2007 Hyundai Elantra Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2007 Hyundai Elantra ranks 15th worst out of 21 model years, with a complaint index of 30 and a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 267 complaints and 6 recalls, led by visibility/wipers (23%) and electrical system (19%) issues.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 30/100
- #15 of 21 Elantra years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 267
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 21
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 13
- Injuries
- 17
- Top issue
- Visibility & Wipers
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 27.5
- 24.5 city / 33 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 17 / 0
Top 2007 Hyundai Elantra problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Visibility & Wipers61 (23%)
- Electrical System51 (19%)
- Airbags46 (17%)
- Brakes40 (15%)
- Steering34 (13%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires28 (10%)
- Engine26 (10%)
- Structure & Body22 (8%)
- Other17 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain10 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during moderate-to-high-speed crashes, including one where the front air bag did not activate after a frontal collision.
- Some owners describe airbags deploying several seconds late, after the driver had already hit the steering wheel.
- Steering complaints describe sudden loss of control, with the car drifting or swerving without warning at highway speed.
- Electrical system complaints include a fog light igniting while driving and a fire starting near the dashboard area with the air bag warning light staying on.
- One driver reported the engine accelerating unexpectedly while parking, leading to a crash into a pole and other vehicles.
2007 Hyundai Elantra recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- 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.
- NHTSA 11V143000Mar 15, 2011Airbags188,697 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 elantra vehicles manufactured from july 14, 2006, through november 1, 2008. The front passenger seats in the vehicles contain a weight sensor designed to deactivate the right frontal airbag when occupants of certain weights occupy the seat. The electrical connector for the weight sensor is located under the center console, between the front seats. Under certain circumstances the connector could become contaminated and malfunction such that the front passenger airbag will deploy regardless of the weight of the occupant.
Risk: The front passenger air bag could deploy in crashes in which it should not deploy, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant from the deployed air bag.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover over the weight classification system connector to prevent contamination. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expecting to begin during april 2011. Owners may contact hyundai's customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.
2007 Hyundai Elantra fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 24.5 MPG
- Highway
- 33 MPG
- Combined
- 27.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,350
- 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.
2007 compared with other Elantra years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2007 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
- Among Elantra model years, 2007 has a complaint index of 30, ranking 15th worst of 21 years, and earns a Good verdict based on NHTSA complaints and recalls.
- What are the most common problems with the 2007 Hyundai Elantra?
- NHTSA data shows Visibility & Wipers issues lead at 23% of complaints, followed by Electrical System at 19% and Airbags at 17%.
- Does the 2007 Hyundai Elantra have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2007 Elantra covering brakes, electrical system, and airbags, none of them do-not-drive recalls.
- What year Hyundai Elantra should I avoid instead of 2007?
- Based on complaint index, 2013 (100), 2012 (90), 2010 (85), 2017 (95), and 2020 (80) rank worse and carry Avoid verdicts, unlike the 2007 model.
- At what mileage do 2007 Elantra problems typically show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 73,000 miles across reported complaints for the 2007 Elantra.