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.
Engine, Apr 2, 2019
I NOTICED A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM MY VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS 73,000 MILES AND WAS MAINTAINED (OIL ALWAYS CHANGED ON TIME). I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM MY GRANDFATHER AND HAD IT LESS THAN A YEAR. BECAUSE I WAS THE SECOND OWNER, I WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 10 YEAR/1000,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ENGINE TO SEE IF HYUNDAI WOULD COVER ANY OF THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE. HYUNDAI DECLINED TO COVER ANY OF THE COST OF THE ENGINE. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS ASSIGNED A CASEWORKER TO LOOK AT THE SUBMITTAL IN GREATER DETAIL. THE CASEWORKER INFORMED ME THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE COST REGARDLESS THAT MANY PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ENGINES.
Suspension, Apr 1, 2019
FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND CONTACTED TIRE. LUCKILY I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT. BY THE LOOKS OF THE DAMAGE TO THE TIRE, I AM VERY FORTUNATE I HAVE BEEN LIKE THIS AND NOT AT ANY LEVEL OF SPEED. THE FOLLOWING MORNING I LOOKED INTO THE PROBLEM AND FOUND AN ARTICLE BY EDMOND IN MAY 2015 THAT TALKED ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION RECALLING HYUNDAI ELANTRA'S?S FOR FRONT COIL SPRING PROBLEMS. FROM THE ARTICLE THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I CALLED HYUNDAI CORPORATION THEY SAID IT WAS NOT UP FOR A RECALL. TWO CALLS TO DEALERSHIPS I WAS AGAIN TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL. PLEASE FORCE HYUNDAI TO RECALL THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AT THEIR EXPENSE. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Engine, Mar 25, 2019
THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY STRIPPED FROM CRANKSHAFT! ABOUT 30K MILES BEFORE WE STARTED NOTICING ENGINE NOISES - LOUD TICKING NOISES. AFTER HAVING MY SPOUSE PARK THE VECHICLE BECAUSE WAS HARD KNOCKS, I TOOK IT OUT WITH MY DAUGHTER TO TAKE HER TO GUITAR LESSONS AND TO LISTEN TO IT AS I DROVE. ON THE WAY BACK TO THE (LESS THAN 3 MILES) THE ENGINE DIED AS THERE WAS A LOUD SCREECH/KNOCK. I RESTARTED THE ENIGNE AND DROVE BACK HOME. THE COOLANT AND OIL WAS EVERYWHERE. THAT'S WHEN I NOTICES THE PULLEY WAS LOOSE AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OFF THE CRANKSHAFT. THE ODDEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN. THE ENGINE (I BELIEVE) STILL STARTS BUT TICKETING DOES PERSIST. NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED BUT CLEARLY THE ENGINE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH IT. THERE WAS NOTHING WE'VE DONE WITH THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN NORMAL, HIGHWAY DRIVING. I'VE CONTACT CORPORATE HYUNDAI AND THEY HAVE INDICATED IT'S NOT LONGER COVERED AND NO WORK CAN BE DONE ON IT. MY CONCERN - OUTSIDE OF 5K LOST ON THE VEHICLE IS THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR ALL THE VEHICLES OUT THERE - ESPECIALLY AT THE LOWER MILEAGE. I FREAKED OUT ON THE ROAD WHEN I HEARD THE NOISES AND FELT LIKE MY ENGINE COMPLETELY FELL APART. MY SAFETY WAS MY CONCERN. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS ENGINE AND IT'S NOT JUST MINE. IF IT HAPPENED TO ME...A SIMILAR OCCURRENCE IS HAPPENING TO OTHERS. I SENSE HYUNDAI IS NOT DOING IT'S PART TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE ESPECIALLY WITH SUCH A CORE/CRITICAL PART OF THE VEHICLE. I'VE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THEIR VEHICLES...ESPECIALLY WITH LACK OF OWNERSHIP OF THE ISSUES. (VEHICLE IS STILL AT DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE WRITING). I'LL BE PICKING IT UP TODAY. I"M ESTIMATING THE DATE THIS HAPPENED...BECAUSE I DIDN'T MARK IT DOWN. I TRIED TO TOW IT MYSELF TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH MY TRUCK BUT I TOOK THE BUMPER OFF SO FINALLY GOT A REAL TOW IN TO PICKER IT UP AND RELIEVED IT.
Engine, Mar 13, 2019
THE ENGINE IN THIS CAR IS KNOCKING SEVERELY. IT'S REALLY BAD UPON START UP AND CONTINUES TO KNOCK.
Engine, Mar 8, 2019
KNOWN HYUNDAI ENGINE PROBLEMS THE ENGINE HAS A TICKING NOISE THAT I HAVE FOUND TO BE A MANUFACTURED ISSUE IN HYUNDAI ELANTRAS. THE CAMSHAFT BUSHINGS ARE WORN AWAY AND NEEDS A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE. ALL OF WHICH IS A MANUFACTURING FAULT. THE TICKING IS AUDIBLE WHEN IDLING AND EVEN MORE SO WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED.
Steering, Suspension, Air bags, Mar 5, 2019
'TAKATA RECALL' (1) SUSPENSION PROBLEM.. IT DRIFTS OR BOUNCES TO ONE SIDE WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR WHEN I GO INTO A POTHOLE... I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT TO DIFFERENT AUTO MECHANICS TO FIX THIS BUT HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY SOLUTION.. CHANGED SWAY BAR LINKS, TIE-RODS, STRUTS AND BALL JOINTS, STILL NO IMPROVEMENT. (2) STEERING ISSUES - STEERING FEELS STIFF WHEN TURNING AND SOMETIMES MAKES FUNNY SOUNDS (3) CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF CAR
Service brakes, Mar 3, 2019
THE BREAK SWITCH IS FAULTY RESULTING IN MY BREAK LIGHTS NOT ILLUMINATING.
Suspension, Feb 26, 2019
FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SUSPENSION COIL BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET DURING THE WINTER TIME AT LOW SPEED. THIS SEEMS LIKE THE SAME (OR AT LEAST VERY SIMILAR) ISSUE AS 15V629000, WHICH COVERS THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND MANUFACTURE DATE AS MY CAR, BUT MY VIN IS NOT IN THAT RECALL.
Engine, Feb 25, 2019
2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOUD TICKING NOSE FROM ENGINE. *LD *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER FOUND DEBRIS IN THE OIL PAN AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO ASSIST WITH REPAIRS DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S AGE, MILEAGE, AND NUMBER OF OWNER'S. *JS
Steering, Feb 22, 2019
WHEN I DROVE (IN MOTION) MY CAR OVER POTHOLES OR ROAD EDGES, MY CAR IS DRIFTING BY SIDE TO SIDE. I HAD THIS ISSUE FROM THE LAST 6 MONTHS. I SHOWED MY CAR TO A DIFFERENT HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE EXACT REASON AND I SPENT AROUND $2000 TO REPLACE ALL THE PARTS AS PER HYUNDAI'S DEALERSHIP SUGGESTION. AFTER SPENDING THIS MUCH OF MONEY I STILL HAVE A DRIFTING ISSUE IN POTHOLES. RECENTLY, I CONTACTED OTHER HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP .AND THEY SUGGESTED ME TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN AND UNIVERSAL SHAFT. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED NOW AND REQUESTING HYUNDAI AMERICA TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE BY THEIR SIDE BECAUSE IT IS REALLY A SAFETY CONCERN.
Suspension, Feb 18, 2019
2011 ELANTRA SPRING COIL FAILURE... OUR FAMILY HAS GREAT CONCERNS TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY REGARDING THE RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES BY HYUNDAI ON NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 15V629000 (MANUFACTURER RECALL 133). REVIEWING THE 20 NHTSA RECALL DOCUMENTS ATTACHED TO THIS RECALL AND OUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, WE BELIEVE THAT THE RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING: FAILURE INVESTIGATION, CORRECTIVE/PREVENTIVE ACTIONS AND RANGE OF VEHICLES AFFECTED NEEDS TO BE REVISITED... SEE ATTACHED PDF AND IMAGES FOR DETAILS
Power train, Other or unspecified, Feb 17, 2019
MY CAR WON'T START WHEN TURNING THE KEY IT WOULD MAKE A CLICK NOISE BUT WON'T TURN ON UNLESS YOU TRY SEVERAL TIMES AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD TAKE A HOUR OR MORE TO DO SO. TWO YEARS AGO CHANGED THE BATTERY THINKING IT WAS THAT BUT AFTER ALL THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE STARTER SO IT GOT CHANGED. THREE YEARS SINCE THEN NOW I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND THE CAR LOOKS FINE EVERYTHING WAS DIAGNOSED AND SEEMS OK SO DECIDED TO LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT SO THEY CAN TEST IT NEXT DAY. ONCE THEY DID THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO TURN ON SO THEY BOOSTED IT AND SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY. AFTER CHANGING THE BATTERY THREE DAYS LATER THE CAR STILL GIVING ME THE SAME PROBLEM SOMETIMES IT WON'T TURN ON. NEXT STEP WILL BE CHANGE THE STARTER AGAIN BUT MECHANICS CAN'T FIND THE REAL PROBLEM BECAUSE ONCE THE CAR DESIDES TO TURN ON THERE IS NO PROBLEM BUT IT IS A STRUGGLE NOT KNOWING WHEN AND WHERE THIS WILL HAPPEN, IT IS VERY UNSAFE.
Suspension, Feb 14, 2019
RECALL 133 FOR 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF. (MANY PROBLEMS SINCE I OWNED IT) BUT YESTERDAY A COIL SPRING BROKE AND SLASHED THE INSIDE OF MY TIRE, VERY DANGEROUS! I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED. MY MECHANIC DAID THERE IS A RECALL BUT HYUNDAI WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE IT. HE ALSO IT'S THE THIRD CAR HE'S HAD TO REPAIR FIR BROKEN HYUNDAI COIL SPRINGS!! IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP?
Suspension, Feb 11, 2019
THE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS SNAPPED AND RUPTURED BOTH MY FRONT TIRES. IT SEEMS THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS GET BRITTLE IN THE WINTER AND ACTUALLY SPLINTERED OFF WHEN THEY SNAPPED, THIS CAUSED THE RUPTURE TO MY TIRES. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN IN A PARKING GARAGE, GOING FIVE MPH, WHEN THE DAMAGE HAPPENED. IT WAS MERELY CAUSED BY DRIVING DOWN A PARKING RAMP. SO, IT WASN'T CAUSED BY SOME TREMENDOUS TRAUMA TO THE CAR OR ACCIDENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE, AND NOW EACH SIDE WILL CAUSE $1036.00 TO FIX (BECAUSE I HAVE TO REPLACE EACH SIDE TIRE AS WELL). THE ISSUE WOULD HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED HAD I BEEN ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED, AND COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS.
Air bags, Feb 9, 2019, crash
YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH 2019, AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 AM, MY GIRLFRIEND HAD A HIGH SPEED IMPACT (SPEED LIMIT IN THIS AREA OF ALASKA IS 65MPH) WITH A MOOSE. IT WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT ON THE BUMPER/HOOD/WINDSHIELD/ROOF, OCCURING ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON THIS INITIAL IMPACT. ADDITIONALLY, AS THE CAR LEFT THE ROAD, THERE WAS A SECOND FRONTAL IMPACT INTO A HARDENED, PLOWED SNOWBANK, IN WHICH THE AIRBAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS YEAR AND MODEL IS BELIEVED TO BE EQUIPPED WITH DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS, WHICH ALL FAILED TO DEPLOY. SHE IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, AND HAS NO OTHER ACCIDENTS OR REPAIRS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. WE DO NOT KNOW AS OF YET IF A STATE TROOPER REPORT WAS FILLED, WE WILL BE CHECKING MONDAY. HOWEVER, WE HAVE PHOTOS THAT WILL BE ATTACHED THAT CLEARLY SHOW THE,AIRBAG FAILURE.
Air bags, Feb 8, 2019
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT KEEPS GOING OFF
Air bags, Feb 1, 2019
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. NO ACCIDENTS, NOTHING HAS HAPPENED TO CAR IT JUST RANDOMLY TURNED ON AND HAS STAYED ON. VERY UNSAFE TO BE DRIVING IN A CAR WITH MY FAMILY WITH THE CHANCE THE AIRBAGS WOULDN'T DEPLOY IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. SHOULD BE A RECALL.
Suspension, Jan 28, 2019
DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP BOTH FRONT SPRING BROKE CAUSING A FRONT TIRE TO BE PUNCTURED.
Suspension, Jan 28, 2019
I HAD ALREADY OPENED A CASE AND WAS WORKING WITH A DAVID BAKER 11131845. HE HAD ASKED ME TO TRY TO LOCATE THE PIECE OF BROKEN SPRING THAT PUNCTURED MY TIRE. I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THAT BUT ONCE I EMAILED DAVID I RECEIVED AN EMAIL BACK SAYING THAT HIS EMAIL ADDRESS WAS NO LONGER ACTIVE. IF SOMEONE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT MY CASE AND CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL AND LET ME KNOW IF THEY STILL WANT TO LOOK AT THAT PART. THANK YOU!
Engine, Jan 18, 2019
CAR STALLS WHEN IDLING AND AT TIMES WHEN DECELERATING. THE CAR STARTS RIGHT BACK UP AS SOON AS I AM ABLE TO BRING IT TO A STOP. WHEN DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED ON THE FREEWAY I DON'T NOT HAVE PROBLEMS.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jan 6, 2019
WHILE DRIVING MY AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING AND MY HORN STOPPED WORKING. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT IT IS RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE PART THAT IS DEFECTIVE IS CALLED A CLOCK SPRING? THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY RECALL?
Air bags, Jan 1, 2019
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WONT TURN OFF.
Electrical system, Air bags, Engine, Dec 26, 2018
TAKATA RECALL: WE HAVE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO GET INSPECTED DUE TO ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF AND HAVE HAD TO MAKE PAYMENTS ABOUT DIFFERENT FIXES THAT WOULD APPARENTLY HELP ONLY TO NOTICE NO CHANGE AND THE LIGHT WOULD COME BACK WITHIN DAYS OR WEEKS AND COME ON AND OFF . THERE IS A SUDDEN CHANGE IN THE WAY THE VEHICLE DRIVES AFTER THE LIGHT COMES ON, AND THEN GOES AWAY. THIS NORMALLY HAPPENED IN FREEWAYS.
Air bags, Dec 24, 2018
TAKATA RECALL MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY AND IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUES YBAT IS COVERED BY WARRANTY ALTHOUGH MY DEALER QUOTED ME $385
Suspension, Dec 18, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A RUBBING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HYUNDAI OF VACAVILLE (641 ORANGE DR, VACAVILLE, CA 95687, (866) 994-8186) WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V629000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.