehicle was off. This is the exact scenario the recall was intended...
We received a citation for brake lights not functioning. I realized that there had been a safety recall on the brake light switch, and contacted Brandfon Hyundai in New Haven, CT. They did nothing. Upon further investigation on the Hyundai website, I noticed that the brake light switch campaign was marked "closed" in 2013, when the car was still owned by my mother-in-law whom has since gone blind and has sold the car to us. I took it upon myself to purchase and install a new brake light switch, and all new bulbs, but to no avail. Not only are we likely to get cited again, but having no brake lights is a safety hazard. At first, it was only the right side brake light out. Then the brake lights would stay on by themselves. Now, not even the rear window light, which should go on without the signal going...
The EPS sensor trips when making a turn rendering the vehicle completely inoperable. I have to put the vehicle in park, shut it off, then turn it back on to continue moving. This is highly dangerous if it were to happen on the highway.
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving when a person waved the driver down that there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was driven some more until the contact noticed that there was heat come up the leg on the driver's side. The contact stated that once exit from the vehicle, noticed that there were flames coming from the hood. The fire department extinguished the fired and informed that it was due to electrical. A police report was filed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.
When I am driving the vehicle all of a sudden it will jump back really fast And the check engine will go on and If I continue to drive the vehicle it seems like I'm putting pressure on the gas for it to go But then once I turn off the vehicle the check engine light will all of a sudden be gone. If I drive the vehicle again the problem won't happen right away it will be some time before it happens again all of a sudden.
EPS LIGHT IS ON. KNOCKING NOISE WHEN MOVING STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. DIAGNOSED PROBLEM THAT WOULD COST ME $3000 TO REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER LONG RESEARCH, RECALL 127 SHOULD HAVE COVERED MY VEHICLE, BUT IT DID NOT. PLEASE ADVISE.
UPON RECEIPT OF AN IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE OF ANTI ABS MODULE TRIGGER SHORT CIRCUIT AND ENGINE FIRE WHILE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF; I CALLED THE SACRAMENTO HYUNDAI AND SPOKE WITH RECALL AGENT "[XXX]" TODAY 4/14/20 WHO STATED THAT THE SERVICE CENTER DO NOT HAVE THE AVAILABLE PART TO FIX OR REPAIR THIS SAFETY RECALL. [XXX] STATED ALL STATEWIDE HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS FROM HYUNDAI USA MANUFACTURER AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE CONSUMER. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS FAILURE OF HYUNDAI USA TO ADDRESS AND RECTIFY THE NHTSA SAFETY RECALL OR DELAY WHICH WILL AFFECT THE ENGINE FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OF ANTI ABS ELECTRICAL MODULE ON HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2008 IN CALIFORNIA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
MY 2008 HYUNDAI CAUGHT FIRE IN MY GARAGE ON FEBRUARY 18, 2020. THE FIRE DESTROYED MY CAR AND MY GARAGE. MY NEIGHBOR HAPPENED TO BE TAKING HIS DOG OUT AT 4:00 AM AND SMELLED SMOKE. HE LOOKED OVER AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY GARAGE.HE FRANTICALLY RANG THE DOORBELL, WOKE ME AND MY HUSBAND UP AND WE CALLED 911. WE COULD HAVE DIED AS A RESULT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER A RAINY DAY, THE ABS LIGHT AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. I CHECKED THE PARKING BRAKE; IT WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CAR SEEMED TO BE BRAKING ON ITS OWN AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE. UPON ARRIVING HOME, THERE WAS SOME SMOKE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WHICH, AFTER IT DISSIPATED, I ASSUMED TO BE HOT, LOCKED UP BRAKES. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER MY HOUSEMATE CALLED TO ME FROM THE LIVING ROOM TELLING ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE AND TO CALL 9-1-1. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, UNDER A MAGNOLIA TREE. THE FLAMES ENGULFED THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR, AND WERE ABOUT 4-5FT HIGH. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND HOSED THE CAR DOWN, TAKING ABOUT AN HOUR TO PUT OUT THE BLAZE. THE FRONT TIRES WERE FLAT, HAD MELTED, AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS...
AFTER SITTING FOR 43 HOURS IN OUR DRIVEWAY THE 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA CAUGHT FIRE STARTING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CONTINUED ACROSS AND THROUGH THE VEHICLE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THE VEHICLE HAD A SMOKING ISSUE IN THE COMPARTMENT A MONTH PREVIOUS AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HYUNDAI SHOP AND A REPAIR ESTIMATE PROVIDED THAT INCLUDED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. AT THAT TIME WHEN THE SMOKE INCIDENT HAPPENED THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM ENGAGED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I OBSERVED WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM AND POINTED AT THE ABS BLOCK TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. VEHICLE WENT BACK INTO USE AND I ORDERED PARTS. INSTALLED MASTER CYLINDER BUT ABS PARTS DID NOT ARRIVE BEFORE VEHICLE IMMOLATED ITSELF. IN THE 43 HOUR NON USE GAP, THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THE REMOTE ENTRY FOB USED NOR ANY KEY ENTRY. FIRE...
CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, WHILE PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY THE ENTIRE DAY. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THE CAUSE OF FIRE IS UNKNOWN BUT IT APPEARED TO HAVE START AT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HOOD.
DROVE CAR TO GROCERY STORE 6 MILE ROUND TRIP PARKED CAR IN GARAGE AT 10:15 AM. I PERFORMED YARD WORK IN FRONT OF AND WAS IN AND OUT OF GARAGE FOR 4 HOURS. AT NO TIME WAS THERE A HINT OF SMOKE OR BURNING. THEN CUT GRASS FOR 2 HOURS. AT ABOUT 4 PM SMOKE WAS BILLOWING OUT OF THE GARAGE. I OBSERVED FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND THE FRONT HOOD. UNABLE TO LIFT HOOD TO REACH FIRE SOURCE WITH EXTINGUISHERS OR GET CAR INTO NEUTRAL TO PUSH OUT OF GARAGE. I WAS DRIVEN BY SMOKE AND FLAME OUT OF GARAGE. BOTH THE 2008 HYUNDAI AND ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE TWO CAR GARAGE BURNED COMPLETELY. ALL CONTENTS IN GARAGE DESTROYED EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE THROUGHOUT HOUSE. FIRE FORENSIC INVESTIGATOR THINKS IT WAS CAUSED BY THE BATTERY BUT THERE WAS TOO MUCH DAMAGE TO MAKE MUCH OF AN INFORMED COMMENT AS...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TROUBLE STARTING. THE CONTACT HAD TO BUY APPROXIMATELY FIVE BATTERIES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.
ON 8/16/16 AT APPROXIMATELY 1130 HOURS THE AFOREMENTIONED 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA BEARING A VIN NUMBER OF [XXX], HAD SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT CAUSE. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES SUSPECTED IT TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT OF POSSIBLE FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING. I HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI DIRECTLY AND BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION THE INCIDENT IN WHICH OCCURRED ON THE SAID DATE. HYUNDAI IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING A THIRD PARTY VEHICLE INSPECTION COMPANY EN ROUTE TO CONDUCT THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION. THERE HAS ONLY BEEN A RECALL TO MY KNOWLEDGE IN 2011 IN WHICH I PERSONALLY TOOK THE SAID VEHICLE TO HYUNDAI OF WELSEY CHAPEL FLORIDA AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM SINCE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. I AM AWARE OF THE PAST RECALLS CONDUCTED BY HYUNDAI DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF...
THE LIGHT INDICATING THERE IS LOW AIR PRESSURE CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO HAVE THE TIRES LOOKED AT. THE PRESSURE IS SUPPOSED TO BE SET AT 32. THEY WERE ALL BETWEEN 29-32 SO THEY ADJUSTED THE PRESSURE TO THE CORRECT SETTING. SAID MY TIRES WERE FINE AND THE SENSOR IS STILL ON. WHY IS THIS? AND HAS THERE BEEN ANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS LIGHT? *TR
THE FACTORY RADIO IN THE CAR STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. THE AUXILIARY PORT DOES NOT WORK AND THE DISPLAY ON THE RADIO IS NOT WORKING. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS REPAIRED YET, THE LOCAL HYUNDAI SAID THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM BUT THERE ARE NO RECALLS THEREFORE IT WILL BE AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *TR
ON 02/12/2013 I OBSERVED THE BRAKES LIGHTS ON MY 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA TO BE OUT. I CHECKED THE FUSES, ALL WERE GOOD. A PRIVATE MECHANIC CHECKED AND STATED THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH WAS BAD AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE I WAS TOLD MY ANOTHER MOTORIST THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I CHECKED THE FUSE AND THE BULBS. I LOOKED UP ON LINE AND SEEN THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON HYUNDAI VEHICLES DUE TO THE STOP LAMP SWITCH PROBLEM. I CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY SAID MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THEIR RECALL CAMPAIGN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WOULD BLINK SPORADICALLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME HESITANT TO ACCELERATION AND WOULD SPUTTER WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD VIBRATE AND IT WOULD FEEL AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO STALL. THERE WAS ALSO A SHUDDER COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 07/26/11
MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FAILURES FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. CAR HAS REQUIRED MULTIPLE JUMPS BECAUSE OF DRAINED BATTERY, BOTH BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TESTED WITHIN NORMAL RANGES AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND SOURCE OF ISSUE. SEEMS TO OCCUR AFTER EPISODES OF HEAVY WEATHER, RADIO ALSO DIES COMPLETELY AND NOT FUSE RELATED. LIGHTS (DAY/NIGHT) BURN OUT PERIODICALLY AT AN ACCELERATED RATE. BOUGHT CAR BRAND NEW IN 2008. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES AND STEERING LOCKED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD INSTEAD. SHE SHIFTED INTO PARK AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN RESTARTED, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME NONRESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO RESET THE COMPUTER BUT COULD NOT CONFIRM THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,500 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.
2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE MALFUNCTION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY STALL AND JERK AT HIGH SPEEDS. IT WOULD ALSO HAPPEN WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET. THE DEALER CONCLUDED THAT NO PROBLEM EXISTED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAPPENED RANDOMLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD AN ACCIDENT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER DUE TO THE VEHICLE STALLING. *JB
MY 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WILL AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING ABOVE THE SPEED THAT I AM DRIVING, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHILE I HAD 4 TEENAGERS IN MY CAR. I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW AND I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST A YEAR, I'M NOT SURE OF THE DATE THIS PROBLEM STARTED. HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AND PUT NEW TRANSMISSION IN AND PROBLEM IS STILL NOT FIXED. HYUNDAI AND DEALERSHIP ARE REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE AND I WON'T. I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANYONE TO HELP ME. *TR
ENGINE CUT OFF WITH FUEL GAUGE DROPPING TO 'EMPTY' [ WITH A 1/2 FULL TANK]. ON THE NYS THRUWAY ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION WITH AN 18 WHEELER AS I COASTED ACROSS ITS PATH TO THE SHOULDER IN ROCKLAND COUNTY. CALLED AAA AND EVENTUALLY, [ABOUT 10 MIN. AFTER, WHILE STILL ON THE LINE WITH AAA, I HEARD A LIGHT CLICK AND THE FUEL GAUGE WENT BACK UP TO 1/2 TANK AND THE CAR ENGINE STARTED UP TO COMPLETE MY DRIVE HOME. *TR
MY CARS BATTERY GETS DRAINED COMPLETELY NEEDING TO JUMP START TWICE IN LAST 3 MONTHS. CAR DEALER COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE DRAW BUT SAYS THAT ITS DEFINITELY NOT THE BATTERY AND ADDED THAT IT COULD BE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
WHLE DRIVING 2 TIMES DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 MILES PER HOUR MY CRUISE CONTROL RESET ITSELF TO OVER 75 MILES BY ITSELF. THEN A FEW DAYS AGO WHILE PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY, MY LIGHTS CAME ON, THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON BY ITSELF AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SET BUTTON CAME ON WHICH ONLY COMES ON WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND YOU SET IT TO CRUISE.
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...
Other 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA Problem Areas
Steering
53 complaints
Air Bags
33 complaints
Fuel System Gasoline
32 complaints
Service Brakes
32 complaints
Engine
24 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
24 complaints
Unknown Or Other
22 complaints
Exterior Lighting
19 complaints
Power Train
19 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulic
16 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
12 complaints
Suspension
11 complaints
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
9 complaints
Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryfuel Pump
8 complaints
Structurebody
7 complaints
Electronic Stability Control Esc
6 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
6 complaints
Visibilitywiper
6 complaints
Air Bagsfrontal
5 complaints
Air Bagssidewindow
4 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingengine
4 complaints
Exterior Lightingbrake Lightsswitch
4 complaints
Fuel System Other
3 complaints
Seat Belts
3 complaints
Service Brakes Electric
3 complaints
Equipment
2 complaints
Parking Brake
2 complaints
Structure
2 complaints
Tires
2 complaints
Tirespressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
2 complaints
Visibility
2 complaints
Wheels
2 complaints
Carry Handle Shell Base
1 complaint
Electrical Systemhorn
1 complaint
Electrical Systemwiring
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Control
1 complaint
Equipmentelectricalradiotape Deckcd Etc
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingtail Lights
1 complaint
Otheri Am Not Sure
1 complaint
Power Trainclutch Assembly
1 complaint
Power Traindrivelineconstant Velocity Joint
1 complaint
Seat Beltsfront
1 complaint
Steeringlinkages
1 complaint
Structurebodytrunk Lid
1 complaint
Tirestemporaryemergency Spare Tire
1 complaint
Visibilityglass Siderear
1 complaint
Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls
1 complaint
Visibilitysunmoon Roof Assembly
1 complaint