2010 Hyundai Elantra Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the electric power steering: a sudden loss of power assist, a power steering warning light, or a clicking/thumping noise when turning the wheel. Complaints span a wide mileage range and are usually described as intermittent, recurring after restart, or appearing gradually rather than on a single trip. Smaller groups of reports cover airbag warning lights, brake and ABS concerns, transmission hesitation, and electrical problems such as a dead battery or alarm.

1. 1
   Steering

   Loss of power steering assist / EPS warning light

   • 116 complaints (31%)
   • median 78,500 mi at 8.5 yrs old (86 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,500 (median of 23 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Owners describe the steering suddenly becoming very hard to turn, often with the power steering warning light on, sometimes at low speeds in a parking lot and sometimes on the road. Several say the assist returned after switching the car off and restarting, then failed again later. According to complaints, dealers typically diagnosed a failed steering column, power steering motor, module or sensor; some owners mention that a prior recall repair was already done and the problem returned. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 19,000 to over 160,000 miles, and mostly described as intermittent.

   Recall 15V1000001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the steering recall 15V100000 was completed and whether the power steering has acted up since. During a test drive, turn the wheel at low speed with the engine running and watch for the power steering light.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The light eps , (electronic power steering) randomly turns on and my steering wheel would be stiff and I need to put great effort to turn. Sometimes I'll stop and turn off and on the car to remove the eps. Now on 10/11/2020 the eps light stays on. I might have a car that had a recall for 127. Its dangerous to have my car like this.”

   NHTSA complaint #11363840, filed 2020-10, 92,400 miles

   “The electronic power steering assistance has disabled during driving, making steering extremely difficult. At the time driving was done on city streets and the car was in motion. This has happened 4 times in the past month. One other time, the eps was disabled when I started the car. I drove around the block and stopped, then turned the car off. When I started the car 10 minutes later, the power steering was working again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11416099, filed 2021-05, 160,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Clicking, clunking or play in the steering

   • 51 complaints (13%)
   • median 66,750 mi at 8.2 yrs old (36 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $499 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners report a clicking or clunking noise when turning the wheel, whether parked or moving, and some describe play in the wheel or a shimmy felt through the front end. In several complaints the dealer identified a worn steering coupling or coupler, and some say the noise came back after that part was replaced, with the column then recommended. A few owners note that the steering became stiff or sticky after recall work. Appears from around the 19,000 to 90,000 mile range in these complaints, though some occur well past 100,000 miles.

   Recall 15V1000003 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the engine running, turn the wheel slowly lock to lock and listen for clicks or clunks, and check for free play before the front wheels respond. Ask whether the steering coupling has been replaced under extended warranty.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Steering wheel clicking noise started in april 2021. Looked up and there was a recall for steering collar on 2010 Hyundai Elantra.. I went to delray Hyundai for recall and they said they had to charge me(over $400) to replace steering collar that was recalled.”

   NHTSA complaint #11416076, filed 2021-05, 22,000 miles

   “It seems there are many others with this problem so I will keep it brief. My car has 150000 on it. There is a clicking in the steering wheel and the eps. The clicking happens when driving or parked. At all times. I went into a dealership and was told I need a new steering rack. The repair cost more than the car's value. I went in to have repairs for recalls in 2018. I'm wondering if they actually fixed it because the eps was one of the issues.”

   NHTSA complaint #11317495, filed 2020-03, 13,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light stays on

   • 52 complaints (14%)
   • median 68,864 mi at 6.4 yrs old (40 state mileage)
   • 30 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2026

   Owners describe the airbag warning light staying lit, which they understand to mean the airbags may not deploy, and in some cases the passenger airbag indicator stays on. Complaints mention dealer diagnoses of a faulty airbag module with repair estimates quoted, and some owners say no recall covered their vehicle. Other complaints describe airbags that did not deploy in a collision. Mostly reported between roughly 47,000 and 165,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Turn the ignition on and confirm the airbag light goes out after the bulb check; a light that stays on points to a fault worth diagnosing before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2010 Elantra has a faulty airbag module. My airbags have never been deployed and I only have around 47,000 in mileage. I took my car to the Hyundai dealership and they told me I have a code b1620. They said it would cost about $1100 to fix, which seems like an outrageous cost to me for a safety issue with the car. My car is no longer under warranty, but I believe an issue like this should be replaced free of charge.”

   NHTSA complaint #11412958, filed 2021-04, 47,000 miles

   “Passenger airbag light has remained on for the past 6 months. I have researched the internet and learned that this is a common occurrence in 2010 Hyundai Elantra models. Many other Hyundai models are being recalled for airbag defects. I do not understand why there is not a recall on my model. Car not safe to driving wondering if air bag will deploy in an accident. I contacted the dealership and Hyundai headquarters but both stated my VIN is not part of this recall. Why?”

   NHTSA complaint #11341427, filed 2020-07, 110,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake pedal problems and ABS warning light

   • 30 complaints (8%)
   • median 63,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2026

   Owners report the brake pedal going to the floor or feeling like it does not slow the vehicle, and some describe the ABS light coming on or the ABS staying active with the engine off. Complaints also mention the brake pedal locking or failing to respond in traffic. Some owners link the symptoms to the ABS module recall and say parts were not available when they tried to have it done; others describe a vehicle fire while parked after the recall notice. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 130,000 miles, with some at higher mileage.

   Recall 20V0610002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check whether recall 20V061000 for the ABS module has been completed. Press the brake pedal firmly with the engine running and confirm it holds rather than sinking.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the brake pedal would depress to the floorboard without warning. The contact had initially taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where he had the brake booster and brake master cylinder replaced. The contact then stated that when the engine was off, the ABS system remained activated as the ABS warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11418745, filed 2021-05, 112,000 miles

   “The contact owned a 2010 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10-15 MPH while getting off the interstate, the bake pedal was depressed and locked as a result the vehicle would not stop. The contact ended up crashing into the guarder rail. The airbags deployed. The vehicle was towed and totaled. A police report was filed. The contact received an neck, back, shoulder, and knee injury as well as a fractured toe which medical attention was needed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11320940, filed 2020-04, 130,000 miles

Buying note. Check the steering carefully before buying: confirm the power steering recall repair was done and look for clicking or stiffness with the engine running. Also verify the ABS module recall status and watch for a lit airbag light, since those repairs come up repeatedly in owner complaints.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.