YearToAvoid

2010 Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 40 Engine-area complaints for the 2010 Hyundai Elantra, 11% of that year's 379 total complaints. Median mileage at failure was 42,000. No related recalls are listed for this engine complaint category.

Engine complaints
40
11% of 379
Crashes reported
13
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
42,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration where the vehicle surges forward even with the brake pedal depressed, sometimes at low speeds while parking or pulling into a driveway.
  • Several drivers report the engine and vehicle failing to respond to brake pressure while moving at highway speed, resulting in an inability to slow or stop.
  • Some complaints describe the engine stalling without warning while driving around 55 mph, leaving the vehicle unable to maintain speed in traffic.
  • One owner reported the check engine light illuminating along with an abnormal noise and smoke, followed by a fire, after a prior brake-related recall notice.
  • A separate report describes the vehicle bursting into flames while parked and not recently driven.

When 2010 Hyundai Elantra engine complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 14, 2010, latest Apr 23, 2025.

2010 Hyundai Elantra engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Mar 2010Jul 2011Aug 2012Apr 2014Oct 2016Dec 2018Aug 2021Dec 2024
40 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2010 to Apr 2025; peak Apr 2015 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2010 Hyundai Elantra

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Elantra model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200523 (17%)
  2. 200617 (11%)
  3. 200726 (10%)
  4. 200862 (20%)
  5. 200930 (12%)
  6. 201040 (11%)
  7. 2011109 (25%)
  8. 2012161 (25%)
  9. 2013271 (21%)
  10. 2014180 (47%)
  11. 2015105 (40%)
  12. 2016123 (42%)
  13. 2017303 (40%)
  14. 2018150 (53%)
  15. 2019136 (54%)
  16. 2020117 (47%)
  17. 202125 (19%)
  18. 202213 (13%)
  19. 202322 (22%)
  20. 202413 (24%)
  21. 20254 (18%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2010 Hyundai Elantra have?
NHTSA lists 40 Engine-area complaints for the 2010 Elantra, which is 11% of the 379 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2010 Hyundai Elantra engine?
No related recalls are listed for the Engine complaint category in this data, though one owner referenced a separate brake-related recall (NHTSA Campaign 20V061000).
At what mileage do 2010 Elantra engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure among reported cases is 42,000 miles.
Do 2010 Elantra engine complaints involve crashes or fires?
Yes. Of the 40 Engine-area complaints, NHTSA data shows 13 crashes, 3 fires, and 4 injuries associated with this complaint category.
How does the 2010 Elantra compare to other years for engine complaints?
The 2010 Elantra's Engine complaints made up 11% of its total complaints, lower than the share seen in years like 2018 (53%) and 2019 (54%).

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.