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severe Owners of the 2007 Hyundai Elantra have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the lighting, typically surfacing around 90,000 miles at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Elantra | 3 |
| 2006 Elantra | 32 |
| 2007 Elantra (this page) | 15 |
| 2008 Elantra | 22 |
| 2009 Elantra | 3 |
| 2011 Elantra | 7 |
Of the 15 lighting complaints filed for the 2007 Hyundai Elantra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
All 3 active lighting recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Any of these malfunctions, alone or in combination, may lead to a crash.
Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Any of these malfunctions could lead to a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes or during normal driving operation.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to moisture accumulation in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. The TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes, or during normal driving operation.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HYUNDAI SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT (CAMPAIGN 092). THIS BULLETIN DESCRIBES THE PROCEDURE TO REMOVE, REPLACE, AND ADJUST THE STOP LAMP SWITCH.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The 2007 Elantra has persistent brake light failures across this complaint set. Most commonly, the stop lamp switch stops working without warning, leaving drivers unaware their brake lights are off—a critical safety gap that only gets caught when another driver signals the problem. Multiple owners replaced the switch themselves for $12 or had dealers do it, only to see it fail again within weeks or years. Some owners discovered their VINs weren't covered by NHTSA recalls 09V122000 or 13V113000 even though they had identical failures to cars that were recalled.
One owner reported a brake light fuse burning out repeatedly, traced to a faulty 1157 bulb socket soldered into a wiring harness; Hyundai wanted $700 for the entire harness rather than selling the socket or pigtail separately. Another owner's left headlight shorted internally, burning through four replacement bulbs in a month.
Most alarming: a fog light ignited into flames at 65 mph while the car was on the highway. The fire burned hot enough to force an emergency lane stop and required bystanders to extinguish it. An authorized dealer couldn't diagnose the cause. Several brake light failures went undiagnosed or unrepaired because either the dealer couldn't replicate the issue or the customer's VIN fell outside the recall scope despite the problem manifesting identically to recalled units.
Same Hyundai Elantra lighting reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2008
Stop lamp switch fails to function, preventing brake lights from illuminating when brake pedal is depressed. Multiple owners report the switch fails after initial replacement and also report switches failing despite being part of recall repairs.
When: Various mileages: 53,000, 93,955, 159,544; also occurs after years of service and within 3 years of recall repair
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights do not illuminate when braking; Failure detected by following drivers or at traffic stops; Intermittent operation before total failure; Sudden failure while vehicle parked
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 09V122000, NHTSA Campaign 13V113000
Repairs/costs cited: Stop lamp switch replacement costs $12 part (owner-sourced) or $120+ diagnostic plus labor at dealer. One owner replaced it in 2011 recall service but failure recurred by 2014.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall Campaign 09V122000 (stop lamp switch) and Campaign 13V113000 (exterior lighting); however, many affected 2007 Elantra VINs are not included in these campaigns despite exhibiting identical failures. Hyundai customer service and dealerships report affected VINs as not covered by recall.
Brake light fuse burns out repeatedly due to a defective 1157 bulb socket integrated into a 3-bulb pigtail wiring harness. Socket failure causes short circuit and fuse burnout. Replacement requires entire $700 harness; socket or pigtail not sold separately.
When: No specific mileage stated
Symptoms owners cite: Brake light fuse burns out repeatedly; Difficulty installing replacement bulbs; Electrical short in bulb socket
Repairs/costs cited: Two dealers and Hyundai advised $700 replacement wiring harness. Pigtail assembly with faulty 1157 bulb socket not available as separate component.
Brake lights work intermittently or fail to illuminate consistently, even after bulb and switch replacement. Pattern of lights failing, being repaired, working briefly, then failing again.
When: Recurring issue over years of ownership; 2 months after switch replacement; discovered at routine oil changes
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights fail to illuminate when needed; Intermittent operation before permanent failure; Lights go out shortly after repairs; Recurrent failures requiring repeated repairs
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Service Campaign 110
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple bulb replacements and stop lamp switch replacement performed; issue returns within weeks to months
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Campaign 110 listed by owner; dealership stated issue not showing as recall
Driver's side fog light ignited into flames while vehicle traveling at highway speed. Fire severe enough to require emergency lane shutdown and extinguishment by bystanders. Authorized dealer unable to diagnose failure.
When: 48,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Fog light ignited into flames; Fire initiated during normal highway driving at 65 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to authorized dealer; no repairs completed. No diagnosis made.
Left side headlight has internal short causing rapid bulb failure. Owner replaced bulb 4 times in one month before replacement bulb would not function at all.
When: No mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Bulb burns out repeatedly; 4 bulb replacements in one month; New bulb will not illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple bulb replacements attempted; underlying electrical short not resolved
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
Left side headlight has short in it. I have had to replace the bulb 4 times in one month and now a new one doesn't even work. *tr
A friend driving behind me noticed my brake lights not working when approaching a red light. When we parked we tested them and none of the rear brake lights work. I do not know how long my brake lights have not been working but it is a major safety issue considering I drive in rush hour traffic in a city daily. There is currently a recall (campaign 09v122000) that I would have expected to…
It's a meaningful issue. 15 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $250.
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 53,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 53,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 3 active recall(s) cover lighting issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.