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2011 Hyundai Elantra Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 433 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Hyundai Elantra, most often about the engine (22% of complaints, typically around 79,000 miles). It is 4th of 27 Elantra model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2011 Hyundai Elantra problems
Engine
97 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 79,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle jerked and lost speed. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the shoulder of the road and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. When the vehicle reached 45 MPH, it began to…
Engine ticking at idle and acceleration. Had lifters replaced and oil pump costing $1500. Engine continued with ticking noise. Brought it to my local Hyundai dealership which is 2.5 hours away. They told me I needed a new motor. Hyundai has declined the request related to mileage and time. Really. This vehicle only…
Air bags
77 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 99,000 miles.
2 days ago, 05/31/2017, the driver's airbag light illuminated at vehicle start and turned off during the drive. 06/01/2017, the same light illuminated and stays on. 06/02/2017, I scheduled an appointment with a Hyundai dealership to check the clock spring. Dealer notified me of both failed clock spring and failed…
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.
Steering
75 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 66,000 miles.
My 2011 Hyundai Elantra is under Hyundai recall 137. My vehicle has been at the dealership for regular service since 8/31/16. I mentioned the ESC was malfunctioning and the service advisor indicated it would require diagnostics at an additional charge. They diagnosed the problem and estimated by phone the repair would…
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…
Suspension
66 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 76,500 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
The left front strut and springs broke after hitting a pot-hole coming out of a grocery store. I pulled out of the parking lot once the traffic light turned green. Have hit potholes before without breaking struts or springs. Springs for my 2011 hyuandai Elantra are on back-order.
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.
Electrical
51 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, horn, ignition.
My Hyundai Elantra has had several issues since purchasing it march 09, 2013. Chief complaints are my vehicle will not start. Took it to dealership and they informed me to pop off the shift lock button on gear shaft and my car started. Took it to the dealer for further evaluation and was informed it was a relay…
Car will not start. It just clicks and will not start. It is random, but progressively gets more frequent as the car gets older/more use. Potentially standing a driver wherever they are at the time it happens. It has already stranded my wife once. This is a safety issue during very hot or cold weather. Hyundai does…
Brakes
44 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 69,000 miles. Parts named most often: pedals and linkages.
After four near accidents I feel it's time to report the following. I would apply the brake and the vehicle would try to stop and at the same time speed up. With no answer from my dealer I have had to find the answer myself. The brake pedal is 4 " wide. The distance to the left side of the accelerator is 3 " and the…
While driving the car one or more of the brakes get active without using the brakes . Abs start kicking and the car loose power . If I hate the brake the brake parks get really sensitive and the car start shaking . Happened too many times and I took the car to the dealer for diagnostic and they said they couldn't…
Other or unspecified
34 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles.
The check engine light came on. We had someone get the code which is p0711. Why is there not a recall for the transmission temp sensor if this problem continues to happen to many many people. This is going to cost me $500-1000. This should be Hyundai's bill to pay.
When driving it is difficult at time to regulate my speed. If I stop at a red light and then try to drive on a green light my car will jolt forward. It is hard to speed up, it feels like my car is stuck in on speed. It makes it difficult to drive on the freeway as it is slow to pick up speed.
Stability control
34 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 68,500 miles.
My 2011 Hyundai Elantra is under Hyundai recall 137. My vehicle has been at the dealership for regular service since 8/31/16. I mentioned the ESC was malfunctioning and the service advisor indicated it would require diagnostics at an additional charge. They diagnosed the problem and estimated by phone the repair would…
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. While driving at approximately 55 MPH, the ESC sensor warning indicator illuminated continuously. When the ignition was turned off and back on, the warning indicator did not illuminate. After driving for approximately one minute, the ESC warning indicator illuminated…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2011 Hyundai Elantra recalls
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Equipment: electrical
Risk: An overheated accessory outlet increases the risk of fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Stability control: electronic stability control (esc)
Risk: If the one or more of the brakes are inappropriately applied, control of the vehicle may be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Suspension: coil springs
Risk: If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Body and structure: structure
Risk: If the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Hyundai and kia ABS module fires
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received eight hyundai motor america (hyundai) and eight kia america, inc. (kia) part 573 recall reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or hydraulic electronic control units (hecu) manufactured by the equipment supplier mando. The part 573 recall reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by mando. Safety recalls included in this audit query (aq) review include: hyundai recalls 20v-520, 20v-543, 21v-161, 21v-160, 21v-303, 22v-056, 22v-810, and 23v-651. Kia recalls 16v-815, 20v-518, 20v-519, 21v
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) of the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated october 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (etc) system on certain kia vehicles resulting in the opening of dp21-003. Accordingly, model year (my) 2005-2016 kia optima/k5, my 2006-2015 kia sorento, my 2007-2016 hyundai elantra, my 2007-2016 hyundai santa fe, my 2006-2015 hyundai sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a vehicle owner questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (odi) number 11439675.on november 12, 2021, odi opened defec
Headliner bracket detachment
Summary
In march 2013, hyundai issued a safety recall to reinforce the attachment of the metal support brackets to the headliner assembly in approximately 186,254 model year 2011-2013 hyundai elantra vehicles built in korea and sold in the u.s. (see NHTSA recall 13v-115 for more information).the recall covers vehicles built up to march 5, 2013.after that date, hyundai began using headliners with reinforced bracket attachments in the korea-built elantra vehicles.odi has opened a recall query (rq13-004) to investigate model year 2009-2012 hyundai elantra touring vehicles.during ea12-008, odi found these vehicles are equipped with a support bracket design and layout similar to that in the above-mention
Questions about the 2011 Hyundai Elantra
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Hyundai Elantra?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (97 complaints, typically around 79,000 miles); air bags (77 complaints, typically around 99,000 miles); steering (75 complaints, typically around 66,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2011 Hyundai Elantra have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 22, 2023 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2011 a bad year for the Hyundai Elantra?
- It is 4th of 27 Elantra model years by number of complaints, with 433 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.