2011 Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

92Engine complaints

21.3%Of all 431 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE92 · 21.3%

AIR BAGS77 · 17.9%

STEERING73 · 16.9%

SUSPENSION61 · 14.2%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM47 · 10.9%

Share of the 431 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Hyundai Elantra overview page.

What owners report

“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…”NHTSA complaint 10822079 — filed 01/25/2016

“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…”NHTSA complaint 10782592 — filed 10/15/2015

“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…”NHTSA complaint 10764580 — filed 09/17/2015

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Hyundai Elantra have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2011 Hyundai Elantra: 92 of 431 complaints on file (21.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Hyundai Elantra have in total?

431 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 17 involved a crash, 8 involved a fire, 10 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.