CarComplaints.com Notes: So far the 2011 Elantra doesn't have the same volume of transmission problems that 2010 owners are fighting with. It also doesn't have the same pattern of steering and braking complaints that are piling up with the 2013 model year.

We're not saying the 2011 is perfect -- I mean, what were they thinking advertising their MPGs -- but there are worse choices.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,334 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Hyundai Elantra electrical problems

electrical problem

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2011 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #41

Jul 012019

Elantra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The power steering stopped working while driving in 2019. The steering wheel jolted 1-2", the EPS light blinked and then remained lit. Maintaining control of the vehicle was strenuous, making it impossible to quickly maneuver, especially at low speeds. Safety of the driver and others on the roadways was negatively impacted by the sudden malfunction. The power steering became intermittent while driving, then completely failed. The vehicle was serviced by a Hyundai dealer/service department for diagnostics, but a diagnosis was inconclusive. To remedy, it was recommended to replace the power steering module. This was done, and it provided temporary resolution. Power steering suddenly became intermittent again. Another diagnostic appointment suggested to replace the entire steering column. This has not been done. There was no warning that the power steering would fail. The vehicle is available for power steering inspection upon request. Electronic issues are persistent, effecting multiple areas of the vehicle. The headlights and taillights have gone out much more frequently than expected. The airbag sensor light has recently illuminated. The Tire pressure sensor blinks, then remains illuminated. The Electronic Stability Control Indicator has been illuminated since the power steering failure. This vehicle has had multiple issues arise, and it has had thousands of dollars of work put into it in an attempt to return it to a safely driving vehicle. It is unacceptable for the manufacturer to sell a car that cannot uphold basic safety standards. There have been multiple recalls for power steering issues on Hyundai's surrounding this 2011 model. Clearly there is an issue that needs to be addressed, and Hyundai needs to be held accountable for their negligence. All owners should be entitled to have their vehicle promptly repaired at no cost, and they should be reimbursed for time and repair costs spent trying to resolve this avoidable issue.

- Albany, OR, USA

problem #40

Nov 012022

Elantra

  • miles
El carro aveces pone los frenos muy duros y no se detiene. El mismo se acelera solo y en otras ocasiones baja las revoluciones hasta apagarse. Aveces comienza a temblar y prende la luz de check. Aún desconozco si ha sido evaluado anteriormente por algún especialista. También el mismo demora en prender algunas veces. Me gustaría saber si el mismo puede ser evaluado por algún y especialista ya que entiendo que no es muy seguro el mismo. Me gustaría saber cuál es el costo de esto para así guardar el presupuesto para el mismo. Le agradeceré me dejen saber. Gracias anticipadas

- New Britain, CT, USA

problem #39

Apr 032021

Elantra

  • miles
The battery won't charge and causing the remotes to keep going out and I'm unable to start my car with the push start remote. The battery and remotes were just replaced in November 2020 & it is now giving me the same issues again. I came back to start my parked car & it won't start.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #38

Feb 162019

Elantra

  • 98,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine has trouble starting or stalls often. Was told to replace whole engine when I went in awhile ago due to issue of starting, noise and oil leak. TPMS sensor I think is shot to every time I fill up air it still suggests issue with tires. Windows also get stuck down or up.

- White Bear Lake, MN, USA

problem #37

Sep 012019

Elantra

  • miles
When going at low speeds in traffic car shuts off after pressing break too much. Car shuts off in reverse. Car shuts off while making turns and hitting break simultaneously. Going over 60 mph causes car to shut off multiple times every few minutes or even seconds. (worst was 9 times in under 2 minutes) car shuts off slowing down to red light. Had car checked numerous times by mechanics. Noone can figure it out. No code comes up when plugged into computer at autoshop. Alot of other people have reported this issue with same make and model

- Bayville, NY, USA

problem #36

Oct 042020

Elantra

  • 147,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that she saw smoke coming from the trunk and from the door on the passenger side. She opened the door, the area from her dashboard all the way down to her gears was burned. The fire department and the police arrived and both filed reports. The fire department let the vehicle smoke out and diagnosed the issue as an electrical fire. The vehicle had a recall NHTSA campaign number: 20V393000 (equipment) for the same issue with the 12 volt accessory socket located inside the vehicle. The vehicle was currently still awaiting to be towed away by the manufacturer to email a letter for the claim to the contact. The dealer smart Hyundai (1 smart drive, white hall, ar 71602 (870) 534-8122) told the contact to call the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 147,000.

- Pine Bluff, AR, USA

problem #35

Apr 012020

Elantra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My steering wheel is scrubbing and has free play in it. It started with free play in it now it is scrubbing somewhere. And my odometer reading, horn does not work.

- Kinston, NC, USA

problem #34

Jan 012019

Elantra

  • 100,000 miles
The airbag light came on and will not go away. I have not gotten into accident nor have the airbags deployed.

- Collegeville, PA, USA

problem #33

Jul 122019

Elantra

  • 45,000 miles
Car will lose power while driving, on occasion it can be jumped / restarted, but it will suddenly lose power again. Have towed it 6 times in 5 months. Now I'm looking for an entirely new engine. Side note: You can't put the car in neutral to tow it if there is no power, so you have to hope jumper cables will get it enough power to put the car in neutral. No manual steering either, so we had to use a tow truck several times since you couldn't turn corners manually at all the steering wheel just locks, even with the key in the ignition.

- Idaho Falls, ID, USA

problem #32

Jul 202018

Elantra

  • miles
My headlights keep going out, the battery keeps dying and the car will not crank after you put gas in it with the ignition off. I have to leave the car running when I pump gas. My check engine lights comes on and off when it pleases. My tire light is usually always on, just been having lots of trouble with it here recently

- Anderson, SC, USA

problem #31

Sep 062019

Elantra

  • 1 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The knob on to turn on fan for A/C starting to not work unless I tuned it on and off. Then a few days ago, while I was idling in a parking lot, the knob got stuck with the A/C on. I started to smell burning & when I tried to turn it off the knob came off and I saw smoke coming from where the knob was. I turned off my vehicle, removed the fuse for the A/C and drove home. When I went to replace it and remove the old one, I noticed that the plug that connects to the climate control unit is also burned. The plug and the wires connected to it lead to a bunch of wires that are wired together. At this point, I am afraid to drive my vehicle, even though the fuse for the climate control unit isn't in. If I leave the unit disconnected, I will not be able to use by hazards. If I hadn't removed the fuse or if I had been on a major highway or freeway the car may have caught fire. I noticed that there are many people replacing this part. Maybe it could be a safety issue.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #30

Dec 242018

Elantra

  • 70,000 miles
Takata recall: We have have taken the car to get inspected due to engine light coming on and off and have had to make payments about different fixes that would apparently help only to notice no change and the light would come back within days or weeks and come on and off. There is a sudden change in the way the vehicle drives after the light comes on, and then goes away. This normally happened in freeways.

- Vandenberg Afb, CA, USA

problem #29

Aug 302018

Elantra

  • miles
The car sensors keep going up. The crank shaft sensor is not sending a signal that the car is in motion. When pull out on to a street or highway and press the accelerator sometimes my car will stall or drop speed. I fear someone will end up running into the back of me. When I come to a complete stop the car will stall or will not accelerate. Also the car headlights and tails tight bulbs blow within 4 or 5 days after putting new bulbs in. The cam sensor for the back up camera does not work as well.

- Quantico, MD, USA

problem #28

Aug 142018

Elantra

  • 129,000 miles
Got my 2011 Hyundai Elantra in 2017 at 94K miles. Air bag light is continuously illuminated, ESC light had been on for approx. 6-8 weeks. Also, none of the controls on the steering wheel work. None of the controls have worked since I got the car. No cruise control, I can't reset my trip odometer, I can't control the volume for my radio, nor can I control the bluetooth for my hands free usage. Was told by dealership that there would be a fee to have this problem looked at, but saw a Hyundai mechanic by chance in a gas station and was told that my clock spring could be faulty. This is an issue, especially for commuters like myself. Also, mpg has drastically decreased. Was getting almost 35 mpg, now it's only about 25 mpg.

- Pine Bluff, AR, USA

problem #27

Aug 012018

Elantra

  • 90,000 miles
Possible crankshaft angle sensor failure. Car will not start properly or stalls after starting and shifting gears. New battery installed 9/29/2018. No spark plugs or alternator issues noted after mechanical testing. There should be a recall for this problem as most mechanics cannot locate the issue in testing.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #26

May 172018

Elantra

  • 68,000 miles
Vehicle randomly does not start. When key is turned to position one lights, radio, windows, indicator lights all work as expected. When key is turned to start the engine nothing happens. The engine does not turnover or even attempt to turnover. The battery was replaced the first time this happened in April 2018. At that time I had the alternator and starter checked both were functioning properly. After repeated attempts to start the vehicle it has always started, eventually; it can take anywhere from 2 minutes to 30+ minutes for the engine to engage. When it first started occurring it happened pretty often. Prior to last Friday it had been a couple months since it took more than 30 minutes to start. I took the vehicle to another mechanic yesterday. Again starter, battery, alternator are all functioning properly. The mechanic mentioned that this model is known to have issues with the ignition and that I should contact the dealership, they may know what it is exactly. I've called two dealerships today, both say they know nothing about ignition problems in the vehicle.

- Elkridge, MD, USA

problem #25

Feb 062018

Elantra

  • 58,000 miles
Car will not start some times. Dealer says nothing wrong.

- Hemet, CA, USA

problem #24

Jun 142017

Elantra

  • 96,866 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the engine stalled while driving various speeds. Also, the front and rear brakes failed intermittently. Furthermore, the electrical system warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 96,866.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #23

Jan 152018

Elantra

  • 38,000 miles
Electronic ignition sporadically fails during very cold weather. Vehicle was parked under carport. Unknown part or reason. No problem with battery or alternator. After temp increased by 10 degrees it started normally. It was about 40 degrees each time it happened.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #22

Apr 252017

Elantra

  • miles
The windshield wipers flew off of my car during a rain storm while I was driving. I was told by the place that repaired it that the dealership didn't fasten them on correctly. When I took my car in for an oil change the service technician said he fixed my recall as well - the car never had a recall repair notice ! air conditioner does not work - when service did oil change they tried to tell me it was going to be 415 dollars to fix the air because the discharge hose is leaking. The discharge hose costs $11 on the internet & valvolene instant oil change will refill the freon in your car for less than 140 dollars. The brake lights all have needed replaced consistently every other month - I'm wondering if there is some kind of short in the wiring?

- West Chester, OH, USA

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