What 258 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Hyundai Elantra Hev

When driving the car loses power steering and is harder to control. I am at risk because I cannot control the car how I am suppose to. I have called before but there are no Hyundai service dealers close to me. There was nothing prior but now that it is happening there are warning lamps on.

NHTSA ODI 11606862

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of motive power, and the vehicle was difficult to steer. The ABS light, traction control, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and steering wheel warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and has not been repaired. The contact also stated the vehicle was taken to the mechanic for an oil leak 3 times, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

NHTSA ODI 11576941

When you go to stop at a stop.sihn or in general it fails to do so. It locks up an I slide an almost hit people multiple times. Today I was backing out of a parking lot an when I went to turn my steering wheel straight it locked up an failed to let me counter steer it. Causing me to go over a curb an almost blow my tire out. Leaving my tire with a big bubble on the side of my tire. Eventually going to lead to a blow out.

NHTSA ODI 11517721

On February 17, 2023, my vehicle was broken into and damaged because thieves tried to highjack the car using a now common method of the end of a USB cable in the ignition. The passenger rear window, the steering column, and the key ignition were all damaged, and I had my vehicle towed to a Hyundai dealership. Nearly all 2011-2021 Kia and Hyundai vehicles are made easy to operate without a key, to steal, and to vandalize. This security vulnerability has resulted in Kia and Hyundai owners paying for repairs (even with insurance, owners need to pay the deductible) and higher insurance premiums. Hyundai and Kia did not disclose this defect, which is a material fact, and a fact that a reasonable person would rely on when purchasing a vehicle, consequently making these vehicles easy to steal, unsafe, and worth less than they should be. The service writer at the dealership informed me that it could take 30-45 days to get the parts since this type of vandalism has increased significantly over the last six months. It has become well-known that these thefts are due to security flaws (re: failure to implement standard security measures and install anti-theft devices) in Kia and Hyundai vehicles, leaving them notably susceptible to theft. Kia and Hyundai owners, including myself, are left with limited time use of rental cars during repairs, oftentimes because of the delay in the delivery of parts. This situation also leaves Kia and Hyundai owners with higher insurance rates (or being simply denied of obtaining insurance) because of these vehicles.

NHTSA ODI 11510696

The steering makes a knocking noise when I turn the steering wheel. The dealer states I need to replace the rack and pinion assembly. I have read of other driver's complaints regarding steering issues. I am also aware of a previous recall for the same issue with earlier Elantras.

NHTSA ODI 11508062

My 2015 Hyundai Elantra steering binds at highways speeds after having driven 20 minutes or so. I am able to overcome this by using extra effort to move the steering wheel; but it come back again. It does not happen at lower speeds. I consider this dangerous as I don't know if this binding (or sticking) problem will get worse. This has been going on since October of 2022. The binding occurs while driving straight at highway speeds.

NHTSA ODI 11501975

Power steering locks up while driving at high speed, could not turn wheel. Took a picture once slowed down to 20mph. Turned car off and on and was able to continue driving. Attempted to make a 3 pt turn to park, steering locked up again.

NHTSA ODI 11487174

WHILE DRIVING MY 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA IT STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE FROM THE AREA AROUND THE ENGINE. THIS NOISE EVENTUALLY GREW TO A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE KNOCKING NOISE CONTINUED AND I BEGAN TO FEEL IT VIBRATING IN MY STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN GRAND JUNCTION, CO TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN CAME OUT AND AS SOON AS I DESCRIBED IT HE SAID HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND INSPECTING IT HE ASSURED ME THAT THE CONNECTION RODS AND BEARINGS WERE GOING OUT AND THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE THAT HAD 50,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS ALSO GIVEN THE OPTION TO ONLY REPLACE THE LOWER HALF OF MY ENGINE FOR HALF THE PRICE BUT THAT PRICE WOULD POSSIBLY EVEN OUT TO AN ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE COST OF LABOR WOULD GO UP. I DECIDED TO RESEARCH THIS ISSUE FURTHER AND HAVE FOUND THAT RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND ISSUE BUT MY VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE PART OF THE RECALL. THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE FOR MY FAMILY AND I AS I HAVE NOT USED THIS VEHICLE SINCE MAY 2020 AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY HYUNDAI THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN OR WILL DO TO HELP ME BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11389015

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 68 MILES PER HOUR I NOTICED AN ODD SKIPPING IN THE STEERING. EVENTUALLY THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE AND A STEERING WARNING LIGHT AS WELL AS THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WE DROVE TO A GAS STATION, TURNED IT OFF AND WHEN IT WAS RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. THE SKIPPING CONTINUED AND WE HAVE HAD 2 MORE INSTANCES OF THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT, BOTH TIMES AT SLOW SPEEDS WHICH MADE IT INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT I NEED TO TAKE THE CAR TO GET LOOKED AT BY A CERTIFIED HYUNDAI SERVICE TECHNICIAN. WHEN I REACHED OUT TO THEM, THEY EXPLAINED THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC PAYMENT AS WELL AS ANY REPAIR COSTS SINCE MY WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE ON THIS MODEL.

NHTSA ODI 11354960

WHILE DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER BACK TO COLLEGE THIS JANUARY (2020) MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH NOTICED THAT THE STEERING ON HER 2015 ELANTRA WAS STICKING. WE ONLY NOTICED IT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT SEEMED TO BE FINE AT LOWER SPEEDS AND WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IN TOWN ONCE WE GOT TO HER SCHOOL. BUT IT WAS REALLY BAD ON THE HIGHWAY, ESPECIALLY ONCE THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR 10 MINUTES OR SO. IT WOULD DRIVE STRAIGHT, BUT AS SOON AS THERE WAS ANY KIND OF GRADUAL CURVE IN THE ROAD IT WOULD STICK IN THE STRAIGHT POSITION AND NEED EXTRA FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO FOLLOW THE ROAD. THAT WOULD RESULT IN OVER TURNING THAT NEEDED CORRECTING BACK. THIS SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS. I CANNOT BELIEVE WITH THE OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE THAT THIS ISSUE DOES NOT AT LEAST HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN ATTACHED TO IT.

NHTSA ODI 11306736

I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH TRYING TO KEEP THE CAR DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE HIGHWAY. AT "IN TOWN SPEEDS" IT SEEMS FINE. IT FEELS AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL GETS STUCK IN PLACE OR LOCKED UP. THE CAR WANTS TO ALWAYS GO EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT, WHICHEVER WAY THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO SLIGHTLY. I THOUGHT THAT IT MAY BE THE TIRES SO I HAD THEM ROTATED, NO CHANGE. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES, STILL NO CHANGE. I HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED AND ALL STEERING AND SUSPENSION ITEMS VISUALLY INSPECTED AND ALL WAS FINE. IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND NOW IS TO THE POINT WHERE I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH TODAY TO SEE IF OTHERS HAD RUN INTO THIS ISSUE FOR A POSSIBLE SOLUTION. WOW WAS I SURPRISED TO SEE HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. I THEN CAME TO YOUR SITE AND ENTERED MY VIN AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE. AS I WAS READING ON I FOUND WHERE TO ENTER A COMPLAINT HERE SO I AM DOING SO IN HOPES TO HAVE A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM THAT MANY ARE HAVING.

NHTSA ODI 11258199

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,103.

NHTSA ODI 11251848

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC MY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11246445

STEERING BINDS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS REQUIRING EXTRA EFFORT TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL. THIS ADDED EFFORT RESULTS IN OVER COMPENSATION ONCE BINDING IS OVERCOME. THIS IS EXPERIENCED WHILE ADJUSTING TO MAINTAIN FORWARD DIRECTION, AS WELL AS TURNING. IT IS NOT QUITE AS NOTICEABLE AT LOWER SPEEDS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW.

NHTSA ODI 11143523

MY ELANTRA 2015 ( 70 K) SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11115154

HELLO PURCHASED 2015 ELANTRA USED WITH 29,000 MILES HAD STEERING ISSUES ALONG WITH BAD TIRES,WE EXPERIENCE A SITUATION IN THE STEERING LIKE THE CAR CANNOT DRIVE STRAIGHT WITHOUT MAKING CONSTANT LEFT OR RIGHT ADJUSTMENTS IN THE WHEEL TO KEEP IN THE LANE, ALMOST LIKE A BICYCLE CHAIN SLIPPING ON THE SPROCKET AS AN EXAMPLE, WE DID TAKE IN FOR VEHICLE INSPECTION 3 TIMES,THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG FIRST TIME AND JUST TIGHTENED STEERING COLUMN, STILL WAS FAULTY, SO SCHEDULED ANOTHER APPOINTMENT, THIS TIME A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND NEW TIRES WOULD SOLVE THIS ISSUE,DID PUT 4 NEW TIRES AND SKIPPED THE ALIGNMENT AND HAD CALLED HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA CORPORATE, THEY CALLED SERVICE MANAGER OF CAR DEALERSHIP DIRECTLY TO DO COMPLETE VEHICLE INSPECTION, NOTHING WAS WRONG ACCORDING TO THE MASTER TECHNICIAN, SO EVIDENTLY IT WAS GOING TO BE FAULTY AND IT IS STILL HAVING STEERING ISSUE, AS IT IS THE DESIGN OF THE CAR FOR THIS YEAR AS MENTIONED BY SERVICE MANAGER. THE CORPORATE PERSON I CONTACTED IS VERY SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, BUT DEALERSHIP IS DE SENSITIZED I THINK TO THE SITUATION, THIS IS MY LAST ATTEMPT FOR POSSIBLE CONSIDERATION,ALONG WITH FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE FTC WITH THE ISSUE AND SALES NEVER PROVIDED THE MONRONEY WINDOW STICKER, I HAVE NO COMPARISON OF THE WINDOW STICKER QUOTED SALES PRICE VERSUS CONTRACT SALES PRICE AND OPTIONAL AND STANDARD EQUIPMENT. AS THIS ISSUE IS SERIOUS IN MY CONCERN IS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THIS SITUATION, WE DO NOTICE AS WELL DRIVING IN TOWN, AT THE PRESENT TIME WE HAVE TO MUCH INVESTED IN THE CAR OTHERWISE WOULD TRADE FOR A NEWER MODEL OF THE CAR AS WE DID RENT THE 2017 ELANTRA SE MODEL AND THIS ISSUE IS NOT APPARENT IN THE NEW VEHICLE, A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE CAN BE FELT IN THE NEWER CAR. PERHAPS SOMETHING IN THE STEERING IN THE 2015 IS FAULTY OR JUST WEARS OUT PREMATURELY, THANKS FOR ACCEPTING THIS COMPLAINT

NHTSA ODI 11079142

ON A RECENT TRIP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I NOTICED A BINDING IN THE STEERING WHEEL.WHEN TRYING TO MAKE CORRECTIONS TO THE VEHICLE TRACKING THE STEERING WHEEL TOOK EXCESSIVE FORCE TO MAKE THESES CORRECTIONS.THIS EXCESSIVE FORCE OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS EXCLUSIVELY.THE STEERING IN NORMAL IN TAKE OFF AND CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ODI 11075106

STEERING WHEEL HAS WHAT FEELS LIKE A NOTCH IN IT. IT SITS RIGHT WHERE YOU HAVE TO ADJUST THE STEERING AS YOU DRIVE. YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY COMPENSATE FOR THIS. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER THEY RESET SOMETHING BUT IT IS BACK AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 10911072

THE STEERING SYSTEM DEVELOPS A STICKY/DEAD ZONE THAT FEELS LIKE A NOTCH IN THE STEERING, RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. IT REQUIRES A BIT OF FORCE TO MAKE MICRO CORRECTIONS OR TO GET PAST THAT HARD RESISTANCE. IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 10897436

THIS IS OUR SECOND NEW HYUNDAI ELANTRA, MODEL YEAR 2015. AFTER ABOUT 16,000 MILES, WE NOTICED A "GLITCH" THAT SEEMED TO BE OCCURRING AT HIGHER, BUT MODEST SPEEDS (40-65 MPH). THE SMOOTH STEERING-WHEEL RANGE OF MOTION THAT WE ARE NORMALLY USED TO SEEMED TO CHANGE AT ROAD SPEEDS, EXHIBITING A POINT WHERE MINOR L-R STEERING-WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS WERE STIFF, ALMOST LIKE A "DETENT" IN A NORMAL SMOOTH RANGE OF MOTION. RESEARCHING THIS BEHAVIOR, I ALSO FOUND COMMENTS ON THE NET THAT WERE DESCRIBED AS "STICKY" STEERING WITH 2012 MODEL ELANTRAS...SEEMED LIKE A GOOD DESCRIPTIVE TERM. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED BY AN WHEEL ALIGNMENT LAST WEEK, BUT A RE-VISIT TO THE DEALER TODAY AND DISCUSSION WITH THEIR SERVICE MANAGER, SUGGESTED THAT THERE MAY BE A STEERING ASSIST-PUMP SERVO ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN KNOWN TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SYMPTOMS. THERE WAS A DISCUSSION WITH THE SVC MANGER OF A REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT THAT ACTION WILL SOLVE THE MATTER.

NHTSA ODI 10859895

WHEN VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH THE STEERING STICKS AT CENTER POSITION. NEED TO OVER STEER TO GET VEHICLE BACK INTO A STRAIGHT LINE ON HIGHWAY. TOLD THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY BRUSHED IT OFF AS A NO DEFECT. THIS PROBLEM IS MORE THAN JUST A NUISANCE ESPECIALLY DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE. DEFINITELY A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ASAP. PROBLEM SEEMS TO GET WORSE AS THE ENGINE WARMS UP. POSSIBLE STEERING CONTROL MODULE FAILURE, UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI 10854619

ON THE EVENING OF 4/7/2015 I RENTED A 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA FROM ENTERPRISE. THE NEXT EVENING, 4/8/2015 AT ABOUT 10:30PM, I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE RV PARK WHERE WE WERE STAYING. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH AND HAD JUST DRIVEN OVER A SMALL BRIDGE THAT HAD A VERY SLIGHT BUMP AT THE END BEFORE THE ROAD CURVED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. AS I WENT OVER THE BUMP THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I FOUND MYSELF HEADING STRAIGHT INTO THE WOODEN WALL ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN TO THE LEFT, AWAY FROM THE WALL, AND CRASHED THROUGH IT. LUCKILY, BECAUSE I WAS GOING SO SLOW, I DID NOT WIND UP GOING INTO THE CONCRETE AND STEEL RETAINER WALL BEHIND THE WOODEN WALL, AND NO ONE WAS HURT. THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND THE WOODEN WALL, HOWEVER, WERE BADLY DAMAGED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ALSO HAD PROBLEMS GETTING THE STEERING TO RESPOND WHEN HE WAS BACKING THE CAR OUT OF THE WALL. IT FINALLY UNLOCKED AFTER HE KEPT AT IT FOR A FEW MINUTES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10704997

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN DRIVING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED BACK AND FORTH. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. UPDATED 5/12/15*CN

NHTSA ODI 10704629

THE CAR SWAYS BACK AND FORTH WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TIRES AND ALIGNMENT, WERE CHECKED AND EVERYTHING IS GOOD. CAN NOT STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE FOR VERY LONG. SWITCHED FROM COMFORT, SPORT, NORMAL AND NO DIFFERENCE. IF THERE IS LITTLE WIND OUT THE CAR GETS EVEN WORSE AND DOES NOT STAY STRAIGHT. NO ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP CAN EXPLAIN AND SEEMS THEY DON'T CARE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10702325

THE STEERING COLUMN HAVE UNUSUAL OVERHEAT, THEY BEGIN TO WARM, AT 30 MINUTES OF NORMAL DRIVING , THE COLUMN HAVE 122 FAHRENHEIT DEGREES, IN THE INTERIOR, EXACTLY IN THE LEGS, ITS RISKY TO MY HEALTH PLEASECHECK IT, THE DEALER, REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN , BUT THE FAULT REMAINS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10654095