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
461 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Wheels, Engine, Dec 7, 2020
ENGINE HAS TROUBLE STARTING OR STALLS OFTEN. WAS TOLD TO REPLACE WHOLE ENGINE WHEN I WENT IN AWHILE AGO DUE TO ISSUE OF STARTING, NOISE AND OIL LEAK. TPMS SENSOR I THINK IS SHOT TO EVERY TIME I FILL UP AIR IT STILL SUGGESTS ISSUE WITH TIRES. WINDOWS ALSO GET STUCK DOWN OR UP.
Tires, Dec 2, 2020
2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TIRE MOBILITY KIT SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER ARRIVING TO THE APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE RECALL COMPLETED, THE DEALER STATED THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE.*JS
Electrical system, Dec 1, 2020
2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TMK DIRECT BATTERY CONNECTION HARNESS SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE ISSUES AT THE DEALERSHIP HAVING TO RECALL COMPLETED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PART NEEDED TO BE ORDERED AFTER ARRIVING AND WAITING FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONSUMER SCHEDULED THE RECALL TO BE COMPLETED AT A DIFFERENT DEALER.*JS
Suspension, Engine, Lane departure, Nov 7, 2020
THE PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE ARE MANY. WHEN IM DRIVING IT THROWS ME TO THE SIDE FOR ANY DENTS THE STREET HAS, BAD CONTROL. THE COILS ARE BAD. THE ENGINE BLOCK HAS A NOISE THAT GETS LOUDER AND LOUDER EVERY TIME I TURN THE CAR.IM NOT A MECHANIC BUT I KNOW SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY CAR CONTROL SYSTEM.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Oct 19, 2020
WHEN GOING AT LOW SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC CAR SHUTS OFF AFTER PRESSING BREAK TOO MUCH. CAR SHUTS OFF IN REVERSE. CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE MAKING TURNS AND HITTING BREAK SIMULTANEOUSLY. GOING OVER 60 MPH CAUSES CAR TO SHUT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES EVERY FEW MINUTES OR EVEN SECONDS. (WORST WAS 9 TIMES IN UNDER 2 MINUTES) CAR SHUTS OFF SLOWING DOWN TO RED LIGHT. HAD CAR CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES BY MECHANICS. NOONE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. NO CODE COMES UP WHEN PLUGGED INTO COMPUTER AT AUTOSHOP. ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE WITH SAME MAKE AND MODEL
Electrical system, Oct 9, 2020, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRUNK AND FROM THE DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SHE OPENED THE DOOR, THE AREA FROM HER DASHBOARD ALL THE WAY DOWN TO HER GEARS WAS BURNED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE ARRIVED AND BOTH FILED REPORTS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LET THE VEHICLE SMOKE OUT AND DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V393000 (EQUIPMENT) FOR THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 12 VOLT ACCESSORY SOCKET LOCATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY STILL AWAITING TO BE TOWED AWAY BY THE MANUFACTURER TO EMAIL A LETTER FOR THE CLAIM TO THE CONTACT. THE DEALER SMART HYUNDAI (1 SMART DRIVE, WHITE HALL, AR 71602 (870) 534-8122) TOLD THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
Exterior lighting, Oct 1, 2020
DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS LIGHTS, DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS AT LEAST EVERY THREE MONTHS AND WHEN REMOVING THE BULBS THEY ARE HARD TO GET OUT AND THE CONNECTOR IS MELTED AND BURNT. THE TURN SIGNALS WILL SHORT OUT AND THEN WORK AGAIN REGULARLY WHILE IN MOTION AND STATIONARY.
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Sep 29, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER EMPIRE HYUNDAI INC LOCATED AT 428 PLEASANT ST, FALL RIVER, MA 02721, (833) 345-8027, AND THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,400.
Engine, Sep 29, 2020
MY DAILY DRIVER BEGAN TO MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE AND MY DASHBOARD BREAK LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED SERVICE WITH MY HYUNDAI DEALER. BUT IT DID NOT MAKE THE (2) DAYS WAIT. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE FRONT END BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY PULL TO THE RIGHT AS IF THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE WAS BEING TAPPED INDEPENDENTLY. WITHIN MINUTES ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE STALLED. I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE ELECTRICAL DID COME BACK ON BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO CLOSEST HYUNDAI DEALER, WHO SAID THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND ALL THAT WAS AVAILABLE WAS A USED ENGINE WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF 5,000.00 DOLLARS WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT IT MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS.
Steering, Aug 21, 2020
A COUPLER BETWEEN ELECTRIC MOTOR AND STEERING ROAR IS TORNED OUT AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT MAKE MAY STEERING VIBRATE AND NOICE EVERYTIME I TURN FROM CENTER TO RIGHT OR CENTER TO LEFT..IT'S $ 8 COUPLER BUT TO FIX YOU HAVE TO PAY LABOUR OF $ 300 AND OF DON'T THAN WE MIGHT END UP HAVING LOCKED STEERING ON THE ROAD OR LOOSE STEERING
Air bags, Jul 28, 2020
THERE WAS NO MAJOR OR MINOR INCIDENT THAT WOULD INDICATE AN ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAGS. AT ABOUT 07/10/20 I BEGAN TO NOTICE MY AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT WOULD LIGHT UP AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES OF DRIVING INDICATING THE DRIVER SEAT AIRBAG WOULD BE INOPERABLE; HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT THAT TYPICALLY IS LIT "OFF" WOULD NOT BE LIT INDICATING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD BE CURRENTLY OPERATIONAL. IN ADDITION I NOTICED THAT WHEN I HAD A PASSENGER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ("OFF") WOULD NOT BE LIT AS DESIGNED AND MY DRIVER SEAT AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD NEVER TURN ON (INDICATING IT BEING NOT OPERATIONAL.) MOST RECENTLY, ON 07/25/20 I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE DRIVER SEAT AIRBAG WOULD BE LIT FROM THE MOMENT I TURN ON THE ENGINE. IT REMAINS LIT FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE DRIVE AND NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SEAT WILL TURN ON OR OFF SPONTANEOUSLY AND HAVING A PASSENGER NO LONGER HAS AN EFFECT ON THE DRIVER SEAT AIRBAG LIGHT.
Air bags, Jul 21, 2020
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AT WONT TURN OFF. SHOP SAID THE CLOCK SPRING HAS TO BE REPLACED OR THE AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY IN A CRASH.
Suspension, Jul 7, 2020
ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, RUST ON MY COIL SPRING CAUSED IT TO FRACTURE WHILE DRIVING AND PUNCTURE MY TIRE. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS "CRAZY" BECAUSE THERE WAS A FRESH FRACTURE FROM IT "SNAPPING". I DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT SOUNDS JUST LIKE HYUNDAI RECALL #133. THIS RECALL INVOLVED RUSTING OF THE COIL SPRING TO 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRAS IN STATES THAT USE SALT FOR SNOW REMOVAL, SUCH AS MINNESOTA. I LIVE IN MN, SO I CALLED HYUNDAI TO SEE IF MY CAR WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT. I AM WONDERING IF IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING THERE WERE KNOWN AND SIMILAR ISSUES WITH OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL IN MINNESOTA. IT SHOULD BE NOTED, MY VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN ANOTHER STATE (I THINK LOUISIANA OR MISSISSIPPI) AND WAS NOT BROUGHT UP TO MINNESOTA UNTIL 2013. AFTER WHICH I PURCHASED IT.
Air bags, Jun 29, 2020
THE LIGHT APPEARED WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE. WHEN IT INITIALLY CAME ON, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAIN ROAD. IT TURNS ON THEN WILL GO AWAY, ONLY TO TURN ON AGAIN. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REQUESTED I COME IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT $140, AND I WAS ASKED TO DROP THE VEHICLE OFF. ALSO, THIS WOULD ONLY BE FOR THE TEST AND I WOULD BE CHARGED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ONCE DISCOVERED. THIS IS INCONVENIENT AS I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND ONLY ONE VEHICLE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I AM BEING CHARGED FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE NO ACCIDENTS.
Air bags, Jun 19, 2020
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING 55 MPH AND MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I DIDN'T HIT ANY LARGE BUMPS. IT COMES ON FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN TURNS OFF. *TR
Air bags, Jun 13, 2020
I DIDN'T NOTICE EXACTLY WHEN HAPPENED, BUT BASICALLY THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND IT HASN'T LEFT. MOST LIKELY THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. *TR
Air bags, Jun 8, 2020
WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A NON-HIGHWAY STREET MY AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON. I WAS NOT TURNING, I DID NOT HIT ANY BUMPS, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED IT. THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN IT WILL SHUT OFF AND REPEAT. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK NOW. *TR
Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Jun 2, 2020
MY BRAKES LIGHT STAY ON AND IT THE HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT IT JUST STARTED TWO DAYS AGO. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, May 31, 2020
MY STEERING WHEEL IS SCRUBBING AND HAS FREE PLAY IN IT. IT STARTED WITH FREE PLAY IN IT NOW IT IS SCRUBBING SOMEWHERE. AND MY ODOMETER READING, HORN DOES NOT WORK. *BF
Other or unspecified, May 28, 2020, fire
AWOKE TO GARAGE FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT 04/27/2020. HYUNDAI ON MY LIFT FOR REPAIRS . UPON CLEARING THE DEBRIS, THERE WAS A HOLE/HOT SPOT IN THE CONCRETE WHERE THE CAR WAS FOUND. TOTAL LOSS OF 2011 HYUNDAI,OF MY BUILDING & MY SHOP EQUIPMENT. THE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED BY THE MAINE STATE FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE. *TR
Engine, Apr 27, 2020
KNOCKING NOISE ON ENGINE I HAVE DONE ALL THE OIL CHANGE ON TIME IT ONLY HAS 60000 MILES WHAT'S GOING ON A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING AND HYUNDAI IS NOT DOING ANYTHING I PAYED A LOT FOR THIS CAR MONTHS AGO AND NOW
Suspension, Apr 14, 2020
BOTH FRONT COILS BROKE OF THE ENTIRE STRUT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONE OF THE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND RUPTURED THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THIS HAPPEN DRIVE AT 20 MPH ON A CITY STREET. *TR
Steering, Apr 7, 2020
WHEN I TURN MY CAR I HEAR A CLICKING SOUND AND THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE BECOMES WOBBLY. I HAVE NOTICED THIS FOR THE LAST 3 MONTHS BUT EARLY WAS ONLY OCCASIONAL BUT RECENTLY HAVE BECOME MORE FREQUENT. HAPPENS IN SLIGHT TURNS AND WHILE STREET DRIVING. LAST TIME IT OCCURRED WHILE PARKING.
Engine, Mar 2, 2020
THERE WAS TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE WHEN THE CAR REACHED ABOUT 80K MILES. THIS IS KNOWN FOR IN THE 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRAS BUT HYUNDIA HAS YET TO RECALL THE ELANTRAS JUST THE SONATAS. DESPITE CONSTANT AND FREQUENT OIL CHANGES OIL SLUDGE FORMED AND ENTERED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPLETELY RENDERING IT UNREPAIRABLE. A "NEW" ENGINE HAD TO BE PLACED BUT I WAS WARNED THE PROBLEM COULD OCCUR AGAIN BUT A RECALL STILL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS THE ENGINE WAS SPUTTING OUT, MISFIRING AND BLUE SMOKE WAS BEING RELEASED FROM THE EXHAUST DUE TO THIS
Steering, Feb 19, 2020
MY STEERING WHEEL "POPS" AND WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, MOVES LOOSELY, BUT DOES NOT MOVE THE TIRES. IT ALSO RATTLES WHEN I GO OVER ROUGH AREAS OF A ROAD.