2008 Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems

The car was being driven nomore than 1hr. It began to smoke under the hood. The ABS EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE Then the EPS lights were on. The vehicle was pulled over and stopped. Fire was then observed falling from under the car. The hood was then popped to see the engine mainly on the driver side was totally catching fire. Then it spread. The engine needle never showed over heated. The car took no more than 6 minutes to catch fire from the time it started smoking. It was very scary

NHTSA ID

11702148

Incident

Nov 29, 2025

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while idling at a stop sign, the RPMs dropped extremely low, and the vehicle stalled. After a visual inspection, the contact observed white smoke coming from the engine compartment and a coolant leak underneath the vehicle. Upon restarting the vehicle, the vehicle seemed to return to normal functionality. The contact stated that the failure became a regular issue over the next 6 months. No warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Later, the vehicle was taken to a second independent mechanic, who also failed to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 127,000.

NHTSA ID

11530639

Incident

Jan 15, 2023

Mileage

127,000 mi

When removing the key from the ignition, the cars engine was still running, as I was unable to turn the vehicle off. After a few tries the car was off and the engine stopped. I drove 1/2 mile, smelled something burning, looked down and saw smoke coming up from my lap area, and immediately turned the car off and jumped out of the vehicle..The engine continued to run while the key was removed... Car was eventually towed by Insurance Company tow company to the Factory Authorized service center

NHTSA ID

11513588

Incident

Mar 18, 2023

2008 Elantra should be added to the crankshaft Theta II recall. 2098 Elantra has the 2.0L engine unlike its prior years where they are made with a 1.6L engine. Last week my 2008 Elantra exhibited all the signs of this malfunction (A knocking noise from the engine that increases in frequency as the engine rpm increases. Reduced power and/or hesitation and vibration. Illumination of the “check engine” light in the instrument cluster. Illumination of the “engine oil pressure” warning lamp.) When this occured i had taken it to Auto Zone and had the computer scanned for error codes. (See attached report). Based on the report a tune up was done, ignition coil replaced and sensor replaced. Car would still not start. When my mechanic furthe diagnosed it (he could not find the issue until he used his scope camera)he found the issue was that there is damage to the "trigger wheel" inside the crank shaft. He also said this almost never happens in a car and does not know what could have made this happen. Please investigate this issue further, this is a dangerous situation of engine seizing and should be investigated immediately and thoroughly.

NHTSA ID

11499650

Incident

Dec 22, 2022

brakes locked up and engine was knocking and car stopped running , it won’t turn over anymore and when it does it just shuts off .

NHTSA ID

11438448

Incident

Aug 2, 2021

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving when a person waved the driver down that there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was driven some more until the contact noticed that there was heat come up the leg on the driver's side. The contact stated that once exit from the vehicle, noticed that there were flames coming from the hood. The fire department extinguished the fired and informed that it was due to electrical. A police report was filed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

NHTSA ID

11434225

Incident

Sep 18, 2021

Mileage

113,000 mi

When I am driving the vehicle all of a sudden it will jump back really fast And the check engine will go on and If I continue to drive the vehicle it seems like I'm putting pressure on the gas for it to go But then once I turn off the vehicle the check engine light will all of a sudden be gone. If I drive the vehicle again the problem won't happen right away it will be some time before it happens again all of a sudden.

NHTSA ID

11417455

Incident

Apr 23, 2021

MY CAR WOULDN'T START AND HISSED WHEN IT DID KING HYUNDAI SAID "HISSING WAS THE CONDENSATION BECAUSE IT HADN'T BEEN DRIVEN FOR SO LONG" (3 YEARS - JUST WENT OUT AND STARTED IT ONCE IN A WHILE). KH TOLD ME AFTER EXTENSIVE CHECKING & VIDEOING THE UNDERSIDE OF CAR (THEY SENT ME VIDEO) THAT IT WAS THE BATTERY. IT DIED ON THE WAY HOME ! AND THEN: - KH MISDIAGNOSED MY CAR THREE TIMES ! - HEAD GASKET NOW - KH TOLD ME THEY TOOK "SEVERAL TEST DRIVES" YET THE MILEAGE IN & THE MILLAGE OUT ON THEIR INVOICE WAS EXACTLY THE SAME ! - TOOK OVER A MONTH TO GIVE ME ESTIMATE - WILL NOT RETURN MY CALLS (30+ CALLS) TO THE SERVICE MANAGER - DEALER MANAGER FAILED TO RETURN MY CALLS ALSO - EVEN THOUGH HYUNDAI CUSTOMER CARE DEPT THEMSELVES SUGGESTED THE DEALER HONOR THE 100,000/10 YEAR WARRANTY - KH REFUSED ! - KH HAD PUT AN ERRONEOUS LIEN ON THE CAR THE DAY OF PURCHASE AND IT TOOK ME OVER A MONTH TO HAVE REMOVED - PLEASE NOTE: MY MOTHER BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM THIS SAME DEALER - I WAS WITH MOM AND SHE WROTE THEM A CHECK FOR THE FULL PURCHASE PRICE. KH CONVINCED MOM TO ALLOW THEM TO PUT LIEN ON THE CAR WHICH KH TOLD US WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED SO THEY COULD GET THE FINANCING BONUS OR WHATEVER THEY CALL IT. SO WHEN I WENT TO SELL THE CAR EARLIER THIS YEAR (MOM PASSED AWAY AS WELL AS MY SISTER IN BOCA RATON AND I'M TRYING TO ORCHESTRATE THIS FROM CALIFORNIA WHERE I LIVE ) AND I HAD TO GET A DUPLICATE TITLE THE LIEN WAS RIGHT THERE !!! LONG STORY SHORT IT TOOK ME OVER A MONTH TO HAVE ERRONEOUS LIEN REMOVED SO I COULD EVEN GET THE TITLE ! THE KH DENIED PUTTING THE LIEN ON (REMEMBER I WAS THERE) AND WHEN I CALLED THE LIEN HOLDER - THEY ALSO DENIED EVER PUTTING IT ON - BLAH BLAH BLAH. IT TOOK ME DOZENS OF PHONE CALLS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS - PLEASE HELP ME! AND THIS IS THE SHORT VERSION !

NHTSA ID

11376182

Incident

Nov 24, 2020

Mileage

57,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11361727

Incident

Sep 28, 2020

Mileage

175,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT HER HOME AND CAUGHT ON FIRE INDEPENDENTLY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE RECENTLY RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V061000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND BELIEVES THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE VEHICLE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. *BF*JB

NHTSA ID

11320744

Incident

Jul 31, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. AT 4:40 AM MY NEIGHBOR WOKE ME UP TO TELL ME MY GARAGE WAS ON FIRE. FIREFIGHTERS CAME AND SAW THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE WHICH BURNT DOWN THE WHOLE CAR AND MY GARAGE

NHTSA ID

11311711

Incident

Feb 18, 2020

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER A RAINY DAY, THE ABS LIGHT AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. I CHECKED THE PARKING BRAKE; IT WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CAR SEEMED TO BE BRAKING ON ITS OWN AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE. UPON ARRIVING HOME, THERE WAS SOME SMOKE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WHICH, AFTER IT DISSIPATED, I ASSUMED TO BE HOT, LOCKED UP BRAKES. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER MY HOUSEMATE CALLED TO ME FROM THE LIVING ROOM TELLING ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE AND TO CALL 9-1-1. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, UNDER A MAGNOLIA TREE. THE FLAMES ENGULFED THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR, AND WERE ABOUT 4-5FT HIGH. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND HOSED THE CAR DOWN, TAKING ABOUT AN HOUR TO PUT OUT THE BLAZE. THE FRONT TIRES WERE FLAT, HAD MELTED, AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS DECIMATED. THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD HAD SHATTERED FROM THE FIRE, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOORBOARD HAD BURNED THROUGH TO THE CABIN. THE ENTIRE CABIN IS DAMAGED FROM THE SMOKE, THE DRIVERS SIDE VISOR MELTED THROUGH. WHILE THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT END, THE DRIVERS SIDE IS WORSE, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT APPEARS TO HAVE THE MOST DAMAGE. THERE IS NO VISIBLE FUSE BOX OR BATTERY AFTER THE FIRE.

NHTSA ID

11311505

Incident

Feb 16, 2020

Mileage

168,000 mi

MY 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA HAS THE AIRBAGS LIGHT ON FOR ABOUT FEW YEARS. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM ON MY CAR THAT IS RECENTLY STARTING TO HAVE PROBLEMS STARTING UP. IT HAS TUNE UP, NEW SENSORS, NEW COILS, AND ETC. I BOUGHT A FUEL PUMP OEM AND THE PUMP IS NOT 2 YEARS OLD.

NHTSA ID

11288161

Incident

Dec 2, 2019

Mileage

248,800 mi

MY DAUGHTER'S 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WAS PARKED ON THE STREET OUTSIDE HER APARTMENT COMPLEX. THE FRONT OF THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 30-35 HOURS.

NHTSA ID

11258901

Incident

Sep 28, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 236,000.

NHTSA ID

11114190

Incident

Jul 22, 2018

Mileage

236,000 mi

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, WHILE PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY THE ENTIRE DAY. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THE CAUSE OF FIRE IS UNKNOWN BUT IT APPEARED TO HAVE START AT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HOOD.

NHTSA ID

11075623

Incident

Feb 25, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND OVER CORRECTED AND HIT A TREE WHICH PUSHED HER INTO ANOTHER TREE. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS WRECKED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE WERE NEVER CONTACTED ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE CAR SO WE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID

11052514

Incident

Nov 27, 2017

Mileage

40,000 mi

DROVE CAR TO GROCERY STORE 6 MILE ROUND TRIP PARKED CAR IN GARAGE AT 10:15 AM. I PERFORMED YARD WORK IN FRONT OF AND WAS IN AND OUT OF GARAGE FOR 4 HOURS. AT NO TIME WAS THERE A HINT OF SMOKE OR BURNING. THEN CUT GRASS FOR 2 HOURS. AT ABOUT 4 PM SMOKE WAS BILLOWING OUT OF THE GARAGE. I OBSERVED FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND THE FRONT HOOD. UNABLE TO LIFT HOOD TO REACH FIRE SOURCE WITH EXTINGUISHERS OR GET CAR INTO NEUTRAL TO PUSH OUT OF GARAGE. I WAS DRIVEN BY SMOKE AND FLAME OUT OF GARAGE. BOTH THE 2008 HYUNDAI AND ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE TWO CAR GARAGE BURNED COMPLETELY. ALL CONTENTS IN GARAGE DESTROYED EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE THROUGHOUT HOUSE. FIRE FORENSIC INVESTIGATOR THINKS IT WAS CAUSED BY THE BATTERY BUT THERE WAS TOO MUCH DAMAGE TO MAKE MUCH OF AN INFORMED COMMENT AS TO PRECISE REASON CAR CAUGHT FIRE. REASON FOR FIRE IS UNKNOWN. ADVANCED AUTO BATTERY PURCHASED OCTOBER 17, 2014. PART # 121R1. #420 D2LNM1C1Q21B5J. REPAIR OF REAR MAIN SEAL IN JULY 2016 BY COCHRAN OF MONROEVILLE HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT. FOG LIGHTS MINI LAMPS A TOTAL OF TWENTY, 20, LIGHTS (FOG, BREAK, HEADLIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE) FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT, REAR RIGHT AND LEFT WERE REPLACED. REAR LEFT LAMP AND BULB HOUSING REPLACED JUNE 28, 2016 AT A COST OF $236 BY DEALER.

NHTSA ID

10993003

Incident

May 28, 2017

Mileage

161,000 mi

ON 8/16/16 AT APPROXIMATELY 1130 HOURS THE AFOREMENTIONED 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA BEARING A VIN NUMBER OF [XXX], HAD SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT CAUSE. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES SUSPECTED IT TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT OF POSSIBLE FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING. I HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI DIRECTLY AND BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION THE INCIDENT IN WHICH OCCURRED ON THE SAID DATE. HYUNDAI IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING A THIRD PARTY VEHICLE INSPECTION COMPANY EN ROUTE TO CONDUCT THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION. THERE HAS ONLY BEEN A RECALL TO MY KNOWLEDGE IN 2011 IN WHICH I PERSONALLY TOOK THE SAID VEHICLE TO HYUNDAI OF WELSEY CHAPEL FLORIDA AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM SINCE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. I AM AWARE OF THE PAST RECALLS CONDUCTED BY HYUNDAI DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE FIRES AND FEEL AS THOUGHT MY VEHICLE IS ONE OF THE VEHICLES AFFECTED MY THE NEGLIGENCE IN THE MANUFACTURERS END. I URGE AND PLEAD YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN TOTALED DUE TO THE BIZARRE FIRE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10897621

Incident

Aug 16, 2016

Mileage

111,565 mi

CAR LOSES POWER WHEN DRIVING CAR AT LOW SPEED, CAR JUST SHUTS DOWN AND WOULD NEED TO PLACE IN PARK AND RESTART THE CAR, ALSO LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING CAR ON THE FREEWAY, CARD WHEEL LOCKED AND CAR LOST ALL POWER, WAS ABLE TO PLACE IT IN PARK AND RESTARTED IT, BUT WAS WITH OUT POWER STEERING, CAR SHAKES WHEN DRIVING PASSED 70 MILES AN HR.

NHTSA ID

10837029

Incident

Feb 9, 2016

Mileage

35,895 mi

LEAVING THE PARKING LOT AT WALGREEN IN TONAWANDA,NY. I WAS BACKING OUT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE.THE CAR LEAPED INTO A VERY HIGH ACCELERATED SPEED LIKE A JET WITH THE ENGINE RACING. THE BRAKE DID NOT HELP. THE CAR HIT THE BARRIER BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK AND THE STORE AND THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES.THE DISTANCE WAS ONLY A MATTER OF YARDS.THE AIRBAGS AND SEAT BELT KEPT ME FROM GOING THRU THE WINDSHIELD THE FORCE OF THE CRASH TOTALED THE CAR. THERE WAS NO ONE IN THIS AREA OF THE PARKING LOT THANK GOODNESS IT WAS 10AM SUNDAY MORNING. I DO NOT KNOW WHO CALLED THE FIRE DEPT AND POLICE.. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. THIS SITUATION HAPPEN SO FAST YOU DON,T HAVE TIME TO BLINK. I AM NOW LEFT WITH NO CAR AND A TWISTED BACK.

NHTSA ID

10782840

Incident

Oct 11, 2015

Mileage

70,000 mi

I WAS MERGING ONTO I-275 E FROM I-471 AND AS I WAS PRESSING MY FOOT DOWN ONTO THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR STARTED SPEEDING UP THEN CONTINUED TO SPEED UP WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THE ENGINE LOCKED AT 65 MPH. I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THEY WERE LOCKED AND WOULDN'T WORK. I PUT THE CAR IN 2ND GEAR WHILE I STILL HAD MY FEET THE BRAKE. THAT DID NOT SLOW THE CAR. I THEN SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO 1ST GEAR WHILE KEEPING MY FEET ON THE BRAKE. I TOOK BOTH FEET OFF THE BRAKE THEN BACK ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR SHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR AND STARTED TO SLOW DOWN WHILE MAKING THE HIGH ENGINE NOISE. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AFTER THE CAR SHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR.

NHTSA ID

10724835

Incident

Jun 11, 2015

Mileage

77,467 mi

THE CRUISE CONTROL ON HYUNDAI ELANTRA FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHILE I DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH DESPITE REPEATEDLY PUSHING THE "CANCEL" AND "OFF" BUTTONS. FIRM BRAKING ALSO FAILED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I MANAGED TO STOP ONLY AFTER PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND APPLYING HEAVY/MAXIMUM BRAKING. SMOKE. TIRES DESTROYED. SCARY! MY CHILD AND I ALMOST DIED. THE ABS AND ESC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. KIA AND HYUNDAI RECENTLY RECALLED 1.9 MILLION VEHICLES TO FIX THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, THIS INCIDENT SUGGESTS THAT HYUNDAI HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE MY CAR HAD THE RECALL PROCEDURE COMPLETED ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT OCCURING.

NHTSA ID

10538151

Incident

Aug 24, 2013

Mileage

78,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10505218

Incident

Jan 5, 2011

Mileage

28,600 mi

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, INCHING ALONG AT LOW SPEED FOR ABOUT 1/2 MILES; STOPPING AND STARTING ALL THE WAY, SUDDENLY DURING ONE OF THESE STOPS, THE MOTOR STARTED TO REV AND THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. HAD TO BRAKE HARD TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, WHILE PARKING THE CAR IN A PARKING SPACE, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I HAD ALREADY STOPPED AND WAS PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI GARAGE WHERE THEY DID ROAD TESTING. COMPUTER TESTS SHOWED NO CODES; SO NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. WHEN THE TECH LINE OF THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ON THIS MATTER WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO CASES RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM ON FILE. HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SPORADICALLY SINCE 2010. LAST REPORTED AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM TO THE HYUNDAI GARAGE EARLY IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2012. NO ONE AT HYUNDAI WANTS TO HELP ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10501067

Incident

Feb 25, 2013

Mileage

23,950 mi