The gas pedal got "stuck" in the down position while driving, resulting in a problem being able to stop the vehicle. I was going approximately 45-50 MPH, passing/merging/accelerating in order to get onto an onramp which curved slightly to go into another main highway. When I pressed on the brakes to slow down a bit for the ramp, nothing happened. My car continued to go at the same speed. I continued to brake, and the car would not slow down. I slid my foot over the gas pedal and could tell it was still completely "down" and making the car accelerate at full capacity. I then glanced down to confirm that the pedal was stuck in the downward position. There was nothing under the pedal, the floor mat was not stuck underneath, nor was it anywhere near where the pedal was pressed down. I clicked my hazards on during the process because since it was an onramp, there was nowhere to pull over. As I continuously pressed on the brakes, the car only slowed down approximately 3-5 MPH total, because the gas pedal was stuck all the way down, therefore the brakes were trying to work against the full power of the acceleration. Once the passenger realized what was happening, he helped by putting the car in neutral. This helped slow the car, and I then pulled the emergency brake. The car came to a stop in the middle of a main highway onramp. The cars behind me were able to react quick enough to go around and not hit the car. I tried to replicate the problem in order to help diagnose this issue and have more information to tell hyundai. Once on a straightaway without other cars nearby, I pressed the gas pedal all the way down, and sure enough I was able to recreate the issue and the pedal got stuck again. Upon trying to recreate it a 3rd time, it did not get stuck and seemed to be working properly. But it did get stuck 2 out of the 3 times. It was terrifying to not be able to stop.
2008 Hyundai Elantra acceleration complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 24 of 24, newest first, as owners wrote them.
We were driving on the highway when the car began to accelerate on its own as if cruise control was on, which it wasn't. We pulled over and pulled the floor mats off in case they were making the gas pedal stick. When we started back up, the car did it again. We tried to pull over again and the brakes didn't stop the acceleration until we threw the emergency brake on. Even then, the brakes were fighting the increased acceleration. We then made our way off the expressway and were able to brake the car enough to turn the engine off. We called a tow truck to bring it to the shop. We are grateful we didn't get in a car accident and are still pretty freaked out about it.
While driving there was unintended acceleration.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 hyundai elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle would not accelerate but then suddenly accelerated and failed to slow down. The contact stated that he had to apply the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. After the vehicle was stopped and the engine was turned off, the contact noticed that the accelerator pedal was seized. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000. Updated 05/10/13*lj updated 05/21/2013
While driving in heavy traffic, inching along at low speed for about 1/2 miles; stopping and starting all the way, suddenly during one of these stops, the motor started to rev and the car accelerated on its own. Had to brake hard to avoid hitting the car in front of me. About 10 minutes later, while parking the car in a parking space, the same thing happened. I had already stopped and was putting the car in park. I took the car to the local hyundai garage where they did road testing. Computer tests showed no codes; so no repairs were made. When the tech line of the manufacturer was contacted on this matter was told that there were no cases relating to this problem on file. Have had this problem sporadically since 2010. Last reported an acceleration problem to the hyundai garage early in the month of december 2012. No one at hyundai wants to help me.
While driving the car began to accelerate on its own,had to push hard on brakes to avoid, hitting another car.brakes had to be applied hard.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 hyundai elantra. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH with the cruise control engaged, she attempted to engage the brakes but they failed to stop the vehicle. Instead, the vehicle abnormally accelerated to 95 MPH. The contact was able to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 34,000 and the current mileage was 89,143.
Recall on 2008 elantra hyundai. Connector cover problem after install- cold weather. After starting, unable to shift gear from park to drive until the weather was warm. The consumer also stated the vehicle suddenly accelerated before she was able to put the gear in park. The consumer crashed into a pole.
I was driving my 2008 hyundai elantra on the highway and began driving on the exit ramp when the brake was applied the car accelerated to a speed of 85mph. I had both feet on the brake and the car would not stop. I put the car in neutral and it slowed to 20mph. At that point I put the car in park and turned it off. The car was smoking and I could smell something burning. Car was taken to hyundai dealership where they told me the throttle cable had debris on it and malfunctioned causing the throttle to accelerate to high speed. The car had accelerated twice before but not to such high speeds and would react to the brakes being applied.
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 hyundai elantra. The contact stated that when the vehicle was in the cruise control mode and she attempted to apply the brakes, the vehicle would suddenly accelerate up to 70 MPH. She had to turn the cruise control off in order to stop the acceleration. She noticed that the failure occurred twice. The contact also stated that she had difficulty shifting into reverse or park gear. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealership where it was awaiting diagnosis. The contact had not spoken with the manufacturer. The current mileage is approximately 26,260. The failure mileage was approximately 26,210. Updated 10/25/10 *bf updated 10/27/10
My 2008 hyundai elantra will automatically accelerate without warning above the speed that I am driving, which almost caused an accident while I had 4 teenagers in my car. I bought my car new and I have been experiencing this problem for at least a year, I'm not sure of the date this problem started. Hyundai dealership experienced the problem and put new transmission in and problem is still not fixed. Hyundai and dealership are refusing to acknowledge the problem still exists. I do not feel safe to drive my family in this vehicle and I won't. I can't seem to get anyone to help me.
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 hyundai elantra. The contact was driving 57 MPH with the cruise control activated. When he attempted to depress the brake pedal to disengage the cruise control the vehicle accelerated. The contact observed the accelerator pedal engaging on its own. He was able to disengage the cruise control and stop the unintended acceleration. The contact attempted to utilize the cruise control a second time and when the brakes were applied, the identical failure occurred. The vehicle was not taken to an authorized dealer. The failure and current mileages were 44,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 hyundai elantra. The contact stated while driving at speeds of 70 MPH with the cruise control set, the vehicle abnormally accelerated to speeds of 90 MPH. The contact then placed the vehicle in neutral and was able to stop the acceleration by applying the brakes. The tow truck driver advised the throttle was still in the open position when the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was left in possession of the dealer for further inspection. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileages were 26,000.
I was driving my 2008 elantra when I approached a sharp curve in the road. I applied my brakes and suddenly the cruise control seemed to activate and the car sped up and left the road . I had no control of the brakes or steering. It seemed as if the vehicle froze. I tried to brake and nothing happened, I tried to steer and the wheel was locked. I ran over several street signs. When the car finally stopped by crashing into a tree, the car was off and the key could not be removed. My airbag did go off however my sons side airbag did not. We both sustained minor physical injuries and major emotional injuries. The car was totaled. Approximately 5 weeks later I received a recall notice on my vehicle. My car was one of the vehicles with the faulty fuel pump that needed replacement. In the notice it stated that if the fuel pump was not replaced it could cause the vehicle to crash. I began to research the recall and noted several other people that experienced similar difficulties. I also had noticed a strange smell (electrical?) the prior two days of the accident. I have been unable to get any information on whether or not the fuel pump was faulty and it was would it have caused the vehicle to behave in the way it did causing it to crash. The vehicle was disposed of immediately so it was unable to be examined. I do not have the VIN # as I no longer have the vehicle. I did however, through the dealership, find out that my vehicle was indeed one of the ones on the recall notice. The problem was first noted in august and the recall began soon after. I was not notified until weeks after the crash.
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