Is the 2010 Hyundai Elantra a bad year?
379 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Elantra years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2010 Hyundai Elantra are in line with other Elantra years. Steering stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2010 Elantra owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 75,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 195 (51%) | 49k–105k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical system | 48 (13%) | 43k–85k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 45 (12%) | 28k–107k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 39 (10%) | 42k–100k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structure | 22 (6%) | 36k–82k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 22 (6%) | 25k–81k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 20 (5%) | 51k–109k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Stability control | 12 (3%) | 43k–93k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 11 (3%) | 49k–99k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 32 (8%) | 32k–59k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Wheels | 5 (1%) | 26k–74k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seat belts | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 75,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 379 complaints: 45 mention a crash · 9 mention a fire · 36 report an injury · 22 say the car was towed.
7 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle would hesitate before accelerating. Also when the transmission was put into reverse, the vehicle would hesitate before suddenly moving backward.
I was approaching highway from city roads and I had to accelerate to get in the flow. Suddenly, I felt that even though I was accelerating, car did not gain speed.
The problem started around 31,000 miles and continues now with 85,000 miles, while driving 40MPH at stop and go or even uphill transmission seems to slip into neutral and will then be back in gear without any banging.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 75,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2010 Hyundai Elantra: 3
Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short. 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.
The electronic power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may sense a discrepancy in the steering input signals and, as a result, disable the steering power assist. If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Hyundai: 46
Repair instructions Hyundai sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2010 Hyundai Elantra. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (PDW) sensor(s) that may trigger various DTCs and display warning messages on the instrument…
The MDPS (motor driven power steering) assembly contains a flexible rubber coupling which may wear over time resulting in a slight "clicking" or "thud" type…
Electronic power steering (EPS) warning indicator lamp will illuminate when sensing discrepancy in systems circuitry and steering assist not available…
Slight rattle noise from the steering while at low speeds driving over rough roads or turning left
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Neighbouring years
2009 Elantra: 255 complaints, keep it · 2011 Elantra: 433 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Hyundai Elantra year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Elantra years side by side
Other Hyundai models: Hyundai Accent · Hyundai Azera · Hyundai Elantra Touring · Hyundai Entourage · Hyundai Genesis · Hyundai Genesis Coupe · Hyundai Ioniq 5 · Hyundai Kona · Hyundai Kona Electric · Hyundai Palisade · Hyundai Santa Cruz · Hyundai Santa Fe · Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid · Hyundai Santa Fe Sport · Hyundai Sonata · Hyundai Sonata Hybrid · Hyundai Tiburon · Hyundai Tucson · Hyundai Tucson Hybrid · Hyundai Veloster · Hyundai Veracruz · Hyundai XG350. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2010 Hyundai Elantra a bad year?
379 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Elantra years. At 75,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Hyundai Elantra?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (195), electrical system (48), air bags (45), brakes (39), body structure (22).
How many recalls does the 2010 Hyundai Elantra have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 20V-061), Steering (NHTSA 15V-100), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 13V-113). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.