2008 Hyundai Elantra: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Oct 26, 2026 · Electrical · 115,000 miles · CA · fire

The contact owned a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that upon pulling into the driveway, the power steering and ABS warning lights illuminated. After researching the warning lights online, the contact turned off and exited the vehicle. The contact became aware of smoke coming from underneath the hood. Upon opening the hood, the contact noticed that the under hood was on fire and called the Fire Department. The Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. The contact was informed that fire had originated under the dashboard nearby the computer. The vehicle was inspected, towed, and then deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired for an engine overheating failure two weeks prior to the fire. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

Filed Aug 20, 2025 · Brakes, Electrical · FL · fire

The engine bay of my car caught fire due to the abs pump and module not turning off. I bought a part but never opened the box because I received a piece of mail stating the recall of that exact issue that they would replace all parts damaged. Which they didn't just installed their relay After Hyundai recall 188 was completed, my ABS pump failed. I believe it was caused by continuous power being applied post-shutdown — the exact defect the recall was meant to fix. The dealer performed an inspection but misrepresented the results and refuses to replace the damaged component under recall. This ABS pump failure is a direct result of the original recall condition — or a failed installation of the relay fix — which continued to keep power applied to the pump while the vehicle was off. This is the exact scenario the recall was intended to prevent. If the failure is caused by that condition, Hyundai is still responsible under recall. The facility which did the recall falsely recorded the mileage on my vehicle as to void any "warranty" associated with the recall as the car hasn't been driven since the module was replaced. I also instructed the diagnosis team of Wesley chapel Hyundai to keep my battery unplugged due to the parasitical drain in order to protect the battery from being dead celled and now I have to replace the battery as well. They also illegally opened a mailed box I had in my car with a part I bought prior to the recall being mailed out which I never took out of the box nor did I open the box and it was fully sealed which is a federal crime. I opened a case in which Hyundai denied helping with this faulty service and are refusing to provide me documents Case no. 41355389.

Filed Jul 6, 2023 · Engine · 127,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while idling at a stop sign, the RPMs dropped extremely low, and the vehicle stalled. After a visual inspection, the contact observed white smoke coming from the engine compartment and a coolant leak underneath the vehicle. Upon restarting the vehicle, the vehicle seemed to return to normal functionality. The contact stated that the failure became a regular issue over the next 6 months. No warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Later, the vehicle was taken to a second independent mechanic, who also failed to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 127,000.

Filed Mar 24, 2023 · Engine · GA · fire

When removing the key from the ignition, the cars engine was still running, as I was unable to turn the vehicle off. After a few tries the car was off and the engine stopped. I drove 1/2 mile, smelled something burning, looked down and saw smoke coming up from my lap area, and immediately turned the car off and jumped out of the vehicle..The engine continued to run while the key was removed... Car was eventually towed by Insurance Company tow company to the Factory Authorized service center

Filed Sep 24, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 113,000 miles · FL · fire

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving when a person waved the driver down that there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was driven some more until the contact noticed that there was heat come up the leg on the driver's side. The contact stated that once exit from the vehicle, noticed that there were flames coming from the hood. The fire department extinguished the fired and informed that it was due to electrical. A police report was filed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

Filed Aug 31, 2021 · Brakes · 157,000 miles · TN · fire

The contact's husband owned a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while asleep, she heard a loud, popping sound emit from outside. The contact looked out the window and saw flames emitting from her husband's vehicle. The authorities were called to the scene and the fire was extinguished. A fire report was filed and no injuries from the fire were reported. Another vehicle and a tree sustained damage as a result of the fire. The vehicle was towed from the scene to an unknown location by her husband's insurance for an inspection. The next day, the contact received a recall notice for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V061000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) which she linked to the failure. The dealer nor the manufacturer have yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.

Filed Aug 30, 2021 · FL · fire

Our car was sitting under our carport and got know on door that our car was on fire! We call 911 the cam and put fire ot that had also taken all the siding off the side of the house. Firemen said fire started under hood they thought. We believe that this fire was caused by a short circuit in abs module. We looked at recalls tonight and found this out.

Filed Apr 6, 2021 · FL · fire

I was laying on the couch asleep and woke up to a sound almost like firework going off looked out my window and saw the entire front end in flames. Car hadn't been driven since 6pm that night. Noticed fire around 12am.

Filed Sep 29, 2020 · Brakes, Engine · 175,000 miles · OR · fire

The car went up in flames while parked in our driveway. It had not been driven for at least 4 hours. It could have caught our house on fire if not for the quick response by the fire department.

Filed Apr 29, 2020 · Brakes · 245,680 miles · LA · crash

About a year ago the ABS pump caught fire it was put out I contacted the ntsa about it to see if it had a recall I was told no well I got a used pump and put it on so I could use the car I couldn't get the plug changed so it was unplugged well my wife was coming back from the store she got to a curve when she started slowing down a little the tires locked up and she hit the ditch and flipped this is all because the ABS wasn't working anymore and I was scared to even get the plug fixed cause if it would have caught fire while my wife and kid was in the car I could have lost my family now I have no vehicle because y'all didn't look into the matter until a year later

Filed Apr 14, 2020 · Electrical · 129,000 miles · MO · fire

My 2008 hyundai caught fire in my garage on february 18, 2020. The fire destroyed my car and my garage. My neighbor happened to be taking his dog out at 4:00 am and smelled smoke. He looked over and saw smoke coming out of my garage.he frantically rang the doorbell, woke me and my husband up and we called 911. We could have died as a result.

Filed Apr 10, 2020 · Brakes, Engine · 150,000 miles · TX · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 hyundai sonata. The contact stated the vehicle was parked in the driveway at her home and caught on fire independently. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact stated she recently received the federal safety agency campaign number: 20v061000 (service brakes, hydraulic) and believes this was the cause of the vehicle fire. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. *bf