2008 Hyundai Elantra
Other Hyundai models
Check a specific vehicle
This page describes the model. To see how one particular car is equipped, and whether its identifier is valid, decode its VIN.
Decode a VINThis page describes the model. To see how one particular car is equipped, and whether its identifier is valid, decode its VIN.
Decode a VIN7 recalls and 315 owner complaints on record for this model year.
Almost all of this describes the model year, not the individual car. Nothing here can tell you about this vehicle’s mileage, accidents or ownership — no identifier encodes those.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE SECOND VEHICLE STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS OF THE CONTACTS VEHICLE FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE UNKNOWN AND RESULTED IN THREE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V113000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE AUTO CARTWHEELED, HIT A TELEPHONE POLE, AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN. NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *TR
MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT 2 BRAND NEW 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS PZEV ENGINES ON JUNE 6, 2008. ON JULY 2, 2008 WITH LESS THAN 400 MILES ON MY HUSBAND'S CAR HE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY GOING 55 MILES AN HOUR AND BECAUSE OF HIM BEING IN THE LEFT HAND LAND THERE ENDED UP A 3 CAR ACCIDENT. MY HUSBAND DID NOT GET HIT, BUT IN ORDER TO AVOID HIM A CAR SWERVED, GOT REAR-ENDED AND PUSHED INTO AN 18 WHEELER ON RTE 24 IN MILLBURN NJ. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT BECAUSE OF THIS. IT TURNS OUT HYUNDAI KNOW THERE IS A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. OUR SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US AFTER ROAD SIDE ASSISTANT TOWED MY HUSBAND'S ELANTRA UP FROM NJ TO GOSHEN NY. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO SAID HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT ARE NOT ORDERING A RECALL TO HAVE THE 2008 FUEL PUMPS CHANGED. WE CALLED HYUNDAI TO FIND OUT WHY THERE IS NO RECALL AND THEY SAID OUR SERVICE MANAGER WAS LYING ABOUT THE FUEL PUMPS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY SAID KOREA STOPPED MAKING THE FUEL PUMPS AND ARE RE-DESIGNING A NEW ONE. TO DATE THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE FUEL PUMPS WILL BE SHIPPED FROM KOREA. BUT THEY ARE STILL DENYING THERE IS A PROBLEM. IF YOU GO TO WWW.EDMUNDS.COM AND THEN CLICK ON CARSPACE DISCUSSION AND TYPE IN 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA YOU WILL SEE PEOPLE ARE GETTING STRANDED ALL OVER THE US. HYUNDAI CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM BUT YET THEY ARE LEAVING THESE UNSAFE CARS ON THE ROAD. WE HAD OURS LESS THAN A MONTH. MY SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE FUEL PUMPS ARE GOING FROM 5 MILES TO 1500 MILES AND THAT HYUNDAI DOES NOT FIX THEM TILL THEY GO. MY HUSBAND WAS ALMOST KILLED ON JULY 2, 2008 DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP. I HAVE LESS THAN 200 MILES ON MY CAR AND ANY DAY MY CAR TOO CAN HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPEN. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. HYUNDAI WON'T. ALL THEY DO SI TOW YOU TO YOUR HOMETOWN AND OUR NEAREST DEALER BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. WE HAVE A POLICE REPORT SHOWING MY HUSBAND'S CAR JUST STOPPED AND IT IS THE FUEL PUMP AND IT IS NOT ONLY HAPPENING TO US, IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA'S. *TR
TRAVELING 38-40 MPH DAMP ROAD, SWERVED TO MISS ANIMAL. FISH TAIL, SPUN APPROXIMATELY 270 DEGREES; HIT TREE ON PASSENGER SIDE DOOR; BROKE PASSENGER WINDOW. PUSHED FORWARD, HIT TREE IN FRONT QUARTER PANEL PASSENGER SIDE THEN AGAIN HIT TREE DIRECTLY FRONT CENTER OF CAR. ESC DID NOT WORK (RECEIVED ESC RECALL WHEN GOT HOME FROM ACCIDENT); BRAKES LOCKED UP (ABS DIDN'T WORK); NEITHER FRONT OR SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CAR TOTALED: DAMAGE TO FRONT BUMPER; ENGINE HOOD; FRONT WINDSHIELD; PASSENGER DOOR; PASSENGER WINDOW; FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BENT IN TOWARDS CAR. PASSENGER RECEIVED LACERATIONS FROM BROKEN GLASS, DRIVER & PASSENGER RECEIVED SEVERAL BUMPS, BRUISES, SORE NECKS, SORE BACKS. HAVE ANOTHER HYUNDAI WITH INTERMITTENT TPS LIGHT - DEALER WONT FIX... HUGE CONCERN WITH SAFETY! *TR
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. *TR
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. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 ELANTRA WHEN I APPROACHED A SHARP CURVE IN THE ROAD. I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND SUDDENLY THE CRUISE CONTROL SEEMED TO ACTIVATE AND THE CAR SPED UP AND LEFT THE ROAD . I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE BRAKES OR STEERING. IT SEEMED AS IF THE VEHICLE FROZE. I TRIED TO BRAKE AND NOTHING HAPPENED, I TRIED TO STEER AND THE WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I RAN OVER SEVERAL STREET SIGNS. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED BY CRASHING INTO A TREE, THE CAR WAS OFF AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED. MY AIRBAG DID GO OFF HOWEVER MY SONS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT. WE BOTH SUSTAINED MINOR PHYSICAL INJURIES AND MAJOR EMOTIONAL INJURIES. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. APPROXIMATELY 5 WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY VEHICLE. MY CAR WAS ONE OF THE VEHICLES WITH THE FAULTY FUEL PUMP THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. IN THE NOTICE IT STATED THAT IF THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT REPLACED IT COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CRASH. I BEGAN TO RESEARCH THE RECALL AND NOTED SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE THAT EXPERIENCED SIMILAR DIFFICULTIES. I ALSO HAD NOTICED A STRANGE SMELL (ELECTRICAL?) THE PRIOR TWO DAYS OF THE ACCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET ANY INFORMATION ON WHETHER OR NOT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND IT WAS WOULD IT HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BEHAVE IN THE WAY IT DID CAUSING IT TO CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DISPOSED OF IMMEDIATELY SO IT WAS UNABLE TO BE EXAMINED. I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN # AS I NO LONGER HAVE THE VEHICLE. I DID HOWEVER, THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP, FIND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS INDEED ONE OF THE ONES ON THE RECALL NOTICE. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTED IN AUGUST AND THE RECALL BEGAN SOON AFTER. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED UNTIL WEEKS AFTER THE CRASH. *TR
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. *TR
ON MAY 26 2008 MY WIFE AND I WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. ANOTHER CAR RAN THE RED LIGHT AND HIT US. MY WIFE AND I WERE INJURED AND OUR CAR WAS TOTALED. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF ON OUR BRAND NEW 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WE WERE LATER TOLD BY HYUNDAI THAT PASSENGER AIRBAGS DON'T ALWAYS GO OFF BECAUSE OF WEIGHT VARIATIONS IN SOME ADULTS. MY WIFE IS 5' 4" AND HER WEIGHT IS NORMAL FOR HER HEIGHT. HYUNDAI NEVER TOLD US OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THIS COMPANY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO INFORM THE POTENTIAL BUYER LIMITATIONS INVOLVING SAFETY FEATURES! MANY UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE COULD BE SEVERELY INJURED WITHOUT THIS KNOWLEDGE. ALSO THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE POTENTIAL BUYER PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE NOT AFTER! WE PURCHASES A SECOND HYUNDAI ( 2008 TUCSON) AND THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH ITS PASSENGER AIRBAG - IN FACT IT WAS DURING THIS REPAIR THAT HYUNDAI INFORMED US OF THE WEIGHT ISSUE INVOLVING AIRBAGS. *TR UPDATED 01-26-09 *BF UPDATED 01/2609. *JB UPDATED 07/16/10.*JB
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. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 NORTH IN MARYLAND, A MOTORIST CUT ME OFF SUDDENLY, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, THE BRAKES LOCKED AND CAR SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, CROSSED ALL LANES, AND ROLLED OVER TWICE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE. AS A RESULT, I RECEIVED A FRACTURED STERNUM. *TR
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.
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.
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.
TL* 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.
Filed by owners of this model year and unverified by NHTSA — one person’s account, not an established fact.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Elantra and 2009-2011 Elantra Touring vehicles. On February 21, 2020 Hyundai expanded the recall to include 46,425 model year 2007-2008 Entourage and 2007 Santa Fe vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 188.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Elantra vehicles manufactured June 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010, and 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles manufactured November 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010. The electronic power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may sense a discrepancy in the steering input signals and, as a result, disable the steering power assist.
Remedy: Hyundai will verify the proper operation of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and update the EPS control unit, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 127.
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 ELANTRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2006, THROUGH AUGUST 29, 2007. THE DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK POSITION SENSOR DETERMINES THE SEAT'S FORE AND AFT POSITION AND ALLOWS THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG TO DEPLOY AT THE PRESSURE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT SEATING POSITION, WITH A LOWER PRESSURE DEPLOYMENT IN THE MOST FORWARD SEATING POSITIONS. THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE MAY RECEIVE AN UNSTABLE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM THE SEAT TRACK POSITION SENSOR SUCH THAT, IN A CRASH THAT REQUIRES DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG MAY DEPLOY AT THE HIGHER PRESSURE THAN INTENDED IF THE SEAT WAS POSITION IN ONE OF THE FORWARD POSITIONS IN WHICH A LOWER PRESSURE DEPLOYMENT IS INTENDED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTING TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 ELANTRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2006, THROUGH NOVEMBER 1, 2008. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATS IN THE VEHICLES CONTAIN A WEIGHT SENSOR DESIGNED TO DEACTIVATE THE RIGHT FRONTAL AIRBAG WHEN OCCUPANTS OF CERTAIN WEIGHTS OCCUPY THE SEAT. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE WEIGHT SENSOR IS LOCATED UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE, BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THE CONNECTOR COULD BECOME CONTAMINATED AND MALFUNCTION SUCH THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT OF THE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE WEIGHT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CONNECTOR TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTING TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
HYUNDAI DE PUERTO RICO (HPR) IS RECALLING 347 MY 2008 ELANTRA VEHICLES. THE FUEL PUMP MOTOR MAY NOT HAVE THE PROPER, UNIFORM INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SURFACE CONTACT. THIS MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO PRODUCE LESS PUMPING PRESSURE THAN REQUIRED TO SUPPLY THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP SUBASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HPR AT 1-800-981-0188.
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 65,000 MY 2008 ELANTRA VEHICLES WITH 2.0 LITER BETA ENGINES. THE FUEL PUMP MOTOR MAY NOT HAVE THE PROPER UNIFORM INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SURFACE CONTACT. THIS MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO PRODUCE LESS PUMPING PRESSURE THAN REQUIRED TO SUPPLY THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP SUBASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Published by model year, not by VIN — may not apply to this vehicle, or may already have been done. Confirm with a dealer.
The vehicle's transmission software doesn't engage emergency mode when a fault occurs. This can lead to an unexpectedly severe deceleration, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Matched on brand and model name — Safety Gate publishes no VIN. Check the production dates, and quote the recall code to a dealer.