Hyundai Elantra spongy pedal problems

Filed Oct 19, 2026 · Brakes · CA

My 2017 Hyundai Elantra SE 2.0L (outside Recall 157/17V063 VIN range) has suffered 7 intermittent brake failures since 06/03/2026 (~118,563 mi), involving total loss of braking power, a rock-hard pedal, and/or resistance during pedal depression. The vehicle is at Temecula Hyundai and available for inspection. SAFETY RISK: Across 7 incidents (06/03, 06/17, 06/23, 08/29, 09/19, 10/09, 10/11), the brake pedal either met strong resistance halfway down with rapid metallic ticking from the front-left/under-hood area and reduced stopping power, or became completely rock-hard with total loss of braking power for 5-10 seconds (frequently while braking downhill). On 09/19, 1-2 seconds of pedal resistance/ticking transitioned directly into a rock-hard pedal and total brake loss. On 06/03, I had to jump a curb to avoid traffic. On 06/23, 09/19, and 10/11, I had to use the emergency brake to stop. On 10/11, total brake loss approaching a stoplight forced a hard e-brake pull, locking the rear tires and spinning the car sideways in front of cross-traffic before brakes returned 8-10 seconds later. REPRODUCTION & INSPECTIONS: Inspected by Temecula Hyundai across 5 visits (96+ cumulative days in shop) and an independent shop (both verified brake pads, rotors, and calipers are good). In June 2026, a dealer technician reproduced the stiff brake pedal on a road test and replaced the brake booster under warranty (06/16), without documenting on the work order if vacuum check valve/hose or ABS HECU causes were ruled out as the root cause. Failures recurred within the same week. On 10/13, a dealer advisor confirmed a front-left growling/chirping noise on a road test, yet the dealer only suggested customer-pay brake pads (with "high confidence" it would fix the total/complete brake failures). WARNING LAMPS: Zero warning lights or codes have ever appeared before, during, or after any incident. A near-daily front-left growling and chirping noise is present (not constant during all braking).

Filed Aug 3, 2026 · Brakes · 59,000 miles · MO

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the brake pedal felt spongy while depressed. After parking the vehicle, the contact later restarted the vehicle, and the brake pedal extended to the floor while depressed. While inspecting under the hood, the contact discovered that there was no brake fluid inside the brake fluid reservoir. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V651000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), and a fuse was replaced. The manufacturer and the local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 59,000.

Filed Jul 22, 2025 · Brakes, Electrical · OH

The vehicle has experienced ongoing powertrain and electrical malfunctions over several months. The most common symptoms include being stuck in 4th gear (limp mode), complete loss of RPM and speedometer readings, and illumination of the check engine and ESC lights. Most recently, while traveling at approximately 10 mph, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of both acceleration and braking. The brake pedal became stiff and unresponsive, and the car had to coast to a stop without driver control. This posed a serious safety risk to myself and nearby traffic. These issues have persisted across multiple service visits to Ricart Hyundai in Groveport, Ohio. That dealership has replaced the crankshaft position sensor three times, the powertrain control module (PCM), and the battery, but the underlying problems remain unresolved. A technician at the dealership was able to reproduce the stalling event during a test drive. Despite that, the dealership has refused to proceed with further diagnostics unless I pay for an oil change, even though previous inspections by their own staff found no visible leaks and confirmed the oil level was sufficient at the time. They have also revoked complimentary access to a loaner vehicle despite the unresolved and unsafe condition of the car. The vehicle remains available for inspection. The problem has been confirmed by a dealership, has occurred repeatedly, and continues to pose a safety concern. Warning lights and gauge failures typically appear when the issue occurs.

Filed Aug 31, 2021 · Brakes · CA

The brake system continually fails intermintently and is placing the driver and all passengers at risk of injury and or even death. The brake pedal stiffens not allowing pressure to be applied to use brakes. The pedal has to be pressed in aggressivly 5-10 times before finally allowing brake assist to help brake the vehicle. Once pedal begins to activate again it is followed with heavy grinding then finally almost resumes as normal with normal braking. The brake assist system has failed on almost 10 occasions on myself and has been taken in for repairs 4 times and fails to be repaired and appears to not ever be located. The recall regarding the brake booster was fixed, but yet brakes continued to fail after repair. The dealership has since taken it back in for repair and said they located leaking rear back brake pistons and repaired that. I was given car back and the next day experienced brake failure on 2 occasions on the freeway. I immediately gave the vehicle back to the dealer where it is today and they now believe it is the ABS system modular. The dealership continues to take it in but fails to locate the issue causing brake system failure. There have been no warning lamps or other issues that have relation to brake system failure. Since issue appeared first 2 months ago, I have replaced brake pads, brake fluid flush, brake booster recall, back brake pistons, and now ABS modular, and brakes continue to still fail.

Filed Sep 3, 2019 · Brakes · 26,600 miles · PA

I have mid 26k miles I checked my brake fluid and pads they are both good. The brakes for the past 3 months roughly 15k miles (I drive 5k miles a month) have been spongy and soft. Unless I hit the brakes hard they barely work. Sometimes I have. To pump my brakes 2 or 3 times to have them feel normal. I'm going to take my car to the dealership and look over the ABS system and braking system since it seems very unsafe and I have a newborn. It seems like the car only does it at speeds above 25 or 30mph

Filed Sep 19, 2017 · Acceleration, Brakes · 7,500 miles · NJ

3 occurrences: leave from parking space- turn on engine- wait until tachometer goes to 1- with foot on brake, shift into d- tachometer reaches 5 on speeding engine before able to turn off ignition. Driving very slow- with foot on brake- in forward to large parallel parking- speeds up- brakes spongy- does not stop car. Only high curb prevents car from climbing on sidewalk and giving me time to turn ignition off. Stopping at traffic light on road with a 35 mile speed zone. After stop, brake becomes spongy, car's wheels begin skidding- can only turn off ignition to stop the car. Everything back to normal when I turned ignition back on, as was the case with the first and second occurrences listed above. Vehicle was stationary in the first occurrence, was in motion in a park in the second occurrence and on a county road with a slight turn to the left in the third occurrence.

Filed Aug 15, 2016 · Transmission · 2,400 miles · AZ

When shifting from reverse to drive on an incline usually sends me heading back in reverse again until I apply the brake pedal hard for a few seconds. This happened to me a lot in my driveway and most recently on a steep mountain, which was really scary. The vehicle starts from stationary motion to reverse, then stop, shift into drive and it rolls back in reverse again. Almost like a manual transmission does. Please investigate.

Filed Apr 4, 2016 · Brakes, Steering · 45,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai elantra. While driving 25 MPH, the vehicle became difficult to steer. The vehicle would sway to the left and the right instead of driving steady. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn and the brakes felt spongy. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000.

Filed Aug 8, 2014 · Brakes, Suspension · 10,000 miles · CA

Driving on freeway at speed of approx. 65-70, hit off level pavement on right side on road while braking to slow (for traffic) and brake pedal hardened (pedal hard to press for few seconds) while making clicking sound, but then functioned properly. Felt like front pass wheel. Figured nothing. Months passed, driving in shopping center and going over speed bump at about 5 MPH and front wheel made clicking again while braking to slow further and brake pedal hardened again (difficult to press for few seconds) then functioned properly. Took car to dealer for regular maintenance and informed dealer of situation and service rep claimed it was how the ABS system worked and that was all it was, the ABS system working. Told him this problem does not happen when the left wheel is involved hitting or going over bump. First time owned vehicle with ABS but I think the brake pedal is not suppose to harden up while ABS system is functioning as this would limit any braking capacity. Feels like there is a bigger problem and dealer is not taking it seriously. Original owner since 7/31/13, this problem has happened at least 4 times and all seemed to only involve the front passenger wheel.

Filed Apr 8, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 1,500 miles · FL · crash

I was driving my 2014 hyundai elantra (that I had only had for 3 months, had 1,500 miles on the car) home from the airport, had my cruise control set on 55 for the previous 30 minutes, and I noticed the car in front of me was braking. Naturally, I pressed the brake as well to slow down, but the brakes did not work. The brake pedal was hard as rock and would not press in at all and therefore I could not slow down and cruise control did not disengage. I kept trying to press the brake as hard as I could, but the brake pedal was hard and would not work and cruise control kept accelerating. I pressed the cancel cruise control button on my steering wheel, but that did not disengage either. Just has I was shifting my car to neutral, my car rear-ended the lexus in front of me. After my car struck the lexus (my foot still on the brake pedal), I felt the brake finally press in and I was able to slow down and pull off the side of the road. The brake malfunction is still under investigation, but upon my own investigation, I found a recall of hyundai elantra year models 2007-2011 for this very issue that caused my car accident.