10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
17 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
22 / 0
Average Mileage:
77,046 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 #33

Oct 132023

Elantra

  • 31,200 miles
The contact owned a? 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while the wife was driving at 30 MPH, the contact's wife was involved in a no-fault accident. The other vehicle involved was a 2020 Yukon Denali, which ran a stop sign and crashed the front driver's side. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. The contact's wife was taken by ambulance to the hospital for medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was condemned to total loss by State Farm. The contact stated his wife suffered bruises and a herniated fifth disk in her back that required medical attention. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately?31,200.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #32

Jul 102023

Elantra

  • miles
While making a U-turn in a parking lot I accidentally ran over a pothole. Upon doing so the driver's airbag deployed burning a hole through my shirt and leaving burns on my stomach and arms. No other part of the vehicle was affected.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

problem #31

Jun 102017

Elantra

  • 0 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that at vehicle start up, the air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to regional Hyundai located at 2380 West kenosha street, broken arrow, ok 74012, (918)806-2000, to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not subjected to a recall and that the warranty period had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was informed by the manufacturer that the diagnostic fee would be waived however, there would be no additional assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

problem #30

Dec 022019

Elantra

  • 248,800 miles
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.

- Burleson, TX, USA

problem #29

May 142019

Elantra

  • 238,000 miles
The car was hit by another car going and the airbags failed to deploy resulting in injuries. My car was turning left at about 15 mph and the other driver blew through a red light at 60 mph. Photos available from esurance.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #28

Feb 182019

Elantra

  • miles
The car is running fine one day air bag light on and is my personal car I use every day

- Bristol, CT, USA

problem #27

Jul 242018

Elantra

  • 179,000 miles
Driving down the road & air bag light came on & stayed on, bills auto repair diagnosed the issue and said the airbag computer needs replaced for $1,459, dealer not yet notified.

- Manassas, VA, USA

problem #26

Nov 272017

Elantra

  • 40,000 miles
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.

- Holly Springs, NC, USA

problem #25

Aug 082017

Elantra

  • 170,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light flickered and then remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clock spring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were contacted however, the contact was informed that there was no recalls on the vehicle and that the vehicle had to be repaired at the owner's expense. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

- Midlothian, VA, USA

problem #24

Oct 012016

Elantra

  • 130,000 miles
Airbag light turns on and stays on intermittently. Google search has indicated this problem affects many Elantra owners

- Ijamsville, MD, USA

problem #23

Jun 012016

Elantra

  • 230,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated and the odor of air bag powder emanated from the vents of the vehicle. The air bag never deployed. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who was not able to identify the failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 230,000.

- Canton, GA, USA

problem #22

Jul 062016

Elantra

  • 48,000 miles
The contact owned a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. While parking, the vehicle independently accelerated when the brake pedal was depressed and crashed into a fence and a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained bruises to the chest that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,000.

- Peabody, MA, USA

problem #21

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 #20

Nov 062015

Elantra

  • 57,297 miles
We pulled the car out of an intersection and T boned another car. Both cars were totaled in this accident, yet no airbags deployed. There was no fire. The accident happened on a flat roadway. The driver of the Hyundai was wearing his seatbelt. Please see pictures.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #19

Sep 152014

Elantra

  • 86,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. While driving at 45 mph, the vehicle lost all steering capabilities. The contact crashed the vehicle into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed. The contact was injured, but did not require medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the power steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the remedy failed to correct the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,000.

- Lanham, MD, USA

problem #18

Oct 262014

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
The vehicle was in an accident where the auto cartwheeled, hit a telephone pole, and landed upside down. Not a single airbag deployed.

- Denison, TX, USA

problem #17

Dec 312013

Elantra

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. When the contact started the vehicle, the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated until the vehicle was turned off. The failure occurred only after the vehicle was repaired according to NHTSA campaign number: 11V179000 (air bags). The vehicle was not sufficiently repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #16

Jun 272014

Elantra

  • 52,000 miles
TL * the contact owned a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. While driving approximately 30 mph, the driver side of the contact's vehicle was crashed into by another vehicle. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a utility pole. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the left shoulder, back, and neck which required medical attention. A police report was filed and the vehicle was destroyed. The cause of the air bag failure was unknown. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 52,000.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #15

Mar 042014

Elantra

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the air bag light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the air bag sensor was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #14

Jul 222013

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
Traveling down a dirt road at approximately 30mph. Both front airbags deployed.

- Coventry, RI, USA

Read the next 13 complaints »