NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 455 owner complaints for the 2010 Hyundai Elantra. Most complaints involve steering (233) and electrical system (58). The EPA rates it 29 mpg combined.
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 Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
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 (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may sense a discrepancy in the steering input signals and, as a result, disable the steering power assist.
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, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Elantra model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 101 |
| 1997 | 118 |
| 1998 | 56 |
| 1999 | 133 |
| 2000 | 200 |
| 2001 | 329 |
| 2002 | 348 |
| 2003 | 234 |
| 2004 | 182 |
| 2005 | 137 |
| 2006 | 155 |
| 2007 | 267 |
| 2008 | 316 |
| 2009 | 287 |
| 2010 | 455 |
| 2011 | 461 |
| 2012 | 676 |
| 2013 | 1,330 |
| 2014 | 387 |
| 2015 | 262 |
| 2016 | 293 |
| 2017 | 770 |
| 2018 | 284 |
| 2019 | 252 |
| 2020 | 254 |
| 2021 | 132 |
| 2022 | 102 |
| 2023 | 101 |
| 2024 | 56 |
| 2025 | 22 |
| 2026 | 3 |
“The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle became difficult to steer. The Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and electronic control unit (ECU) warning lights illuminated. The contact researched the issue and became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V100000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. A dealer was notified of the failure, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.”
“The EPS light started coming on intermittently back in Nov. 2025 and power steering became very difficult. I could get it to reset by turning off the car and turning steering wheel all the way to right and then left and then back to center and restart. The steering ability returned but the light eventually came back on. I had Firestone look at this in Nov. and they recalibrated but advised if problem returned that I should contact dealer due to recall for 2010 Elantras for same issue. The light came back on this weekend. I note the recall is for Elantras manufactured through April 30, 2010. My car was manufactured June 20, 2010…. 6 weeks after the dates of the recalled models. Clearly this issue is affecting my car also. I plan to call the dealer and try to get them to look at it and see if they will repair under the recall… but I wanted to report this to you also since is affecting models outside the original recall dates.”
“I am submitting this complaint regarding a possible airbag/SRS system failure involving a Hyundai vehicle. On May 26, 2026, the vehicle was involved in a severe front-end collision resulting in major structural damage to the front end, including the hood, bumper reinforcement, radiator support, and engine compartment. Despite the significant impact damage, none of the airbags deployed, including the driver or passenger frontal airbags. The collision was serious enough that the occupants could have suffered severe injury or death. Based on the extent of the damage, I believe the airbag system, crash sensors, or airbag control module may have malfunctioned or failed to operate properly. Photos documenting the damage are available. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this incident for potential safety defects involving: * Airbag non-deployment * Crash sensor failure * SRS system malfunction * Airbag control module defects I am also requesting review of whether similar complaints or investigations exist involving this Hyundai model or related vehicles.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elantra Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 34 | 29 | $2,150 | 306 |
| Elantra Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 34 | 29 | $2,150 | 306 |
| Elantra Blue Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 35 | 29 | $2,150 | 306 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
3 safety recalls as of Nov 9, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 455 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are steering (233), electrical system (58), air bags (52). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2010 Hyundai Elantra at 29 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).