2007 Hyundai
ELANTRAProblems & recalls

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.

Recorded closure: Jun 20, 2023

BY LETTER DATED APRIL 15, 2009, HYUNDAI NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 09V122) TO REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCHES ON MANY OF ITS MODEL YEAR 2005-2008 VEHICLES.SEE RECALL 09V122 FOR A COMPLETE LIST. THE AGENCY OPENED ITS INVESTIGATION BASED ON FIVE COMPLAINTS OF STOP LAMP FAILURE ACROSS SEVERAL 2007 HYUNDAI MODELS. THE AGENCY ALSO RECEIVED EARLY WARNING (EWR) REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE.MOST OF THOSE FAILURES WERE TRACED TO THE IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE STOP LAMP SWITCH THAT CONTROLS STOP LAMP ILLUMINATION.A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO LIGHT DURING BRAKING, OR ALTERNATIVELY, IT CAN CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO STAY LIT EVEN WHEN A DRIVER TAKES THE FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. FAILURE OF THE STOP LAMPS TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY CREATES THE HAZARD OF REAR END COLLISIONS WHEN DRIVERS FOLLOWING THE SUBJECT VEHICLE DO NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING OR STOPPING. HYUNDAI REPORTED ONE CRASH INCIDENT (A FRONTAL IMPACT), WITHOUT INJURY, THAT WAS ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS DEFECT.THE AGENCY REVIEWED THE INCIDENT AND CANNOT CONCLUDE THAT IT IS RELATED TO THIS DEFECT. THERE ARE OTHER POTENTIAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO FAILURE OF THE STOP LAMP SWITCH: FAILURE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE, INTERFERENCE WITH PROPER FUNCTIONING OF ANTILOCK BRAKES AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, AND INABILITY TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER OUT OF PARK POSITION.BASED ON THE ABOVE SAFETY RECALL, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

Recorded closure: Apr 24, 2009

Campaign reference in the source: 09V122000

ON AUGUST 19, 2008, HYUNDAI SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING FUEL PUMP FAILURE RESULTING IN ENGINE STALL IN APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MODEL YEAR 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA VEHICLES WITH 2.0 LITER BETA ENGINES PRODUCED FROM NOVEMBER 5, 2007, THROUGH JUNE 28, 2008 (NHTSA RECALL NO. 08V-429, HYUNDAI CAMPAIGN 086).THE RECALLED VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH FUEL PUMPS MANUFACTURED WITH UPPER BODY COMPONENTS FROM A DIFFERENT SUPPLIER THAN THOSE MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 5, 2007.ACCORDING TO HYUNDAI, THE NEW SUPPLIER'S UPPER BODY COMPONENTS HAD INCORRECT DIMENSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS RESULTING IN MISALIGNMENT OF THE ARMATURE SHAFT, WHICH CAUSED SOME OF THE FUEL PUMPS TO EXPERIENCE POOR BRUSH-TO-COMMENTATOR CONTACT CONDITIONS THAT COULD RESULT IN ENGINE STALL. THE USE OF ETHANOL BLEND FUEL, CONTAINING UP TO 10 PERCENT ETHANOL, CAUSES A FILM BUILD-UP THAT CREATES HIGH RESISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRUSH AND COMMUTATOR.THE MISALIGNED ARMATURE SHAFT PREVENTS THE BRUSH AND COMMUTATOR FROM MAKING SUFFICIENT CONTACT TO OVERCOME THE HIGH RESISTANCE FILM BUILD-UP, THEREFORE PRODUCING LESS PUMPING PRESSURE THAN REQUIRED TO SUPPLY THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. SIXTY-FOUR OF THE COMPLAINTS (72%), INCLUDING THE CRASH AND INJURY ALLEGATION, INVOLVE THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THE COMPLAINT RATE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION IS 98.5 PER 100,000 VEHICLES, COMPARED WITH 21.4 IN THE REMAINING POPULATION, WHICH HAS ON AVERAGE BEEN IN SERVICE OVER A YEAR LONGER.THE WARRANTY CLAIM RATE IS ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES, WHICH HAD 569 CLAIMS (0.9 PERCENT CLAIM RATE) COMPARED WITH 126 CLAIMS IN THE REMAINING POPULATION (0.1 PERCENT CLAIM RATE). HYUNDAI WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP SUBASSEMBLIES IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS CLOSED WITH HYUNDAI'S RECALL.

Recorded closure: Sep 3, 2008

Campaign reference in the source: 08V429000