10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
85,501 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Hyundai Elantra brakes problems

brakes problem

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2008 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #29

Jun 302024

Elantra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I want to go start my car just now to go to the store and when I turned it on and started it up the ABS lights emergency brake light and EPS light always lit up on my dashboard so I grabbed the manual to try to figure out what it is seen what each was individual thing standard for so I googled each individual and that's when I realized there's a recall for this from my vehicle for the ABS malfunction

- Nazareth , PA, USA

problem #28

Sep 302022

Elantra

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS system locked up. While in the parking lot, the vehicle was smoking. Additionally, while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal high pitch winding noise detected. The parking and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed him they were not equipped to service the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

- Wittmann, AZ, USA

problem #27

Nov 072021

Elantra

  • 198,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving and at undisclosed speed, the vehicle was jerking and making a loud humming noise coming from the vehicle while depressing on the brake pedal. The contact stated that the ABS failure message was displayed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence. The contact was concerned about the brakes on the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacture was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 198,000.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #26

Jul 242020

Elantra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

A el vehiculo SE le encendio la luz del ABS, el vehiculo estaba detenido Y posteriormente comenzo a salir gran cantidad de humo por debajo del mismo, logre desconectar la bateria, llame al mecanico Y cuando reviso determino que era el sistema de ABS que estaba daado.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #25

Sep 282020

Elantra

  • 175,000 miles
The car went up in flames while parked in our driveway. It had not been driven for at least 4 hours. It could have caught our house on fire if not for the quick response by the fire department.

- Eugene, OR, USA

problem #24

Apr 182020

Elantra

  • 245,680 miles
About a year ago the ABS pump caught fire it was put out I contacted the ntsa about it to see if it had a recall I was told no well I got a used pump and put it on so I could use the car I couldn't get the plug changed so it was unplugged well my wife was coming back from the store she got to a curve when she started slowing down a little the tires locked up and she hit the ditch and flipped this is all because the ABS wasn't working anymore and I was scared to even get the plug fixed cause if it would have caught fire while my wife and kid was in the car I could have lost my family now I have no vehicle because Y'all didn't look into the matter until a year later

- Jennings, LA, USA

problem #23

Apr 152020

Elantra 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We received a recall notice that the ABS module is continually powered, an electrical short could develop even while the vehicle is turned off. If a short circuit occurs inside the ABS module, there could be an increased risk of an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of injury. We are unable to contact no one either by phone or email!

- Arleta, CA, USA

problem #22

Apr 142020

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
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).

- Elk Grove, CA, USA

problem #21

Apr 042020

Elantra

  • 0 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V061000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called star Hyundai (200 S. clack St, abilene, tx 79605, (888)264-9592) and the contact was informed that the remedy parts were on back order. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact was informed to park the vehicle outside. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Stanford, TX, USA

problem #20

Apr 062020

Elantra

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that the parking brake was used to stop the vehicle. The brake warning light illuminated. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 20V061000 (service brakes, hydraulic). Neither the dealer or the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

- Holyoke, MA, USA

problem #19

Feb 042020

Elantra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Hi, there is a recall on my car that has been out for a month now and no remedy is available. I am worried about this considering I use my car almost every single day. This is the recall number: 20V061000

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #18

Jan 312020

Elantra

  • 67,804 miles
14 hours after parking the car, smoke was coming from the engine compartment. Fire dept was called, I disconnected the battery and fire department extinguished smoke source. Towed to dealer, who said the ABS system shorted causing a fire and destroying wiring harness. Luckily it was caught before the vehicle was destroyed.

- Camano Island, WA, USA

problem #17

Feb 092019

Elantra

  • 180,000 miles
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 department put the cause as being an electrical fire.

- Oviedo, FL, USA

problem #16

Jun 152013

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
After receiving letter from Hyundai about defects in cruise control and other technical items, I took my car into dealer in fresno, California and they turned me away refusing to service recall order to fix and replace recall requirements stating that they did not have time and that they would call when they did. They never called, my contact number has never changed in 15years or more.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #15

Jun 202015

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 145,000 miles
The contact owned a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. While driving approximately 15 mph going around a bend, the steering ability seized. The contact crashed into a parked vehicle, rolled back, and struck another parked vehicle. The air bags did not deploy and the contact's head struck the windshield. The brakes also failed to respond. A police report was filed. The following day, the contact went to the hospital due to a severe headache and fever. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot by the police, towed to an independent mechanic, and then towed to the contact's residence. After the manufacturer was notified, the vehicle was towed by a third party investigator to their facilities. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000. Updated 05/31/16

- Burlington, MA, USA

problem #14

Mar 242015

Elantra

  • 98,443 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while parked, the emergency brake fractured and the brake warning light illuminated. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,443.

- Valley Grove, WV, USA

problem #13

Aug 302014

Elantra

  • 88,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at 10 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle accelerated at an intersection. The contact was able to avoid a crash. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the failure was unable to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000. The VIN was not available.

- Sagamore Hills , OH, USA

problem #12

Apr 102013

Elantra

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the brake light was continuously burning out. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was previously repaired under recall NHTSA campaign number: 13V113000 (exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician verified the failure and replaced the brake lamp. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000 and the current mileage was 30,000.

- Santee, CA, USA

problem #11

Mar 292014

Elantra

  • 44,500 miles
The gas pedal got "stuck" in the down position while driving, resulting in a problem being able to stop the vehicle. I was going approximately 45-50 mph, passing/merging/accelerating in order to get onto an onramp which curved slightly to go into another main highway. When I pressed on the brakes to slow down a bit for the ramp, nothing happened. My car continued to go at the same speed. I continued to brake, and the car would not slow down. I slid my foot over the gas pedal and could tell it was still completely "down" and making the car accelerate at full capacity. I then glanced down to confirm that the pedal was stuck in the downward position. There was nothing under the pedal, the floor mat was not stuck underneath, nor was it anywhere near where the pedal was pressed down. I clicked my hazards on during the process because since it was an onramp, there was nowhere to pull over. As I continuously pressed on the brakes, the car only slowed down approximately 3-5 mph total, because the gas pedal was stuck all the way down, therefore the brakes were trying to work against the full power of the acceleration. Once the passenger realized what was happening, he helped by putting the car in neutral. This helped slow the car, and I then pulled the emergency brake. The car came to a stop in the middle of a main highway onramp. The cars behind me were able to react quick enough to go around and not hit the car. I tried to replicate the problem in order to help diagnose this issue and have more information to tell Hyundai. Once on a straightaway without other cars nearby, I pressed the gas pedal all the way down, and sure enough I was able to recreate the issue and the pedal got stuck again. Upon trying to recreate it a 3rd time, it did not get stuck and seemed to be working properly. But it did get stuck 2 out of the 3 times. It was terrifying to not be able to stop.

- Cherry Hill, NJ, USA

problem #10

Sep 012013

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 89,000 miles
The ABS warning light was noted to be on continuously for more than a week. The problem was traced to a broken wire in the main engine harness. There was no noticeable change in performance of the vehicle.

- Nevada City, CA, USA

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