YearToAvoid

2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

67/100

#2 most-complained of 4 Elantra Touring years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring has a Complaint Index of 67 and ranks 2nd worst out of 4 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 29 complaints, 3 recalls, 4 crashes, and 1 fire, with Engine issues as the top problem area at 38% of complaints.

Complaints
29
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
4 / 1
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
26
23 city / 30 hwy

Top 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine11 (38%)
  2. Brakes5 (17%)
  3. Airbags4 (14%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (14%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain4 (14%)
  6. Steering3 (10%)
  7. Other2 (7%)
  8. Electrical System1 (3%)
  9. Fuel System1 (3%)
  10. Seat Belts1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy in crashes despite front and side impacts, sometimes preceded by an illuminated airbag warning light.
  • Seat belts reportedly fail to restrain occupants properly during rear-end collisions.
  • Engine surges unexpectedly to high speed when shifting into drive, causing owners to lose control in parking areas.
  • Rear brakes corrode and require replacement far earlier than expected, even on low-mileage vehicles.
  • 17-inch alloy wheels crack or develop sidewall damage, leading to air loss and tire blowouts at highway speed.
  • Transmission drops into neutral unexpectedly while driving and has required full replacement more than once on the same vehicle.
2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2012Mar 2013Aug 2014Mar 2015Apr 2016Nov 2017Dec 2018
38 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2012 to Jun 2019; peak Aug 2014 (3).

2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V061000Feb 4, 2020Brakes476,111 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    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.

    Risk: An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 188.

  2. NHTSA 14V310000Jun 10, 2014Structure & Body35,000 vehicles

    Structure:frame and members

    Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Elantra Touring vehicles manufactured December 15, 2009, through May 7, 2012. The affected vehicles have a support bracket attached to the headliner that may become displaced during a side curtain airbag deployment.

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

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will apply adhesive strips to the headliner, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 117.

  3. NHTSA 13V113000Apr 1, 2013Electrical System1,712,336 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

    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.

    Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.

2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other Elantra Touring years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid10075426
2011Caution6729326
2012Good3322126
2013Best0160—

All Hyundai Elantra Touring years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 model has a Complaint Index of 67 and ranks 2nd worst of 4 model years, giving it a Caution verdict relative to other Elantra Touring years.
What is the top problem area for the 2011 Elantra Touring?
Engine complaints lead, making up 38% of all reported issues, with a median mileage at failure of 80,877.5 miles.
Does the 2011 Elantra Touring have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for this model year, covering brakes, structure & body (headliner support bracket), and the electrical system (stop lamp switch).
How does the 2011 model compare to other years?
The 2010 model has a higher Complaint Index of 100 and an Avoid verdict, while 2012 (Complaint Index 33) and 2013 (Complaint Index 0) rank better as Good and Best.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Elantra Touring?
EPA rates it at 26 mpg combined (23 city / 30 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $2,500.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.