Is the 2010 Hyundai ELANTRA reliable?

The 2010 Hyundai ELANTRA has 501 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.3x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: STEERING problems.

What are common problems with the 2010 Hyundai ELANTRA?

Top problems: STEERING (195 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (50 complaints, avg repair $500); AIR BAGS (46 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2010 Hyundai ELANTRA?

Yes, there are 3 recall(s): SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH. Contact any Hyundai dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2010 Hyundai ELANTRA?

The 2010 Hyundai ELANTRA gets 29 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1655. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

Is the 2010 Hyundai ELANTRA often stolen?

The Hyundai ELANTRA was the #1 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025 with approximately 21,732 thefts (NICB Hot Wheels data). Theft risk tier: very-high. Pre-2022 models are affected by the Kia Boys challenge — verify your VIN has the manufacturer security update.

How much does it cost to insure a 2010 Hyundai ELANTRA?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2010 Hyundai ELANTRA is approximately $1,694/year (sedan-compact class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2010 Hyundai ELANTRA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Hyundai ELANTRA has 501 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.3x the segment average of 386. The most common issue is steering problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: tl*the contact owns a 2010 hyundai elantra. the contact stated that the vehicle became unstable in adverse wind conditions. the contact was not sure of what the wind speeds were that caused the problem, but the vehicle started rocking from side to side while traveling 65 mph. this had also happened . There are 3 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 15 fire reports filed.

15 fire reports 60 crash reports 55 injuries

501

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

STEERING

195 complaints

39%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE IN ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE OF WHAT THE WIND SPEEDS WERE THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, BUT THE VEHICLE STARTED ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH. THIS HAD ALSO HAPPENED
• I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2010 ELANTRA. I SOON NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT, AND VERY SOON IT STARTED PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT ALIGNED. IT STILL PULLED RIGHT BUT IT WAS MUCH BETTER. SOON IT STARTED PULLING AGAIN, THIS TIME AT HIGHER RATES OF SPEED, 65-70 MPH.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD GET SHOCKED WHENEVER HE WOULD OPEN THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 7 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE IN ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE OF WHAT THE WIND SPEEDS WERE THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, BUT THE VEHICLE STARTED ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH. THIS HAD ALSO HAPPENED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2010 Hyundai ELANTRA

Based on 349 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 62K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

106

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

AIR BAGS

Earlier than typicalmedian 64K mi · 34 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BODY/STRUCTURE

Earlier than typicalmedian 59K mi · 14 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

Earlier than typicalmedian 62K mi · 9 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SUSPENSION

Earlier than typicalmedian 9K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

Reported earliermedian 63K mi · 30 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

Reported earliermedian 46K mi · 24 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (3)

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE04/02/2020

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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Very high theft risk

#1 most stolen in 2025

The Hyundai ELANTRA was the #1 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 21,732 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Kia Boys / TikTok theft vulnerabilityModel years 2010-2021 Hyundai and Kia vehicles without engine immobilizers were widely targeted starting in 2022 after a viral TikTok exploit. If you own this vehicle, verify it has an ignition immobilizer or install a security upgrade. Hyundai and Kia both offered free software updates and steering-wheel-lock programs for affected models.

Recommended protection: engine immobilizer verification, steering wheel lock, GPS tracker, and comprehensive insurance coverage. Higher theft risk usually translates to higher comprehensive-coverage insurance premiums.

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2010 Hyundai ELANTRA

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,656

Per month

$138

Per mile

13.8¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$1,920/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,412/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2010 Hyundai ELANTRA

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,694

Full coverage / month

$141

Liability only / year

$601

vs US avg

+1%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-compact)0.93x

× theft risk1.28x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age0.85x

= Full coverage estimate$1694

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Hyundai ELANTRA Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

60K mi

Spark plugs

90K mi

Cabin air filter

15K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

60K mi

Turbo engines (1.6T, 2.0T) need premium fuel and more frequent oil (some owners service at 5,000 miles).

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Hyundai New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

5 yr / 60K mi

Powertrain

10 yr / 100K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

10 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

7 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / unlimited mi

10 years/100K powertrain warranty is transferable only to first purchaser after initial owner

These are the terms for a new Hyundai. If you're buying a used 2010 ELANTRA, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Hyundai dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 501 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE IN ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE OF WHAT THE WIND SPEEDS WERE THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, BUT THE VEHICLE STARTED ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH. THIS HAD ALSO HAPPENED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A CRASH. MY DAUGHTER WAS OPERATING A HYUNDAI ELANTRA AND REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. (APPROX SPEED 35) HER VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THE SEATBELTS SAVED HER. HER CHEST IS EXTREMELY BRUISED FROM THE IMPACT. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: A CAR PURCHASED NEW AND DRIVEN FOR FOUR MONTHS IS EXPERIENCING BRAKE FAILURE. IT IS OCCURRING WHEN DRIVEN IN SNOWY CONDITIONS WHILE IN LOWER GEAR. THE PEDAL LOCKS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH DOWN IN ORDER TO BRAKE. THE PEDAL SHAKES AND GRINDS IN THE PROCESS. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 3 recalls have been completed — free at any Hyundai dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)