AI Damage2011 Hyundai Elantra: common problems
Owners of the 2011 Hyundai Elantra filed 433 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 433
- involving a crash
- 17
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 21% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 18% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 17% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 15% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 12% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
- 7 Electronic stability control 8% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- Engine: 92 complaints (21% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 77 complaints (18% of all), 12 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 75 complaints (17% of all).
- Suspension: 66 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 51 complaints (12% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 5-speednamed in 1 complaints
- manual, 6-speednamed in 1 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 433 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 92 | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 77 | 12 | 0 |
| Steering | 75 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 66 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 51 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 44 | 5 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 34 | 3 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 21 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that the engine light and air bag light flashed as the brakes had been applied however, the wheels spun unexpectedly and the engine power was reduced resulting into a crash into another vehicle. The air bags had not deployed. The driver sustained no injuries for medical treatment.
The airbags failed to deploy upon this initial impact. Additionally, as the car left the road, there was a second frontal impact into a hardened, plowed snowbank, in which the airbags also failed to deploy.
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.
During the crash, the vehicle sustained significant damage to the front end but the air bags did not deploy. The driver suffered a concussion, neck and back injuries that required medical attention. A police report was taken at the scene. No further information was available.
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 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.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 hyundai elantra. The contact stated while driving 30 mph the vehicle suddenly acclerated and crashed into a light pole. The contact was severely injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 891 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 2% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Elantra has 243 complaints (36 years in the data). This year has 433, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
- Elantra 199229 sources
- Elantra 199324 sources
- Elantra 199476 sources
- Elantra 1995112 sources
- Elantra 1996100 sources
- Elantra 1997115 sources
- Elantra 199855 sources
- Elantra 1999128 sources
- Elantra 2000197 sources
- Elantra 2001315 sources
- Elantra 2002342 sources
- Elantra 2003234 sources
- Elantra 2004182 sources
- Elantra 2005137 sources
- Elantra 2006155 sources
- Elantra 2007267 sources
- Elantra 2008315 sources
- Elantra 2009255 sources
- Elantra 2010380 sources
- Elantra 2012654 sources
- Elantra 20131,315 sources
- Elantra 2014386 sources
- Elantra 2015262 sources
- Elantra 2016413 sources
- Elantra 2017903 sources
- Elantra 2018387 sources
- Elantra 2019353 sources
- Elantra 2020349 sources
- Elantra 2021213 sources
- Elantra 2022178 sources
- Elantra 2023153 sources
- Elantra 202483 sources
- Elantra 202548 sources
- Elantra 20267 sources
- Elantra 999914 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Hyundai Elantra?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, air bags, steering. Total complaints: 433. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (15%), airbag warning light (12%), knocking, grinding or other noise (12%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2011 Hyundai Elantra from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2011 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.