2010 Hyundai ELANTRA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Hyundai ELANTRA has 501 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.3x the segment average of 80. 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 . ⚠️ 15 fire reports filed.

15 fire reports 60 crash reports 55 injuries

501

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

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

ELECTRICAL

50 complaints

10%

• 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
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCK FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AT FIRST AND WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO SIT IDLE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE CO
• 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ALL SYSTEMS LOCKED UP *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER FOR THE SECOND TIME WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING. HER SON WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *JB

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

46 complaints

• 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
• AFTER ENTERING INTO A PARKING LOT FROM A 30 MILE PER HOUR STREET WITH A BRAND NEW CAR OF LESS THAN 48 HOURS, TURNED AND JAMMED THE BRAKES. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO COLLISION, SO SCRATCH ON THE CAR AND NOTHING HIT EITHER UNDER OR ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR. *TR
• AFTER ENTERING INTO A PARKING LOT FROM A 30 MILE PER HOUR STREET WITH A BRAND NEW CAR OF LESS THAN 48 HOURS, TURNED AND JAMMED THE BRAKES. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO COLLISION, SO SCRATCH ON THE CAR AND NOTHING HIT EITHER UNDER OR ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 24 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

38 complaints

• 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
• TRUNK LID OPENS BY ITSELF EITHER WHEN DRIVING OR WHILE PARKED. HAD MY 2010 ELANTRA TOWED TO DEALER SATURDAY 03/05/11 AFTER HEARING A LOUD SOUND UNDER REAR OF CAR AS IF SOMETHING METAL HAD BROKEN, THEN IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING UNDER THE REAR OF THE CAR HAD DROPPED, THEN A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE OCCURRE
• I WAS STOPPING MY 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA ON GRAVEL ROAD-MY RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKES THEY LOCKED AND CAR JUMPED TO ACCELERATION AND LANDED IN BUSHES KNOW DOWN PORTO POTTY WITH THE TOWN GOV.'T. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports💥 9 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

32 complaints

• 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
• 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 ALIGN
• 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 A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

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
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)