AVOIR

2007 Hyundai Elantra

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

68/100
Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 266 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007 Hyundai Elantra, and it carries 6 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
AreaComplaintsShare
Visibility/wiper3614%
Air bags3011%
Steering2811%
Visibility176%
Suspension156%
Electrical system135%
Structure104%
Exterior lighting104%
Service brakes83%
Unknown or other62%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

I've contacted 4 separate Hyundai dealerships on carrying out this recall to correct the issue, and all of them have told me they can't fulfill the recall because the car is too old and they use tablets, but the recalls

NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Applying the brakes and they don’t engage abs. Couldn’t come to a stop at very slow speed. They jammed up. And the dash lights don’t illuminate. Very similar to recall 188 Thanks

NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

I was driving and I felt my car sputter and lunge forward slightly. Then my car lost power and when I pressed down on the accelerator it would not give out any power. The battery light came on and the car would not start

NHTSA complaint: Power train

The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle jerked. The contact stated that during warm temperatures, the transmi

NHTSA complaint: Power train

The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, the driver's side front control arm fractured. Additionally, the contact noticed that the undercarriage was rusted. The contact was able t

NHTSA complaint: Suspension

The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle for an alignment, the contact was made aware of excessive corrosion on the sub frame. The vehicle was taken to an independent mecha

NHTSA complaint: Structure

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Rear Upper Rearward Control Arms How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Part rusted out and broke c

NHTSA complaint: Suspension

UNKNOWN the cars transmission after running for a bit feels like it slips out and will not lock in and shift, leading to higher rpm I run at 2500 to go 45 miles per hour, I also only get 4.3 miles per gallon it says on t

NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2007 Hyundai Elantra. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch 09V122000

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 532,633 MY 2006-2007 ACCENT, ENTOURAGE, SONATA, MY 2007 AZERA, ELANTRA AND SANTA FE, MY 2005-2007 TUCSON AND MY 2007-2008 VERACRUZ VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUM

Risk: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.

Service brakes 20V061000

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 resul

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.

Fix: 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 beg

Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive 11V179000

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 ELANTRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2006, THROUGH AUGUST 29, 2007. THE DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK POSITION SENSOR DETERMINES THE SEAT'S FORE AND AFT POSITION AND ALLOWS THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG TO DEPLOY AT THE PRESSURE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT SEA

Risk: A HIGHER PRESSURE DEPLOYMENT THAN INTENDED INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY RESULTING FROM AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE 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

Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch 13V113000

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 Tiburo

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 trans

Fix: 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

The seven scores

Reliability raw63average
Longevity est.71good
Maintenance87excellent
Depreciation76good
Performance45below average
Efficiency50average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2007 Hyundai Elantra?

Owners have filed 266 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and visibility/wiper is the most reported area with 36 of them (14%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2007 Hyundai Elantra reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 63/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2007 Hyundai Elantra last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 71/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2007 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2007 Hyundai Elantra?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.