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:
5 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,124 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 brakes problems

brakes problem

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2011 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments

problem #19

Nov 012022

Elantra

  • miles

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

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 #18

May 292020

Elantra 4-cyl

  • miles
My brakes light stay on and it the has something to do with the electronic stability control indicator light it just started two days ago.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #17

Oct 152019

Elantra

  • 177,000 miles
My recent facebook post: Hyundai owners beware. Hyundai currently has 3 recalls that affect my car by production date, yet there are "no open safety recalls or service campaigns for this vehicle". the same last year when we tried to correct the defective transmission harness issue - it somehow didn't apply to our vehicle even though the part number was identical to that which was covered under the recall. Now there's a new issue - the vacuum assisted brake booster cannister failed due to rot/perforation, resulting in brake failure. Okay folks, are we seeing a pattern here? something like this: Industrial money matters, you don't. buy our crap, buy more of it, keep on buying. We follow the rules, yet we don't. we make 155,000 cars in a calendar year and you get to pay for our mistakes because government regulations are designed in the manufacturer's favor - they couldn't care less about you.

- Westernville, NY, USA

problem #16

Sep 022019

Elantra

  • miles

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

Brake peddle seems to collapse partially when I apply the brakes as if the master cylinder is failing, but it remains an issue even with a new master cylinder. I have been told it has something to do with the ABS system.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #15

Mar 192019

Elantra

  • 105,420 miles
Rear brake pads separated after 50,000 miles of mainly highway driving (my Honda Accord, driven similarly, had brake pads last 150,000 miles). Vehicle is garaged.

- Northwood, NH, USA

problem #14

Mar 032019

Elantra

  • 135,000 miles
The break switch is faulty resulting in my break lights not illuminating.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #13

Jun 142017

Elantra

  • 96,866 miles

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

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 #12

Jun 221990

Elantra

  • 86,500 miles
On May 22nd I was stopped at a red light in heavy traffic. There was a lady in a Jeep infront of me. The light turned green, cars slowly began to move and as soon as I accelerated gently the lady infront of me slammed on her breaks about 15 to 20 feet infront of me. Instinctively I slammed on my breaks as well but my vehicle did not stop. Instead it continued forward right into the back of her Jeep. At the point of impact my car was going about 10mph. My foot never came off the breaks and I had more than enough space to slow down and stop. Had the breaks not failed me I would not be dealing with an accident. This is my first auto collision and I want someone to be held accountable for these faulty breaks. They have never failed before or failed an inspection. Nor were there any indicators prior to them failing to stop. The ladys Jeep only has minor scratches and the whole hood of my Elantra is destroyed, the radiator is caved in, grill is smashed, headlight is gone. I believe the car is totalled. The damage is most likely worth more than the car. I never even made it past the stoplight.

- Buena Park, CA, USA

problem #11

May 132018

Elantra

  • 75,000 miles
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 fined any problems. From my experience this is a use sensor problem and I spoke with Honda of America and they said my car and my VIN # has no recall.

- Newport Beach, CA, USA

problem #10

May 152017

Elantra

  • 76,000 miles
The vehicle was purchased new and has approx. ~76K miles in 6.5 years of ownership. It is garaged when not in use. It has only ever been serviced at the same local Hyundai service center. At the 72,501-mile service, the brakes were assigned a yellow score on a red-yellow-green scale but no remedial work was recommended. Since then I have noticed no obvious issues with the vehicle's braking system nor received any dashboard indicators of vehicle issues. At yesterday's 76,184-mile service, I was told that the rear brakes needed urgent repair work. When I asked when I could bring the vehicle back for remedial work, I was told the repairs should be carried out immediately else I may lose the rear brakes. The inner rear pads were found to be coming apart from backing plates and "flapping". the rear brake pads were replaced and rear rotors resurfaced. For someone who drives conservatively specifically to increase brake life, it is extremely concerning that the vehicle's brakes went from ok 3500 miles ago, to now they could stop working imminently. For a fwd vehicle, it is interesting that the rear brakes specifically have this issue. Based on my experience, I am concerned those that do not service their Hyundai as frequently as I do, may experience sudden and catastrophic brake failure of factory-installed brake pads, rotors and other factory parts without warning, with obvious implications for occupant safety.

- Reading, PA, USA

problem #9

Mar 012016

Elantra

  • 40,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at 20 mph and coming to a stop, the vehicle started jerking and required a longer stopping distance when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V871000 (electronic stability control) however, the parts for the recall was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #8

Feb 222016

Elantra

  • 77,162 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. While driving 30 mph, the brake pedal engaged independently without warning. The failure recurred twice. In addition, while driving at any speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V871000 (electronic stability control) and stated that the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,162. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #7

Oct 152015

Elantra

  • 69,000 miles
The Hyundai Elantra has an intermittent starting problem. This problem is hard to duplicate. The solution requires various attempts at trying the start switch along with the movement of shift lever. This becomes a safety problem since it requires numerous attempts to move shift lever from park to neutral position. When attempting to start vehicle after a number of times the power brakes take extreme pressure to control the vehicle from moving. At times, the shift lever will not move properly out of the park position and still not start. This has happened numerous times. The local Hyundai service warned me if problem cannot be duplicated owners are responsible for diagnostic and service costs that would likely be $200 or more. On one occasion the car was parked in my garage for about a week along with daily attempts at trying to start the car did not start the engine. Finally it started and did not have problems during the complete summer, but once the temperature has been below 40-50 degrees F problems occurred. I am very leery at allowing other family members to operate vehicle since some may have difficulty in applying the large amount of braking force to stop vehicle from moving on an incline when attempting to start vehicle. I reviewed the service bulletin no.: tsb-12-at-022-1 on Hyundai Elantra and Kia recall NHTSA campaign number: 13V114000. Note many Kia and Hyundai vehicles are similar in parts and function. After reading the NHTSA campaign number: 13V114000 about Kia, I did recall incidents of intermittent failing of brake lights and intermittent ESC light malfunction.

- Cokato, MN, USA

problem #6

Sep 282014

Elantra

  • 51,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the brakes had been leaking fluid out of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was repaired and the fluid was replaced. The failure recurred and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The brake line was diagnosed as the cause of the failure and replaced. The failure recurred and the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard. The vehicle would not start and was taken to the dealer again where the brake control unit was replaced. After driving approximately 35 mph, flames appeared from the exhaust. The contact stated the vehicle was pulled to side of the road and restarted and smoke began to flow from the exhaust and engine. The brake warning indicator illuminated during the first two failures and, during the last two failures, all the warning indicators illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 51,000.

- Griffin, GA, USA

problem #5

Sep 052014

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 55,400 miles
As I was driving the skid control light came on. At first, nothing was different, then all of a sudden my car started slowing down and would accelerate with gas being applied. Then, it started moving again. After a while the light went off, but then came on and did the same thing.

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #4

Nov 222013

Elantra

  • 33,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 45 mph and attempting to decelerate, the brakes failed to respond. The contact then crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact sustained back injuries from the impact. The police were called and a report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was not diagnosed and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,000.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #3

Aug 242013

Elantra

  • 19,000 miles
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 been made aware of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 19,000.

- Eustis, FL, USA

problem #2

Apr 012013

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 45,000 miles
While in drive but sitting at a stop sign or stop light, the tension(?) in the brake pedal changes as you're pressing on it. The pressing leg moves so slightly that you almost can't tell its happening. But when you press harder on the pedal there is more room to do so. Wait about 5-10 seconds and there is even more room to do so. This can continue multiple times until the pedal is touching the floor. There has been three times so far where it has done this without me realizing it, and I've looked up just in time to catch the vehicle as it's rolling forward. Luckily I haven't hit anyone or anything, at least yet. This doesn't occur every time, just occasionally. Also, it doesn't happen every day either.

- Plainfield, IN, USA

problem #1

Sep 092012

Elantra

  • 20,000 miles
Since I bought the car late Feb. 2011 (after they release the new modeled cars in the last days of the previous year)...I have complained and inquired about an occurrence that happens with the brakes on occasion that seems to be triggering: Vsm, ESC, tcs, ABS, brake assist and/or ebd safety systems under normal road, temperatures, speeds, brake pressure. There has been at brake delays, very loud grinding noise, and at times provided a violent push back and pumping unlike any normal ABS system and those times were few but again under normal conditions no sudden breaking. The grinding sounds and feels a bit like a second after you apply pressure to the brake an anchor drops on the road and bounces and grinds against mental and the pavement. It feels like an empty brake pad (but is not) and stop as if one also. However not all the time and when the brakes are normal it feels safe. However, it happens even slowly parking in my flat smooth driveway sometimes (no sand I check everytime). I have avoided many accidents just barely when this is triggered and it most often causing double the stopping time. I end up into the intersecting streets beyond a stop sign or stop light by about half a car length. It doesn't always kick in right away with brake pressure but trips it up a second later and you have to almost trick the brake and steering to get control and stop in time. There has been too much of a process in an effort to correct it, other issues found, and multiple accident caused from it one of which cause a hospital visit and an injury leaving me will a hematoma and crooked smile still. I need help and more space to explain. Please email me for details.

- Quincy, MA, USA

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