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:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,248 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2011 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #70

Feb 292024

Elantra

  • miles

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

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 took the vehicle in for inspection because of a clunking and rattling vibration while driving. The rattling and clunking and vibration caused me unexpected alarm distracting my focus while driving, also I have noticed while turning right or left there's slack or oversteering. The problem started approximately two months ago. There were no warning lights.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #69

Mar 122024

Elantra

  • miles
I am not able to steer my car. I was taking my 5 year old son to school and I was not able to turn onto the street of his school. I had to slow down in traffic an forcably strain and pull the wheel to the right and pull over on the side of the road. I as very scared I was going to be hit or cause and acident. There was a recall for this problem with this car but it ended for cars that where built as of 2010, but ny car is a 2011 and the issue is still happening.

- Zebulon, NC, USA

problem #68

Mar 062019

Elantra

  • miles
The steering coupler started making noises at about 80, 000 miles but I did not know what it was at the time. When I brought the car in at over 100,000 miles, I was informed of the loose couplet, to cost about &400 to fix andit wasn-??t covered, because over the 100, 000. I did not have it fixed at that time.(I believe mileage was about 110, 00 at that point). I never received any info on this issue, and feel it should have been covered and that Hyundai should still cover it. There is approximately 128, 000 miles now.

- Lumberton, NJ, USA

problem #67

Jan 012024

Elantra

  • miles

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

The steering wheel recently started making a clunking sound. There is play in the wheel and it feels very unsafe to drive. It does not respond normally while turning. Seems to be a very common issue. My car is a 2011 with 55k miles on it and it is out of warranty. I wish they would make this a recall and fix it.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #66

Oct 012023

Elantra

  • miles
Starting in the summer of 2023 my car started making screeching noises when applying brakes, turning, etc. All 4 brakes and rotors were replaced. My car continues to screech. More concerning is that the steering wheel started clicking when turning in the Fall of 2023 and has progressively worsened, now clicking whenever moved left or right even a few inches. The steering feels very loose. Although the car is a 2011, it only has 36,000 original miles on it. This is very frustrating and feels very unsafe to drive. Repair/evaluation appointment with the dealership is scheduled for 2/1/24 to see what they say. My issues sounds VERY familiar to many other complaints on here and from other research I have done. I am not sure why this is not a recall to correct this common problem in the Elantra. Other Hyundai models have had steering column recalls. I see that the rubber coupling warranty in the power steering assembly was extended to 10 yrs/100,000 miles, however I was never informed of any safety or warranty issues when purchasing this vehicle in early February of 2020 which would have been within the 10 years. Extra disappointing is that the previous 2 owners were the sales manager and general manager of the dealership where I purchased it from.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #65

Nov 212023

Elantra

  • miles
The steering wheel usually vibrates when using the brake and it dies the same thing when going 60mph or 70mph.

- Birmingham , AL, USA

problem #64

Aug 222023

Elantra

  • miles

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

On August 22, 2023, my 2011 Hyundai Elantra steering capacity started feeling loose and now clicks every time I turn the steering wheel - left or right.

- Taylorville , IL, USA

problem #63

Oct 012023

Elantra

  • miles
My 2011 Hyundai Elantra has a steering problem. Just yesterday, The steering became loose and clicked when initially turning left or right. At a stop, I was able to turn it back and forth very loosely (no resistance) about 1-2" before a click and then the steering felt *closer* to normal (but not normal). The problem is also that the power steering is a little more difficult to turn either way after the click. This was very scary when it happened and thankfully we were close to home and drove directly there very cautiously. After doing some quick research, it seems this is a common problem. It is due to the failure of a cheap plastic gear inside the steering column where it attaches to the power steering motor. I say cheap because anyone can purchase the plastic piece for less than $10 on Amazon (today I can buy 2 steering couplers for only $6.59). There are online videos showing how one can do a self-repair in just about an hour. I received one quote from a local auto repair shop that it would cost around $350. I called another shop (a local shop of a major auto repair chain) who very quickly told me to only get it repaired by the dealer. Evidently, while the part could be done by me or a local auto shop, he informed me that once the steering column is dropped during the repair, it requires the power steering electronic module to be reprogrammed/calibrated and something that only an OEM dealer could perform. He was knowledgeable about the process because he had to refer many of his customers to get this repair done. He indicated that the reprogramming/calibrating would cost an additional $225. So this cheap plastic part will cost anyone approximately $575 to get fixed. Meanwhile, we'e afraid to drive the car with this loose steering and harder power steering (especially at lower speeds). Based upon what I've read online and after talking with the manager at the national auto repair chain store, this seems to be a common repair of these older Hyundai Elantras.

- Park Ridge, NJ, USA

problem #62

Jan 012023

Elantra

  • miles
There is a clunking and or clicking noise when I turn the steering wheel in any direction. This issue caused my car to fail inspection last Thursday. I-??m told by the Southern Team dealership advisor, [XXX], that my 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring is oit of warranty and it will cost between $400-$500 to fix this. I never received a letter since I purchased this car in 2015. I don-??t recall the approximate date when this started, but it-??s been going on for aboit a year at the least. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Salem, VA, USA

problem #61

Aug 252023

Elantra

  • miles
My safety was a risk on August 25th as I was driving back home from work. As I was about to make a right turn, the wheel was hard to turn for second which resulted in me making a wider turn. Thankfully no other cars were around. As I parked, the wheel would swing back and forth and make a swishing sound when touched. A couple of weeks prior to the incident, I had a family friend conduct an oil change. I had mention to him about my steering wheel problem and my tire light being on-?" all of these problems started at the end of July). He said the steering issue is not normal and not good at all since it ruined the front of my tires. He said in order to fix the tires, I would have to get the steering problem checked and fixed first. He and my warranty recommend me to go to a certified mechanic since he didn-??t have the tools to properly diagnose and that I can get it fix through my warranty. After going to United Service Automative, the certified mechanic told me that his diagnosis was pointing to errors in the electrical steering wheel system. Unfortunately, I had to pay for the inspection since my warranty said they couldn-??t fix it. The certified mechanic recommended me to go to the actual manufacturer/dealer to get it checked. I have made several calls to Lithia Hyundai of Fresno about this issue since August 24th. I talked about to at least 4 employees that this is a safety concern. Answers I got back were -??By appointment your car cannot be seen until January 2024-??you can walk-in but we cannot guarantee your car will be looked at and can actually sit in the shop for a week or more until we look at it.-?? I have been also hanged up on twice and had to go through the sales department. No one seems to be taking me serious or taking precautious measures. I will be doing a walk-in on Monday, August 28th, 2023 requesting a safety inspection and how can I get the car fixed since I am still paying off the car.

- Sanger, CA, USA

problem #60

May 292023

Elantra

  • 129,058 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 while driving at an undisclosed speed, the electric power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the vehicle was repaired, however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 129,058.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #59

Jul 012019

Elantra

  • miles
The power steering stopped working while driving in 2019. The steering wheel jolted 1-2", the EPS light blinked and then remained lit. Maintaining control of the vehicle was strenuous, making it impossible to quickly maneuver, especially at low speeds. Safety of the driver and others on the roadways was negatively impacted by the sudden malfunction. The power steering became intermittent while driving, then completely failed. The vehicle was serviced by a Hyundai dealer/service department for diagnostics, but a diagnosis was inconclusive. To remedy, it was recommended to replace the power steering module. This was done, and it provided temporary resolution. Power steering suddenly became intermittent again. Another diagnostic appointment suggested to replace the entire steering column. This has not been done. There was no warning that the power steering would fail. The vehicle is available for power steering inspection upon request. Electronic issues are persistent, effecting multiple areas of the vehicle. The headlights and taillights have gone out much more frequently than expected. The airbag sensor light has recently illuminated. The Tire pressure sensor blinks, then remains illuminated. The Electronic Stability Control Indicator has been illuminated since the power steering failure. This vehicle has had multiple issues arise, and it has had thousands of dollars of work put into it in an attempt to return it to a safely driving vehicle. It is unacceptable for the manufacturer to sell a car that cannot uphold basic safety standards. There have been multiple recalls for power steering issues on Hyundai's surrounding this 2011 model. Clearly there is an issue that needs to be addressed, and Hyundai needs to be held accountable for their negligence. All owners should be entitled to have their vehicle promptly repaired at no cost, and they should be reimbursed for time and repair costs spent trying to resolve this avoidable issue.

- Albany, OR, USA

problem #58

Dec 262015

Elantra 4-cyl

  • miles
I have had broken shocks and struts on my 2011 Hyundai Elantra Liminted, currently 69000 miles 2 times, once replaced by dealership 2nd done by BIG O Tires in Salt Lake, I did not have a breakdown, my tire blew the first time 12/26/2015, currently was caught by general tire mainainance. This must be some kind of a defect due to have them replace them so often. 2 incidents 12/26/2015 and 10/12/2022. I take very very good care of my car. I have read the issues of prior. Please contact both Murdock Hyundai Murray Utah & Ken Garff Salt Lake City Utah and Big O downtown Salt Lake City.

- Salt Lake, UT, USA

problem #57

Sep 062022

Elantra

  • 73,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering coupler needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

- Plainfield, NJ, USA

problem #56

Aug 192022

Elantra

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated upon driving from a complete stop, the steering wheel emitted abnormal squeaking sounds. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had worsened and the steering wheel would shudder significantly while driving over bumps in the roadway. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled for diagnostic test. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

- Stamford, CT, USA

problem #55

Aug 152022

Elantra

  • miles
Steering wheel clunking noise, the car tries to change direction by itself especially on wet roads, and I always trying to keep it in the same lane, the problem has been reproduced 2 weeks ago, there-??s no warning lamps actually either before, I had not inspected this problem.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #54

Nov 022021

Elantra

  • miles
Driving on wet roads with all of the play in steering is dangerous, I almost lost control. There is a clunking noise in steering and it is loose.

- Claremore, OK, USA

problem #53

Apr 182021

Elantra

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated he received an unknown recall notification for the steering wheel failure; however, the dealer inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the recall repair did not need to be completed on the vehicle. The contact stated the steering wheel became significantly loosened while driving at various speeds and upon starting the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that he would be responsible for the cost of the diagnosis and repair of the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

- Mooresville, NC, USA

problem #52

Jul 122021

Elantra

  • miles
My steering is lose and makes a popping sound. I was making a left turn and almost hit a car because I did not have full control of my steering wheel. It feels like its lose. July 19, 2021 On Thursday the 22 of July 2021 I had a mechanic come out to check it. He told me it was the Steering Coupling, he also said that there was a recall on that. So I called the Dealership they told me I had just missed it by three months. They want to charge me $500. hundred dollars. I don't have that kind of money. I need to go back to work and I need my car. This is a hardship please help me.

- Corona, Ca, CA, USA

problem #51

Jul 012021

Elantra

  • miles
Steering wheel is making a noise (rubbing- popping) when steering wheel is turned. Took it in to have it looked was informed that the ESC SYSTEM needed to be repaired and that this is a known issue with Hyundai on the Elantra and other models.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

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