10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,920 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Hyundai Elantra:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #5

Apr 242010

Elantra

  • 35,500 miles
Driver and passenger frontal air bags failed to deploy in a crash of two vehicles. The vehicle with failed air bag deployment was traveling approx 45-55 mph second vehicle was traveling in same direction traveling est 10 -0 mph in this rear end crash.

- Goffstown, NH, USA

problem #4

Jan 012010

Elantra

  • 47,000 miles
2008 Hyundai Elantra was proceeding North when it hit a hydroplane on an upgrade while traveling 40 mph. Driver applied brakes on downgrade to no avail. Car crashed into a parked car, went into a residential yard and through residence fence before coming to a halt on upgrade of residence yard. Front air bags failed to deploy. Driver and passenger suffered face, head, neck and back injuries. Car was totaled.

- Temple Hills, MD, USA

problem #3

Oct 312008

Elantra

  • 14,000 miles
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.

- Bloomington, IN, USA

problem #2

Dec 072008

Elantra

  • miles
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.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #1

Jul 012008

Elantra

  • 3,100 miles
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.

- Cicero, NY, USA