2008 Hyundai Elantra: sudden loss of power

Filed Dec 31, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · NY

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.

Filed Mar 25, 2021 · Steering · 167,000 miles · NY

The eps light will flash repeatedly on and off while stationary and driving causing loss of power steering. Restarting the vehicle fixes it temporary.

Filed Jan 17, 2017 · Steering · 79,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 hyundai elantra. While driving 30 MPH and making a right turn down a hill, the electronic power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle lost power steering ability and became hard to steer. The vehicle was turned off and, upon restarting, the steering returned to normal. The dealer stated that the VIN was excluded from the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v100000 (steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.

Filed Feb 18, 2016 · Engine, Steering · 35,895 miles · CA

Car loses power when driving car at low speed, car just shuts down and would need to place in park and restart the car, also lost power steering while driving car on the freeway, card wheel locked and car lost all power, was able to place it in park and restarted it, but was with out power steering, car shakes when driving passed 70 miles an hr.

Filed Jun 19, 2013 · Steering · 29,123 miles · CA

The power steering failed while driving my 2008 hyundai elantra at the speed limit on a 4 lane, non divided highway in rush hour traffic. I was driving my car to work in normal morning rush hour traffic.there was no warning. While moving at the speed limit, the steering wheel locked up and lost all power to the car.this is a dangerous situation. I had no prior warning of any type that the steering was defective or would fail. It failed while the vehicle was moving. This incident could have had very dire results.

Filed Oct 20, 2010 · Steering · 19,000 miles · AZ

My 2008 hyundai elantra with 19,000 miles on it suddenly lost power as I was crossing a railroad track. (10/2010) I immediately tried to start it again and it did start but as I drove on, the engine seemed to "miss" then keep going, then "miss" again. It did this for about 2 blocks when I stopped at a gas station. I called the dealership and they towed it. They called to say that they thought it was a "steering" problem and the brake automatically engaged. I got another call several days later saying the car was ready to pick up. This was followed a few hours later by another call saying they had test driven the car and it failed. They said they were in touch with the regional office for help. I called their consumer affairs dept. And was told that the service dept. Had failed to perform one of several tests required to determine the problem. They were to call me within 1-3 days. It is day 2 now and I haven't heard anything. I do not trust hyundai and want to get rid of the car. I have been assigned a "consumer rep" who will now be the only person I will be allowed to talk to regarding the car. If the engine shut-down had occurred on a major highway or in heavy traffic through which I was about to go, it could have caused a serious accident. I am not willing to drive a car that is dangerous. Can I believe hyundai when/if they tell me my car has been fixed????? I doubt it!

Filed Aug 15, 2008 · Fuel system · 1,100 miles · IN

Was driving new elantra (1100 miles and 12 days of ownership) on highway when vehicle started sputtering and lost power no matter how much gas I fed it. Pulled over and turned off car. Restarted vehicle with difficulty and "check engine" light indicating emissions problem came on. Car seemed fine until 2-3 miles later when same symptoms (lurching, losing power) recurred.. This happened 2 more times, each time I managed to pull off road, turned off car, let it sit and then took multiple attempts at starting before it engaged and ran very rough, with very little power. Intent was to get to a safe place to stop. Car was towed to nearest huyndai dealership (I was 150 miles from home) where they initially diagnosed bad gas. But car ran 175 miles on that tank of gas before problem occurred. Then they diagnosed bad fuel pump and replaced fuel pump. Hyundai roadside assistance was useless -- had to arrange for own tow truck -- hyundai did not offer replacement vehicle or even reimbursement for gas for me to drive back and forth to pick up my dead new car from being repaired 150 miles from home. We've not had further problems (now have 7500 miles on it) but I am on edge expecting another break-down after reading other people's experiences.

Filed Aug 4, 2008 · Engine · 1,115 miles · DE

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 hyundai elantra. While turning at 15 MPH, the vehicle suddenly began to lose power when the accelerator pedal was depressed. Instead of accelerating, the engine slowed down, but never lost complete power. The contact pulled the vehicle over for approximately 20 minutes and attempted to restart it, but was unsuccessful. When she proceeded to accelerate, the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact drove the vehicle back to her residence. The following day the vehicle was towed to a dealer and they stated that nothing was wrong with the vehicle; however, they suspected that the failure could have been due to the fuel quality. Through online research, the contact found numerous complaints and even an investigation on the same failure she is experiencing. The current and failure mileages were 1,115.

Filed Jul 27, 2008 · Engine · 4,750 miles · PA

My 2008 hyundai elantra started losing power at 70 MPH, and almost stalled on the highway. I pulled off the road at the next exit and the car continued to reduce speed. I safely parked the car, and had to have the car towed. I was 300 miles away from my home. If I had stalled on the highway it would have been extremely dangerous.

Filed Jul 22, 2008 · Engine · 9,080 miles · MA

2008 hyundai elantra with 9082 miles @ time of incident yesterday, on the way home from work on I-90 in massachussets traveling at highway speed, the vehicle lost power and would not accelerate or maintain speed. Had to make an emergency lane change to get over to the breakdown lane - this could have been dangerous. Vehicle at first would not accelerate beyond 20 MPH after pulling over, then ran ok for a while. This morning, it stalled at the end of my driveway, but I was able to start again. Then it would not accelerate above 20 MPH several times and would buck/run rough once at 20 MPH. I was able to limp it to the local hyundai dealership in arlington ma, where it is currently.

Filed Jul 22, 2008 · Engine, Fuel system · 1,201 miles · AL

Purchased brand new 2008 hyundai elantra june 5, 2008. Since purchasing the car it broke down within 30 days with the check engine light coming on and the engine losing power. The dealership replaced the oxygen sensor and part of the exhaust because the sensor was seized up inside it. Within 2 days of getting the car back the check engine light came on again and the car lost power and the engine was rough. The first time it happened was in heavy traffic and during a left hand turn into oncoming traffic. Fortunately, the engine regained power and I was able to avoid an accident. The dealership now plans to replace the fuel pump. However, it is on backorder and we will probably be without the car a total of at least 30 days or more due to these repairs. We have contacted an attorney because we no longer have trust in the safety of the vehicle especially since it will be used to transport our 4 month old to day care every day. We haven't even had the car 60 days yet.

Filed Jul 16, 2008 · 100 miles · WI

I purchased a brand-new, 2008 hyundai elantra gls on july 8. I drove the vehicle for about 100 miles from the time I drove off the lot through the end of the 24-hour new ownership period. About 24-25 hours after I bought the car, the vehicle lost power during a typical left-hand turn that I made while pulling out into an intersection. The car had about 125 miles on it. The car lost complete power in the middle of the intersection. The vehicle malfunctioned at about 5:00 pm on wednesday, july 9. I had to place the vehicle in park and restart it (still in the middle of the intersection during the malfunction). I drove the car to the nearest hyundai dealer after not being able to get towing assistance through hyundai. The hyundai service department ran tests on it for two days. They found a "misfire code on cylinder 1", but could not find how to repair the problem. The car has been transferred back to the dealer I purchased it from. It has been in the shop from wednesday, july 9 at 8:56pm until today. The car poses a danger to me and others. The vehicle lost complete power in the middle of the intersection while I was trying to drive in normal conditions. Had this happened on a busier road, I may have been hit by oncoming traffic.