2011 Hyundai Elantra problems and complaints
Owners have filed 460 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Hyundai Elantra. The most-reported areas: Engine (96), Air Bags (81), Steering (77).
Key takeaways
- 460 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 21 involve a crash, 9 a fire, 13 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 96 | 21% |
| Air Bags | 81 | 18% |
| Steering | 77 | 17% |
| Suspension | 67 | 15% |
| Electrical System | 52 | 11% |
| Service Brakes | 49 | 11% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 37 | 8% |
| Unknown Or Other | 36 | 8% |
| Power Train | 25 | 5% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 23 | 5% |
| Wheels | 20 | 4% |
| Hydraulic | 17 | 4% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Hyundai Elantra 4 DR FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Steering - filed 2026-08-05
My steering wheel began to make clanking sound and lost the tension that allows for smooth turning of the wheel for both left and right. I looked it up and have found that this is a known issue that Hyundai has not addressed. Hyundai had a batch of bad steering wheel couplers that were installed in numerous models. T...
Engine - filed 2026-02-10
I have a Piston/Engine Defect according to the mechanic at the car shop. Any time any acceleration is applied you can hear the knocking. I believe it should be covered through the class action alleged that 2011-2016 Elantras engines (including the Limited trim) have a piston defect leading to engine failure. A settlem...
Service Brakes - filed 2026-01-13
The brake lines in our 2011 Hyundai Elantra have rusted out and no longer hold brake fluid, which means the car is not safe to drive. Luckily we were able to get the car to our sidewalk and park it without injury. We found that Sauder Schelkopf is investigating a potential class action lawsuit against Hyundai for unde...
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More for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.