Hyundai Elantra 2007–2010 problems by year and mileage
4th generation · HD
NHTSA data through 18 October 20261,215 complaints, 940 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2007 Hyundai Elantra
Close- Median failure report
- 73,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 267
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
Most reported on the 2007
- Airbag system46 reports · median 66,000 mi
- Visibility/wiper42 reports · median 68,000 mi
- Steering34 reports · median 71,000 mi
Recall areas Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Exterior lighting — brake lights · Air bags — frontal
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2008 Hyundai Elantra
Close- Median failure report
- 54,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 314
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
Most reported on the 2008
- Steering55 reports · median 71,000 mi
- Airbag system38 reports · median 56,000 mi
- Fuel system36 reports · median 1,500 mi
Recall areas Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Steering — electric power assist system · Exterior lighting — brake lights
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2009 Hyundai Elantra
Close- Median failure report
- 78,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 254
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2009
- Steering133 reports · median 78,000 mi
- Airbag system42 reports
- Electrical system24 reports
Recall areas Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Steering — electric power assist system · Exterior lighting — brake lights
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2010 Hyundai Elantra
Close- Median failure report
- 64,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 380
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2010
- Steering195 reports · median 73,000 mi
- Electrical system48 reports
- Airbag system46 reports · median 64,000 mi
Recall areas Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Steering — electric power assist system · Exterior lighting — brake lights
Check the VIN at NHTSA
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. Latest: the 2009; earliest: the 2008, and the 2008 is 1 year older (part of the gap is age).
The short answer
“Is the 2007–2010 Hyundai Elantra reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 68,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 140,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 940
- Recalls
- 9
Most reported
- Steering34.3% of complaints · median 76,000 mi
- Airbag system14.2% of complaints · median 69,000 mi
- Electrical system11.0% of complaints · median 65,000 mi
Owners filed 1,215 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2010 Hyundai Elantra; the steering leads with 34.3% of them, and half of the 940 that record an odometer reading came by 68,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.
No single peak: the middle half runs 34,000 to 101,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2007–2010 Hyundai Elantra last?
On the 2007–2010 Hyundai Elantra, half of the 940 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 68,000 miles and 90% by 140,000 miles (why that is not a lifespan).
77 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 15 past 200,000 — each one proof that an Elantra reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Hyundai Elantra 2007–2010 · 940 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
10,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 120 complaints
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 15 complaints (1.6%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 5,000
- 25%
- 34,000
- Median
- 68,000
- 75%
- 101,000
- 90%
- 140,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 120 | 12.8% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 42 | 4.5% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 48 | 5.1% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 64 | 6.8% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 70 | 7.4% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 58 | 6.2% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 79 | 8.4% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 70 | 7.4% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 79 | 8.4% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 57 | 6.1% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 54 | 5.7% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 39 | 4.1% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 36 | 3.8% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 27 | 2.9% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 20 | 2.1% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 15 | 1.6% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 24 | 2.6% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 11 | 1.2% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 8 | 0.9% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 4 | 0.4% |
| 200,000+ | 15 | 1.6% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Elantra problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Hyundai Elantra 2007–2010
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Throttle and speed control73 reportsmedian 49,000middle half 30,000–87,000
- Transmission and driveline79 reportsmedian 49,000middle half 25,000–83,000
- Electrical system134 reportsmedian 65,000middle half 35,000–103,000
- Airbag system172 reportsmedian 69,000middle half 32,000–113,000
- Problems owners could not categorise68 reportsmedian 76,000middle half 28,000–123,000
- Steering417 reportsmedian 76,000middle half 46,000–101,000
- Brakes103 reportsmedian 79,000middle half 44,000–108,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 417 | 34.3% | 76,000 | 46,000–101,000 |
| Airbag system | 172 | 14.2% | 69,000 | 32,000–113,000 |
| Electrical system | 134 | 11.0% | 65,000 | 35,000–103,000 |
| Brakes | 103 | 8.5% | 79,000 | 44,000–108,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 79 | 6.5% | 49,000 | 25,000–83,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 73 | 6.0% | 49,000 | 30,000–87,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 68 | 5.6% | 76,000 | 28,000–123,000 |
| Engine | 64 | 5.3% | 101,000 | 57,000–140,000 |
| Body structure | 63 | 5.2% | 78,000 | 53,000–112,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 55 | 4.5% | 72,000 | 43,000–100,000 |
Known problems with the 2007–2010 Elantra
Airbags 2007–2010
Occupant classification system faults disabling the passenger airbag; also Takata inflator recall exposure on later model years.
Before you buy a 2007–2010 Elantra: the 3-minute check
Generated from 940 mileage-tagged complaints, 9 recall campaigns, 1 documented problem area.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 9 campaigns cover this generation.
- Check airbags on 2007–2010 cars. What it looks like: Known problems.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Elantra problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi43% below | At 90k mi67% below | At 120k mi83% below | At 150k mi92% below | At 200k mi98% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 46,000–101,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Airbag system | 32,000–113,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 35,000–103,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Brakes | 44,000–108,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 25,000–83,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Throttle and speed control | 30,000–87,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 28,000–123,000 | in window | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Hyundai Elantra 2007–2010 · 940 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 60,000 mi — 43% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 67% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 83% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 92% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 98% of reports below
- Median (the 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
2007–2010 Hyundai Elantra recalls (9)
NHTSA records 9 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
The campaigns cluster around the exterior lighting (3), the airbag system (2), the fuel system (2) (why one area can repeat).
Feb 2020 · 2007–2010 · Service Brakes, HydraulicAn electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned…
The defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Elantra and 2009-2011 Elantra Touring vehicles. On February 21, 2020 Hyundai expanded the recall to include 46,425 model year 2007-2008 Entourage and 2007 Santa Fe vehicles. Moisture may enter the…
What can happen. An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
The free fix. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall…
Feb 2015 · 2008–2010 · SteeringIf power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds…
The defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Elantra vehicles manufactured June 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010, and 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles manufactured November 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010. The electronic power steering…
What can happen. If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Hyundai will verify the proper operation of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and update the EPS control unit, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer…
Apr 2013 · 2007–2010 · Exterior LightingFailure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could…
The defect. Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe…
What can happen. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the…
The free fix. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall…
Mar 2011 · 2007–2008 · Air BagsA higher pressure deployment than intended increases the risk of injury resulting from airbag deployment.
The defect. Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Elantra vehicles manufactured from july 14, 2006, through august 29, 2007. The driver's seat track position sensor determines the seat's fore and aft position and allows the driver's frontal air bag to deploy…
What can happen. A higher pressure deployment than intended increases the risk of injury resulting from airbag deployment.
The free fix. Dealers will reprogram the air bag control module free of charge. The safety recall is expecting to begin during april 2011. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.
Mar 2011 · 2007–2009 · Air BagsThe front passenger air bag could deploy in crashes in which it should not deploy, increasing the risk of…
The defect. Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Elantra vehicles manufactured from july 14, 2006, through november 1, 2008. The front passenger seats in the vehicles contain a weight sensor designed to deactivate the right frontal airbag when occupants of…
What can happen. The front passenger air bag could deploy in crashes in which it should not deploy, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant from the deployed air bag.
The free fix. Dealers will install a protective cover over the weight classification system connector to prevent contamination. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expecting to…
Jul 2009 · 2007 · Exterior LightingAny of these malfunctions could lead to a crash.
The defect. Hyundai is recalling 3,011 model year 2005-2007 Elantra, tucson, sonata, azera and accent vehicles. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to fail to illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause the brake lights to remain…
What can happen. Any of these malfunctions could lead to a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch free of charge. The recall began on september 2, 2009. Owners may contact Hyundai of puerto rico customer service at 1-787-999-4310.
Apr 2009 · 2007 · Exterior LightingAny of these malfunctions, alone or in combination, may lead to a crash.
The defect. Hyundai is recalling 532,633 my 2006-2007 accent, entourage, sonata, my 2007 azera, Elantra and santa fe, my 2005-2007 tucson and my 2007-2008 veracruz vehicles. The stop lamp switch in the affected vehicles may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch…
What can happen. Any of these malfunctions, alone or in combination, may lead to a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch free of charge. The recall began on june 29, 2009. Owners may contact the Hyundai customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.
Dec 2008 · 2008 · Fuel System, GasolineAs a result, poor engine staring and hesitation may result.
The defect. Hyundai de puerto rico (hpr) is recalling 347 my 2008 Elantra vehicles. The fuel pump motor may not have the proper, uniform internal electrical surface contact. This may cause the fuel pump to produce less pumping pressure than required to supply the fuel…
What can happen. As a result, poor engine staring and hesitation may result. Other engine performance issues may also result and lead to a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the vehicle's fuel pump subassembly. The recall began on february 9, 2009. Owners may contact hpr at 1-800-981-0188.
Aug 2008 · 2008 · Fuel System, GasolinePoor engine starting and hesitation may result.
The defect. Hyundai is recalling 65,000 my 2008 Elantra vehicles with 2.0 Liter beta engines. The fuel pump motor may not have the proper uniform internal electrical surface contact. This may cause the fuel pump to produce less pumping pressure than required to supply…
What can happen. Poor engine starting and hesitation may result. Other engine performance issues may also result increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the fuel pump subassembly free of charge. The recall began on september 15, 2008. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 1,215 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 132 (10.9%)
- Fires
- 56
- Injury reports
- 99
- Fatality reports
- 1
Elantra problems by model year
The 2010 drew the most complaints of this generation, 380, most of them about the steering, and the 2009 the fewest, 254. A typical year drew about 290.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 267 | 223 | 73,000 | Airbag system (46) | 6 |
| 2008 | 314 | 258 | 54,000 | Steering (55) | 7 |
| 2009 | 254 | 186 | 78,000 | Steering (133) | 4 |
| 2010 | 380 | 273 | 64,000 | Steering (195) | 3 |
What Elantra owners reported
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH on the highway, the vehicle lost power steering assist. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated during the failure. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the…
2009 · 46,000 miles · Steering
The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving and attempting to turn into the driveway, there was a burning odor and white-grayish smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that while the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to slow down as intended. The…
2007 · 101,000 miles · Engine
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V061000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the TPMS and powertrain warning lights illuminated, but the vehicle drove normally. The contact stated that a month…
2009 · 168,000 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The EPS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. In addition, the contact stated…
2009 · 118,000 miles · Steering
Built from 940 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Elantra generations
- Elantra 1996–2000 163 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
- Elantra 2001–2006 952 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Elantra 2011–2016 1,973 reports with mileage, most about the engine
- Elantra 2017–2020 505 reports with mileage, most about the engine