4th generation · HD · 1,612 complaints, 1,229 with mileage
Owners filed 1,612 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2010 Hyundai Elantra, and 1,229 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 33,500 and 101,000 miles. The median is 66,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the steering (25.9% of complaints, typically around 77,000 miles), the airbag system (11.1% of complaints, typically around 66,011 miles), the electrical system (8.4% of complaints, typically around 65,000 miles).
5 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 417 | 25.9% | 77,000 | 46,000–101,000 |
| Air Bags | 179 | 11.1% | 66,011 | 32,000–112,099 |
| Electrical System | 136 | 8.4% | 65,000 | 35,000–103,200 |
| Service Brakes | 102 | 6.3% | 79,000 | 44,500–108,215 |
| Power Train | 80 | 5.0% | 48,000 | 25,000–83,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 73 | 4.5% | 49,000 | 29,755–87,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 66 | 4.1% | 76,000 | 27,700–123,000 |
| Structure | 63 | 3.9% | 77,500 | 53,000–111,983 |
| Engine | 63 | 3.9% | 106,507 | 57,000–150,000 |
| Exterior Lighting | 57 | 3.5% | 70,765 | 44,777–100,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 365 | 301 |
| 2008 | 424 | 344 |
| 2009 | 319 | 235 |
| 2010 | 504 | 349 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 66,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The steering accounts for 25.9% of complaints (417 reports, 327 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 77,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 46,000 and 101,000 miles.
A single system taking 25.9% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The airbag system accounts for 11.1% of complaints (179 reports, 136 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 66,011 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 32,000 and 112,099 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 8.4% of complaints (136 reports, 99 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 65,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 35,000 and 103,200 miles.
The brakes account for 6.3% of complaints (102 reports, 70 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 79,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 44,500 and 108,215 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 5.0% of complaints (80 reports, 63 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 48,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 25,000 and 83,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 4.5% of complaints (73 reports, 60 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 49,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 29,755 and 87,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2010 model year drew the most — 504 complaints — while 2009 drew the fewest at 319. The median year sits at 394.
NHTSA records 5 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (2), the hydraulic brake circuit (1), the steering (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 1,612 complaints filed against this generation, 193 reported a crash; 92 reported a fire; 179 reported an injury; 3 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 12.0% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 33,500 and 101,000 miles, with a median of 66,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the steering and the airbag system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 66,011, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Occupant classification system faults disabling the passenger airbag; also Takata inflator recall exposure on later model years.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 20V061000 | 2020-04-02 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module |
| 15V100000 | 2015-04-14 | Steering:Electric Power Assist System |
| 13V113000 | 2013-04-22 | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch |
| 11V179000 | 2011-04-08 | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive |
| 11V143000 | 2011-04-08 | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive |