10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 43,770 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.
Initial report on March 7, 2022 (approx. 94K miles), second report on Dec. 12, 2023 (approx. 111,700 miles). Third report March 27, 2024: Recent event occurred on March 23, 2024 (approx. 112K miles) when my vehicle suddenly stopped moving while driving 55mph on a freeway with child passenger in the vehicle, putting both of us at risk for collision. Vehicle did not have any warning lights turn on prior to or during event. The vehicle did not move again after multiple attempts to accelerate to exit freeway safely. After shifting to neutral and back to drive, the vehicle suddenly jolted and accelerated randomly while holding foot on the gas pedal (no control over timing of acceleration). We were able to exit the freeway safely. This same issue repeated multiple times while driving us to a safe area to call for a tow truck. The vehicle was towed to dealership location it was originally purchased at on March 26, 2024. Diagnostics appointment scheduled for March 28, 2024. I have completed oil change services on this car about every 1,200 miles to keep the engine running since there was no solution for any of my previous reports to dealership (even when opening a case with Hyundai), their previous determination was to close case since the diagnostics report did not show error codes in report. Previous dealership advisor made a verbal comment that the real problem is something their computers do not scan codes for, and his recommendation was to "drive it til the wheels fall off" after paying thousands in services that did not solve the root problem. Hoping this appointment will lead to a safer outcome.
- Katy, TX, USA
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request" Available for inspection upon request. Please do! Loss of power. Reported same issues a year ago. Brought to dealership, sold on other services that did not solve problem. Opened a case with Hyundai. No solution. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Random loss of power. Hyundai rep stated it-??s a problem their systems do not actually scan for so it-??s common this won-??t appear in inspection reports. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Dealer rep drove my car and mentioned he noticed it tries to accelerate when idle, but without a code he can-??t do anything about it. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? A Hyundai dealership inspection was completed. Suggestion I buy a new engine. I declined since the multiple repairs paid for already were supposed to fix the problem, but they didn-??t. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear" No warning lights for anything in over a year but I am still dealing with same loss of power and acceleration control issues.
- Springfield, OR, USA
My Hyundai Elantra started completely shutting off while I was driving. This happened on multiple occasions like in slow traffic and while going high speeds on the highway. This is scary and dangerous when my toddler child is in the car. I took it to 3 different mechanics and no one can find any codes or anything wrong with it---but it continues to happen and put my life and my daughters life at risk. I have seen so many people complaining of the same thing--but nothing has happened? This last dealership has had my car for 3 weeks (and counting) but still cannot find the issue. I have about 125,000 miles on the car.
- Lindenwold, NJ, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving out of the driveway, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. During the incident, the engine's RPMs suddenly increased before the vehicle erroneously accelerated forward and crashed into a tree causing body damage to the vehicle. During the crash, no injuries were reported and no police report was taken. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 58,000. The contact stated that the failure occurs very rarely at approximately 1 to 2 times a year.
- Scottsdale, AZ, USA
April 2022 Car engine stalls while at stop sign or light. Started happening once or twice every few weeks. Took the vehicle to two repair shops but could not diagnose the issue. Vehicle giving no diagnostic codes or warning lights. May 2022 vehicle is now stalling and losing acceleration while driving on busy highway, leaving me and my children on the highway shoulder. Car loses acceleration and coasts to a complete stop. No warning lights have come on previously. Could not book an appointment with Hyundai dealer until June 25, 2022. As of June 3rd 2022, check engine light is on and car having trouble starting back up after stall. Vehicle is stalling and losing acceleration 2-3 times a day no matter the speed. Booked appointment with Hyundai dealer in another area for June 9, 2022.
- Gwynn Oak, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking space with her foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated and crashed into the tires of another vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed. The contact and her husband drove the vehicle to her residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they were not aware of such failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000.
- Painesville, OH, USA
I lost power while driving my 2016 Hyundai Elantra gt and also started hearing a knocking sound so I pulled over and knocking sound got real loud. A friend came and towed me home about 70 miles and the next morning I checked the oil and my oil was empty. My car has been out of commission for over a month and my mechanic says that a ball bearing is the reason for my engine failure and knocking sound.
- Yoncalla, OR, USA
I'm not sure the exact date but I know one day I was driving fine and then later that night I went to get gas and my car was acting funny and not wanting to go forward in drive until it kicked back and then went.
- Concord, NC, USA
This has happened numerus times, whether on highway's or city streets. Driving the car you will feel it lurch forward accelerating suddenly and then return to normal driving. The rpms will be at 4000 to 5000 each time. The other day on the way home from a family christmas party with my 2 girls and husband, I had the cruse control set. It suddenly revved up to 4000 rpms on a curved hilly road. This happened at 1am. No other cars where around. My then 16 year old daughter was driving the car to get her drivers license it did it with the instructor in the car. The instructor has her stop and get another car for the test. She said that this was a safety issue with the car and could not continue the test. We had only had the car at that time for 6 months. We purchased the car new with only 6 miles on it. I am now seeing all the complaints on this issue with this car and several other of Hyundai car makes and modules on the internet. Just search Hyundai cars surging while driving and you can see for your self. They must be waiting on a fatality before they make a recall.
- Warner Robins, GA, USA
On more than one occasion when accelerating from a stopped position, the car will lurch forward when pressing the gas, but not equal to the depression of the accelerator pedal. I bought this car 8 months ago and it has happened many times. One incident I believe when this happened caused me to damage personal property.inwas stopped behind a car waiting to get to a gate key pad. When I started to pull forward the car suddenly accelerated and I hit the key pad, ran over it! this sudden acceleration is not typically a hazard when on the open road, obviously this was an issue with a solid object in front of me.
- Sanford, FL, USA
Car shut off while driving. All lights and engine seemed to stall but when I pressed accelerator after a second everything came back on. Am now afraid to drive my vehicle and have it shut down and be in a serious accident.
- Silverhill, AL, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. While driving 10 mph, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle shook. When the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle stalled. In addition, the check engine, battery, and oil warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to pohanka Hyundai (1770 ritchie station ct, walker mill, md 20743, 301-899-0480) where it was diagnosed that the throttle body was fractured. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that an investigation would be opened. The failure mileage was approximately 44,242.
- Oxon Hill, MD, USA
When I first purchased my car, I was given a different car than the one written down on my paperwork. I had to come back in to get the car that matched my paperwork. Since receiving this car, I noticed a slight hesitation when accelerating. Recently, it has gotten worse to the point where it will jerk repeatedly when I have to constantly accelerate and then break when there is traffic. When I am just driving freely on the highway or side streets, it seems to get stuck in one gear and no matter how hard I push on the gas pedal, it will not go any faster. I have to press extremely hard on the gas to make it go and then it will jerk forward and make a really loud accelerating sound as if I'm a monster truck. This is very unsafe on the road and it makes me nervous to drive it. This car is my only vehicle so I can't afford not to drive it, but I really need something done with this.
- Raleigh, NC, USA
I drove slowly through the parking lot at work and pulled into a parking spot. Instead of stopping, the car suddenly swerved, lurched forward and crashed into the cement base of a light pole. The car kept grinding into the cement base. I was helpless to stop the destruction of my car. The repair shop has had my car for one week but no repairs have been made yet. The repair shop is awaiting the decision from the insurance company. The damage to my car is over $10,000. I have previously experienced a loss of power when driving my car. There have been times when the car has tried to accelerate on its own and would lurch forward. I have been a safe driver for many years and had never gotten a ticket nor been in an accident before. I have read reports of other people having problems with their Hyundai cars unexpectedly crashing into parking garage walls, objects, or other cars. I do not know the cause of this dangerous malfunction of the Hyundai car but the cause needs to be determined before someone is badly injured or killed.
- Oklahoma City, OK, USA
On 10/15/16 I was in a multi impact accident. After hitting a curb, small tree, took a stop sign out, my car landed into a tree in between two 10 in. Bushes. As the car seemed to settle I immediately smelled a chemical odor. I then saw a small white what I thought was paper appear on the inner steering wheel, suddenly blood was pouring down my face where I could barely see. I thought the car was on fire because of the smell. It did not smell like gas but more like sulfur. I was transported to uci trauma center where I stayed for four days. My car had 6 airbags and all failed except for the one I saw when my car settled. Since I bought the Elantra I reported to Hyundai that while I was driving and sometimes when I would turn left the car would stop, then accelerate full speed. I have the work order. This acceleration would happen while driving, slowing down for a stop light and when turning to the left. I have several witnesses who have been with me when this happens, the car does not require that I restart it, it just stops then accelerates. It has done this three or four time a month.
- Huntington Beach, CA, USA
- Katy, TX, USA