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Hyundai Elantra 2011–2016 problems by year and mileage

5th generation · MD (global) / UD (North America)

A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation — check the VIN before driving it home.

Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra

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Median failure report
73,000 mi
Complaints filed
432
Recalls naming this year
5

Most reported on the 2011

  1. Engine92 reports · median 81,000 mi
  2. Airbag system77 reports · median 99,000 mi
  3. Steering74 reports · median 70,000 mi

5 recall campaigns name the 2011: Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Equipment — electrical; Electronic stability control (esc). Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

The 2012 Hyundai Elantra

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Median failure report
62,000 mi
Complaints filed
652
Recalls naming this year
4

Most reported on the 2012

  1. Engine139 reports · median 69,000 mi
  2. Electrical system126 reports · median 51,000 mi
  3. Airbag system124 reports · median 89,000 mi

4 recall campaigns name the 2012: Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Equipment — electrical; Electronic stability control (esc). Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

The 2013 Hyundai Elantra

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Median failure report
45,000 mi
Complaints filed
1,323
Recalls naming this year
4

Most reported on the 2013

  1. Steering272 reports · median 40,000 mi
  2. Engine235 reports · median 65,000 mi
  3. Airbag system168 reports · median 70,000 mi

4 recall campaigns name the 2013: Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Service brakes, hydraulic — pedals and linkages; Exterior lighting — brake lights. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

The 2014 Hyundai Elantra

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Median failure report
55,000 mi
Complaints filed
384
Recalls naming this year
2

At least 40% of the complaints about the 2014 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

Most reported on the 2014

  1. Engine163 reports · median 83,000 mi
  2. Electrical system47 reports
  3. Hydraulic brake circuit47 reports

2 recall campaigns name the 2014: Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Service brakes, hydraulic — pedals and linkages. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

The 2015 Hyundai Elantra

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Median failure report
54,000 mi
Complaints filed
262
Recalls naming this year
3

At least 40% of the complaints about the 2015 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

Most reported on the 2015

  1. Engine92 reports · median 74,000 mi
  2. Problems owners could not categorise48 reports
  3. Brakes29 reports

3 recall campaigns name the 2015: Air bags — frontal; Latches/locks/linkages — trunk lid; Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

The 2016 Hyundai Elantra

Close
Median failure report
55,000 mi
Complaints filed
292
Recalls naming this year
2

At least 40% of the complaints about the 2016 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

Most reported on the 2016

  1. Engine111 reports · median 73,000 mi
  2. Problems owners could not categorise53 reports
  3. Transmission and driveline31 reports

2 recall campaigns name the 2016: Air bags — frontal; Latches/locks/linkages — trunk lid. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2011 reports latest and the 2013 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2011 has had 2 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.

The short answer

“Is the 2011–2016 Hyundai Elantra reliable?”

Median of reported failures
57,000 mi
90% of reports came by
123,000 mi
Reports with mileage
1,970
Recalls
9

Most reported

  1. Engine24.9% of complaints · median 73,000 mi
  2. Steering15.2% of complaints · median 46,000 mi
  3. Airbag system13.5% of complaints · median 77,000 mi

When each system fails ↓

Documented problems

What each one is ↓

Owners filed 3,345 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011–2016 Hyundai Elantra; the engine leads with 24.9% of them, and half of the 1,970 that record an odometer reading came by 57,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.

Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 24,000 and 90,000 miles.

Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗

How many miles does a 2011–2016 Hyundai Elantra last?

Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2011–2016 Hyundai Elantra, half of the 1,970 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 57,000 miles and 90% by 123,000 miles.

66 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 10 past 200,000 — each one proof that an Elantra reached that mileage, not that it failed there.

Figure 1 · Hyundai Elantra 2011–2016 · 1,970 reports with mileage

Mileage at failure

Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 213 complaints.

Mileage at failure, Hyundai Elantra 2011–2016Histogram of 1,970 owner-reported failures by mileage, in 5,000-mile bins from 0 to 200,000. The tallest bin is 0 to 5,000 miles with 213 complaints, 10.8 percent of the total. Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 24,000 and 90,000 miles. A further 10 complaints, 0.5 percent, were reported above 200,000 miles and are shown as a separate detached bar. Median mileage at failure is 57,000.
  • Rest of the range
  • Median
  • 200,000+ — 10 complaints (0.5%), plotted separately
10%
3,890
25%
23,500
Median
57,000
75%
90,000
90%
122,900

Tallest bin: 213 complaints between 0 and 5,000 miles. Based on 1,970 complaints that record mileage. Bin width 5,000 miles.

Show the numbers
Complaints by mileage bin
MileageComplaintsShare
0–5,00021310.8%
5,000–10,000874.4%
10,000–15,000693.5%
15,000–20,000683.5%
20,000–25,000663.4%
25,000–30,000713.6%
30,000–35,000773.9%
35,000–40,000773.9%
40,000–45,000723.7%
45,000–50,000673.4%
50,000–55,000784.0%
55,000–60,000794.0%
60,000–65,000884.5%
65,000–70,000834.2%
70,000–75,000703.6%
75,000–80,000663.4%
80,000–85,000663.4%
85,000–90,000653.3%
90,000–95,000572.9%
95,000–100,000562.8%
100,000–105,000663.4%
105,000–110,000371.9%
110,000–115,000371.9%
115,000–120,000251.3%
120,000–125,000432.2%
125,000–130,000381.9%
130,000–135,000412.1%
135,000–140,000160.8%
140,000–145,000160.8%
145,000–150,000100.5%
150,000–155,000120.6%
155,000–160,00070.4%
160,000–165,000110.6%
165,000–170,00070.4%
170,000–175,00050.3%
175,000–180,00030.2%
180,000–185,00060.3%
185,000–190,00010.1%
190,000–195,00020.1%
195,000–200,00020.1%
200,000+100.5%

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.

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.

Common Elantra problems, and when they happen

Figure 2 · Hyundai Elantra 2011–2016

When each system fails

Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.

  1. Brakes336 reports42,00015,000–80,000Brakes: 336 reports, median 42,000 miles, middle half 15,000 to 80,000 miles.
  2. Steering507 reports46,00014,000–82,000Steering: 507 reports, median 46,000 miles, middle half 14,000 to 82,000 miles.
  3. Problems owners could not categorise370 reports52,00032,000–87,000Problems owners could not categorise: 370 reports, median 52,000 miles, middle half 32,000 to 87,000 miles.
  4. Electrical system424 reports55,00028,000–82,000Electrical system: 424 reports, median 55,000 miles, middle half 28,000 to 82,000 miles.
  5. Engine832 reports73,00048,000–102,000Engine: 832 reports, median 73,000 miles, middle half 48,000 to 102,000 miles.
  6. Airbag system450 reports77,00040,000–104,000Airbag system: 450 reports, median 77,000 miles, middle half 40,000 to 104,000 miles.
  7. Hydraulic brake circuit251 reports115,00064,000–140,000Hydraulic brake circuit: 251 reports, median 115,000 miles, middle half 64,000 to 140,000 miles.
  • Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”

Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.

All systems in a table
Complaints by vehicle system
SystemComplaintsShareMedian25–75%
Engine83224.9%73,00048,000–102,000
Steering50715.2%46,00014,000–82,000
Airbag system45013.5%77,00040,000–104,000
Electrical system42412.7%55,00028,000–82,000
Problems owners could not categorise37011.1%52,00032,000–87,000
Brakes33610.0%42,00015,000–80,000
Hydraulic brake circuit2517.5%115,00064,000–140,000
Suspension2437.3%34,00012,000–71,000
Transmission and driveline1885.6%57,00027,000–80,000
Throttle and speed control1534.6%47,00020,000–81,000
System by system, in words

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 57,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The engine accounts for 24.9% of complaints (832 reports, 497 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 73,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,000 and 102,000 miles.

The steering accounts for 15.2% of complaints (507 reports, 327 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 46,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 14,000 and 82,000 miles.

The airbag system accounts for 13.5% of complaints (450 reports, 287 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 40,000 and 104,000 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 12.7% of complaints (424 reports, 261 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 28,000 and 82,000 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 11.1% of complaints (370 reports, 159 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 52,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 32,000 and 87,000 miles.

The brakes account for 10.0% of complaints (336 reports, 167 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 42,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 80,000 miles.

Known problems with the 2011–2016 Elantra

Engine 2011–2016

Nu-family engines are part of the Hyundai/Kia GDI/MPI connecting-rod bearing class settlement: machining debris left in the crankshaft oil passages abrades the rod bearings, producing knocking, then seizure or stalling. Remedy included a knock-sensor detection software update and extended coverage.

Steering 2011–2012

Steering column intermediate shaft/universal joint coupling can loosen, causing increased steering effort or loss of steering control; recalled.

Anti-Theft 2011–2016

Affected: key–start trims

Turn-key ignition trims were built without an engine immobilizer, allowing the ignition cylinder to be defeated and the car started with a USB connector; drove a nationwide theft surge from 2022 and a Hyundai anti-theft software update campaign.

Fuel Economy Labeling 2011–2013

EPA-mandated 2012 restatement of fuel economy ratings for this generation (not a safety defect, but it generates complaint volume).

Before you buy a 2011–2016 Elantra: the 3-minute check

Generated from 1,970 mileage-tagged complaints, 9 recall campaigns, 4 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.

  1. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 9 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
  2. Check engine on 2011–2016 cars. Nu-family engines are part of the Hyundai/Kia GDI/MPI connecting-rod bearing class settlement: machining debris left in the crankshaft oil passages abrades the rod bearings, producing knocking, then seizure or stalling.…
  3. Check steering on 2011–2012 cars. Steering column intermediate shaft/universal joint coupling can loosen, causing increased steering effort or loss of steering control; recalled.
  4. Check anti-theft on 2011–2016 key–start trims cars. Turn-key ignition trims were built without an engine immobilizer, allowing the ignition cylinder to be defeated and the car started with a USB connector; drove a nationwide theft surge from 2022 and a Hyundai anti-theft…
  5. Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
  6. End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 24,000 and 90,000 miles, with a median of 57,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the engine and the steering are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The steering in particular shows a median failure mileage of 46,000, 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.

Elantra problems by mileage: where your car sits

Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.

earlier most reports on that system came below this mileage — ask for repair records. in window this mileage sits inside the middle half of its reports. later most reports came above it. That describes reports, not your odds.

Where each system’s reports sit against common odometer readings
SystemMiddle half of reports, miAt 60k mi52% belowAt 90k mi74% belowAt 120k mi88% belowAt 150k mi97% belowAt 200k mi99% below
Engine48,000–102,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier
Steering14,000–82,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier
Airbag system40,000–104,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier
Electrical system28,000–82,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier
Problems owners could not categorise32,000–87,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier
Brakes15,000–80,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier
Hydraulic brake circuit64,000–140,000laterin windowin windowearlierearlier

Figure 3 · Hyundai Elantra 2011–2016 · 1,970 reports with mileage

Share of reports below each mileage

Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.

Cumulative share of reports by mileage, Hyundai Elantra 2011–2016Of 1,970 reports that record mileage, the share filed below each odometer reading, rising in steps at each 5,000-mile bin edge. 52 percent below 60,000 miles. 74 percent below 90,000 miles. 88 percent below 120,000 miles. 97 percent below 150,000 miles. 99 percent below 200,000 miles. Median 57,000 miles.
  • 60,000 mi — 52% of reports below
  • 90,000 mi — 74% of reports below
  • 120,000 mi — 88% of reports below
  • 150,000 mi — 97% of reports below
  • 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
  • Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
  • Your odometer — appears after you enter it above

The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 0.5% of reports (10) came above 200,000 miles.

Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.

2011–2016 Hyundai Elantra recalls (9)

NHTSA records 9 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.

1 of these carry a severe advisory — NHTSA's do not drive or park outside warnings, which the agency applies only when it considers the risk immediate. If you own one of these vehicles, that is the first thing to check by VIN.

The campaigns cluster around the hydraulic brake circuit (2), the airbag system (1), latches and locks (1). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.

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.

Recall repairs are free at an authorized dealer, for any owner. Summaries below shorten NHTSA’s own wording.

  1. May 2026 · 2015–2016 · Air BagsAn air bag inflator that ruptures may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or passengers…

    The defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Elantra and 2016 Elantra GT vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.

    What can happen. An air bag inflator that ruptures may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or passengers, increasing the risk of injury or death.

    The free fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 3, 2026. Additional letters…

    NHTSA campaign 26V-307 (2026-05-14).

  2. Feb 2024 · 2015–2016 · Latches/Locks/LinkagesA person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

    The defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Elantra vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…

    What can happen. A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

    The free fix. Dealers will replace the trunk latch base sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's…

    NHTSA campaign 24V-146 (2024-02-23).

  3. Sep 2023 · 2011–2015 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic park outsideAn engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    The defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013…

    What can happen. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    The free fix. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10…

    NHTSA campaign 23V-651 (2023-09-22).

  4. Jul 2020 · 2011–2012 · EquipmentAn overheated accessory outlet increases the risk of fire.

    The defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Hyundai Elantra and Sonata Hybrid, 2012 Accent and Veloster vehicles. The 12V accessory socket outlet may have been over-tightened during installation, possibly disabling the thermal fuse and…

    What can happen. An overheated accessory outlet increases the risk of fire.

    The free fix. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Tire Mobility Kit accessory outlet plug with a direct-to-battery connection wire harness kit, free of charge. The recall began September 28…

    NHTSA campaign 20V-393 (2020-07-02).

  5. Nov 2017 · 2013–2014 · Service Brakes, HydraulicIf the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed…

    The defect. Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Elantra sedan, coupe and GT vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the…

    What can happen. If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following…

    The free fix. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 8, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at…

    NHTSA campaign 17V-769 (2017-11-30).

  6. Aug 2016 · 2013 · Exterior LightingIf the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed…

    The defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model 2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured December 1, 2012, to April 30, 2013. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is…

    What can happen. If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following…

    The free fix. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad with an improved part, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on September 30, 2016. Owners may contact…

    NHTSA campaign 16V-574 (2016-08-02).

  7. Dec 2015 · 2011–2012 · Electronic Stability Control (esc)If the one or more of the brakes are inappropriately applied, control of the vehicle may be lost, increasing…

    The defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Elantra vehicles manufactured October 29, 2010, to October 25, 2011. Due to an electronic stability control (ESC) sensor malfunction, the brakes for one or more wheels may be applied…

    What can happen. If the one or more of the brakes are inappropriately applied, control of the vehicle may be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will verify the proper operation of the ESC sensors, and update the ESC system's calibration, free of charge. The recall began June 6, 2016. Owners may contact…

    NHTSA campaign 15V-871 (2015-12-23).

  8. Oct 2015 · 2011 · SuspensionIf a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a…

    The defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011 Elantra vehicles manufactured November 12, 2010, to March 31, 2011, and Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, to February 28, 2010, originally sold in, or currently registered in…

    What can happen. If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front coil springs, free of charge. Interim notifications were mailed on November 17, 2015. The recall began on January 6, 2016. Owners may…

    NHTSA campaign 15V-629 (2015-10-07).

  9. Apr 2013 · 2011–2013 · StructureIf the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration…

    The defect. Hyundai Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured from November 12, 2010, through March 5, 2013. A support bracket attached to the headliner may become displaced during a side curtain airbag deployment.

    What can happen. If the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration injury.

    The free fix. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will apply adhesive strips to the headliner, free of charge. The safety recall began during April 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's…

    NHTSA campaign 13V-115 (2013-04-01).

Some of these 9 campaigns also cover Hyundai Sonata 2011–2014 (3 of them): the same campaign number appears in NHTSA’s file against both, which means the same defect and the same free repair. 6 of the 9 are specific to this vehicle alone.

Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported

What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 3,345 complaints against this generation:

Crashes
241 (7.2%)
Fires
78
Injury reports
141
Fatality reports
1

These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.

Elantra problems by model year

The 2013 drew the most complaints of this generation, 1,323, most of them about the steering, and the 2015 the fewest, 262. A typical year drew about 408.

That makes the 2013 stand out at roughly 3.2 times a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.

Complaints by model year
YearComplaintsWith mileageMedian milesMost reportedRecalls
201143228573,000Engine (92)5
201265242462,000Engine (139)4
20131,32379845,000Steering (272)4
201438421355,000†Engine (163)2
201526212754,000†Engine (92)3
201629212355,000†Engine (111)2

† At least 40% of this year’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. Its median rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

What Elantra owners reported

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle was diagnosed with a failed crankshaft…

2012 · 151,000 miles · Engine

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the ABS warning light illuminated. The following day, while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the vehicle caught on fire. The contact's dog woke up the contact around 5:00 AM, at which point the contact discovered that…

2013 · 120,000 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the brake pedal felt spongy while depressed. After parking the vehicle, the contact later restarted the vehicle, and the brake pedal extended to the floor while depressed. While inspecting under the hood, the contact…

2012 · 59,000 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard, and the brakes made abnormal grinding sounds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the front brakes, but the rear brakes were…

2014 · 52,000 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit

Built from 1,970 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built

Other Elantra generations

Other compact cars from the same years