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: power train
34 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Jun 2, 2014
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE ACCELERATING. ALSO WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS PUT INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE SUDDENLY MOVING BACKWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BUT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE DEFECT AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED. THIS IS STARTING TO HAPPEN DAILY. I HAVE NOTICED THAT MANY PEOPLE ON THIS SITE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO BEFORE IT BECOMES A BIGGER PROBLEM. IT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND ENTER HIGHWAYS IT'S A PROBLEM. THE CAR HESITATES AND REVS BEFORE ACCELERATING. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Apr 22, 2014
I WAS APPROACHING HIGHWAY FROM CITY ROADS AND I HAD TO ACCELERATE TO GET IN THE FLOW. SUDDENLY, I FELT THAT EVEN THOUGH I WAS ACCELERATING, CAR DID NOT GAIN SPEED. I CHECKED RPMS AND IT WAS QUITE HIGH FOR THE SPEED THAT CAR WAS MOVING. IT LOOKED TO ME AS IF CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL GEAR BUT IT WAS NOT. THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT MY CAR BECAUSE THE DRIVER WAS EXPECTING MY CAR TO MOVE FASTER. I HAD TO STOP ON SHOULDER TO CHECK WHAT IS HAPPENING. I HAD THIS KIND OF EXPERIENCE BEFORE TOO BUT NOT LIKE THIS ONE. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS BACK IN CITY TRAFFIC. WHAT MY OBSERVATION IS, THAT WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GOES FROM 2ND GEAR TO 3RD, THERE IS A PROBLEM. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, EVEN THEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SMOOTH BUT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM LIKE THE ONE I MENTIONED EARLIER. BUT AS THE MILEAGE IS INCREASING, THE PROBLEM IS GETTING BIGGER TOO. I DO REGULAR OIL CHANGE AS I HAVE PURCHASED SERVICE PLAN WHEN BUYING THE CAR. I HAD COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT IT(TRANSMISSION HAVING PROBLEM) COUPLE OF TIMES BUT THEY SAID THEY DID NOT FEEL IT. I THINK THEY WERE NEGLECTING THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION AND THAT COSTS A BIG AMOUNT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT AN EXPERT. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Apr 18, 2014
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND THE RPMS GO SKY HIGH AND THE CAR RUNS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL. I HAVE TO TAP THE BRAKE BEFORE IT WILL ADJUST AND GO BACK INTO GEAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIGGER PROBLEM WHEN CARRYING PASSENGERS. THE ADDED WEIGHT APPEARS TO BE A FACTOR. IT'S RATHER DANGEROUS SINCE IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING AND HAPPENED JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND WHEN DRIVING IN MINNEAPOLIS, MN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. MILEAGE REPORTED IS ESTIMATED FOR WHEN I FIRST NOTED THIS PROBLEM APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO. NOT KNOWING A LOT ABOUT CARS, I DIDN'T THINK TO REPORT IT. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR, I WAS TYPICALLY DRIVING FROM HOME TO WORK AND BACK, BUT HAVE BEEN TRAVELING MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE LAST YEAR DUE TO FAMILY ACTIVITIES. THE PROBLEM OCCURS MORE OFTEN ON LONGER TRIPS. *TR
Power train, Feb 19, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS PUT INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE SUDDENLY MOVING BACKWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BUT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
Power train, Apr 8, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD WHENEVER SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,420. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Aug 10, 2012
THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. ON MY 2010 ELANTRA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, IT IS AS THOUGH THE GEARS ARE NOT WORKING. WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE THE ISSUE ARISES. IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR TO 40 MPH I HAVE TO LITERALLY HIT THE GAS AND GET THE RPMS TO 5,000 OR ALMOST 6,000 BEFORE THE CAR WILL SHIFT. THE CAR THEN SHIFTS BUT WHEN IT IS SETTLING INTO 1000-2000 RPM'S THE POWER JERKS AS IF IT HAS LOST POWER MOMENTARILY, THIS HAPPENS ANYTIME YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCELERATE. GOING UP A SMALL HILL THIS CAR WILL GO ABOUT 10-15 MPH FOR MORE THAN 30 SECONDS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE TRANSMISSIONS GO OUT COMPLETELY WHILE THESE CARS ARE BEING DRIVEN. LOOSING THE ABILITY TO SHIFT SHOULD BE A CONCERN HERE. *TR
Steering, Power train, Jul 11, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND THE FRONT TIRES WEAR PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES SEVERAL TIMES AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,304 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 23,141. ...UPDATED 08-03-12 *BF UPDATED 7/25/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ALSO RECALIPBRATED THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. UPDATED 08/06/2012 *JS
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
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Jul 21, 2011, crash
WHILE INCHING INTO MY GARAGE WITH MY FOOT NOT ON THE GAS, MY 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND RAN INTO MY GARAGES BACK WALL BEFORE I COULD BREAK. *KB