YearToAvoid

2008 Hyundai Elantra Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA has 29 owner complaints about transmission problems in the 2008 Hyundai Elantra, 9% of all 314 complaints for this model year. That is #7 highest transmission complaint count among 21 Elantra model years. These complaints report 3 crashes. Median mileage at failure: 36,454 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
29
9% of 314
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
36,454 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2008 Hyundai Elantra transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 7, 2008, latest Dec 31, 2022.

2008 Hyundai Elantra transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Jul 2008Jul 2009Sep 2010May 2012Jan 2013Feb 2015Dec 2019
29 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2008 to Dec 2022; peak Nov 2008 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2008 Hyundai Elantra

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Elantra model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20057 (5%)
  2. 20068 (5%)
  3. 200710 (4%)
  4. 200829 (9%)
  5. 20098 (3%)
  6. 201032 (8%)
  7. 201121 (5%)
  8. 201240 (6%)
  9. 201357 (4%)
  10. 201421 (5%)
  11. 201518 (7%)
  12. 201631 (11%)
  13. 201762 (8%)
  14. 201824 (9%)
  15. 201911 (4%)
  16. 202047 (19%)
  17. 20217 (5%)
  18. 20227 (7%)
  19. 20239 (9%)
  20. 20243 (6%)
  21. 20251 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Hyundai Elantra have transmission problems?
NHTSA has 29 owner complaints about the transmission in the 2008 Hyundai Elantra, 9% of all complaints for this model year, including 3 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 36,454 miles.
Which Hyundai Elantra year has the most transmission complaints?
The 2017 Hyundai Elantra has the most transmission complaints (62), compared with 29 for the 2008.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2008 Hyundai Elantra?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 Hyundai Elantra is classified under transmission & powertrain. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.