10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,597 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #49

Apr 012019

Elantra

  • 73,000 miles
I noticed a ticking noise coming from my vehicle. I took it to a Hyundai dealership and they informed me I would need to replace my engine. The vehicle has 73,000 miles and was maintained (oil always changed on time). I bought the vehicle from my grandfather and had it less than a year. Because I was the second owner, I was not covered under the 10 year/1000,000 mile warranty. The Hyundai dealership submitted documentation and photographs of the engine to see if Hyundai would cover any of the cost of a new engine. Hyundai declined to cover any of the cost of the engine. I called customer service and was assigned a caseworker to look at the submittal in greater detail. The caseworker informed me they would not cover any of the cost regardless that many people were having the same problems with their engines.

- Conway, PA, USA

problem #48

Feb 112019

Elantra

  • 120,000 miles
The crankshaft pulley stripped from crankshaft! about 30K miles before we started noticing engine noises - loud ticking noises. After having my spouse park the vechicle because was hard knocks, I took it out with my daughter to take her to guitar lessons and to listen to it as I drove. On the way back to the (less than 3 miles) the engine died as there was a loud screech/knock. I restarted the enigne and drove back home. The coolant and oil was everywhere. That's when I notices the pulley was loose and I was able to pull it off the crankshaft. The oddest thing I've ever seen. The engine (I believe) still starts but ticketing does persist. Not sure what happened but clearly the engine had some issues with it. There was nothing we've done with the vehicle other than normal, highway driving. I've contact corporate Hyundai and they have indicated it's not longer covered and no work can be done on it. My concern - outside of 5K lost on the vehicle is this is a major concern for all the vehicles out there - especially at the lower mileage. I freaked out on the road when I heard the noises and felt like my engine completely fell apart. My safety was my concern. Something is wrong with this engine and it's not just mine. If it happened to me...a similar occurrence is happening to others. I sense Hyundai is not doing it's part to rectify this issue especially with such a core/critical part of the vehicle. I've lost confidence in their vehicles...especially with lack of ownership of the issues. (vehicle is still at dealership at the time of the writing). I'll be picking it up today. I"M estimating the date this happened...because I didn't mark it down. I tried to tow it myself to the dealership with my truck but I took the bumper off so finally got a real tow in to picker it up and relieved it.

- League City, TX, USA

problem #47

Mar 132019

Elantra

  • miles
The engine in this car is knocking severely. It's really bad upon start up and continues to knock.

- Logan, OH, USA

problem #46

Feb 182019

Elantra

  • 123,000 miles
Known Hyundai engine problems the engine has a ticking noise that I have found to be a manufactured issue in Hyundai Elantras. The camshaft bushings are worn away and needs a completely new engine. All of which is a manufacturing fault. The ticking is audible when idling and even more so when the accelerator is pushed.

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

problem #45

Dec 042018

Elantra 4-cyl

  • miles
2011 Hyundai Elantra. Consumer writes in regards to loud ticking nose from engine. The consumer stated the dealer found debris in the oil pan and the engine needed to be replaced. The consumer stated that there are other vehicles with the same failure. The manufacturer declined to assist with repairs due to the vehicle's age, mileage, and number of owner's.

- Daly City, CA, USA

problem #44

Aug 012018

Elantra

  • 78,000 miles
Car stalls when idling and at times when decelerating. The car starts right back up as soon as I am able to bring it to a stop. When driving at a high speed on the freeway I don't not have problems.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #43

Dec 242018

Elantra

  • 70,000 miles
Takata recall: We have have taken the car to get inspected due to engine light coming on and off and have had to make payments about different fixes that would apparently help only to notice no change and the light would come back within days or weeks and come on and off. There is a sudden change in the way the vehicle drives after the light comes on, and then goes away. This normally happened in freeways.

- Vandenberg Afb, CA, USA

problem #42

Jul 302018

Elantra

  • 114,000 miles
I had my car for a year. When I first got my car, there was a knocking noise that came from the engine, I took it back to carmax to fix and they stated they did. My car ran good for a while and around August or September after leaving from work that same noise started again. This time it was bad and I almost got into a wreck. I took it to a mechanic they stated that I needed my engine replaced. I have seen that this is a ongoing issue with these models. I also show that there is a recall on my vehicle and my car is showing those exact signs. I have documentation of information from the mechanic and the cost of the labor and new engine

- Columbia, SC, USA

problem #41

Feb 232017

Elantra

  • 180,000 miles
Car was being driven in the highway when the car stalled. Oil flow is malfunctioning in the engine causing rod problems. According to dealership it's a known problem for this make and model. I am told that the engine rods are bad and the engine needs to be replace. I contacted the warranty company however they refused to cover the repair due to tire rotations and spark plugs purchased at the dealership and was replaced personally.

- Bowie, MD, USA

problem #40

Aug 012018

Elantra

  • 90,000 miles
Possible crankshaft angle sensor failure. Car will not start properly or stalls after starting and shifting gears. New battery installed 9/29/2018. No spark plugs or alternator issues noted after mechanical testing. There should be a recall for this problem as most mechanics cannot locate the issue in testing.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #39

May 172018

Elantra

  • 68,000 miles
Vehicle randomly does not start. When key is turned to position one lights, radio, windows, indicator lights all work as expected. When key is turned to start the engine nothing happens. The engine does not turnover or even attempt to turnover. The battery was replaced the first time this happened in April 2018. At that time I had the alternator and starter checked both were functioning properly. After repeated attempts to start the vehicle it has always started, eventually; it can take anywhere from 2 minutes to 30+ minutes for the engine to engage. When it first started occurring it happened pretty often. Prior to last Friday it had been a couple months since it took more than 30 minutes to start. I took the vehicle to another mechanic yesterday. Again starter, battery, alternator are all functioning properly. The mechanic mentioned that this model is known to have issues with the ignition and that I should contact the dealership, they may know what it is exactly. I've called two dealerships today, both say they know nothing about ignition problems in the vehicle.

- Elkridge, MD, USA

problem #38

Sep 082018

Elantra

  • miles
The car makes a really bad ticking noise in when I came to an complete stop the engine stalled in it kinda jumped like it didn't want to go I'm so afraid of the car jus completely not working anymore in I drive everyday with my kids this is really a sad thing Hyundai has to know these engines are bad.

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

problem #37

Jun 142017

Elantra

  • 96,866 miles
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 #36

Mar 202017

Elantra

  • 39,000 miles
Bought this car used in 2014 with approx 24,000 miles. Ran great first 2 years but at approx 39,000 miles a very loud engine knock developed and has effected the engine performance. This issue is present at start up, idle, in motion, each time the car is running. Hyundai service mysteriously could not hear or diagnose the problem. Engine knock has continued get worse and power has diminished. The engine has not yet failed but most certainly will very soon. My family is at risk each and every time we use this car. The engine problems are similar to the sonata's and Santa Fe's as well as the Kia optima models from 2011 thru 2014 which were part of a class action lawsuit after which there was a engine recall. My understanding is that Hyundai has extended warranty to used Elantra models to 5 years and 60,000 miles. At this point we have only 56,000 miles but the car is 7 years old. They have a known manufacturing problem and are not owning it for all affected and that's catastrophic for those of us not covered. Dealer has told me if I have engine failure the cost of a new engine will be near $5000. Hyundai makes attractive cars but their lack of compassion to the victims of their poor manufacturing process makes Hyundai a poor choice. There have been class action suits for the sonata and optima but no judgement for the benefit of Elantra motors who's engines suffer the exact same issues. There was a whistle blower who opened this all up and said the judgement was not far reaching enough to cover all victims. Https://www.reuters.com/article/us-Hyundai-whistleblower/blowing-the-whistle-in-South-Korea-Hyundai-man-takes-on-chaebol-culture-iduskcn18B0J5 someone like the NHTSA has to step up and protect the consumers who have fallen victim to this corporate malfeasance.

- Glen Ellyn, IL, USA

problem #35

Jun 062018

Elantra

  • 120,000 miles
My car has making noise for a while. Emailed Hyundai and was told it is not under warranty and no recall for engine. Several complaints ha E been made online for this car regarding the engine which needs to be replaced. I'm afraid to drive it's my only car and I can't afford to pay $5000 for a new engine. I was stuck in the middle of a busy intersection when the car stalled and sounded like it was going to grind the engine up.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #34

Dec 012017

Elantra

  • 82,000 miles
The contact owned a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal tapping noise. The vehicle was taken to winner Hyundai (591 S dupont hwy, dover, de 19901) where it was diagnosed that a new engine was needed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was traded in; therefore, the contact no longer owns the vehicle. The failure mileage was 82,000.

- Lincoln, DE, USA

problem #33

Apr 192018

Elantra

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. The contact noticed an odor of antifreeze coming through the air conditioning vents while driving at an unknown speed. The contact pulled the vehicle over after noticing smoke coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed to piazza Hyundai of pottstown (84 autopark blvd, limerick, pa 19468 (484) 933-4074) where the contact was advised that the engine block needed to be replaced; however, the long engine block was no longer being made by Hyundai and the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The contact inquired about Hyundai buying back the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 85,000.

- Chadsford, PA, USA

problem #32

Oct 312017

Elantra

  • 105,695 miles
While driving the car, engine went into a loud whine sound and the car lost power. Car would not start or even try to turn over when trying to start. We have had previous problems involving the engine and even contacted Hyundai because I was told by my mechanic that there was a recall on the exact engine that is involved here, but Hyundai refused to acknowledge this because it wasn't the same model car involved in the engine recall. But it was the exact engine model. Attached is a letter from my mechanic

- Great Neck, NY, USA

problem #31

Oct 012017

Elantra

  • miles
"takata recall" its was alright going to store but going back home the car just shut off and it wont start

- Philadelphia, MS, USA

problem #30

Jan 082018

Elantra

  • 82,000 miles
I started my car and it had developed a loud knock. My car has just over 82K miles. My mechanic informed me that it needed a new engine. I took my car to two dealerships and both said it was a common problem/defect for this make and model year. The dealership informed me that it was caused by a coating on the pistons coming off that eventually causes the knock and engine failure. One dealership had 3 Elantras in their shop for the same issue. My car is not under warranty as I am the second owner. This defect should be addressed as it is exactly the same issue as the sonatas which were recalled.

- Mt. Vernon, IA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »