2011 Hyundai Elantra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 461 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 21 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 22, 2023
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
Campaign 23V651000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, electricalJul 2, 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Hyundai Elantra and Sonata Hybrid, 2012 Accent and Veloster vehicles. The 12V accessory socket outlet may have been over-tightened during installation, possibly disabling the thermal fuse and allowing the outlet to overheat with prolonged use, such as by using the Tire Mobility Kit air compressor to inflate a tire.
An overheated accessory outlet increases the risk of fire.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Tire Mobility Kit accessory outlet plug with a direct-to-battery connection wire harness kit, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 193.
Campaign 20V393000 on NHTSA.gov
Electronic stability control (ESC)Dec 23, 2015
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Elantra vehicles manufactured October 29, 2010, to October 25, 2011. Due to an electronic stability control (ESC) sensor malfunction, the brakes for one or more wheels may be applied unexpectedly and the engine power may be reduced. These symptoms will be accompanied by illumination of the ESC indicator lamp in the instrument cluster.
If the one or more of the brakes are inappropriately applied, control of the vehicle may be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will verify the proper operation of the ESC sensors, and update the ESC system's calibration, free of charge. The recall began June 6, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 137.
Campaign 15V871000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, springs, coil springsOct 7, 2015
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011 Elantra vehicles manufactured November 12, 2010, to March 31, 2011, and Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, to February 28, 2010, originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Road salt may corrode the front coil springs, possibly resulting in the coil springs fracturing.
If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front coil springs, free of charge. Interim notifications were mailed on November 17, 2015. The recall began on January 6, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 133. Note: Vehicles that were previously registered in salt belt states but are currently registered elsewhere are eligible to be inspected and repaired.
Campaign 15V629000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowApr 1, 2013
Hyundai Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured from November 12, 2010, through March 5, 2013. A support bracket attached to the headliner may become displaced during a side curtain airbag deployment.
If the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration injury.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will apply adhesive strips to the headliner, free of charge. The safety recall began during April 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 109.
Campaign 13V115000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified
36 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Sep 19, 2016
IN THE LAST YEAR THE MPG HAS DROPPED DRASTICALLY. WHEN PURCHASED IN 2011 (ELANTRA LIMITED), I GOT 35 MPG. IN THE LAST MONTH, I'M GETTING 16.9-20.9 MPG. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR THE SCHEDULED RECALLS, BUT NOTHING WAS DETECTED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY SUCH PROBLEM.
Other or unspecified, Jun 4, 2016
2015 WINTER ENGINE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE TOOK CAR TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE LIFTER WAS MAKING THE KNOCKING NOISE I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AT ANOTHER GARAGE AND THE OIL COULD HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED.THE KNOCKING STARTED 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO HAVING MY OIL CHANGED.I KNOW ANOTHER PERSON THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND AFTER A BATTLE WITH THE GARAGE THEY REPLACED HER ENGINE AT NO COST.I HAVE HAD MY CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THEY FELT I SHOULD PURSUE THE MATTER
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 1, 2016
REMOVE KEY FROM COLUMN
Suspension, Power train, Other or unspecified, Nov 23, 2015
MY HYUNDAI MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. IT HAPPENS WHENEVER I SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE/REVERSE, DRIVE TO REVERSE, AND VICE VERSA, AND ALSO IF I SPEED UP, OR SLOW DOWN QUICKLY. I TRIED GETTING THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT AT A DEALER, AND I WAS TOLD "I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT MANY OF THE ELANTRA'S COME FROM FACTORY MAKING THAT NOISE, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHY. OBVIOUSLY, IF IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, THEN HYUNDAI WOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL BY NOW." I WAS UPSET BY THIS STATEMENT, BECAUSE IT DOES CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO JERK WHEN I AM ACCELERATING AND BREAKING, AS WELL AS OTHER STRANGE THINGS, SO I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE. I DID BUY THIS VEHICLE PRE-OWNED, AND IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO TRY TO GET IT REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO FIX THE ISSUE. I FEEL REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING MY OWN VEHICLE WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT, AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
Other or unspecified, Nov 9, 2015
ENGINE KNOCKING DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE IT WAS A FACTORY ISSUE LOOSE PISTONS ON A SMALL BLOCK.I HAD JUST TURNED ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE NOISE STARTED AND NOW IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME. I BEEN READING REVIEWS AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 17, 2015
WHEN DRIVING IT IS DIFFICULT AT TIME TO REGULATE MY SPEED. IF I STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN TRY TO DRIVE ON A GREEN LIGHT MY CAR WILL JOLT FORWARD. IT IS HARD TO SPEED UP, IT FEELS LIKE MY CAR IS STUCK IN ON SPEED. IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY AS IT IS SLOW TO PICK UP SPEED.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 13, 2015
CAR WILL NOT START. HAVE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTED ALL TESTED AND ARE GOOD. EVERY SO OFTEN GO TO START THE CAR AND WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY TO FIRST POSITION EVERYTHING TURNS ON. WINDOWS WORK, RADIO WORKS, LIGHT ON DASH TURN ON. GO TO START THE CAR AND IT DOES NOTHING. DOES NOT EVEN TRY TO START THE STARTER MAKES NO NOISE. YOU JUST HERE A CLICKING NOISE. WAS TOLD BE DEALER THAT IT MIGHT BE INHIBITOR SWITCH (RANGE SWITCH), THAT WAS REPLACED AND A WEEK LATER IT AGAIN WILL NOT TRY TO START. IF YOU LET IT SIT AND COME BACK A DAY LATER MANY TIME IT WILL CRANK RIGHT OVER. THERE ARE MANY FORUMS ONLINE WITH THE SAME ISSUE FROM THIS MODEL.
Other or unspecified, Sep 7, 2015
CAR WILL NOT START. DOES NOT RECOGNIZE MY KEY. EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS. CHANGED ALL BATTERIES AND STILL NOT STARTING AND DEALER CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 25, 2015
WHEN I WENT TO GO START MY CAR FOR WORK IT WOULDNT START. LEFT IT AT HOME AND HAD SON TRY TO TURN ON AND DIDNT TURN ON. DEALERSHIP ASKED ME TO JUMP IT STARTED FOR A FEW DAYS THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN NOT STARTING. AAA CAME OUT MOVE TO NEUTRAL THEN STARTED. BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS.
Other or unspecified, Jul 29, 2015
RANDOM ACTIVATION OF THE EMERGENCY ALARM. THE ALARM RANDOMLY GOES OFF WITHOUT ACTIVACTION. THIS OCCURS ON ITS ON WITHOUT ANY ACTIVATION EITHER ACCIDENTLY OR INTRUSTION.
Other or unspecified, Jul 2, 2011
THIS IS A FOLLOW UP ON COMPLAINT #[XXX].. HYUNDAI CHECKED CAR ON 6/22/11 ORDERED PART AND REPLACED DEFECTIVE PART ON 6/29/11. WHILE IN PARTS DEPT. WAS STATED THAT THIS PART HAD BEEN REPLACED ON SEVERAL OTHER CARS. I AM WELL SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)*TR