There are 12 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2010 Hyundai Elantrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while her son was driving 25 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed and the engine seized. The contact stated that while her son was attempting to start the vehicle, he heard a rattling sound coming from the engine. There were no warnings light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed, and an undisclosed part connected to the timing belt had detached and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that because the NHTSA had not completed the investigation into the failure, a recall was not issued. The approximate failure mileage was 99,500.
THE ENGINE KNOCKS -LOUD RATTLE WHILE IDLING.
The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V061000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The contact stated on 10/15/2021, while her husband was driving 65 mph, he heard an abnormal noise. The contact stated the check engine warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to exit the highway, before he saw smoke exiting from the front and rear of the vehicle. The driver was able to push the vehicle into a school parking. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to her mother in law residence. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
LOUD NOISE STARTED COMING FROM ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. TAKEN TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED A BAD ENGINE
"TAKATA RECALL"
ENGINE MOUNTS ARE COMPROMISED. TRANSMISSION ON VEHICLE, AFTER UNDERGOING A TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH, IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. TRANSMISSION IS ALSO SLIPPING GEARS. THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A CLEAR NOISE DURING ACCELERATION WHEN IN MOTION ON BOTH STREETS AND ON HIGHWAYS. WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND GEAR, THE VEHICLE LURCHES VIOLENTLY AS IT SLIPS. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE WITH THE HOOD UP, THE ENGINE PHYSICALLY MOVES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT WHEN STARTING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO BY A TRAILER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER FIFTEEN MINUTES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 30,000.
HAD BEEN LOSING MPG FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS (WENT DOWN FROM AVERAGE 28 TO 21) AND DEALER SAID COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. FINALLY, ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND BROUGHT CAR BACK TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED A FAULTY OXYGEN SENSOR. DEALER ORDERED PART AND REPLACED SENSOR COUPLE DAYS AGO. ENGINE LIGHT IS OFF BUT IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS TO CHECK THE MPG. IMPROVEMENT. *TR
BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH 18,000 MILES, NO WARNINGS, FIRST SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING THEN NOTICED ENGINE COVERED WITH OIL AND OIL DRIPPING TO THE GROUND, DID NOT OVERHEAT. THE GASKET WAS REPLACED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE GASKET WAS POROUS IN AN AREA (ON THE CORNER) AND THIS IS WHERE THE OIL WAS COMING OUT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCK FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AT FIRST AND WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO SIT IDLE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 01/24/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND THE POWER STEERING, BRAKES AND GEAR SHIFT LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY JUNCTION BOX. HOWEVER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN 10 DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AGAIN, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. UPDATED 04/18/11
2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ALL SYSTEMS LOCKED UP *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER FOR THE SECOND TIME WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING. HER SON WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026