2014 Hyundai Elantra Problems & Complaints

Use caution1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Elantra at the same age

Owners have filed 396 complaints about the 2014 Hyundai Elantra with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 1.5× as many as a typical Elantra model year at the same age — above average, so look closely at the problem areas below before you buy. The most reported problem area is the engine & cooling (175 complaints, typically around 86,000 miles). 2 recalls cover this model year, including one with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning.

396complaints
2recalls
35crashes
16fires
31injuries
2deaths

Most common 2014 Hyundai Elantra problems

Share of the 396 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Hyundai Elantra complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’26112100115551281973153422341821371552673142543804336541.3k39626330079533526626213210210055223
Owner complaints per model year, Hyundai Elantra. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Elantra years: 2025. Years to avoid: 2013, 2017, 2012, 2018, 2011. Compare all years →

2014 Hyundai Elantra recalls (2)

Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module

NHTSA recall 23V-651 · Sep 22, 2023 · 1,649,478 vehiclesPark outside

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge.

Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages

NHTSA recall 17V-769 · Nov 30, 2017 · 390,467 vehicles

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Elantra sedan, coupe and GT vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 8, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151.

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2014 Hyundai Elantra:

Throttle control system vulnerabilities

NHTSA investigation DP21003 · opened Nov 12, 2021 · closed Jun 20, 2023

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003.

Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

NHTSA investigation AQ23002 · opened Nov 17, 2023 · open

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando.

What 2014 Hyundai Elantra owners say

Engine & cooling all 175 →

The contact owned a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off with the contact seated inside the vehicle, there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle. The contact had previously been smoking a cigarette. The vehicle was idling high, and hesitating while accelerating with a weak battery. The battery warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the battery had melted. During a storm, there was a burst of wind followed by a cloud of smoke. The contact and a family member opened the hood and became aware that the engine compartment was on fire. The engine bay was engulfed in flames. The fire was extinguished with rainwater, a shower towel, and a fire extinguisher with assistance from bystanders. …

80,000 miles · Oct 2026 · fire · 2 injuries

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at 40 MPH the brakes became hard and the steering wheel was inoperable. The vehicle caught fire. The ABS warning light was illuminated. There were no reported injuries. The driver was able to extinguish the fire. The driver continued to drive the vehicle. There was no police report filed. The air bags did not deploy. The ABS and battery unit were disconnected by the driver. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

117,000 miles · Mar 2024 · fire

Brakes all 90 →

The contact owned a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off with the contact seated inside the vehicle, there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle. The contact had previously been smoking a cigarette. The vehicle was idling high, and hesitating while accelerating with a weak battery. The battery warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the battery had melted. During a storm, there was a burst of wind followed by a cloud of smoke. The contact and a family member opened the hood and became aware that the engine compartment was on fire. The engine bay was engulfed in flames. The fire was extinguished with rainwater, a shower towel, and a fire extinguisher with assistance from bystanders. …

80,000 miles · Oct 2026 · fire · 2 injuries

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that her daughter was driving the vehicle when the failure occurred. While driving on a city road at 25 MPH, a tractor-trailer crossed in front of the contact's lane. The contact stated that her daughter immediately reacted by taking a sharp left turn in order to avoid a collision. However, upon attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brakes failed to engage, therefore causing the contact to crash into a utility pole. The front passenger side of the contact's vehicle was crashed upon impact with the utility pole, and the vehicle came to a stop upon impact. No property damage was reported. The airbags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a local body shop. The Traction Control Warning light was illuminated. A police report was filed. No injuries were reported. No one outside of the vehicle was injured. …

77,000 miles · May 2025 · crash

Electrical system all 49 →

I believe there was an electrical issue. While driving the car started smoking and my daughter pulled over and the there was fire coming from the engine and after that it just engulfed in flames. Fire was also coming from underneath when 1st started.

120,000 miles · Mar 2024 · fire

I was out running errands and I was taking a break Midway through the day and I had the seat laid back and the car was off the key wasn't even turned forward and I just started to fall asleep when I started feeling something get really hot I opened my eyes and the car was full of thick black smoke so I swung the door open and with all the smoke went out my passenger seat was on fire on the bottom of the seat I burned my hand really bad in the process of trying to put it out which I have some lawyers working on getting me compensated for all this but it seems to have started in the seat heater all of the wires for the seat heater are all melted and you can clearly see how they started to catch the foam on fire I also googled it and there's been a few other cases of people's Hyundai's catching on fire sitting in their driveway and it started in the seat on their cars too I think I'm the …

Dec 2022 · fire · 1 injury

2014 Hyundai Elantra engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
1.8L 4-cyl6-speed automaticFWD27 / 37 / 31
1.8L 4-cyl6-speed manualFWD27 / 36 / 30
2.0L 4-cyl6-speed automaticFWD24 / 34 / 28
2.0L 4-cyl6-speed manualFWD24 / 33 / 27

EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Hyundai Elantra a good car?

Based on 396 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2014 Elantra rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Elantra at the same age. It is one of the Elantra years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2014 Hyundai Elantra?

The engine & cooling — 175 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › oil/lubrication. Next are the brakes (90) and electrical system (49).

How many recalls does the 2014 Hyundai Elantra have?

There are 2 recalls for the 2014 Hyundai Elantra, the most recent from September 22, 2023 (control unit/module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Elantra?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2025. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2017, 2012, 2018 and 2011. See the full Hyundai Elantra years comparison.

At what mileage do 2014 Hyundai Elantra problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 58,000 miles; 43% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

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.