Problems · by component

2008 Hyundai Elantra power train problems

29 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Hyundai Elantra cite power train, 9% of all 316 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
29
9% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“2008 Elantra should be added to the crankshaft Theta II recall. 2098 Elantra has the 2.0L engine unlike its prior years where they are made with a 1.6L engine. Last week my 2008 Elantra exhibited all the signs of this malfunction (A knocking noise from the engine that increases in frequency as the engine rpm increases. Reduced power and/or hesitation and vibration. Illumination of the “check engine” light in the instrument cluster. Illumination of the “engine oil pressure” warning lamp.) When this occured i had taken it to Auto Zone and had the computer scanned for error codes. (See attached report). Based on the report a tune up was done, ignition coil replaced and sensor replaced. Car would still not start. When my mechanic furthe diagnosed it (he could not find the issue until he used his scope camera)he found the issue was that there is damage to the "trigger wheel" inside the crank shaft. He also said this almost never happens in a car and does not know what could have made this happen. Please investigate this issue further, this is a dangerous situation of engine seizing and should be investigated immediately and thoroughly.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 31, 2022Power train, EngineODI 11499650
“MY CAR WOULDN'T START AND HISSED WHEN IT DID KING HYUNDAI SAID "HISSING WAS THE CONDENSATION BECAUSE IT HADN'T BEEN DRIVEN FOR SO LONG" (3 YEARS - JUST WENT OUT AND STARTED IT ONCE IN A WHILE). KH TOLD ME AFTER EXTENSIVE CHECKING & VIDEOING THE UNDERSIDE OF CAR (THEY SENT ME VIDEO) THAT IT WAS THE BATTERY. IT DIED ON THE WAY HOME ! AND THEN: - KH MISDIAGNOSED MY CAR THREE TIMES ! - HEAD GASKET NOW - KH TOLD ME THEY TOOK "SEVERAL TEST DRIVES" YET THE MILEAGE IN & THE MILLAGE OUT ON THEIR INVOICE WAS EXACTLY THE SAME ! - TOOK OVER A MONTH TO GIVE ME ESTIMATE - WILL NOT RETURN MY CALLS (30+ CALLS) TO THE SERVICE MANAGER - DEALER MANAGER FAILED TO RETURN MY CALLS ALSO - EVEN THOUGH HYUNDAI CUSTOMER CARE DEPT THEMSELVES SUGGESTED THE DEALER HONOR THE 100,000/10 YEAR WARRANTY - KH REFUSED ! - KH HAD PUT AN ERRONEOUS LIEN ON THE CAR THE DAY OF PURCHASE AND IT TOOK ME OVER A MONTH TO HAVE REMOVED - PLEASE NOTE: MY MOTHER BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM THIS SAME DEALER - I WAS WITH MOM AND SHE WROTE THEM A CHECK FOR THE FULL PURCHASE PRICE. KH CONVINCED MOM TO ALLOW THEM TO PUT LIEN ON THE CAR WHICH KH TOLD US WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED SO THEY COULD GET THE FINANCING BONUS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 24, 2020Power train, EngineODI 11376182
“THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL AWAY WHEN PLACED IN PARK (WHILE STATIONARY) IF ATTEMPTING TO PARK ON ANY SLIGHT INCLINE OR DECLINE. A RATCHETING SOUND IS HEARD COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN THIS OCCURS AS THE VEHICLE IS ROLLING OUT OF CONTROL. SOMETIMES IT STARTS TO ROLL AFTER YOU HAVE EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME CONCERN SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A GOOD USED TRANSMISSION. NOW THE USED TRANSMISSION IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE WITH NOT STAYING IN PARK. A PEDESTRIAN WAS NEARLY STRUCK LAST WEEK BY THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK IN IT AND STOP IT WITH THE SERVICE BRAKE. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE HYUNDAI ELANTRA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 31, 2019Power trainODI 11292224
“ON AUGUST 3RD 2018 I PURCHASE A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA FROM CAMPBELL AUTO FINANCE USED CARS AND TRUCKS IN GILROY CALIFORNIA WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY DOING 65 I HEARD A BIG THUMPING NOISE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LIKE IT SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE AND CAME BACK INTO DRIVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON EVERY TIME I DROVE THE CAR IT WILL MAKE THAT NOISE POP OUT OF GEAR AND GO BACK INTO DRIVE ON AUGUST 7TH 2018 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR BACK TO GILROY THE CAR MADE A HARD BUMPING NOISE AND THEN THE CAR WAS STUCK INTO 3RD GEAR AND IT'S STILL STUCK IN 3RD GEAR AND IT WILL NOT COME OUT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2018Power trainODI 11118567
“TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO THIRD GEAR WHILE DRIVING (COULD BE ON SIDE STREET, COULD BE ON THE HIGHWAY) AND CAN ONLY OPERATE IN THIRD AFTER THAT UNTIL THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION PLACE AND THEY SAID IT IS THE COMPUTER NOT THE MECHANICS OF THE TRANSMISSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES COME ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES FIRST BEING IN NOVEMBER THE MOST RECENT WAS YESTERDAY ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION APPROPRIATELY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 6, 2018Power trainODI 11060895
“WAS DRIVING AT REGULAR SPEED (35MPH TO 40MPH) THEN MY I FELT A STALL TRANSMISSION AND MY CAR COULDN'T SHIFT UP OR DOWN WAS KEEPING INTO 3RD GEAR AND MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 19, 2015Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 10684218

Showing 6 of 29 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.