Problems · by component

2008 Hyundai Elantra steering problems

55 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Hyundai Elantra cite steering, 17% of all 316 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
55
17% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the steering

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I want to go start my car just now to go to the store and when I turned it on and started it up the ABS lights emergency brake light and EPS light always lit up on my dashboard so I grabbed the manual to try to figure out what it is seen what each was individual thing standard for so I googled each individual and that's when I realized there's a recall for this from my vehicle for the ABS malfunction”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 30, 2024Steering, Service brakesODI 11597834
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 22, 2022Steering, Electrical systemODI 11480559
“The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the steering wheel was making an abnormal clicking noise. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the power steering coupling needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was no longer covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 8, 2021SteeringODI 11432096
“EPS LIGHT IS ON. KNOCKING NOISE WHEN MOVING STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. DIAGNOSED PROBLEM THAT WOULD COST ME $3000 TO REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER LONG RESEARCH, RECALL 127 SHOULD HAVE COVERED MY VEHICLE, BUT IT DID NOT. PLEASE ADVISE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2020Steering, Electrical systemODI 11361171
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED ABNORMALLY WITH THE TPMS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING TO HER DESTINATION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON OCCASION, THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR UNLOCKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR WAS DISCONNECTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SET OF TIRES AND TWO RIMS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 2, 2020Steering, Tires, WheelsODI 11337145
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE STEERING WILL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 6, 2020SteeringODI 11307546

Showing 6 of 55 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

1 recall on this component

Steering: electric power assist system

Free remedy

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.

SteeringReported Feb 23, 2015NHTSA 15V100000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

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