2014 Hyundai Elantra

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Engine is the leading concern among 385 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 385

Of the 2014 reports, 35 involved a crash and 15 involved a fire. 29 people were injured and 2 people died.

Primary concernEngine165 reports · 43% of complaints
Owner complaints385Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship2 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine165
  2. Service brakes87
  3. Electrical system47
  4. Other or unspecified46
  5. Hydraulic45
  6. Air bags32
  7. Steering28
  8. Vehicle speed control27

Recalls and investigations

  1. Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 22, 2023

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

    An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.

    Campaign 23V651000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Service brakes, hydraulic, pedals and linkagesNov 30, 2017

    Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Elantra sedan, coupe and GT vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.

    If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

    Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 8, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 170. This campaign expands recall 16V574.

    Campaign 17V769000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: engine

167 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Engine, Jan 11, 2018

    ENGINE STARTED WITH "DRY (NO OIL)" SOUND, WHICH DISSIPATED WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL, WAS OK. TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 12-14 MILES. AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70-75 MPH, ENGINE LOST POWER. LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND ENGINE DIED, I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH PEDAL, COASTED, THEN LET OFF THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND ENGINE RESTARTED MAKING A VERY LOUD SOUND. MADE IT TO THE HIGHWAY EXIT, ABOUT 1.5 MILES. AS VEHICLE SLOWED, IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE ENGINE HAD SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, SOUNDED LIKE BROKEN BOLTS ROLLING AROUND IN THE ENGINE. PARKED THE CAR. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED, THERE WAS A LARGE CHUNK OF METAL, ASSUMED AND LATER CONFIRMED TO BE PART OF AN INTERNAL ENGINE COMPONENT, LAYING ON THE GROUND WHICH HAD CAME THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK AND MAKING A HOLE IN IT. REQUIRED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT.

  2. Engine, Dec 13, 2017

    BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN 2014 FOR MY DAUGHTER TWICE THIS YEAR 2017 CAR HAS SHOOK AND STALLED DRIVING BETWEEN 30 TO 40 MPH AND THEN RESTARTS UPON TURNING KEY VERY VERY SCARY SITUATION I HAVE TAKEN TO LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED WAS TOLD NO CODES SHOW ON CARS COMPUTER NOTHING CAN BE DONE AGAIN THIS HAPPENED TWICE BOTH ON CLEAR NICE WEATHER DAYS WHILE ACCELERATING ON LOCAL STREET AND CAR SHOOK AND STALLED BOTH TIMES WITH MOST DASH BOARD LITES INCLUDING CHECK ENGINE ILLUMINATING THEN WHEN RESTARTING CAR ALL LITES ARE GONE AND CAR DROVE FINE LOOKED ON LINE SEEMS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAME COMPLAINT REGARDING THE HYUNDAI ELANTRA

  3. Air bags, Engine, Dec 9, 2017

    AIRBAG COME ON STAY ON AND OIL LIGHT COME ON AND OFF

  4. Engine, Aug 14, 2017

    SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE METAL. CAR WAS OPERATING NORMALLY ON HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING ON AND OFF. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY KNOCKING WHICH GOT PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER OVER SHORT PERIOD. ROLLED INTO SERVICE STATION TO FIND ENGINE BLOWN. SERVICE STATION SUGGESTED TOWING TO HYUNDAI FOR EVALUATION. HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TORE DOWN ENGINE TO FIND "SIGNIFICANT" METAL AND BLOWN CYLINDER. HYUNDAI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS A DEFECT.

  5. Engine, Jun 9, 2017, fire

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BLACK SMOKE BEGAN TO APPEAR FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH EVENTUALLY TURNED TO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 10309640. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

  6. Steering, Engine, May 9, 2017

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN SHE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT BACK, BUT DID NOT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,500. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

  7. Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Dec 22, 2016

    THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR ON MY CAR DIED AFTER ABOUT 78000 MILES AND CAUSED THE CAR TO LOCK UP WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. STAYED IN 3RD GEAR AND FOR A FEW WEEKS BEFORE WOULD LOCK UP WHILE IN PARK, NEUTRAL, REVERSE AND DRIVE (MOST COMMONLY WHILE IN PARK). THIS NEARLY CAUSED A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ELANTRAS DATING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2007 AND EVEN HAS CONTINUED PAST MY MODEL YEAR (2014) INTO 2015 MODELS. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN REFERRED TO IT ASO A FAULTY RANGE SENSOR WHICH TO ME SEEMS TO IMPLY THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I COULDN'T SHIFT AND HAD A MORE DIFFICULT TIME SLOWING DOWN AND SPEEDING UP THAN USUAL. THE PART IS RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE PLUS LABOR TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE FAULTY MECHANICAL PART WAS WELL OVER $150, RESULTING IN A TOTAL BILL OF $210. A PART FAILURE THAT CAUSES THE VEHICLES COMPUTER, TRANSMISSION AND DRIVETRAIN TO LOSE ALL CONNECTION TO ONE ANOTHER CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. AT FIRST IT HAPPENED ONLY WHILE STATIONARY IN PARK, THE CAR WOULD LOCK UP WHILE SITTING WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING FOR A WHILE. I WOULD TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RE-ENGAGE THE VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL. THEN IT OCCURRED WHILE BACKING DOWN THE HILL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, LOCKED UP IN REVERSE, I APPLIED THE BRAKES, SET THE PARKING BRAKE AND TURNED OFF THE CAR WHILE STILL IN REVERSE. (I LIVE IN A QUIET SUBDIVISION OF A SMALL TOWN OF 12,000, WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED IN A BUSIER OR MORE HEAVILY POPULATED AREA?) I WAS STILL ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE WHILE IN REVERSE AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER WHILE IN NEUTRAL. THEN TUESDAY MORNING WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE (I-95) THE GEAR AND DRIVE MODE INDICATOR ON THE TACHOMETER WENT BLANK, I WAS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR (LIMP MODE) AND MY CAR ONCE SLOWING DOWN HAD A DIFFICULT TIME ACCELERATING AFTER STOPPING.

  8. Engine, Nov 18, 2016

    WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 15-25 MPH, IN TOWN, AFTER ABOUT 25 MINUTES OF FREEWAY DRIVING, RPMS AT OR AROUND 1250, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH TURN ON. TAKING IT INTO THE SERVICE CENTER, THERE ARE NO CODES IN THE COMPUTER. THE TIMING CAP HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE, BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AT THE SHOP, BUT THE LAST TWO INSTANCES THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE SO THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. THE CAR HAS 61000 MILES ON IT AND IS STILL UNDER HYUNDAI'S POWERTRAIN WARRANTY.

  9. Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 5, 2016

    WANTS TO STALL WHEN PUSHING ON BRAKES, AND WHEN I LET OFF BRAKES IT WANTS TO STALL, MY GAS MILEAGE STAYS THE SAME ,AND MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES UP FAST WHEN'S I START THE VECHICLE. MY LIGHTS IN MY CAR DON'T COME ON TO MUCH. AND IT'S SEEM TO BE RUNNING ROUGH IN CERTAIN AREAS THEN IT GOES BACK TO RUNNING GOOD WHEN I GET FURTHER AWAY FROM MY HOUSE I HAD MY CAR AT DEALERSHIPS 3 TIMES AND THEY SAY NO CODES. AND THE CAR DOES THIS WHEN I SIT STILL AND WHEN I PUSH ON THE GAS. IT DOES IT IN CITY HIGHWAY SEEMS TO BE RUNNING NORMAL. DEALERS DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG

  10. Electrical system, Engine, May 30, 2016

    THE CAR WILL NOT TURN ON. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN TEST AND IS FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR. THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND STATIONARY, WHEN THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION ALL LIGHTS TURN ON BUT THE CAR DOES NOT TURN ON. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO MULTIPLE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES IN RURAL AREAS.

  11. Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 25, 2015

    WHILE DRIVING ON 5 FREEWAY IN CALIFORNIA MY 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA STARTED TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE LIKE SOMEONE HITTING THE BRAKE. I THREW IT IN NEUTRAL AND HELP MY WIFE TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE WE LOST POWER STEERING. WE GOT LUCKY AND HAD A SPACE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN WE GOT TOWED TO TUTTLE-CLICK IN IRVINE, CA AND OUR CAR TURNED INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY BASICALLY SAID WE ARE ON OUR OWN TO FIND A RIDE BACK HOME AND NO LOANER CAR. TWO DAYS LATER I HAVE TO CALL THEM TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM, FIRST A TECHNICIAN SAID THAT IT WAS A BAD BATTERY BUT THAT WOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED IT TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THEN A FEW HOURS LATER THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLS TO SAY IT WAS THE BATTERY AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSED IT TO SHUT DOWN ON US. AFTER (4) DAYS OF KEEPING THE CAR, THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP SAID THAT OUR BATTERY HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHICH CAUSED OUR CAR TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH HYUNDAI CORPORATE BUT DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO?

  12. Air bags, Engine, May 25, 2015, crash

    ON RT. 29 NORTH IN MARYLAND, RUSH HOUR BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC, THIS VEHICLE, REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS OVER $8,900 OF DAMAGE AND THE DRIVER INJURED HIS LEFT KNEE BY HITTING THE DASH. THE CAR STALLED BEFORE THE CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FAN WAS PUSHED INTO THE RADIATOR AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE COMPLETLY, AND TOTALLY DEMOLISHED, WITH DAMAGE INCLUDING FROM THE FRONT BUMPER TO THE TWO FRONT DOORS, AND E EVERYTHING BETWEEN THE BUMPER AND THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS IS THE SECOND FRONT END ACCIDENT FOR THIS CAR. THE FIRST BEING 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE AND AGAIN THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY....UPDATED 06-12-15 *BF UPDATED 10/17/217*CN

  13. Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 25, 2015

    MY DAUGHTER ATTENDS A UNIVERSITY IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA. I BOUGHT HER THIS CAR THINKING IT WOULD KEEP HER SAFE ON THE HECTIC FREEWAYS. THREE TIMES NOW THE CAR HAS STALLED ON THE FREEWAY. EACH TIME THE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING VERY SLOWLY WITH STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I ADVISED HER TO TAKE IT TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND SHE DID. THEY CALLED HER AND ASKED TO KEEP THE CAR BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY COULDN'T DIAGNOSE IT. SHE PICKED THE CAR UP THE NEXT DAY AND IT STILL WASN'T DIAGNOSED. I'VE SEEN FORUMS ON THE INTERNET WHERE THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO RECUR WITH HYUNDAIS AND IS TRACED TO THE 1) MAF SENSOR 2) FUEL SYSTEM; PUMP, INJECTORS, FILTER 3) CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IF A TECHNICIAN HAS TO "DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE IT, IT MAY NEVER BE FIXED! NOW I TELL MY DAUGHTER TO STAY IN THE SLOW LANE JUST IN CASE. SO MUCH FOR "SAFETY". *TR

  14. Engine, Mar 23, 2015

    MY 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LIMITED HAS STALLED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, ALL HAVE WHICH HAVE BEEN WHILE I WAS AT A STOP. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE FOR NOW I HAVE STALLED ON THE FREEWAY WHILE MOVING IN TRAFFIC. MY CAR HAS CURRENTLY BEEN AT THE DEALER RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC FOR TWO DAYS NOW AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. DOING MY OWN RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME STALLING PROBLEM WITH THE EXACT SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. ALL REPORTS HAVE ALL STATED THAT HYUNDAI CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS CAN BECOME A SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR

  15. Engine, Feb 26, 2015

    WE PURCHASED A NEW 2104 ELANTRA IN SEPTEMBER 2013. TWO WEEKS LATER THE CAR WHEN STARTED MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND LAST FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OF DRIVING IT. IT HAS HAPPENED EVERY DAY SINCE EVEN AFTER GOING TO THE SHOP. A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WHILE DRIVING IN A SLOW SCHOOL ZONE THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. HAD TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND RESTART. TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES TO EXPRESS CONCERNS. TOLD NOTHING WRONG. ON 2/25/15 THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AGAIN SLOWLY AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING, AGAIN HAD TO PUT IN PARK TO RESTART THE CAR. THE FIRST NOISE IS NOW LOUDER, THE CAR IS AGAIN AT THE DEALERSHIP TODAY 2/26/15. THIS CAR IS A MAJOR ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. CAN'T TAKE MY FAMILY IN THIS CAR AS A CAR THAT STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THSI CAR IS DRIVEN 40 MILES EACH WAY TO WORK EVERY DAY.

  16. Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Engine, Jul 2, 2014

    I HAS RECENTLY TRADED IN MY 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA FOR A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE 2014 HAD STARTED DOING WHAT THE 2012 DID OCCASIONALLY, ACCELERATE WHEN I RELEASED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS TO SWITCH TO THE BRAKE TO BEGIN SLOWING DOWN FOR A LIGHT. AFTER I'VE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND I'M COASTING BEFORE I NEED TO APPLY IT AGAIN, THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE. I USED TO THINK IT WAS MY IMAGINATION, THEN I READ OTHERS CONFIRMING IT DOES HAPPEN. LATELY I'VE ALSO HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR ACCELERATING WHEN I DO TOUCH THE GAS, THE ENGINE REVS UP AND BOLTS FORWARD LIKE I FLOORED IT, BUT I ONLY LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE GAS. I'LL BE BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER SOON FOR THESE ISSUES. *TR

  17. Fuel system, Gasoline, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jun 17, 2014, crash

    I WAS ON A HIGHWAY DRIVING THE VEHICLE (A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA) AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN IT INEXPLICABLY "STALLED" FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM. I QUICKLY LOST SPEED AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE DESPITE THE FACT THAT I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AT ONE POINT. THE VEHICLE SIMPLY DID NOT RESPOND. THERE WAS PLENTY OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE, SO I HAD NOT RUN OUT OF GAS. THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO HAVE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION. THIS RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON A HIGHWAY WHERE I, ALONG WITH THE OTHER OCCUPANTS WITHIN THE VEHICLE, SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT INJURIES. NOTABLY, NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED--EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK SEVERAL TIMES FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES AND SUSTAINED HEAVY DAMAGE, INCLUDING BEING CRUSHED IN FROM THE REAR. *TR