2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA Complaints

DRIVER WAS DOING ABOUT 50 MPH. CAR COMING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION DECIDED TO DO A U TURN IN FRONT OF DRIVER AND HIT FRONT OF CAR. AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF WHICH WAS ODD. HYUNDAI HAVE BEEN CONTACTED AND EXPECT US TO KEEP THE CAR FOR AROUND 2 MONTHS AND NOT GET IT FIXED UNTIL THEY GET AROUND TO LOOKING AT IT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DELAYING TECHNIQUE AND THEY ARE VERY ANXIOUS TO CANCEL THE OPEN TICKET. AAA WANT TO GET THE CAR FIXED (WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE AS THEY ARE PAYING FOR RENTAL CAR) AND NEED TO MOVE ON. HAVING DONE SOME INVESTIGATION ONLINE, IT LOOKS EVIDENT THAT THERE ARE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA CARS WITH AIRBAGS THAT HAVE NOT WORKED IN SEVERAL ROAD ACCIDENTS. *TR

BRAKES FAILED! I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACKUP IN A PARKING LOT. I WAS MOVING SLOWLY (2MPH) AND THE BRAKES FAILED, GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I ROLLED FOR 15 FEET, PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND MY CAR STOPPED, SLIGHTLY TAPPING A PARKED CAR, IMMEDIATELY IN MY REAR, IN THE IN OPPOSITE PARKING SPACE. I LOCATED THE OWNER OF THAT CAR AND THERE WAS ONLY A SMALL SCRATCH AND NO DAMAGE. IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO EXCHANGE PAPERS. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP ON 9/27/11 AND ADVISED OF BRAKE FAILURE. MY CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP, PER FACTORY MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. I JUST RECEIVED A MA STATE INSPECTION STICKER IN AUGUST, 2011. MY CAR PASSED MA STATE INSPECTION AT THAT TIME. MY CAR WAS LAST SERVICED ON 8/23/11 AT 50,607 MILES WITH NEW TIRES AND ROTATION, OIL CHANGE, STATE INSPECTION STICKER, CABIN AIR FILTER, FRONT WIPER BLADES, FUEL INJECTOR CLEANING, THE FACTORY ELECTRICAL RECALL FOR THE 099 WS CONNECTOR COVER INSTALLED, AND DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE FOR 'THUMPING NOISE' IN FRONT, FROM PARK TO REVERSE, BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND BY TECHNICIAN, STATING' ALL COMPONENTS IN PROPER OPERATING CONDITION AT THIS TIME' ON MY REPAIR ORDER. ALSO RECEIVED THE HYUNDAI MULTI-POINT INSPECTION REPORT ATTACHED TO MY PAPERWORK FROM TECHNICIAN #753 - "BRAKE INSPECTION" WAS MARKED IN GREEN "CHECKED OK?. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN MY DRIVING EXPERIENCE. I FOLLOWED FACTORY REQUIRED 15K, 30K AND 45K MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE NOW BRAKES HAVE FAILED. WHY? *TT

DRIVER PULLED CAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY, DROVE DOWN BLOCK ABOUT 40-50 FOOT, TURNED CAR AROUND AND PULLED UP IN FRONT OF RESIDENCE, PUT CAR IN PARK AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO "CRASH", NO POTHOLES ON STREET, NO RUTS IN DRIVEWAY HE TURNED AROUND IN. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND THEY CLAIM THE COMPUTER SHOWED CAR SUFFERED IMPACT. THEY ALSO STATED CAR HAD SOME MARKS UNDERNEATH. IF THEY ARE CLAIMING THE INCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF HITTING A POTHOLE, WOULDN'T THE AIR BAG HAVE DEPLOYED AT IMPACT NOT 3-5 MINUTES LATER WHEN CAR WAS PUT IN PARK? ALSO, IRONICALLY, THIS VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER 5 DAYS EARLIER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR FOR THE AIR BAG. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE RECALL WORK AND THE INCIDENT. WE LIVE ON A SMALL DEAD END STREET WITH NO POTHOLES AND THERE ARE NO RUTS OR POTHOLES IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE. TWO NEIGHBORS WITNESSED THE INCIDENT. THE DEALER OFFERED UP THAT SINCE THE COMPUTER SAYS THERE WAS IMPACT, THEY WILL DO NOTHING FOR US. THEY STATE THE RECALL REPAIR HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING WHEN IT DID. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY SENT SOMEONE TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THEIR REPORT STATES THAT THERE ARE SOME MARKS UNDERNEATH WHICH MY LOCAL MECHANIC SAYS MOST CARS THAT DRIVE ON OUR ROADS DISPLAY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOUND NO DAMAGE TO THE FRAME, THE RADIATOR OR ANYTHING ELSE. THE COST OF FIXING THE CAR IS ESTIMATED AT $1793.50. I HAVE A $500.00 DEDUCTIBLE AND I HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE AT MY OWN COST. MY HUSBAND, THANK GOD, SUFFERED NO MAJOR INJURIES. WE ARE TERRIFIED TO GET BACK IN THIS CAR. I TOTE AROUND MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THIS VEHICLE. I AM HOPING YOU CAN LOOK INTO THIS. I WOULD HATE FOR ANYONE ELSE TO GO THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND MAYBE NOT BE SO LUCKY AS MY HUSBAND WAS. *TR

THE REAR ROTORS ON MY 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA HAD GROOVES WORN IN WITH ONLY A LITTLE OVER 37,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THE BRAKE PADS ON THE RIGHT REAR WERE WORN ALMOST COMPLETELY WHILE THE BRAKE PADS ON THE LEFT REAR HAD ENOUGH MATERIAL LEFT ON THEM TO DRIVE ANOTHER 15,000 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED REPAIR CENTER FOR NEW PADS BECAUSE MY BRAKES STARTED TO SQUEAK.. THE CERTIFIED MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE PADS AND THE ROTORS AND STATED THAT IT IS ODD FOR THE PADS ON ONE SIDE TO BE WORN OUT AND THE PADS ON THE OTHER SIDE TO HAVE ABOUT A YEAR'S WORTH OF PAD LEFT. THE SIDE WHERE THE PADS THAT HAD A YEAR LEFT ON THEM THE ROTOR HAD SUBSTANTIAL GROVES. THE ROTOR ON THE SIDE WITH THE WORN PADS HAD LESS DAMAGE. HE STATED THE ROTORS WERE PROBABLY SUBSTANDARD AND THEY WERE PROBABLY MADE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY WITH SUBSTANDARD MATERIEL. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR THEIR PERUSAL. THE SUPERVISOR STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE WORN AND THE CAUSE WAS LIKELY A MAINTENANCE ISSUE AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CAR'S WARRANTY. I CONTEND THE PROBLEM IS DEFECTIVE MATERIAL AND OR POOR WORKMENSHIP. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE FOR HELP. THEY ALSO STATED THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THERE MIGHT BE AN ISSUE WITH THE ROTORS ON OTHER ELANTRA'S ON THE ROAD TODAY AND THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR WORSE IF IT IS NOT ADDRESSED. *TR

THE CAR STALLED 6/21/11 AT 7PM ON THE FREEWAY IN 10-20 MILE AN HOUR STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE TEMP OUTSIDE WAS MILD, I HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 20 MIN BEFORE HITTING TRAFFIC, AND BOTH AIR CONDITIONING AND RADIO WERE ON. I WAS IN TRAFFIC APPROX. 10 MIN. I WENT TO TAP THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING WAS THERE. I HAD TO GET OUT (ON FREEWAY) AND PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND ONTO CENTER DIVIDE (NO CALL BOXES). TWO STRANGERS STOPPED AND HELPED ME TO SIDE OF ROAD. AFTER 5 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START CAR AND DRIVE HOME. THE CAR STALLED AGAIN ON 7/29/11 IN 10-20 MPH STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AT 5PM. THE TEMP WAS MILD AND I HAD JUST FILLED THE CAR WITH GAS. 15 MINUTES LATER ON THE FREEWAY (STOP AND GO TRAFFIC), WITH AIR CONDITIONER AND RADIO ON, I WENT TO TAP THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING WAS THERE. WAS IN TRAFFIC LESS THAN 10 MIN. AGAIN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. THIS TIME I DID NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR BUT WAS ATTEMPTING TO CALL FOR HELP WHEN CHP PULLED UP BEHIND ME AND USED HIS CAR TO PUSH ME OFF THE ROAD. I PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL, CHP PUSHED ME OFF THROUGH ENTIRE LANE OF FREEWAY TRAFFIC INTO CENTER DIVIDE. THE BRAKE WOULD NOT WORK. I HAD MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR BUT CAR WAS NOT STOPPING. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT ME FROM ROLLING INTO SIDERAIL. WHILE WE WAITED FOR TOW TRUCK, I ATTEMPTED TO START CAR AND IT STARTED. CHP ESCORTED ME OFF FREEWAY AND I DROVE HOME 5 MIN. AWAY. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH KUMHO SOLUS (NA) P195/65/R15 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE DETERIORATING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENT AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD LAST A LITTLE LONGER, BUT THE TIRES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE TIRES ONLY HAVE 30,000 MILES ON THEM. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN UPDATED 09/21/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SELECTOR FAILED TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE INTO THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY DETECTED A SHORTAGE WITHIN THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WHICH CAUSED THE GEAR SELECTOR TO BECOME STUCK. THE BRAKE STOP LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED; ALTHOUGH EIGHT MONTHS LATER, THE IDENTICAL FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE STOP LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,137. UPDATED 07/20/11*LJ UPDATED 08/01/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID 11V143000 AIR BAGS: FRONTAL: SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE FAILURE WOULD NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER FILED REPORT 441870, AND STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINING ILLUMINATING WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE 99,500.

THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO ODI NUMBER 10395729, POWER STEERING FAILURE ON A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THIS SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED THREE DAYS AND 26 MILES DRIVEN AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIR BY THE DEALERSHIP. IN THIS CASE, I WAS IDLING IN THE LEFT HAND TURNING LANE OF A 6 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY, WAITING IN A LINE OF CARS FOR A LEFT-TURN GREEN ARROW. THE STEERING WHEEL TWITCHED, TRIED TO ROTATE REALLY, IN MY HANDS, THEN FELT LOCKED. I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD AND THE RED EPS LIGHT WAS ON. I HAD RESEARCHED HYUNDAI EPS LIGHT PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET SINCE MY FIRST INCIDENT, AND SOME POSTERS RECOMMENDED TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING THE CAR TO ACTIVATE THE STEERING AGAIN. I TRIED THIS AND THE EPS LIGHT DID GO OUT WHEN THE CAR RESTARTED, AND THE FEELING OF STEERING WHEEL CONTROL RETURNED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF THE HIGHWAY BUT GOT NO MORE THAN 1/4 MILE TOTAL BEFORE THE STEERING LOCKED AGAIN AND THE EPS LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. I DRIFTED TO THE CURB AND RESTARTED THE CAR AGAIN. THE STEERING CAME BACK ON AGAIN, AND I PROCEEDED ABOUT ANOTHER 1/4 MILE AT SLOW SPEED BEFORE THE STEERING LOCKED AGAIN AND THE EPS LIGHT REAPPEARED. I RESTARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND THIS TIME WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE LAST BLOCK TO MY HOME AND PULLED TO THE CURB. WHILE IDLING THERE, THE EPS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE, AND THEY RETURNED MY CALL AND TOLD ME TO CALL HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A TOW. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE CAR SEVERAL DAYS AS THEY NEEDED TO ORDER A PART. THE WORK ORDER STATES '13090 SOP PART, REPLACE STEERING COLUMN, PART # 56310-2H300, SHAFT C1290 TORQUE SENSOR ABD'. IN ONE MONTH OF DRIVING SINCE THIS REPAIR, I HAVE HAD NO RED EPS LIGHTS, NO STEERING FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL DOES CONTINUE TO TWITCH ON ITS OWN, SOMETIMES WHILE IDLING, SOMETIMES WHILE MOVING. I FEEL THE DEALERSHIP HAS TREATED ME FAIRLY, BUT I REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT THE LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES OF THIS DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND RIDING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT HE HEARD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE LINK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LINK WAS REPLACED ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE RATTLING NOISES STARTED TO OCCUR AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.