2010 Hyundai Elantra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 454 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 49 involved a crash and 13 involved a fire. 53 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/moduleFeb 4, 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Elantra and 2009-2011 Elantra Touring vehicles. On February 21, 2020 Hyundai expanded the recall to include 46,425 model year 2007-2008 Entourage and 2007 Santa Fe vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 188.
Campaign 20V061000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemFeb 23, 2015
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Elantra vehicles manufactured June 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010, and 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles manufactured November 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010. The electronic power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may sense a discrepancy in the steering input signals and, as a result, disable the steering power assist.
If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will verify the proper operation of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and update the EPS control unit, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 127.
Campaign 15V100000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 1, 2013
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
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.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Campaign 13V113000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
58 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Aug 13, 2011
ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE HAS STOPPED RUNNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IN EACH CASE THE VEHICLE WAS COASTING AT A SLOW SPEED, I WAS NOT APPLYING MY FOOT TO THE GAS PEDAL AT THE TIME. THE ELECTRICAL POWER DID NOT DIE, NOR WAS THERE JERKING OR NOISE TO INDICATE THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED. THE ONLY SIGN THAT THE ENGINE HAD STALLED WAS THE "MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP" CAME ON, AND NO ACCELERATION POWER. I STILL HAD LIGHTS, RADIO, FAN, ETC. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES IN BACK OF ME AT THE TIME. IN ORDER TO RESTART THE CAR, I HAD TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL, TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO RE-START, THEN SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE. FOR EACH INCIDENT, THE CAR RESTARTED RIGHT AWAY. *TR
Electrical system, Jun 22, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA TOURING. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION FAILED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND THE KEY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER FILED REPORT 4439479 AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,800.
Electrical system, Jun 19, 2011, fire
IN OCTOBER 2010 MY 6-MONTH OLD HYUNDAI ELANTRA TOURING CAUGHT FIRE AFTER SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR NINE HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY (GEICO) SECURED THE CAR AND HIRED A FORENSIC ENGINEERING COMPANY (DOWN FORENSIC ENGINEERING, INC., CARY NC) TO INVESTIGATE THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. DOWN CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL AND ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA CONDUCTED ITS OWN INSPECTION, WHICH DID NOT CONCLUSIVELY DETERMINE THE CAUSE OR ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA DID, HOWEVER, OFFER TO REIMBURSE MY INSURANCE POLICY DEDUCTIBLES AND TO PAY ME $500 FOR GOODWILL, BUT HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE OR REIMBURSE ME FOR ANY OTHER EXPENSES RELATED TO THE FIRE. AS FAR AS I KNOW, HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL OR TSB ON THE CAR. I HAVE REFUSED TO ACCEPT HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICAS OFFER.
Electrical system, May 13, 2011, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA TOURING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW HOURS WHEN IT ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPEARED ON THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS ALSO FILED BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE LOT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CONCLUDED THE FIRE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Apr 27, 2011, fire
IN OCTOBER 2010 MY 6-MONTH OLD HYUNDAI ELANTRA TOURING CAUGHT FIRE AFTER SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR NINE HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY (GEICO) SECURED THE CAR AND HIRED A FORENSIC ENGINEERING COMPANY (DOWN FORENSIC ENGINEERING, INC., CARY NC) TO INVESTIGATE THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. DOWN CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL AND ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HYUNDAI OFFERED TO REIMBURSE MY INSURANCE POLICY DEDUCTIBLES AND TO PAY ME $500 FOR GOOD WILL, BUT HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE OR REIMBURSE ME FOR ANY OTHER EXPENSES RELATED TO THE FIRE. AS FAR AS I KNOW, HYUNDAI HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL OR TSB ON THE CAR.
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Jan 5, 2011
2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ALL SYSTEMS LOCKED UP *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER FOR THE SECOND TIME WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING. HER SON WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Nov 15, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCK FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AT FIRST AND WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO SIT IDLE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 01/24/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND THE POWER STEERING, BRAKES AND GEAR SHIFT LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY JUNCTION BOX. HOWEVER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN 10 DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AGAIN, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. UPDATED 04/18/11
Suspension, Electrical system, Visibility, Sep 29, 2010
WATER LEAKS FROM WINDSHIELD AREA INTO BEHIND DASHBOARD AND ACCUMULATES ON FLOOR MATS(FRONT AREA). FRONT RIGHT WHEEL SCRAPING NOISE. ALREADY REPLACED TIRE, PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. HEATER CONTROL LIGHTS TURNS OFF. *TR