Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Hyundai elantra. The contact stated that the speedometer was not reading accurately and fluctuated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.
2014 Hyundai Elantra cruise control problems
severe 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
3crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 18 cruise control complaints filed for the 2014 Hyundai Elantra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
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.
What stands out
Among the 19 model years of Hyundai Elantra in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2014 Elantra shows a pattern of uncontrolled acceleration, brake failure, engine stalling, and transmission hesitation that dealerships often cannot diagnose or fix. These failures have resulted in collisions; if you're shopping used, have independent pre-purchase inspection and test drive with a mechanic, and consider a different model given the severity and frequency of safety-critical failures.
Owners report a range of powertrain and brake control faults starting as early as 1,500 miles. The most alarming involve rapid unintended acceleration paired with brake failure—multiple owners experienced the brake pedal become hard and unresponsive while the vehicle accelerated without input, resulting in collisions with other vehicles and roadside obstacles. Brake cancel buttons and attempts to shift to neutral sometimes fail to stop acceleration.
Engine stalling without warning is frequent, occurring at idle, at traffic lights, and during highway driving. No check engine light or diagnostic codes appear, leaving mechanics unable to identify the root cause even after multiple visits. Some owners report the vehicle will not restart immediately after stalling.
Owners also describe hesitation and power loss during acceleration, with some vehicles unable to exceed 20 mph, as well as jerky driving at low speeds. One owner's dealership suspected a throttle body issue; another recommended fuel injector cleaning and a tune-up (totaling $1,043) without solving the problem. Traction control has engaged unexpectedly on dry pavement, causing sudden deceleration from highway speeds. Speedometer and tachometer failures or inaccuracies have also been reported, with gauges remaining at zero despite engine running.
One owner confirmed low oil due to piston ring failure after the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration. Owners frequently mention dealerships cannot replicate or diagnose the faults, leaving vehicles unrepaired.
Same Hyundai Elantra cruise control reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Brake pedal failure / unresponsive during cruise control operation
Brake pedal becomes hard and unresponsive when attempting to slow the vehicle while cruise control is engaged. Pressing the cancel button on the steering wheel does not disengage cruise control. Vehicle continues to accelerate despite brake application attempts.
When: 1,500 miles on vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal hard as rock and will not depress; Cruise control does not disengage when brake applied; Cruise control continues to accelerate; Cancel button on steering wheel ineffective
Repairs/costs cited: Accident occurred before repair. Brake functionality returned after collision.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for 2007-2011 Elantra models for same issue; 2014 model not mentioned in recall
Unintended acceleration with non-responsive brakes
Vehicle accelerates without driver input while braking is applied. Brake pedal either becomes unresponsive or brakes fail to arrest acceleration. Occurs at low speeds during parking maneuvers and highway driving.
When: Various mileages from 300 to 48,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid unintended acceleration; Brake pedal pressed but vehicle accelerates; Loss of vehicle control; Collisions result
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles taken to body shops and dealerships; not successfully diagnosed or repaired
Engine hesitation and low-speed acceleration failure
Engine hesitates or refuses to accelerate beyond 20 mph when accelerator pedal is engaged. Occurs while driving at normal speeds and during acceleration from stop. Some instances accompanied by jerky driving at low rpm.
When: 28,804 miles and 93,532 miles noted
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation when accelerator engaged; Vehicle will only accelerate to 20 mph maximum; Jerky driving at low speeds (15-25 mph, ~1250 rpm); Loss of power while driving; Bad gas mileage
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership recommended gas injector cleaning, tune-up, alignment, tire change (total $1,043); mechanic suspected throttle body causing failure; sensor cleaning performed without resolving issue
Engine stalling with no warning
Engine shuts off without warning while idling, stopped at lights, or while driving at highway speeds. No check engine light or fault codes appear. Restart behavior varies from immediate to delayed.
When: Multiple occurrences over extended driving; 300 miles noted for one instance
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls randomly; No warning lights or check engine light; Stalling occurs at stops and while driving; Difficulty restarting in some cases; Check engine light may appear after stall
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple service attempts; no fault codes found by mechanics or scan tools
Transmission hesitation and delayed acceleration response
Vehicle hesitates or decelerates when driver attempts to accelerate from complete stop or during normal acceleration. Light throttle input causes disproportionate acceleration (engine revs and vehicle bolts forward as if pedal were fully pressed).
When: Throughout vehicle ownership; some occurrences from early mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation upon acceleration from stop; Vehicle deceleration when acceleration expected; Disproportionate engine response to light pedal input; Acceleration when foot released from gas to switch to brake
Traction control system causing severe deceleration
Traction control light activates during normal highway driving on dry pavement in clear weather. Vehicle decelerates drastically from 65 mph to below 20 mph. Occurs intermittently over several weeks.
When: Dry conditions on smooth road surface
Symptoms owners cite: Traction control light on for over 30 seconds; Drastic unintended deceleration from 65 mph to under 20 mph; Occurs on dry road surface in clear weather
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to replicate or diagnose; no codes found
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued in 2011-2012 for similar issue on same make and model
Speedometer and tachometer inaccuracy or failure
Speedometer and/or tachometer gauges do not read accurately, fluctuate, or remain at zero. Affects driver's ability to monitor vehicle speed and engine performance. No fault codes appear.
When: 15,000 miles; occurring on and off for extended periods
Symptoms owners cite: Speedometer not reading accurately or fluctuates; Tachometer and speedometer remain at zero; Intermittent failures over weeks; Vehicle revs with no corresponding acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or repaired
Oil consumption and low oil leading to acceleration loss
Piston rings do not seal properly, causing excessive oil consumption and abnormally low oil levels. This condition results in sudden inability to accelerate when pulling into high-speed traffic without prior warning.
When: Confirmed by dealership inspection
Symptoms owners cite: Increased oil consumption; Very low oil level; Sudden inability to accelerate during traffic merge
Repairs/costs cited: Hyundai dealership confirmed diagnosis and inspected component
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The piston rings do not seal leading to increased oil consumption and very low oil. My safety was put at risk because when I pulled out into traffic that was going at a high speed I could not accelerate. There was no warning or indication that this was going on prior to this incident. Yes this has been confirmed by a Hyundai dealership and the component was inspected. There was no warning sign…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2014 Hyundai Elantra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2014 Hyundai Elantra?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 15,000 and 54,000 miles, with the median around 28,804. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,000; a quarter make it past 54,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control 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.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Hyundai/Elantra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.