NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Hyundai Elantra. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA RECALL FOR FUEL PUMP MOTOR PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH GETTING THE PARTS FOR THE CAR. *NJ
1) POOR GAS MILEAGE - NOT MEETING EPA ESTIMATES. TOOK TO DEALER 3 TIMES. HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACED AFTER CAR STALLED ON ROADWAY AND WOULD NOT RESULT. STALLING STOPPED BUT MPG IS BELOW EPA ESTIMATES - DEALER SAYS EVERYTHING OK... 2) AUTO TRANSMISSION SPUTTERS AND DOESN''T DOWNSHIFT PROPERLY - HAVE TO MANUALLY DOWNSHIFT TO MAINTAIN PROPER TORQUE ON MOTOR. I FEEL LIKE I AM DRIVING A STICK SHIFT I HAVE TO DOWNSHIFT SO OFTEN TO KEEP CAR FROM SPUTTERING AND MAINTAIN ACCELERATION. DEALER SAY EVERYTHING OK. I READ THAT THERE IS AN ACKNOWLEDGE TORQ PROBLEM BUT MANUFACTURE HAS NOT ISSUED A FIX... *TR
MY COMPLAINT DEALS WITH THE FRONT WINDOW. IT WAS CRACKED WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY BY A SMALL ROCK. THE CAR IS FIVE MONTHS OLD. I HAVE HEARD OF TWO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE WHO HAVE A SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH CRACKS AND EXPANSION IN THE FRONT WINDOW OF HYUNDAI ELANTRA MODEL 08. *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
2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOOKED AT AND THE WORK WAS PERFORMED. AFTER THE WORK WAS PERFORMED THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AND A SMELL OF GASOLINE FILLED THE CAR. *KB IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL LINE LEADING TO THE FUEL PUMP HAD COME LOOSE AND HAD FALLEN OFF THE CONNECTION POINT, WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FUEL LEAK AND THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED. *JB
THE CAR IS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. MY WIFE AND MOTHER WERE IN A HEAD-ON CRASH WHICH TOTALED HER CAR. THE OTHER AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. WE SPECIFICALLY PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE OF ITS SAFETY RATINGS. THE AIRBAGS IN THE OTHER PERSON'S CAR DEPLOYED BUT NOT MY WIFE'S. WE ARE VERY UPSET AND CONCERNED. MY WIFE'S MOTHER WAS HURT. *TR
THERE WAS NO PARTICULAR INCIDENT RELATED TO A CRASH. TWICE SINCE 10/08 THE DASHBOARD AIRBAG LIGHT HAS GONE ON FOR NO REASON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. THE HYUNDAI DEALER SAID THE FIRST TIME THAT THE WIRING WAS LOOSE FROM THE TIME OF INSTALLATION MOST LIKELY, AND THEY TIGHTENED THE WIRES. SECOND INCIDENT WAS 2 WEEKS AGO. THIS TIME THEY TELL US WE HAVE A FAULTY HARNESS AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE PART WHICH IS SUPPOSEDLY ON MANUFACTURER BACKORDER. THEY TELL US THE ISSUE IS SO UNCOMMON THAT THEY HAVE NOT SEEN IT BEFORE. JUST DOING A SEARCH ONLINE I SEE THE RECENT RECALL FOR SIMILAR AIRBAG ISSUES ON THE 01-02 ELANTRAS, SO THIS MAKES ME NERVOUS. PLEASE PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE WITH THE 08S AS WELL! THIS IS OUR ONLY CAR AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT, ESPECIALLY WHILE WAITING FOR THE NEW HARNESS..BUT IN THE LONG RUN I WORRY ABOUT FUTURE FAILURES IF AN ACCIDENT DID OCCUR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JUMP WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DEACTIVATED. THE CONTACT DID NOT APPLY ANY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CONTACT SHUT IT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, BUT WHEN HE RELEASED THE CLUTCH TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN FIRST GEAR, IT WOULD STALL. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS TO RELEASE THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR, THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE RESET AND INDICATED LOW VOLTAGE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
I HAVE A 2008 ELANTRA THAT CONTINUES TO STALL AND HESITATE. THIS OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND. THE DEALERSHIP HAS FAILED TWICE TO DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH HYUNDAI. NOW THEY WANT ME TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT. THEY DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A LOANER CAR. MY CAR WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL, WHY? I DON'T KNOW. CLEARLY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE FUEL LINE AND I AM AFRAID I AM GOING TO HURT IN A CAR ACCIDENT. *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
2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA IS HAVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEMS. DEALER CHANGED THE VENT CONTROL VALVE AND THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AFTER A FEW MORE HOURS. *KB THE DEALER RESET THE ENGINE LIGHT AND 2 HOURS LATER IT CAME BACK ON AGAIN. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMISSIONS SYSTEMS, BUT YET THEY HAVE FAILED TO FULLY FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB
VEHICLE YEAR : 2008 MAKE : HYUNDAI MODEL : ELANTRA RESULTS : 1 | ALL RECORDS DISPLAYED MAKE : HYUNDAI MODEL : ELANTRA YEAR : 2008 MANUFACTURER : HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY MFR'S REPORT DATE : AUG 19, 2008 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 08V429000 PE08044 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE08044 COMPONENT: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED : 65000 DEALER PERFORMED THE ABOVE RECALL PROCEDURE. CAR NOW LEAKS FUEL . UNSAFE , FIRE HAZARD. AS OF 9/29/08 HYUNDAI UNABLE TO FIND SOURCE OF LEAK. PASSENGER AREA FILL WITH RAW GAS FUMES. *TR
I PURCHASED MY 08 ELANTRA THIS SUMMER. DELIVERY DATE 07/05/08. COMPLAINT 1, "CUSTOMER STATES ENGINE WONT START". THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED FUEL PUMP TO CORRECT CONCERN. COMPLAINT 2, INCIDENT 1 INVOICE DATE 09/15/08. I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY CLUTCH. VEHICLE WILL MAKE GRINDING NOISES GOING INTO REV, 1ST, AND 2ND GEAR. CLUTCH WILL NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. WILL STALL OUT WHEN VERY COLD OR RAINING. MAJOR PROBLEMS WHEN AT STOP LIGHTS RAILROAD CROSSINGS(STALLING OUT ON THE TRACKS) OR GOING UP AN INCLINE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO "CORRECT MY CONCERN" THE DEALERSHIP AND ITS SERVICE SHOP HAVE YET TO "DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM OR ANY TO BE EXACT. HOWEVER, MY SERVICE REPORT DATE 09/24/08 STATES "BUT DID FIND HARD TO GET INTO GEAR AT TIMES BLED HYDRAULIC SYSTEM AND CORRECTED CONCERN." AGAIN ON 10/08/08 DEALER STATED COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM BUT SERVICE INVOICE READS " CUST STATS IN AM TRANS IS HARD TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND RPM GAGE WILL REV HIGH FOUND HARD SHIFT REPLACED TRANNY GEAR OIL TO CORRECT CONCERN" I TOOK THE CAR BACK ON 11/06/08 BECAUSE IT STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AND A FEW NEW ONES. I SPOKE TO THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP WHO VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. LATER THAT DAY HE CALLED ME BACK AND TOLD ME IT WAS FINE. LIAR MUCH?I HAVE MY CAR BACK AGAIN TODAY 11/13/08 AND IT IS STILL GIVING ME PROBLEMS. THESE PROBLEMS CREATE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT STALLS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND AT LIGHTS AND GIVES OFF A WEIRD SMELL LIKE A BURNED CIRCUIT AFTER I GO UPHILL FOR TOO LONG, KEEP IN MIND I'M NOT DRIVING MY CAR INTO THE GROUND. I TOOK A TEST DRIVE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER TODAY, THE CAR WAS GIVING ME TROUBLE RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM AND HE CLAIMS THAT I WAS RIDING THE CLUTCH. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I NEEDED TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO KEEP THE CAR FROM STALLING OUT BUT HE IGNORED ME. I'LL BE GOING BACK ON THE 15TH TO SPEAK TO THE OWNER AGAIN. *TR
WHILE CITY DRIVING BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MILES PER HOUR ENGINE RPMS DROP TO AROUND 1000 RPMS OR LESS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME SLUGGISH AND TO VIBRATE. THE ONLY WAY TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM IS TO FORCE THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR BY MASHING DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THIS KIND OF ACTION COULD FORCE AN UNNECESSARY REAR END COLLISION WITH FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AS WELL AS PERSONAL INJURY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION AND THEY CONCUR THAT IT DOES EXIST. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS REPORTED THIS PROBLEM. THEY BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH A GLITCH IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER SOFTWARE. HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM (REF # 3406332) BUT OFFERS NO SOLUTION. I WAS BASICALLY TOLD SORRY THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS AND I'LL JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. IT IS EXTREMELY ANNOYING AS WELL AS DANGEROUS. HOPEFULLY SOMEONE ADDRESS THIS CONCERN BEFORE THEIR IS A SERIOUS INJURY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONSTANT SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. *TR
AFTER HAVING MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL AND PREVIOUSLY REPORTED PROBLEM, MY CAR STALLED OUT ON A BUSY ROAD AGAIN. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO LUCK AT ALL. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SAFE LOCATION SO I WAS ABLE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS TIME THE REASON THE CAR STALLED WAS DUE TO A FUEL SENSOR BEING INCORRECT AS A RESULT OF THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW FUEL PUMP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR STALLED BECAUSE IT WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF GAS. THE FUEL GAUGE READ THAT I HAD 3/4 OF A TANK. IT AT MINIMUM IS GOING TO TAKE THE DEALERSHIP A FULL WEEK TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. *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.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 ELANTRA WHEN I APPROACHED A SHARP CURVE IN THE ROAD. I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND SUDDENLY THE CRUISE CONTROL SEEMED TO ACTIVATE AND THE CAR SPED UP AND LEFT THE ROAD . I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE BRAKES OR STEERING. IT SEEMED AS IF THE VEHICLE FROZE. I TRIED TO BRAKE AND NOTHING HAPPENED, I TRIED TO STEER AND THE WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I RAN OVER SEVERAL STREET SIGNS. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED BY CRASHING INTO A TREE, THE CAR WAS OFF AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED. MY AIRBAG DID GO OFF HOWEVER MY SONS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT. WE BOTH SUSTAINED MINOR PHYSICAL INJURIES AND MAJOR EMOTIONAL INJURIES. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. APPROXIMATELY 5 WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY VEHICLE. MY CAR WAS ONE OF THE VEHICLES WITH THE FAULTY FUEL PUMP THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. IN THE NOTICE IT STATED THAT IF THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT REPLACED IT COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CRASH. I BEGAN TO RESEARCH THE RECALL AND NOTED SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE THAT EXPERIENCED SIMILAR DIFFICULTIES. I ALSO HAD NOTICED A STRANGE SMELL (ELECTRICAL?) THE PRIOR TWO DAYS OF THE ACCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET ANY INFORMATION ON WHETHER OR NOT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND IT WAS WOULD IT HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BEHAVE IN THE WAY IT DID CAUSING IT TO CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DISPOSED OF IMMEDIATELY SO IT WAS UNABLE TO BE EXAMINED. I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN # AS I NO LONGER HAVE THE VEHICLE. I DID HOWEVER, THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP, FIND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS INDEED ONE OF THE ONES ON THE RECALL NOTICE. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTED IN AUGUST AND THE RECALL BEGAN SOON AFTER. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED UNTIL WEEKS AFTER THE CRASH. *TR
HAVE A 08 ELANTRA. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR FEW MILES I HAD MY TPMS LIGHT WENT ON. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, HE CHECKED AND SAID THIS MAY BE DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. AGAIN THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WENT ON. THE TIRE PRESSURES WERE ACCURATE. DEALER ORDERED A FRONT TPMS VALVE. AGAIN AFTER SOME MILES THE LIGHT STARTED TO GLOW IN THE PANEL. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER THE LIGHT WENT OFF. THE DEALER SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM. AGAIN THE NEXT DAY MORNING THE LIGHT WENT ON. I DRIVE A LOT OF HIGHWAY MILES, IT WAS ALWAYS REALLY HARD FOR ME TO PARK THE CAR IN THE EMERGENCY STOPPING AREA AND CHECK WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. DEALER AGAIN ORDERED NEW VALVE AND REPLACED IT (TOOK 3 DAYS). CALLED HYUNDAI LEFT A MESSAGE WITH ONE OF THE MANAGERS. THEY TOLD IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS THEY ARE GOING TO SEND ME A FIELD OFFICER FOR INSPECTION. BUT I THINK MY DEALER CHANGED ALL THE TPMS VALVES AND HE SAID THEY ARE RECALIBRATED AND I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING ANY PROBLEM. AFTER THAT I STOPPED TRAVELING HIGHWAY MILES. NOW I DRIVE IN THE CITY AND A FEW DAYS BACK THE LIGHT AGAIN WENT ON. I NEED CALL DEALER AND HYUNDAI AND SPEAK WITH THEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AS TPMS SAYS WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR TIRE, SO IF THE LIGHT GOES ON WE THINK THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG AND WE PULL OUR CAR BACK AND CHECK IT. IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS AND ALSO HARD TO PULL CAR BACK IN A HIGHWAY(NEED TO SEARCH FOR REST AREAS). I HAVE ALL THE SERVICE PAPERS WHICH HAVE THE MILEAGE RECORDS IN THEM. SORRY TO HAVE NOT POSTED IT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED, AS I BEGAN TO MERGE TO AN EXIT RAMP, MY 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA COMPLETELY STALLED OUT. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR THREE TIMES AND IT DIED ON ME ON EACH OF THOSE TRIES. AFTER THE FOURTH ATTEMPT I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR TO GET TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN RECALLED AND THAT IT WOULD BE REPLACED. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THERE WERE FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE FUEL PUMP WAS RECALLED FOUR DAYS PRIOR TO ME BUYING THE ELANTRA AND I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE BY THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
DRIVING NORTH ON HWY 5 FROM BAKERSFIELD CA WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISS AND LOOSE POWER. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER AT AVENAL WHERE I PUT GAS IN HOPING IT WOULD WORK BETTER. I LET IT REST AND WHEN I STARTED IT UP, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE IT A BIT AND CALLED INTO THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FROM HYUNDAI AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THEM. I SAID I WAS DRIVING NORTH BUT KEEPING IT AT 65 MPH. I WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE AND CALL BACK IF ANY OTHER ISSUES OCCURRED. SOON AFTER THAT THE CAR BEGAN LOOSING POWER INTERMITTENTLY AND THE ENGINE WAS MISSING. FINALLY, AT 10 MILES BEFORE RTE 152 BETWEEN MENDOTA & FIREBAUGH, THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED AND THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AGAIN AND THEY CALLED FOR A TOW AND A POLICE OFFICER. THE TOW DRIVER ARRIVED ABOUT AN HOUR LATER AND TOOK IT TO THE GILROY DEALERSHIP. I HAVE SINCE BEEN INFORMED IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. THIS IS A NEW CAR, 2008, WITH ONLY 770 MILES ON IT. I'VE ONLY HAD IT 4 DAYS. *TR
I TOOK MY 2008 ELANTRA IN FOR SERVICE. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP DUE TO A RECALL. THAT SAME DAY THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. THEY JUST REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AGAIN. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE STEERING LOCKED RENDERING THE CAR UNSTEERABLE, RESULTING IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. *TR
THE IN-DASH FRONT-PANEL CONSOLE PIECES MAKE VERY IRRITATING SQUEAKY NOISES WHEN DRIVING OVER EVEN LITTLE BUMPS DISTRACTING THE DRIVER FROM NORMAL DRIVING EXPERIENCE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPAIRED ON HER VEHICLE. SHE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO HAVING IT REPAIRED. AFTERWARDS, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPERATE THE SAME. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. SHE ALSO FELT HEAVY VIBRATIONS IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 360 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,100.
TOOK A 375 MILE/ 8 HOUR TRIP. NEW 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA W/LESS THAN 1800 MILES. UPON EXITING EXPRESSWAY, ENGINE STRUGGLED, AS IF TRYING TO SHIFT TO NEXT GEAR, BUT BUCKED & HESITATED. AFTER STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, PROCEEDED TO CROSS BUSY INTERSECTION. CAR SPUTTERED AND STALLED .CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. 5 FAILED ATTEMPTS TO RESTART BUT DID AFTER 9 MINUTES. MADE IT TO DESTINATION. LOCAL HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER CLOSED. FORCED TO ATTEMPT TRIP BACK NEXT DAY. HAD TO DRIVE THROUGH VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC - INCLUDING THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE, AND WINDING MOUNTAIN ROADS IN PA. CAR ACTED UP 3-4 TIMES, EACH TIME LOSING SPEED, SPUTTERING & BUCKING. WHILE NEVER ACTUALLY STALLED, COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. ACTED WORSE WHILE ACCELERATING - SOUNDED LIKE ENGINE CUTTING OUT. DROPPED IT OFF TO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED 8/10/08. NEXT DAY, INFORMED OF BROKEN FUEL PUMP. BEING REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE - READY TODAY, 8/14/08. AFTER READING SO MANY SIMILAR STORIES ON-LINE, I FELT I HAD TO INFORM YOU OF MY INCIDENT. I BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL - ESPECIALLY AS THERE ARE SO MANY 2008 ELANTRAS ON THE ROAD. HAD WE NEEDED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY ESCAPE OF OUR STALLED CAR, IN NY TRAFFIC, WE WOULD HAVE LIKELY BEEN KILLED TRYING TO EXIT, AND PROBABLY BEEN RUN OVER BY A TRACTOR TRAILER HAD WE STAYED IN THE CAR. WE CERTAINLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUR CRATED PUPPY OUT OF THE BACK SEAT, AS A PARENT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RESCUE A BABY IN AN INFANT SEAT. THIS IS A SERIES OF TRAGEDIES WAITING TO HAPPEN!!!! I WILL STILL NOT FEEL CONFIDENT DRIVING MY 3 1/2 MONTH OLD CAR, AS MANY PEOPLE CONTINUE TO HAVE TROUBLE EVEN WITH REPLACED PARTS. I IMPLORE YOU TO PROBE DEEPER IN TO THIS MATTER AND HAVE HYUNDAI CORRECT THIS PROBLEM...BEFORE MANY PEOPLE BECOME A FATALITY STATISTIC! *TR
MY 2008 ELANTRA SE WHICH I BOUGHT IN MAY HAS HAD TWO "EPISODES" OF STALLING. THE FIRST (OD 1100 MI) ON JULY 14 OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY AND BEGAN AS A SLIGHT HESITATION THAT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE SUCH THAT WE TOOK THE NEXT EXIT AND LIMPED HOME ON BACK ROADS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STALLED TWICE BEFORE WE FINALLY MADE IT HOME. THE NEXT DAY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY. THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS A BAD OXYGEN SENSOR WHICH THEY DIDN'T HAVE IN STOCK. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE OK TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE NEW SENSOR ARRIVED. IT RAN FINE AND 3 DAYS LATER I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED. THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS AGAIN AND SAID THE SENSOR WAS OK AND NEEDN'T BE REPLACED. THEY SAID MAYBE IT WAS BAD GAS OR VAPOR LOCK AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. THE CAR RAN FINE UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON (AUG 5) WHEN IT BEGAN HESITATING (OD 1432 MI) ON THE FREEWAY AND ONCE AGAIN I TOOK THE FIRST EXIT AND LIMPED HOME, UNABLE TO EXCEED 25 MPH, BUCKING ALL THE WAY. MY WIFE FOLLOWED ME TO THE DEALER AND FOR THE LAST MILE WERE UNABLE TO GO OVER 5 MPH (EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON). WE NEVER MADE IT AS THE ELANTRA SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND I HAD TO GET OUT AND PUSH INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. I CALLED HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD THE CAR TRUCKED TO THE DEALER, ONLY ABOUT 4 BLOCKS AWAY. I UNDERSTAND NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING 07-08 ELANTRA STALLING COMPLAINTS AND WANTED TO ADD ANOTHER DATA POINT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE TURNING AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO LOSE POWER WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE SLOWED DOWN, BUT NEVER LOST COMPLETE POWER. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. WHEN SHE PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO HER RESIDENCE. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THEY SUSPECTED THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE FUEL QUALITY. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND EVEN AN INVESTIGATION ON THE SAME FAILURE SHE IS EXPERIENCING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,115.
I GOT INTO MY CAR 120 MILES FROM HOME AND NOTICED MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I CALLED MY DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND TOLD THEM. THEY MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME TO BRING IT IN. I PROCEEDED TO TRAVEL BACK HOME 120 MILES AWAY AND WAS AT A LIGHT. THE LIGHT CHANGED I PUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL AND IT WENT 5 MILES AND HOUR. I PULLED OVER CALLED THE 800 NUMBER ON THE CAR FOR HYUNDAI WAS TOLD THEY WOULD TOW THE CAR TO THE CLOSEST DEALER. I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THAT BUT I WANTED TO KNOW HOW I COULD GET BACK HOME 120 MILES. THEY TOLD ME THE DEALER SHOULD GIVE ME A LOANER CAR. THEY WOULD NOT BECAUSE I DID NOT PURCHASE THE CAR FROM THEM..I CONTINUED TO TRY AND MAKE IT HOME AND THE CAR BROKE DOWN 30 MILES INTO THE DRIVE. CALLED THE DEALER I GOT THE CAR FROM AND THEY HAD A TOW TRUCK COME AND GET ME. THE FINAL PART OF THE STORY IS THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I COULD HAVE KILLED MYSELF AND OTHERS IF I DID NOT STAY IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE. HYUNDAI WAS NOT A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH. I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD MY CAR 30 DAYS AND IT BROKE DOWN. *TR
MY 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA STARTED LOSING POWER AT 70 MPH, AND ALMOST STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AT THE NEXT EXIT AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO REDUCE SPEED. I SAFELY PARKED THE CAR, AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. I WAS 300 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME. IF I HAD STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR
I HAVE A HYUNDAI ELANTRA WHICH ONE HAD 3500 MILES ON IT AND THE CARS FUEL PUMP WENT WHILE I WAS DIVING IT. JUST STARTED TO SPUTTER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO HAVE IT TOW TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. *TR
2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH 9082 MILES @ TIME OF INCIDENT YESTERDAY, ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK ON I-90 IN MASSACHUSSETS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN SPEED. HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANE CHANGE TO GET OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE - THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS. VEHICLE AT FIRST WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 20 MPH AFTER PULLING OVER, THEN RAN OK FOR A WHILE. THIS MORNING, IT STALLED AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY, BUT I WAS ABLE TO START AGAIN. THEN IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 20 MPH SEVERAL TIMES AND WOULD BUCK/RUN ROUGH ONCE AT 20 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP IT TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN ARLINGTON MA, WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY. *TR
I HAVE A 2008 ELANTRA THAT STALLED ON JULY 21, 2008 ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE WHEN IT HAD 3,455 MILES. THE CAR DECELERATED SO QUICKLY THAT I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY AN 18-WHEELER. A HALF HOUR EARLIER IT NEARLY STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE THE INTERSECTION INCIDENT AND 40 MINUTES BEFORE ALMOST BEING REAR ENDED BY THE TRUCK. A STATE TROOPER STOPPED TO MAKE SURE I WAS OKAY AND TO ESCORT ME TO THE TOLL BOTH / EXIT BUT I DON'T IMAGINE HE FILED A REPORT. I PUSH THE CAR OFF THE TURNPIKE EXIT AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED FUEL PUMP AND REPLACED THE PART. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY WAS VERY REAL. *TR
I'VE 2008 ELANTRA SE AUTOMATIC WITH 5400 MILES ON IT. YESTERDAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING FROM BOSTON TO UPSTATE AFTER FINISHING MY YOUNGER ONE'S TREATMENT AT BCH. AND HALF WAY THROUGH SHE STOPPED AT A REST AREA. AFTER PULLING OUT FROM REST AREA THE CAR STARTED DECELERATING AND IT WAS FEELING AS IF CAR WAS TRYING TO SHIFT GEAR BUT HAVING ISSUES. IT REACHED UP TO SPEED OF 60-65 AND AFTER THAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH GAS SHE APPLIES IT WONT GO ANY FURTHER BUT STARTED TO DECELERATE. LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON SIDE AND CALLED HRA TO GET CAR TOWED TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP. JUST HOUR AGO GOT CALL BACK FROM DEALERSHIP STATING IT WAS ISSUE WITH FUEL PUMP AND THEY HAVE REPLACED IT AND CAR IS READY FOR PICKUP. THIS IS FIRST TIME THIS FAILURE HAPPEN WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. WE HAVE FELT COUPLE OF TIMES WHILE DRIVING LIKE CAR WITH HAS SOME KIND OF THRUST (PROBABLY TRYING TO CHANGE GEAR IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). BUT THIS WAS FIRST TIME WHEN IT WONT TAKE ANYMORE GAS AFTER PUSHING GAS PEDAL. IT IS SERIOUS ISSUE AND MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE OF IT OR SHOULD TAKE SOME ACTION AGAINST MANUFACTURER. *TR
FUEL PUMP FAILURE AFTER 2,000 MILES. *TR
ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, TWICE. *TR
MY FIANCEE AND I RECENTLY PURCHASED A BRAND NEW(HAD 7 MILES ON WHEN WE GOT IT) 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. IN ABOUT THE THIRD WEEK OF OWNERSHIP, WE TOOK A ROAD TRIP OUT OF STATE. WHILE RETURNING HOME, ON THE NY STATE THRUWAY, THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SHUDDER, AND LOSE SPEED RAPIDLY. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER ABOUT HALF AN HOUR, I TRIED TO DRIVE AGAIN AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. WE WERE TOWED OFF OF THE THRUWAY, THEN TO A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP BY HRA, WHERE THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE FOR A MORNING. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS 'BAD GAS'. WE WERE TOLD TO BUY A CONTAINER OF DRY GAS AND SENT ON OUR WAY. THE CAR SEEMED TO BEHAVE FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS, THEN THE NEXT WEEKEND I VENTURED OUT OF TOWN AGAIN IN MY STILL NEW CAR. ABOUT AN HOUR INTO MY TRIP, THE CAR STARTED SHUDDERING AND SHAKING ON INTERSTATE 84. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEAREST EXIT, AND THE CAR DIED COMPLETELY. I WAS NOT IN A SAFE LOCATION, SO I TRIED TO START IT TO MOVE THE CAR. IT WOULD NO LONGER START. I GOT TOWED ALL THE WAY HOME AT GREAT EXPENSE TO MYSELF, AND BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT. AFTER 5 COMPLETE DAYS OF WORKING ON THE CAR, THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. I AM NOW READING THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, SOMETIMES WITH FAR WORSE CONSEQUENCES. I HAVE NOT YET OPERATED MY NEW CAR ON A HIGHWAY SINCE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT, BUT I PLAN TO TONIGHT, AND AM QUITE NERVOUS ABOUT IT. *TR
A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING MY BRAND NEW 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA MY CAR CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND FAILED TO START. I LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY GET IT STARTED IN LIEU OF WAITING A HOUR IN THE HEAT AT RUSH HOUR FOR THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE CAR SPUTTERED TO THE DEALESHIP WHERE I GOT A LOANER. I WAS CALLED TODAY AND TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I THEN DECIDED TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE BECAUSE A BRAND NEW CAR SHOULD NOT BE SHUTTING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING FROM HYUNDAI ACKNOWLEDGING THE ISSUE. AFTER READING THIS WEBSITE( HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F14FFD5) I REALIZED THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FACING NEW ELANTRA OWNERS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED! *TR
6/26/08 - CAR LOOSES POWER ON EXPRESSWAY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER FIXES FAULTY "DOWNSTREAM OXYGEN SENSOR" 7/10/08 - CAR LOOSES POWER, ENGINE HESITATION AND RACING RPM'S IN SPEEDS OF 20-40 MPH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER REPLACES FUEL PUMP 8/14/08- CAR HESITATING AND RPM'S RACING IN SPEEDS OF 20-40 MPH. WILL TAKE BACK TO DEALER WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. *TR
I PURCHASED A BRAND-NEW, 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS ON JULY 8. I DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 100 MILES FROM THE TIME I DROVE OFF THE LOT THROUGH THE END OF THE 24-HOUR NEW OWNERSHIP PERIOD. ABOUT 24-25 HOURS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER DURING A TYPICAL LEFT-HAND TURN THAT I MADE WHILE PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 125 MILES ON IT. THE CAR LOST COMPLETE POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED AT ABOUT 5:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 9. I HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTART IT (STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION DURING THE MALFUNCTION). I DROVE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALER AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO GET TOWING ASSISTANCE THROUGH HYUNDAI. THE HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT RAN TESTS ON IT FOR TWO DAYS. THEY FOUND A "MISFIRE CODE ON CYLINDER 1", BUT COULD NOT FIND HOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED BACK TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FROM WEDNESDAY, JULY 9 AT 8:56PM UNTIL TODAY. THE CAR POSES A DANGER TO ME AND OTHERS. THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WHILE I WAS TRYING TO DRIVE IN NORMAL CONDITIONS. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSIER ROAD, I MAY HAVE BEEN HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IN HER VEHICLE WAS DEACTIVATED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATED THAT IT WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. SHE CONSULTED THE DEALER AND SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR JUNE 11, 2008. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. SHE WOULD HAVE TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH MAXIMUM PRESSURE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO GAIN SPEED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 1,700.
OUR 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA STALLED ON I-5 OUTSIDE OF CHICO CA WITH LESS APPROXIMATELY 900 MILES ON THE CAR. WE WERE JUST BARELY ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED. WE WERE TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. *TR
I HAD AN ISSUE IN EARLY JUNE REGARDING MY 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE AND STALLED OUT. IT WAS TOLD BACK TO DEALERSHIP, WHICH COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND INFORMED ME IT WAS A FUEL INJECTION MISFIRE, REBOOTED COMPUTER AND SAID IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. ON JULY 3RD, I HAD THE EXACT SAME SITUATION OCCUR ON MY TRIP WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 TO VISIT FAMILY IN DELAWARE. DEALERSHIP IN DELAWARE ON JULY 7TH INFORMED ME I HAD A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP AND REPLACED IT ON JULY 8TH. LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT WAS PROBLEM IN JUNE AND DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED CAR FROM DID NOT INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM PROPERLY. *TR
OUR HYUNDAI ELANTRA, WITH APPROX. 1000 MILES ON IT, STALLED NOT FAR FROM OUR HOME. WE LEFT HOME AND WITHIN TWO MILES THE CAR BEGIN TO HESITATE. AFTER A MILE OF SEVERAL HESITATING INSTANCES, WE TURNED AROUND BUT COULD NOT MAKE IT HOME. THE ENGINE DIED AND WE HAD TO PARK IN A NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY. THE FUEL PUMP HAD GONE OUT. *TR
PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA JUNE 5, 2008. SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IT BROKE DOWN WITHIN 30 DAYS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND THE ENGINE LOSING POWER. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND PART OF THE EXHAUST BECAUSE THE SENSOR WAS SEIZED UP INSIDE IT. WITHIN 2 DAYS OF GETTING THE CAR BACK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE WAS ROUGH. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND DURING A LEFT HAND TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY, THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP NOW PLANS TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. HOWEVER, IT IS ON BACKORDER AND WE WILL PROBABLY BE WITHOUT THE CAR A TOTAL OF AT LEAST 30 DAYS OR MORE DUE TO THESE REPAIRS. WE HAVE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY BECAUSE WE NO LONGER HAVE TRUST IN THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WILL BE USED TO TRANSPORT OUR 4 MONTH OLD TO DAY CARE EVERY DAY. WE HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THE CAR 60 DAYS YET. *TR
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
I HAD A NEW 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 3,000 MILES ON IT. I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. IT WAS A DIRECT FRONT HIT AT ABOUT 40-45 MPH. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN TO HOLD EITHER MYSELF OR MY PASSENGER BACK. THE AIR BAGS FOR MYSELF AND MY PASSENGER DID NOT DEPLOY. ALL PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE (FIRE DEPT, MECHANICS, TOW YARD, POLICE) STATED REPEATEDLY THAT THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELTS NOT TO WORK. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH GASOLINE ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND EACH TIME, FUEL SHOT BACK OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED YET, BUT PLAN TO DO SO ON JULY 17, 2008. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SHE COULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IN GASOLINE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,015. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/15/08 *JB
PURCHASED A NEW 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. LEFT THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE NEW CAR AND AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 10 MILES, NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS HESITATING AND COULD NOT INCREASE SPEED AND SHIFT TO THE NEXT HIGHER GEAR. THE CAR FINALLY SHIFTED TO THE FINAL GEAR AND ALL WAS WELL FOR ABOUT 10 MORE MILES; THEN THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE FEEDING GAS WAS NOT HELPING. THE CAR CRAWLED TO A STOP AT A FREEWAY EXIT (FORTUNATELY) AND I CONTACTED THE DEALER. THEY ARRANGED TOWING AND DELIVERED ME A LOANER. THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AFTER ONLY 20 MILES OF DRIVING THE NEW CAR. *TR
2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A MILEAGE PROBLEM. *TGW WHILE ON A 4,600 MILE TRIP, MOSTLY ON THE INTERSTATE, WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 60 MPH, THE AVERAGE MPG WAS ONLY 28 MPG. HYUNDAI INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY COULD NOT HELP HIM WITH THE MILEAGE. THE EPA FUEL ECONOMY ESTIMATED 33 MPG WITH THE EXPECTED RANGE FOR MOST DRIVERS UP TO 39 MPG. *JB
WAS DRIVING NEW ELANTRA (1100 MILES AND 12 DAYS OF OWNERSHIP) ON HIGHWAY WHEN VEHICLE STARTED SPUTTERING AND LOST POWER NO MATTER HOW MUCH GAS I FED IT. PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF CAR. RESTARTED VEHICLE WITH DIFFICULTY AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT INDICATING EMISSIONS PROBLEM CAME ON. CAR SEEMED FINE UNTIL 2-3 MILES LATER WHEN SAME SYMPTOMS (LURCHING, LOSING POWER) RECURRED.. THIS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES, EACH TIME I MANAGED TO PULL OFF ROAD, TURNED OFF CAR, LET IT SIT AND THEN TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS AT STARTING BEFORE IT ENGAGED AND RAN VERY ROUGH, WITH VERY LITTLE POWER. INTENT WAS TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP. CAR WAS TOWED TO NEAREST HUYNDAI DEALERSHIP (I WAS 150 MILES FROM HOME) WHERE THEY INITIALLY DIAGNOSED BAD GAS. BUT CAR RAN 175 MILES ON THAT TANK OF GAS BEFORE PROBLEM OCCURRED. THEN THEY DIAGNOSED BAD FUEL PUMP AND REPLACED FUEL PUMP. HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS USELESS -- HAD TO ARRANGE FOR OWN TOW TRUCK -- HYUNDAI DID NOT OFFER REPLACEMENT VEHICLE OR EVEN REIMBURSEMENT FOR GAS FOR ME TO DRIVE BACK AND FORTH TO PICK UP MY DEAD NEW CAR FROM BEING REPAIRED 150 MILES FROM HOME. WE'VE NOT HAD FURTHER PROBLEMS (NOW HAVE 7500 MILES ON IT) BUT I AM ON EDGE EXPECTING ANOTHER BREAK-DOWN AFTER READING OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES. *TR