Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 455 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring, and it carries 3 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 58 | 13% |
| Engine | 53 | 12% |
| Suspension | 47 | 10% |
| Steering | 46 | 10% |
| Unknown or other | 17 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 16 | 4% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 16 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 3% |
| Wheels | 9 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Car stop working once I got home I notice while I was driving the car kept back firing and Jurking while driving .had a mechanic look at the car he tried to start it but it started and shut off..he even tried to jump sta
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
No incident. Airbag light came on without incident. Hasn’t gone out. Don’t know why. Haven’t gotten it looked at.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
My car was recalled by Hyundai for a critical safety issue and has been at the dealership since July of 2024 awaiting repairs due to missing parts. Despite repeated follow-ups, Hyundai has been unable to provide a timeli
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
Steering wheel makes clacking noise when turning left or right, especially if making sharp right angle turn or when parking. I think I noticed it first in early November 2024 while parking. Since then it has been occur
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, a fellow motorist alerted the contact that the vehicle was smoking. The contact pulled over and waited for an extensive period before rest
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
I was driving my 2011 Elantra, and when I needed to brake, it didn't feel the same as usual. The brake pedal felt kind of soft. After a while, when I needed to brake at an intersection, the brakes completely failed. The
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
Our car failed inspection due to a safety issue. Two seats belt are frayed. The photo shows the center belt is frayed where it enters the back seat. The Hyundai dealer wanted more than $1,000 to replace. I went to a
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
A steering coupler is failing and will eventually cause a loss of steering control while driving. The steering problem was diagnosed at a local Car- X by a certified mechanic. The vehicle is available for inspection. I t
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring. 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.
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.
Fix: 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 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
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
| Reliability raw | 62 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 71 | good |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 76 | good |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 47 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 455 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 58 of them (13%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 62/100 (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.
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 2011 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
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.