The headlights randomly turn off or switch between high and low beams. This is dangerous especially at night because high beams can impair another driver's vision or having the lights turn off completely makes me unseen on the road. My car is available for inspection upon request. When I have gone online, I have seen other Hyundai customers have experienced the same thing.
2015 Hyundai Elantra electrical problems
severe 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 20 electrical complaints filed for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2015 Hyundai Elantra has serious, recurring electrical gremlins—stalling without warning, stuck brake lights, and charging system failures—that dealerships have struggled to diagnose or fix permanently. One owner experienced a complete engine fire; others have had partial brake loss or loss of headlights, creating genuine safety hazards.
The 2015 Elantra electrical system shows a troubling pattern across 19 complaints. Random stalling is the most common issue, happening without warning at intersections, during acceleration, in reverse, or at highway speed. Check engine lights may flicker or stay dark despite the failure. Dealerships have struggled to find the root cause; crankshaft sensor replacement, spark plug changes, and oil changes have failed to stop the stalling. One owner's vehicle caught fire five minutes after parking, with flames erupting from behind the battery area.
Brake lights staying on constantly—even with the vehicle off and key removed—drain batteries and appear to stem from a switch or wiring defect. One case found water intrusion behind the windshield causing electrical problems requiring major disassembly to fix.
Owners also report unintended acceleration at highway speeds, headlights randomly turning off or switching between high and low beams, turn signal lights staying on when they should go off, and ABS/traction control warning lights appearing (often worsening after recall service). One case documented a fuse being overpowered with burnt smell and smoke. A few owners describe severe power loss or inability to accelerate, limiting the car to 55 mph and creating intersection hazards. Dealerships have been unable to fix these issues permanently in multiple cases despite warranty inspections and manufacturer involvement.
Same Hyundai Elantra electrical reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Brake lights stuck on
Brake lights remain illuminated after vehicle is shut off and key removed, draining the battery and indicating an electrical defect in the brake light circuit.
When: Early ownership; one complaint at under 1,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights stay on continuously even with vehicle off and key removed; Battery drain
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported dealership initially suspected brake clutch/switch issue, then found water intrusion requiring windshield and carpet removal, drying, and resealing
Unintended acceleration
Vehicle accelerates without driver input, typically between 40-55 mph, stopping when driver releases throttle. Precedes stalling and fire in one catastrophic case.
When: Reported during lease anniversary inspection period (2014-2015); also mentioned alongside stalling events
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without pedal input at highway speeds; Acceleration stops when driver releases gas pedal; Occurs intermittently
Engine fire / electrical fire
Vehicle caught fire while parked shortly after stalling, with flames erupting from area between hood and windshield. Insurance inspector indicated fire source was behind battery, either electrical or computer panel.
When: October 2015, within first year of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Stalling on startup (sputtering before ignition); Unintended acceleration prior to event; Flames between hood and windshield within 5 minutes of parking; Entire front end disintegrated from fire
Engine stalling (frequent, random)
Vehicle dies without warning during driving at various speeds, in traffic, during acceleration, in reverse, and at intersections. Check engine light may flicker or not illuminate at all despite failure. Multiple restart cycles often required.
When: Reported across years 2014-2023; mileage ranges from low (under 1,000) to 125,000+
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls at traffic lights, intersections, and while driving; Check engine light flickers or does not appear; Vehicle can be restarted but stalls again; Stalling in reverse and forward driving; Occurs without warning
Codes mentioned: B1319, B1111
Repairs/costs cited: Crankshaft sensor replacement attempted in one case but did not resolve stalling; oil and spark plugs changed in another case without success; dealers have been unable to diagnose root cause in multiple cases
Severe power loss / inability to accelerate
Vehicle loses power and cannot accelerate, limiting speed to 55 mph on interstate or unable to climb minor hills, creating safety hazards and near-accidents.
When: Reported across 4-year ownership period
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle slows to 55 mph on interstate without driver input; Cannot accelerate up minor inclines; Feels shaky when attempting to accelerate; Loss of power while on busy roads
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealership and warranty inspections performed; repeated engine and oil light warnings; multiple catalytic converter replacements and valve replacements attempted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Engine recall announced in 2022 but owner reports only 'bandaids' applied, not permanent fix
Bad alternator with persistent noise
Faulty alternator causes metal clinking/clanking sound at startup, persisting even after alternator replacement, indicating either a secondary problem or continued alternator defect.
When: 18,268 to 20,802 miles (2017-2018)
Symptoms owners cite: Metal clinking or clanking sound when starting vehicle; Sound occurs regardless of temperature or time of day; Persists after alternator replacement; Owner reported fear of engine damage or explosion
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator tested and replaced; noise continued after replacement
Turn signal lights stay on or do not function
Turn signal indicator light remains on continuously and does not extinguish, or turn signal does not flash when activated. Recurring problem in same vehicle.
When: Reported at least twice in same vehicle, one year apart
Symptoms owners cite: Turn signal indicator light stays on continuously; Turn signal stops working when headlights are on; Turn signal resumes working when headlights turned off
Repairs/costs cited: Bulb replacement attempted but did not resolve issue; dealership identified as electrical problem
Headlight malfunction (random on/off, high/low beam switching)
Headlights randomly turn off entirely or switch between high and low beams without driver input, creating visibility and safety hazards at night.
When: Reported as ongoing issue
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights randomly turn off while driving; Headlights randomly switch between high and low beams; Occurs at night, impairing visibility and other driver safety
Excessive battery drain / battery failure
Battery requires replacement very early in ownership or drains rapidly, often in conjunction with other electrical failures.
When: 12,185 miles (November 2016) in one case; early ownership in others
Symptoms owners cite: Battery failure requiring replacement; Battery drain due to stuck brake lights or other electrical draw
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replacement
ABS and traction control lights on with brake failure
ABS and traction control warning lights illuminate, often following recall service. Complete brake loss reported in at least one case, rendering vehicle unsafe and inoperable.
When: Post-recall service
Symptoms owners cite: ABS light and traction control light illuminate; E-brake light on; Complete loss of braking in some cases; Vehicle becomes inoperable and unsafe
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall work performed but made problem worse; no resolution offered by Hyundai
Fuse overcurrent / electrical overload
Electrical system experiences fuse overpower condition, with burnt smell and smoke, indicating potential short circuit or wiring fault.
When: Early ownership (2015-2016)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start; Burnt smell from electrical system; Smoke visible; Fuse overpowered / short circuit
Codes mentioned: B1319, B1111
Repairs/costs cited: Independent electrician consulted and identified fuse being overpowered; vehicle jumpstarted and operated intermittently with persistent burnt smells
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued September (year not specified) but owner had not yet received it
Brake pedal switch pad deterioration
Brake pedal does not depress far enough to engage brake light switch due to missing or deteriorated pad material, causing brake lights to stay on.
When: Not specified; at time of complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights remain on even when pedal appears depressed; Brake pedal does not travel fully to engage switch; Pad missing or deteriorated
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner found past recalls mentioning pad deterioration issue; suspected this model may have same defect
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The car was working fine. Then one day it wouldn’t turn on while we were out. The engine wouldn’t start and it smelt burnt and there was smoke. We had to jumpstart the car and it showed some codes. They were B1319 and B1111. We took it to an electrician and it showed there was was a fuse that’s being overpowered. The car had been working again, but I did get a smell of something burnt a few times…
Had electrical trouble with your 2015 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 electrical problem on the 2015 Hyundai Elantra?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 20,000 and 106,906 miles, with the median around 54,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 106,906. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2015/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.