Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Hyundai Elantra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving when a person waved the driver down that there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was driven some more until the contact noticed that there was heat come up the leg on the driver's side. The contact stated that once exit from the vehicle, noticed that there were flames coming from the hood. The fire department extinguished the fired and informed that it was due to electrical. A police report was filed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.
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. Which they didn't just installed their relay After Hyundai recall 188 was completed, my ABS pump failed. I believe it was caused by continuous power being applied post-shutdown - the exact defect the recall was meant to fix. The dealer performed an inspection but misrepresented the results and refuses to replace the damaged component under recall. This ABS pump failure is a direct result of the original recall condition - or a failed installation of the relay fix - which continued to keep power applied to the pump while the vehicle was off. This is the exact scenario the recall was intended to prevent. …
We received a citation for brake lights not functioning. I realized that there had been a safety recall on the brake light switch, and contacted Brandfon Hyundai in New Haven, CT. They did nothing. Upon further investigation on the Hyundai website, I noticed that the brake light switch campaign was marked "closed" in 2013, when the car was still owned by my mother-in-law whom has since gone blind and has sold the car to us. I took it upon myself to purchase and install a new brake light switch, and all new bulbs, but to no avail. Not only are we likely to get cited again, but having no brake lights is a safety hazard. At first, it was only the right side brake light out. Then the brake lights would stay on by themselves. Now, not even the rear window light, which should go on without the signal going through the computer, will go on.
The car was being driven nomore than 1hr. It began to smoke under the hood. The ABS EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE Then the EPS lights were on. The vehicle was pulled over and stopped. Fire was then observed falling from under the car. The hood was then popped to see the engine mainly on the driver side was totally catching fire. Then it spread. The engine needle never showed over heated. The car took no more than 6 minutes to catch fire from the time it started smoking. It was very scary
When I am driving the vehicle all of a sudden it will jump back really fast And the check engine will go on and If I continue to drive the vehicle it seems like I'm putting pressure on the gas for it to go But then once I turn off the vehicle the check engine light will all of a sudden be gone. If I drive the vehicle again the problem won't happen right away it will be some time before it happens again all of a sudden.
The EPS sensor trips when making a turn rendering the vehicle completely inoperable. I have to put the vehicle in park, shut it off, then turn it back on to continue moving. This is highly dangerous if it were to happen on the highway.
On 8/16/16 at approximately 1130 hours the aforementioned 2008 Hyundai Elantra bearing a VIN number of [redacted], had spontaneously caught on fire without cause. Local fire department came to the scene and extinguish the flames suspected it to be a manufacturers defect of possible faulty electrical wiring. I have contacted Hyundai directly and brought to their attention the incident in which occurred on the said date. Hyundai is still in the process of having a third party vehicle inspection company en route to conduct the preliminary investigation. There has only been a recall to my knowledge in 2011 in which I personally took the said vehicle to Hyundai of welsey chapel florida and never had a problem since. It should be noted the vehicle was parked for approximately 3 hours before it caught on fire. …
Drove car to grocery store 6 mile round trip parked car in garage at 10:15 am. I performed yard work in front of and was in and out of garage for 4 hours. At no time was there a hint of smoke or burning. Then cut grass for 2 hours. At about 4 pm smoke was billowing out of the garage. I observed flames and smoke coming from around the front hood. Unable to lift hood to reach fire source with extinguishers or get car into neutral to push out of garage. I was driven by smoke and flame out of garage. Both the 2008 Hyundai and another vehicle in the two car garage burned completely. All contents in garage destroyed extensive smoke damage throughout house. Fire forensic investigator thinks it was caused by the battery but there was too much damage to make much of an informed comment as to precise reason car caught fire. Reason for fire is unknown. …
While driving home on the highway after a rainy day, the ABS light and parking brake lights came on. I checked the parking brake; it was not engaged. The car seemed to be braking on its own as I continued to drive. Upon arriving home, there was some smoke coming from the left front wheel which, after it dissipated, I assumed to be hot, locked up brakes. About an hour later my housemate called to me from the living room telling me my car was on fire and to call 9-1-1. The car was parked in front of my house, under a magnolia tree. The flames engulfed the entire front end of the car, and were about 4-5ft high. The fire department came and hosed the car down, taking about an hour to put out the blaze. The front tires were flat, had melted, and the entire front end was decimated. …
After sitting for 43 hours in our driveway the 2008 Hyundai Elantra caught fire starting on the driver's side of the engine compartment and continued across and through the vehicle. It should be noted the vehicle had a smoking issue in the compartment a month previous and was taken to the Hyundai shop and a repair estimate provided that included the master cylinder and the antilock brake system. At that time when the smoke incident happened the antilock system engaged and the brake pedal went to the floor. I observed where the smoke was coming from and pointed at the ABS block to the service manager. Vehicle went back into use and I ordered parts. Installed master cylinder but ABS parts did not arrive before vehicle immolated itself. In the 43 hour non use gap, the vehicle did not have the remote entry fob used nor any key entry. Fire department put the cause as being an electrical fire.
Electrical complaints in other Elantra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2008 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the electrical system of the 2008 Hyundai Elantra, 10% of the model year's 314 complaints. The component named most often is horn (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Hyundai Elantra electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2008 Hyundai Elantra, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Hyundai Elantra electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 27% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 9 fires and 3 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.