2008 Hyundai Elantra Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 29about this part
- Share
- 9%of 315 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 36,454miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 29 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2008 Hyundai Elantra, 9% of the 315 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 36,454 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Transmission slams into third gear while driving (could be on side street, could be on the highway) and can only operate in third after that until the engine is turned off. I took it to a transmission place and they said it is the computer not the mechanics of the transmission. Check engine light does come on when this happens. This has happened multiple times first being in november the most recent was yesterday on the freeway. I have serviced the transmission appropriately.”
NHTSA complaint #11060895, filed 2018-01, 130,000 miles“My car wouldn't start and hissed when it did king Hyundai said hissing was the condensation because it hadn't been driven for so long (3 years - just went out and started it once in a while). Kh told me after extensive checking & videoing the underside of car (they sent me video) that it was the battery. It died on the way home ! And then: - kh misdiagnosed my car three times ! - head gasket now - kh told me they took several test drives yet the mileage in & the millage out on their invoice was exactly the same ! …”
NHTSA complaint #11376182, filed 2020-11, 57,000 miles“Entering a crowded parking lot in the city of chicago, I slowed down to approx. 2 MPH (almost idle speed) as I approached the ticket dispenser when all of a sudden the car accelerated over 6000 rpms and took off. As reflex, I slammed the brakes (since the ABS doesn't work without power) but the acceleration kept increasing and the brakes were not inhibiting movement so I then forced the key out of the ignition and pulled the emergency break - all within a second or two. …”
NHTSA complaint #10586919, filed 2014-05, 63,980 miles“Was driving at regular speed (35mph to 40mph) then my I felt a stall transmission and my car couldn't shift up or down was keeping into 3rd gear and my engine light came on!”
NHTSA complaint #10684218, filed 2015-02, 109,600 miles“On august 3rd 2018 I purchase a 2008 Hyundai Elantra from campbell auto finance used cars and trucks in gilroy california when I was driving home on the freeway doing 65 I heard a big thumping noise in the front passenger side like it shifted out of drive and came back into drive the check engine light came on every time I drove the car it will make that noise pop out of gear and go back into drive on august 7th 2018 I was driving my car back to gilroy the car made a hard bumping noise and then the car was stuck into 3rd gear and it's still stuck in 3rd gear and it will not come out”
NHTSA complaint #11118567, filed 2018-08, 126,345 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10196546May 21, 2021Hyundai approves only the ATF, DCT gear oil and IVT gear oil specified in the vehicleâÂÂs ownerâÂÂs manual. ï· Use of other ATF may result in improper shift quality or…
- 10174807Apr 17, 2020The automatic transmission warranty repair policy authorizes in-dealership repairs of the following components for both OEM (new) and remanufactured automatic transmissions:
- 10160098Apr 15, 2019This bulletin provides the procedure to write the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) during the replacement of the Engine Control Module (ECM) or Powertrain Control Module…
- 10082725Sep 2, 2016This bulletin provides information on components, attributes, and precautions of the 7-speed dry-type dual clutch transmission (dct).
- 10082455Aug 9, 2016"the pcm or tcm contains logic to adjust solenoid duty and line pressure as needed to compensate for normal clutch wear over the life of the transaxle. This bulletin provides the…
- 10030984Jul 1, 2009Hyundai: automatic transaxle range switch diagnostic trouble codes p0705 (range switch signal problems), p0707 (range switch open circuit), and p0708 (range switch short circuit…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 5% |
| 2024 | 3 | 5% |
| 2023 | 9 | 9% |
| 2022 | 7 | 7% |
| 2021 | 7 | 5% |
| 2020 | 47 | 19% |
| 2019 | 11 | 4% |
| 2018 | 24 | 8% |
| 2017 | 62 | 8% |
| 2016 | 31 | 11% |
| 2015 | 18 | 7% |
| 2014 | 22 | 6% |
| 2013 | 57 | 4% |
| 2012 | 40 | 6% |
| 2011 | 21 | 5% |
| 2010 | 32 | 8% |
| 2009 | 8 | 3% |
| 2008 | 29 | 9% |
| 2007 | 10 | 4% |
| 2006 | 8 | 5% |
| 2005 | 7 | 5% |
| 2004 | 7 | 4% |
| 2003 | 9 | 4% |
| 2002 | 17 | 5% |
| 2001 | 16 | 5% |
| 2000 | 22 | 11% |
| 1999 | 41 | 32% |
| 1998 | 13 | 24% |
| 1997 | 31 | 27% |
| 1996 | 20 | 20% |
| 1995 | 19 | 17% |
| 1994 | 9 | 12% |
| 1993 | 5 | 21% |
| 1992 | 9 | 31% |
Other parts of the 2008 Hyundai Elantra
55 complaintsBrakes
52 complaintsFuel system
45 complaintsAir bags
38 complaintsElectrical system
31 complaintsEngine
24 complaintsExterior lighting
24 complaintsOther or unknown
24 complaintsVehicle speed control
24 complaintsEngine cooling
17 complaintsSuspension
11 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Hyundai Elantra
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology