Hyundai Elantra 2007–2010
4th generation · HD
NHTSA data through 12 August 20261,612 complaints, 1,229 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 33,500 and 101,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 18 complaints (1.5%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 5,200
- 25%
- 33,500
- Median
- 66,000
- 75%
- 101,000
- 90%
- 140,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 117 | 9.5% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 41 | 3.3% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 27 | 2.2% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 25 | 2.0% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 30 | 2.4% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 33 | 2.7% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 40 | 3.3% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 47 | 3.8% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 59 | 4.8% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 38 | 3.1% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 41 | 3.3% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 39 | 3.2% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 58 | 4.7% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 40 | 3.3% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 54 | 4.4% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 42 | 3.4% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 50 | 4.1% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 45 | 3.7% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 47 | 3.8% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 25 | 2.0% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 42 | 3.4% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 25 | 2.0% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 35 | 2.8% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 19 | 1.5% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 31 | 2.5% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 22 | 1.8% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 19 | 1.5% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 12 | 1.0% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 13 | 1.1% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 13 | 1.1% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 12 | 1.0% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 6 | 0.5% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 21 | 1.7% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 9 | 0.7% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 6 | 0.5% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 10 | 0.8% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 8 | 0.7% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 18 | 1.5% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 1,612 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2010 Hyundai Elantra, and 1,229 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 33,500 and 101,000 miles. The median is 66,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the steering (25.9% of complaints, typically around 77,000 miles), the airbag system (11.1% of complaints, typically around 66,000 miles), the electrical system (8.4% of complaints, typically around 65,000 miles).
5 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Steering77,000median 77,000 miles, middle half 46,000 to 101,000
- Airbag system66,000median 66,011 miles, middle half 32,000 to 112,000
- Electrical system65,000median 65,000 miles, middle half 35,000 to 103,000
- Brakes79,000median 79,000 miles, middle half 44,000 to 108,000
- Transmission and driveline48,000median 48,000 miles, middle half 25,000 to 83,000
- Throttle and speed control49,000median 49,000 miles, middle half 30,000 to 87,000
- Problems owners could not categorise76,000median 76,000 miles, middle half 28,000 to 123,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 417 | 25.9% | 77,000 | 46,000–101,000 |
| Airbag system | 179 | 11.1% | 66,000 | 32,000–112,000 |
| Electrical system | 136 | 8.4% | 65,000 | 35,000–103,000 |
| Brakes | 102 | 6.3% | 79,000 | 44,000–108,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 80 | 5.0% | 48,000 | 25,000–83,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 73 | 4.5% | 49,000 | 30,000–87,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 66 | 4.1% | 76,000 | 28,000–123,000 |
| Body structure | 63 | 3.9% | 78,000 | 53,000–112,000 |
| Engine | 63 | 3.9% | 107,000 | 57,000–150,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 57 | 3.5% | 71,000 | 45,000–100,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 66,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The steering accounts for 25.9% of complaints (417 reports, 327 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 77,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 46,000 and 101,000 miles.
A single system taking 25.9% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The airbag system accounts for 11.1% of complaints (179 reports, 136 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 66,011 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 32,000 and 112,099 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 8.4% of complaints (136 reports, 99 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 65,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 35,000 and 103,200 miles.
The brakes account for 6.3% of complaints (102 reports, 70 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 79,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 44,500 and 108,215 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 5.0% of complaints (80 reports, 63 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 48,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 25,000 and 83,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 4.5% of complaints (73 reports, 60 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 49,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 29,755 and 87,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2010 model year drew the most — 504 complaints — while 2009 drew the fewest at 319. The median year sits at 394.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 5 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (2), the hydraulic brake circuit (1), the steering (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 1,612 complaints filed against this generation, 193 reported a crash; 92 reported a fire; 179 reported an injury; 3 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 12.0% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 33,500 and 101,000 miles, with a median of 66,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the steering and the airbag system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 66,011, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Airbags 2007–2010
Occupant classification system faults disabling the passenger airbag; also Takata inflator recall exposure on later model years.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 365 | 301 |
| 2008 | 424 | 344 |
| 2009 | 319 | 235 |
| 2010 | 504 | 349 |
Recalls (5)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 20V061000 | 2020-04-02 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module |
| 15V100000 | 2015-04-14 | Steering:electric Power Assist System |
| 13V113000 | 2013-04-22 | Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch |
| 11V179000 | 2011-04-08 | Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive |
| 11V143000 | 2011-04-08 | Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive |
What owners reported
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Elantra. The dealer tested the vehicle and confirmed that the speedometer is inaccurate by 5 miles. The test was performed while driving 60 MPH. The contact must continuously monitor the speedometer and subtract the mileage accordingly. The contact is aware of the safety risk…
2007 · 5 miles · Electrical system
I purchased a 2007 hundai Elantra in january 2007. My daughter also purchased the same vehicle. We both noticed that when driving the speed limit everything on the road would pass us. I timed myself on a measured mile at 60 MPH and discovered i was doing 55 MPH. I started researching the internet and discovered it is…
2007 · 60 miles · Electrical system
On december 5th, 2020 at approximatly 0645am i was driving my Elantra without and iissues or pre-indicators that something very bad was about to happen. I was on a busy road that is traveled all times of the day, getting on interstate 270 in columbus headed west. I estimate (picture included from accident site and…
2007 · 203 miles · Airbag system
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Elantra. While driving 60 MPH or greater, the rear of the vehicle swayed from left to right. The failure was prevalent when there was extra weight in the vehicle. The dealer stated that the extra weight changed the rear alignment and caused the vehicle to sway. The dealer…
2007 · 3,000 miles · Suspension
Built from 1,229 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page