2014 Hyundai Elantra Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 84,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was sold this car in July of 2025, and I was sold an extended warranty. I didn’t know about the recall, the recall caused engine failure so the warranty company refuses to pay for the new engine and Hyundai refuses to pay for the new engine even though the recall caused it and the dealership that sold it to me refuses to pay for the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Component: Engine (oil intrusion cylinders 1, 2, and 4). Vehicle currently at Stevens Creek Hyundai, available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: Large volume of smoke while driving, reduced visibility, and risk of further engine damage while unresolved. Reproduced/confirmed: Yes. Independent mechanic (Liberti's Automotive…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 51,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard, and the brakes made abnormal grinding sounds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the front brakes, but the rear brakes were leaking brake fluid. The…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 52,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that her daughter was driving the vehicle when the failure occurred. While driving on a city road at 25 MPH, a tractor-trailer crossed in front of the contact's lane. The contact stated that her daughter immediately reacted by taking a sharp left turn in order to avoid a…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 77,300 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 34,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was out running errands and I was taking a break Midway through the day and I had the seat laid back and the car was off the key wasn't even turned forward and I just started to fall asleep when I started feeling something get really hot I opened my eyes and the car was full of thick black smoke so I swung the door open and with all…Owner complaint, filed 2022

When stopping at a light or parking lot, the car seems to struggle and shuts off. When I turn the engine on, the car struggles to start up and all of the car dash board lights tend to cut off with no warning sounds. I Installed new battery, changed the oil and had a repair shop look over the car and was told nothing was found.Owner complaint, filed 2022

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 42,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

Airbag sensor on dash board states air bag is off and driver dashboard still reflects issue. Air bag fuses were checked:they are okay.Owner complaint, filed 2024

I was involved in an accident where I was rear ended at a high rate of speed and pushed into the vehicle in front of me. I was thrown forward, hitting my head/left eye on something inside the vehicle. I received significant facial injuries and neck pain. My car was totaled from the impact but not a single airbag deployed. I cannot…Owner complaint, filed 2021

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 14,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

I own a 2014 hyundai elantra limited. It handles normally when in town driving but while driving highway speeds, the vehicle veers slightly from left to right and you cannot keep the vehicle straight in center. It is hard to maneuver as the steering appears to stick in either position as you fight to keep it in the center of the road. It…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 131,000 miles

When driving at speeds over 45 MPH the steering feels as if it "locks" in the center position driving straight. Not that it is stiffer to to turn but "locks' in the center position. You must use more force to get past this "lock" or null position. This is not speed sensitive steering! This seems only to happen when driving straight and…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 13,500 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 27,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

When driving the vehicle the tachometer and speedometer remain at zero. This has been happening on and off for about a month. Multiple scan tools have been used to scan the vehicle with no codes appearing. Sometimes the vehicle will rev up but not accelerate.Owner complaint, filed 2022

The contact owns a 2014 hyundai elantra. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate without warning and the rpm's failed. The contact took the vehicle to family hyundai (8101 w 159th st, tinley park, il 60477), but the failure could not be duplicated. The contact sent an email to the [VIN], but had not received…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 28,804 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 66,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

Having trouble with fuel pump. Have had many appts. With my mechanic. Has lost power while driving and had to have it towed in. Engine light stays on no matter sensors.Owner complaint, filed 2024

Check engine light came on due to a leak in the vehicle emission system. The car repeatedly stalled and shut off when the car stopped at lights. The tachometer also failed to register while driving and difficulty accelerating worsened. During inspection of the car a leak of fumes was noted coming from the evaporator canister and once it…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 55,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

I am reporting a failure I personally witnessed while servicing a 2014 Hyundai Elantra; I am not the vehicle owner. On September 24, 2026, at approximately 11 PM and approximately 124,160 miles, both stop/retaining tabs on the automatic transmission oil-level check plug broke during rotation while attempting to remove it for a…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Car engages into drive with a jolt. Sometimes at traffic lights, it just doesn't move forward when brakes are let go & then I have to raise the RPM to 3K+ to bring it back to motion, again with a big jolt. While driving on the freeway or streets, if you slow down, the car might choose not to engage back in up gears until you rev up the…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 14,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2014 hyundai elantra. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, the vehicle vibrated abnormally on the driver and passenger's side front of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to bob baker hyundai located at (5285 car country dr, carlsbad, ca 92008) where the vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 10,000 miles

Vehicle sways at moderate to high accelerations and upon hitting obstacles, or even in significant winds or drafts. Veering slightly left or right after bumps was commonplace, but after 113,000, over the course of just a few days sway problem has become severe at accelerations above 45 MPH. Have since read online about numerous hyundai…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 113,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 60,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake light was illuminated, and the brake pedal stopper pad detached. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 79,152 miles

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the brake lights failed to turn off. The contact stated that the traction control warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed but not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V574000…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 83,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 18,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2014 hyundai elantra. The contact stated that the rear tires blew out without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle was not equipped with a spare tire. The contact was uncertain if a dealer was contacted. The contact notified the [VIN] online regarding the lack of a spare tire, but had not received a response.…Owner complaint, filed 2018

The hankook h426 tires on this car are extremely vulnerable to destruction caused by minor road hazards such as stones and shallow potholes or ridging in the roadway, even when struck at speeds below 30 MPH. I purchased this car in march of 2014 and have since replaced 6 tires at full cost. The last incident occurred on 1/22/2016 while…Owner complaint, filed 2016

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 40,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (6).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

Since I bought my 2014 hyundai elanyra it has had a problem with leaking water to the inside of the vehicle on the passengers side. Apparently it's a leak from the ac hose and it's clogged? Now my floor is weak and it is rotting out due to the water damage. I've had it repaired but it continues to leak after several weeks of being fixed!…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 40,000 miles

Hatch door recall. On hot days the rear spoiler on the hatch door swells and as a result it will stick and jam preventing the rear hatch from opening. The jamming caused the body to dent and chip the paint, this could result in future pre-mature rusting of the body.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 40,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 16,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The rear seat belt on the passenger side does not retract. It is always loose. No one has sat there so we just noticed it recently while cleaning the car.Owner complaint, filed 2016

When experiencing an abrupt stop the passenger seatbelt tightens up and does not loosen up again without unbuckling. Has happened three times and only to the passenger side.Owner complaint, filed 2015, at 19,677 miles

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

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