CarComplaints.com Notes: So far the 2011 Elantra doesn't have the same volume of transmission problems that 2010 owners are fighting with. It also doesn't have the same pattern of steering and braking complaints that are piling up with the 2013 model year.

We're not saying the 2011 is perfect -- I mean, what were they thinking advertising their MPGs -- but there are worse choices.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,597 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Hyundai Elantra engine problems

engine problem

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2011 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments (Page 4 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #29

Nov 082017

Elantra

  • 12,554 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a loss of engine power while being operated at approximately 55 mph. The failure occurred without warning. Vision Hyundai webster (755 ride rd, webster, NY) was contacted, but the failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 12,554.

- Penfield, NY, USA

problem #28

Sep 102017

Elantra

  • 90,000 miles
While driving city or highway there is a loud knocking sound and as you accelerate it gets faster and louder. My car has been at Hyundai in valley stream, NY for 4 days with no conclusion.

- Lynbrook, NY, USA

problem #27

Jun 272017

Elantra

  • 89,196 miles
Our car has been intermittently not starting and rattling. We it took to a Hyundai dealer three times in 9 months and paid over $600 but each time the problem continued. Finally the mechanic drained the oil and took a magnet to it. Metal fragments were pulled out. The mechanic said the car needed a new engine as the result of a manufacturer defect-same as the sonatas that have been recalled. We called Hyundai to report the problem. They said since the car is no longer under warranty there is nothing they are able to do.

- Clear Lake, MN, USA

problem #26

Jun 172017

Elantra

  • 47,440 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While I was driving, the car stalled. The tach reading droped to zero, and engine light was on. I tried restarting my car. I could drive slowly, but the engine light was still on, and the tach reading was still zero. This happened for a few times --- when I drove on highway, on a local street, and when I waited for a long light. If starting after a long enough rest, those symptoms might disappear temporarily.

- Natick, MA, USA

problem #25

Feb 222016

Elantra

  • 28,000 miles
I bought my car brand new in 2011. I don't drive much at all so my car has 33,000 miles. So when my car stared making a ticking noise in the engine, that was louder when idling but never went away completely. I didn't think to much of it. Dropped it off to get looked at and that's when I found out there was metal in my engine. This meant I needed a new engine, this was about 14 months ago, so it went in for 3-4 days after waiting a month to get the part. After the replaced engine it worked well and the noise was gone, so I thought that was the end. So when the noise came back just 11 months later I wasn't happy. Dropped it off and sure enough it needs a new engine. This time it took 3 weeks for them to replace my engine. The service at my local Hyundai is so bad. Everyday I called to see if my car was ready because it was supposed to last 3 days, 3 weeks later I had a second new engine. Now yesterday just 2 months later my car is yet again making the ticking noise and now is having trouble starting. I called my local Hyundai to make a service appointment and had to leave a message, still haven't heard back its been 2 business days. I'm really disappointed my car is 6 years old and has just 33,000 miles and working on its 3rd new engine.

- Salem, MA, USA

problem #24

Jan 012017

Elantra

  • miles
While running in park, idling in drive, or driving less than 30mph the engine makes a ticking/knocking noise. The noise could still be there after 30mph but I can't hear it over the motor and road noise. Hyundai and Kia recently recalled 1.4 million cars for this exact reason for engine failure. But for some reason this model/year is not included. Researching online, you can see that many people have had to replace the engine despite being only a few years old with low miles. My vehicle is a 2011 with 70,000 miles.

- Chisholm, MN, USA

problem #23

Mar 082017

Elantra

  • 77,800 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Ticking sound coming from car, louder when accelerating, took to dealer and was told engine needs to be replaced at only 77,800 miles

- Mchenry, IL, USA

problem #22

Dec 122014

Elantra

  • miles
City driving; there was the usual amount of "stop and go". as I was sitting at a red light, I noticed some smoke/steam coming from somewhere outside my car. I distinctly remember looking at my temperature gauge to see if it was running hot; but it was still in the normal range. I assumed it was coming from another vehicle around me. The next time I stopped at a red light, I saw the smoke/steam again; this time I noticed the distinct "sweet" smell associated to a vehicle overheating. My temp gauge was still registering as normal, but it was clear it was coming from my vehicle. I turned the heat on until I was able to pull into the next available parking lot to turn off my car and let it sit for a few minutes. After restarting it, the temp gauge registered as normal again, so I drove off. Shortly after, the temp gauge started to register the engine was overheating and smoke/steam was coming from under the hood. Just as I was pulling into another parking lot, the temp gauge spiked. After I parked and let the engine cool a bit, I opened the hood and it was clear that a hose or something had burst; there was coolant spewed everywhere and I saw a small hole in one of the hoses. I had it towed to the nearest dealership; after looking at it, they said the engine would need to be replaced because some oil/fluid had backed up into it, apparently at some point during that ordeal. I believe one of two things to be the cause: Either the temp gauge/component failed, therefore not notifying me of the engine overheating; or the engine was faulty. My "check engine" light was not on, and did not come on until after the temp gauge spiked. This issue cost me a total of nearly $6000 in repairs, including a new engine and the component that "talks" to the temp gauge. When this happened, the vehicle was less than 4 years old; I bought it used and had less than 2 years.

- Garland, TX, USA

problem #21

Jul 282016

Elantra

  • 56,000 miles
Check engine light went off and was taken in for a diagnostic reading. 2011 Hyundai Elantra at 56,000 miles was showing signs of engine failure. After more research the mechanic stated the due to a defect in the way the oil lubricate the engine apparently was not filtering fast enough. Mechanic happened to mention she previously worked for Hyundai and was seeing more and more vehicles come in for this and had stop covering the repairs. Problem is also seen in the Hyundai sonatas which Hyundai is starting to own to that.

- New Cumberland, PA, USA

problem #20

Jun 102016

Elantra

  • 79,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. While driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle jerked and lost speed. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the shoulder of the road and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. When the vehicle reached 45 mph, it began to jerk hard. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #19

Feb 262016

Elantra

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

February 26th, 2016 around 3pm my car stopped while driving on the road. I was not able to press the brake so I put the car in neutral and had to wait until the car stopped on its own. After the car stopped I tried to start the car and the engine would not turn over. There was no noise from the engine when the car died on the road.

- St. Peters, MO, USA

problem #18

Nov 222015

Elantra

  • miles
The engine has been making a knocking noise but no one could find a problem. Car cut off a few times while driving in stop and go trafic the check engine light came on and the code stated problem with crankshaft. Went to start the car a couple of days later. Car would not start horrible knocking noise came from engine. Car turned over but would not start. Mechanic had to replace crankshaft sensor, timing chain, crankshaft problems. Have had car back a little over a month now the engine is making the same noise again and the check engine light has come back on. Have read the engine recall for the Hyundai sonatas and sounds very similar to what my car is doing. The car has 115,000 miles on it and problems started around the 113-114,000 mark right after the warrenty had expired..

- Irmo, SC, USA

problem #17

Oct 202015

Elantra

  • 78,000 miles
Knocking noise coming from crankshaft and engine

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #16

Oct 152015

Elantra

  • 69,000 miles
The Hyundai Elantra has an intermittent starting problem. This problem is hard to duplicate. The solution requires various attempts at trying the start switch along with the movement of shift lever. This becomes a safety problem since it requires numerous attempts to move shift lever from park to neutral position. When attempting to start vehicle after a number of times the power brakes take extreme pressure to control the vehicle from moving. At times, the shift lever will not move properly out of the park position and still not start. This has happened numerous times. The local Hyundai service warned me if problem cannot be duplicated owners are responsible for diagnostic and service costs that would likely be $200 or more. On one occasion the car was parked in my garage for about a week along with daily attempts at trying to start the car did not start the engine. Finally it started and did not have problems during the complete summer, but once the temperature has been below 40-50 degrees F problems occurred. I am very leery at allowing other family members to operate vehicle since some may have difficulty in applying the large amount of braking force to stop vehicle from moving on an incline when attempting to start vehicle. I reviewed the service bulletin no.: tsb-12-at-022-1 on Hyundai Elantra and Kia recall NHTSA campaign number: 13V114000. Note many Kia and Hyundai vehicles are similar in parts and function. After reading the NHTSA campaign number: 13V114000 about Kia, I did recall incidents of intermittent failing of brake lights and intermittent ESC light malfunction.

- Cokato, MN, USA

problem #15

May 022015

Elantra

  • 61,000 miles
When driving it is difficult at time to regulate my speed. If I stop at a red light and then try to drive on a green light my car will jolt forward. It is hard to speed up, it feels like my car is stuck in on speed. It makes it difficult to drive on the freeway as it is slow to pick up speed.

- South Portland, ME, USA

problem #14

Jun 262014

Elantra

  • 34,000 miles
Car will not start. Have battery, alternator, and started all tested and are good. Every so often go to start the car and when you turn the key to first position everything turns on. Windows work, radio works, light on dash turn on. Go to start the car and it does nothing. Does not even try to start the starter makes no noise. You just here a clicking noise. Was told be dealer that it might be inhibitor switch (range switch), that was replaced and a week later it again will not try to start. If you let it sit and come back a day later many time it will crank right over. There are many forums online with the same issue from this model.

- Wentzville, MO, USA

problem #13

Jun 152015

Elantra

  • 53,000 miles
My vehicle will not start. It happens on numerous occassions and I have to try several attempts before my vehicle will start. I took the car in to be check and everything tested fine. No lights on the dashboard indicated an error and no codes could be detected. Not sure what is going on but I have a infant child and I cannot be somewhere or trying to go somewhere especially if there is an emergency with my child and my vehicle refuses to start and yet all the lights come on howeever my engine would not start upon turning my key while in the ignition. Please fix because I saw on youtube and other forums of this same complaint and I am sure Hyundai is aware of these complaints but are failing to do something and this can become a major safety concern. Please address!!! 2011 Hyundai Elantra

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #12

Apr 022015

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 58,000 miles
Problem starting car. Usually have to try 2 times before it will start. Tried today 4/29/15 and would not start and check engine light came on., had no problem the day before with car starting.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #11

Apr 152014

Elantra

  • 40,000 miles
When I start the engine it makes a very loud rattling noise and when I drive and I push on gas it is rattles. It sounds more like grinding loud noise too. Motor knocks when you start it up and now for the last week when I start it the car will sputter and then shot off. Sometimes will take many times for it to even start. It will RPM very high even when I am not moving. I have had alot of problems with this car now bc of the issues I am using more gas. I have a little under 80 thousand miles on it and it will leave me set. Wondering if anyone knows of any recalls on this stuff or know what could be wrong with it and if Hyundai still does life time warranty... thanks

- St Thomas, PA, USA

problem #10

Jun 012012

Elantra

  • 10,000 miles
I bought my Hyundai Elantra new in 2011 since owning the vehicle it's been a nightmare and I get very little if any help from the local Hyundai dealer. I have had numerous issues with the vehicle not starting (car is silent when I turn the key in the ignition, car cranks but won't turn over, engine starts but dies, car dies without any reason). I've brought up complaints and concerns to the local dealership but they are never of any help. I recently had to have the starter replaced but it was only replaced because my car one day wouldn't start at all. Since the replacement I am still met with my car not starting at least once a week if not more. Yesterday my sun roof would not close completely, it retracts a few inches from closing, this is not new to me, multiple intermittent electrical issues, such as is occurring now - the sun roof retracting on its own without any visible reason. Or when the gear shift is put in park/reverse, etc. Sunroof will take on a mind of its own. I'm fed up with this lemon of a car and as I see from all the other complaints online about starting issues Hyundai needs to do something about it - figure out the reason why and let us consumers know.

- Missoula, MT, USA

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