2008 Hyundai Elantra Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/14/2026

54Steering complaints

17.2%Of all 314 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

STEERING54 · 17.2%

AIR BAGS33 · 10.5%

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE32 · 10.2%

SERVICE BRAKES32 · 10.2%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM28 · 8.9%

Share of the 314 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2008 Hyundai Elantra overview page.

What owners report

“STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON ROAD. ALMOST WRECKED.”NHTSA complaint 10482599 — filed 10/29/2012

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND HE LOST CONTROL OF THE…”NHTSA complaint 10455756 — filed 04/19/2012

“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…”NHTSA complaint 10395729 — filed 04/13/2011

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Hyundai Elantra have steering problems?

Steering is the most-reported problem area on the 2008 Hyundai Elantra: 54 of 314 complaints on file (17.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2008 Hyundai Elantra have in total?

314 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 38 involved a crash, 23 involved a fire, 41 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.