2008 Hyundai Elantra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 315 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 38 involved a crash and 23 involved a fire. 41 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/moduleFeb 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 20V061000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemFeb 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 15V100000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 13V113000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, sensor/control module-inactiveMar 15, 2011
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 ELANTRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2006, THROUGH AUGUST 29, 2007. THE DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK POSITION SENSOR DETERMINES THE SEAT'S FORE AND AFT POSITION AND ALLOWS THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG TO DEPLOY AT THE PRESSURE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT SEATING POSITION, WITH A LOWER PRESSURE DEPLOYMENT IN THE MOST FORWARD SEATING POSITIONS. THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE MAY RECEIVE AN UNSTABLE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM THE SEAT TRACK POSITION SENSOR SUCH THAT, IN A CRASH THAT REQUIRES DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG MAY DEPLOY AT THE HIGHER PRESSURE THAN INTENDED IF THE SEAT WAS POSITION IN ONE OF THE FORWARD POSITIONS IN WHICH A LOWER PRESSURE DEPLOYMENT IS INTENDED.
A HIGHER PRESSURE DEPLOYMENT THAN INTENDED INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY RESULTING FROM AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE 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.
Campaign 11V179000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, sensor/control module-inactiveMar 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 11V143000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpDec 29, 2008
HYUNDAI DE PUERTO RICO (HPR) IS RECALLING 347 MY 2008 ELANTRA VEHICLES. THE FUEL PUMP MOTOR MAY NOT HAVE THE PROPER, UNIFORM INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SURFACE CONTACT. THIS MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO PRODUCE LESS PUMPING PRESSURE THAN REQUIRED TO SUPPLY THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM.
AS A RESULT, POOR ENGINE STARING AND HESITATION MAY RESULT. OTHER ENGINE PERFORMANCE ISSUES MAY ALSO RESULT AND LEAD TO A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP SUBASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HPR AT 1-800-981-0188.
Campaign 08V694000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpAug 25, 2008
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 65,000 MY 2008 ELANTRA VEHICLES WITH 2.0 LITER BETA ENGINES. THE FUEL PUMP MOTOR MAY NOT HAVE THE PROPER UNIFORM INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SURFACE CONTACT. THIS MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO PRODUCE LESS PUMPING PRESSURE THAN REQUIRED TO SUPPLY THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM.
POOR ENGINE STARTING AND HESITATION MAY RESULT. OTHER ENGINE PERFORMANCE ISSUES MAY ALSO RESULT INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP SUBASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 08V429000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
30 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Oct 19, 2009
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HORN OF THE 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. IT CUTS OFF AND DOES NOT WORK FOR HOURS, DAYS ETC. IT WORKS AT ODD TIMES AND THEN NOT AT ALL. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY SAY IT'S FINE. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, May 19, 2009
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
Electrical system, Oct 23, 2008
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
Electrical system, Sep 4, 2008
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.
Fuel system, Other, Electrical system, Jul 12, 2008, crash
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 THEY GO. MY HUSBAND WAS ALMOST KILLED ON JULY 2, 2008 DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP. I HAVE LESS THAN 200 MILES ON MY CAR AND ANY DAY MY CAR TOO CAN HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPEN. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. HYUNDAI WON'T. ALL THEY DO SI TOW YOU TO YOUR HOMETOWN AND OUR NEAREST DEALER BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. WE HAVE A POLICE REPORT SHOWING MY HUSBAND'S CAR JUST STOPPED AND IT IS THE FUEL PUMP AND IT IS NOT ONLY HAPPENING TO US, IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA'S. *TR