2011 Hyundai ELANTRA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Hyundai ELANTRA has 588 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 7.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: the 2011 hyundai elantra 1.8liter engine makes a grinding then whining noise in the first few seconds of the first cold engine start of the day. on the day of sales delivery the vehicle made this noise for at least two minutes which prompted me to alert the salesman and lift the hood for closer . ⚠️ 10 fire reports filed.

10 fire reports 24 crash reports 13 injuries

588

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

7.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

97 complaints

16%

• THE 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 1.8LITER ENGINE MAKES A GRINDING THEN WHINING NOISE IN THE FIRST FEW SECONDS OF THE FIRST COLD ENGINE START OF THE DAY. ON THE DAY OF SALES DELIVERY THE VEHICLE MADE THIS NOISE FOR AT LEAST TWO MINUTES WHICH PROMPTED ME TO ALERT THE SALESMAN AND LIFT THE HOOD FOR CLOSER
• ENGINE CUT OFF WHEN MAKING A TURN.
• AT MY NEXT SCHEDULED SERVICE (6K), I AM GOING TO MENTION THIS WHILE MY CAR IS AT THE DEALER, BUT IT'S HAPPENED QUITE A FEW TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT MY 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA IN APRIL. I LIVE IN FLORIDA, AND AS IT'S SUMMER I'VE BEEN USING MY BRAND NEW A/C QUITE A LOT. HOWEVER, WHEN IT IS ON AND I AM AT A S

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“THE 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 1.8LITER ENGINE MAKES A GRINDING THEN WHINING NOISE IN THE FIRST FEW SECONDS OF THE FIRST COLD ENGINE START OF THE DAY. ON THE DAY OF SALES DELIVERY THE VEHICLE MADE THIS NOISE FOR AT LEAST TWO MINUTES WHICH PROMPTED ME TO ALERT THE SALESMAN AND LIFT THE HOOD FOR CLOSER ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

77 complaints

13%

• VEHICLE SPUN AND HIT GUARD RAIL ON INTERSTATE 90 HEAD ON , THEN ALSO ON RIGHT SIDE BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED!!! WE HAD PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS INVOLVING BOTH A 2005 SONATA AND 2007 ELANTRA IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY. IN FACT, THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR THE 2005 ACCIDENT SPENT A
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. T
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 22 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 12 crashes

“VEHICLE SPUN AND HIT GUARD RAIL ON INTERSTATE 90 HEAD ON , THEN ALSO ON RIGHT SIDE BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED!!! WE HAD PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS INVOLVING BOTH A 2005 SONATA AND 2007 ELANTRA IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY. IN FACT, THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR THE 2005 ACCIDENT SPENT A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

73 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT ABRUPTLY APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED ABNORMALLY TO THE RIGHT LANE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND THE MA
• THE COMPUTERIZED STEERING IN THIS VEHICLE RESULTS IN THE WHEELS BEING PULLED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM; THIS IS JUST A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE HERE. *TR
• VEHICLE SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN BRAKING, JUST LEFT AND RIGHT OF CENTER. FEELS AS IF THE POWER ASSIST IS EITHER FAILING OR RESISTING - REQUIRES UNDUE EFFORT TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE EPS U

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT ABRUPTLY APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED ABNORMALLY TO THE RIGHT LANE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND THE MA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

67 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT
• I HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2011 TIRES CONTIPRO R17. FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN I HIT A 4 INCH POTHOLE AND FOR SOME REASON THE AIR ESCAPED THE TIRE AND HAD TO CALL A TOW IN TRUCK. THE DEALER REPLACED MY TIRE FOR ONLY $321 (AM I LUCKY HA HA). NOW IT IS OCTOBER AND ANOTHER
• HYUNDAI MECHANIC, [XXX], CLAIMED THAT THE SHAKING OF THE REAR SUSPENSION IS A "NORMAL" FEATURE FOR ALL HYUNDAI ELANTRAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE "REAR DRIVE TRAIN IS A SOLID PLATFORM NOT INDEPENDENT." THIS WAS THE CERRITOS HYUNDAI'S TECHNICIANS EXACT STATEMENT FOR MY CAR'S MALFUNCTION. I PROVIDED PR

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

51 complaints

• ON 6/27/2011 THE CAR WAS HARD TO START THEN SHUT OFF AS IT WAS BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START FOR TWENTY MINUTES. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE CAR AFTER IT WAS TOWED TO THEM AND THE CAR ALMOST STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY A PROBLEM (NO ERROR CODES) AND
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION WHEN ENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE MALFUN
• 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. LAWYER WRITES REGARDING NOTICE OF CLAIM UNDER THE LEMON LAW ON BEHALF OF CLIENTS *TGW THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER INFORMED HIM, THEY DAMAGED THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT S

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“ON 6/27/2011 THE CAR WAS HARD TO START THEN SHUT OFF AS IT WAS BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START FOR TWENTY MINUTES. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE CAR AFTER IT WAS TOWED TO THEM AND THE CAR ALMOST STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY A PROBLEM (NO ERROR CODES) AND”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 588 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THE 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 1.8LITER ENGINE MAKES A GRINDING THEN WHINING NOISE IN THE FIRST FEW SECONDS OF THE FIRST COLD ENGINE START OF THE DAY. ON THE DAY OF SALES DELIVERY THE VEHICLE MADE THIS NOISE FOR AT LEAST TWO MINUTES WHICH PROMPTED ME TO ALERT THE SALESMAN AND LIFT THE HOOD FOR CLOSER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: VEHICLE SPUN AND HIT GUARD RAIL ON INTERSTATE 90 HEAD ON , THEN ALSO ON RIGHT SIDE BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED!!! WE HAD PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS INVOLVING BOTH A 2005 SONATA AND 2007 ELANTRA IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY. IN FACT, THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR THE 2005 ACCIDENT SPENT A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT ABRUPTLY APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED ABNORMALLY TO THE RIGHT LANE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND THE MA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)