MYRModel Year Report

2008 Hyundai Elantra

◆ Worse than typical
2008 Hyundai Elantra
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Hyundai Elantra Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2008 highlighted. 1990: 0 complaints 1990 1991: 0 complaints 1992: 29 complaints 1993: 24 complaints 1994: 76 complaints 1995: 112 complaints 1995 1996: 100 complaints 1997: 115 complaints 1998: 55 complaints 1999: 128 complaints 2000: 197 complaints 2000 2001: 315 complaints 2002: 342 complaints 2003: 234 complaints 2004: 182 complaints 2005: 137 complaints 2005 2006: 155 complaints 2007: 266 complaints 2008: 314 complaints 2008 2009: 247 complaints 2010: 378 complaints 2010 2011: 431 complaints 2012: 649 complaints 2013: 1307 complaints 2014: 379 complaints 2015: 258 complaints 2015 2016: 286 complaints 2017: 759 complaints 2018: 274 complaints 2019: 242 complaints 2020: 240 complaints 2020 2021: 128 complaints 2022: 95 complaints 2023: 90 complaints 2024: 52 complaints 2025: 20 complaints 2025 2026: 0 complaints 2026
2008: 314 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19900
19910
199229
199324
199476
1995112
1996100
1997115
199855
1999128
2000197
2001315
2002342
2003234
2004182
2005137
2006155
2007266
2008314
2009247
2010378
2011431
2012649
20131307
2014379
2015258
2016286
2017759
2018274
2019242
2020240
2021128
202295
202390
202452
202520
20260

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

STEERING 17%

17% of complaints: steering — 54 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 20080505

AIR BAGS 11%

11% of complaints: air bags — 33 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 20231101

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 20171205

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF A VEHICLE AND THEN CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOYED.THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120518

SERVICE BRAKES 10%

10% of complaints: service brakes — 32 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

The engine bay of my car caught fire due to the abs pump and module not turning off. I bought a part but never opened the box because I received a piece of mail stating the recall of that exact issue that they would replace all parts damaged.

NHTSA ODI report, 20250820

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 10%

10% of complaints: fuel system, gasoline — 32 distinct reports on file.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%

9% of complaints: electrical system — 28 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

The engine bay of my car caught fire due to the abs pump and module not turning off. I bought a part but never opened the box because I received a piece of mail stating the recall of that exact issue that they would replace all parts damaged.

NHTSA ODI report, 20250820

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2008 — complaint volume: 314
I 20080717 — PE (closed 20080903)

ENGINE STALLING - FUEL PUMP FAILURE

R 20080915 — fuel system, gasoline

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 PUM

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.

Campaign 08V429000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090209 — fuel system, gasoline

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 PROD

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.

Campaign 08V694000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20110408 — air bags

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 DESIGNE

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 BEG

Campaign 11V143000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20110408 — air bags

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

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

Campaign 11V179000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20130422 — exterior lighting

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, 2008-2

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 13V113000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20150414 — steering

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.

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.

Campaign 15V100000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20200402 — service brakes, hydraulic

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.

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.

Campaign 20V061000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20211112 — DP (closed 20230620)

Throttle control system vulnerabilities

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2008 Hyundai Elantra — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for steering issues (54 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (33 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes issues (32 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 08V429000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 08V694000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 11V143000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 11V179000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 13V113000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V100000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 20V061000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2024 ▲ 1998 ▲ 1994

WORST YEARS

■ 2013 ■ 2017 ■ 2012

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2008 Hyundai Elantra reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2008 Hyundai Elantra is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Hyundai Elantra?

The most-reported component is steering, accounting for 17% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2008 Hyundai Elantra have?

7 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.