Hyundai Elantra 2007–2010
4th generation · HD
NHTSA data through 13 August 20261,612 complaints, 1,229 with mileageMethod
- Reports with mileage
- 1,229
- Median of reported failures
- 66,000 mi
- Most-reported system
- Steering (25.9%)
- Recalls
- 5
Before-you-buy checklist ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 33,500 and 101,000 miles.
Figure 1 · Hyundai Elantra 2007–2010 · 1,229 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 117 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 18 complaints (1.5%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 5,200
- 25%
- 33,500
- Median
- 66,000
- 75%
- 101,000
- 90%
- 140,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 117 | 9.5% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 41 | 3.3% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 27 | 2.2% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 25 | 2.0% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 30 | 2.4% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 33 | 2.7% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 40 | 3.3% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 47 | 3.8% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 59 | 4.8% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 38 | 3.1% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 41 | 3.3% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 39 | 3.2% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 58 | 4.7% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 40 | 3.3% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 54 | 4.4% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 42 | 3.4% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 50 | 4.1% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 45 | 3.7% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 47 | 3.8% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 25 | 2.0% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 42 | 3.4% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 25 | 2.0% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 35 | 2.8% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 19 | 1.5% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 31 | 2.5% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 22 | 1.8% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 19 | 1.5% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 12 | 1.0% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 13 | 1.1% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 13 | 1.1% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 12 | 1.0% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 6 | 0.5% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 21 | 1.7% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 9 | 0.7% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 6 | 0.5% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 10 | 0.8% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 8 | 0.7% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 18 | 1.5% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
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 66,000 miles), the electrical system (8.4% of complaints, typically around 65,000 miles).
5 recall campaigns cover this generation.
If you arrived asking “is it reliable?” — this page answers the version of that question the data can support: which problems owners reported, and at what mileage.
How many miles does a 2007–2010 Hyundai Elantra last?
Half of the failure reports on the 2007–2010 Hyundai Elantra were filed by 66,000 miles and 90% by 140,000 miles — figures drawn from 1,229 NHTSA complaints that record an odometer reading, so they time reported failures, not the cars whose owners never filed one.
18 reports (1.5%) came in past 200,000 miles — each one proof a Elantra reached that mileage, not that it died there.
Before you buy a 2007–2010 Elantra: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,229 mileage-tagged complaints, 5 recall campaigns, 1 documented problem area. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 5 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check airbags on 2007–2010 cars. Occupant classification system faults disabling the passenger airbag; also Takata inflator recall exposure on later model years.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 34,000 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 66,000, 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.
What fails, and when
Figure 2 · Hyundai Elantra 2007–2010
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Transmission and driveline80 reports48,00025,000–83,000Transmission and driveline: 80 reports, median 48,000 miles, middle half 25,000 to 83,000 miles.
- Throttle and speed control73 reports49,00030,000–87,000Throttle and speed control: 73 reports, median 49,000 miles, middle half 30,000 to 87,000 miles.
- Electrical system136 reports65,00035,000–103,000Electrical system: 136 reports, median 65,000 miles, middle half 35,000 to 103,000 miles.
- Airbag system179 reports66,00032,000–112,000Airbag system: 179 reports, median 66,000 miles, middle half 32,000 to 112,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise66 reports76,00028,000–123,000Problems owners could not categorise: 66 reports, median 76,000 miles, middle half 28,000 to 123,000 miles.
- Steering417 reports77,00046,000–101,000Steering: 417 reports, median 77,000 miles, middle half 46,000 to 101,000 miles.
- Brakes102 reports79,00044,000–108,000Brakes: 102 reports, median 79,000 miles, middle half 44,000 to 108,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 417 | 25.9% | 77,000 | 46,000–101,000 |
| Airbag system | 179 | 11.1% | 66,000 | 32,000–112,000 |
| Electrical system | 136 | 8.4% | 65,000 | 35,000–103,000 |
| Brakes | 102 | 6.3% | 79,000 | 44,000–108,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 80 | 5.0% | 48,000 | 25,000–83,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 73 | 4.5% | 49,000 | 30,000–87,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 66 | 4.1% | 76,000 | 28,000–123,000 |
| Body structure | 63 | 3.9% | 78,000 | 53,000–112,000 |
| Engine | 63 | 3.9% | 107,000 | 57,000–150,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 57 | 3.5% | 71,000 | 45,000–100,000 |
Where your car sits
Failure reports by the odometer reading they were filed at. Pick the anchor nearest your car — or type the exact mileage: your marker lands on this curve and on the timing chart above.
Figure 3 · Hyundai Elantra 2007–2010 · 1,229 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 44% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 67% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 83% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it below
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 1.5% of reports (18) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
At 60,000 miles
44% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
In the reporting window
- Steering — middle half 46,000–101,000 mi
- Airbag system — middle half 32,000–112,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 35,000–103,000 mi
- Brakes — middle half 44,000–108,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 25,000–83,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control — middle half 30,000–87,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — middle half 28,000–123,000 mi
At 90,000 miles
67% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Transmission and driveline — median 48,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control — median 49,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Steering — middle half 46,000–101,000 mi
- Airbag system — middle half 32,000–112,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 35,000–103,000 mi
- Brakes — middle half 44,000–108,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — middle half 28,000–123,000 mi
At 120,000 miles
83% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Steering — median 77,000 mi
- Airbag system — median 66,000 mi
- Electrical system — median 65,000 mi
- Brakes — median 79,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 48,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control — median 49,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Problems owners could not categorise — middle half 28,000–123,000 mi
Which systems, and when
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 66,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 32,000 and 112,000 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 103,000 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 44,000 and 108,000 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 30,000 and 87,000 miles.
Differences between model years
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.
Recalls and what they cover
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.
Reported severity
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 1,612 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 193 (12.0%)
- Fires
- 92
- Injury reports
- 136
- Fatality reports
- 3
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Documented problems
Airbags 2007–2010
Occupant classification system faults disabling the passenger airbag; also Takata inflator recall exposure on later model years.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 365 | 301 |
| 2008 | 424 | 344 |
| 2009 | 319 | 235 |
| 2010 | 504 | 349 |
Recalls (5) — is your car included?
Apr 2020 · 2007–2010 · Service Brakes, HydraulicAn electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned…
The defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Elantra and 2009-2011 Elantra Touring vehicles. On February 21, 2020 Hyundai expanded the recall to include 46,425 model year 2007-2008 Entourage and 2007 Santa Fe vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
What can happen. 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 free fix. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 188.
Apr 2015 · 2008–2010 · SteeringIf power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds…
The defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Elantra vehicles manufactured June 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010, and 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles manufactured November 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010. 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.
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. Hyundai will verify the proper operation of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and update the EPS control unit, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 127.
Apr 2013 · 2007–2010 · Exterior LightingFailure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could…
The defect. Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai
What can happen. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Apr 2011 · 2007–2008 · Air BagsA higher pressure deployment than intended increases the risk of injury resulting from airbag deployment.
The defect. Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Elantra vehicles manufactured from july 14, 2006, through august 29, 2007. The driver's seat track position sensor determines the seat's fore and aft position and allows the driver's frontal air bag to deploy at the pressure appropriate for that seating position, with a lower pressure deployment in the most forward seating positions. The air bag control module may receive an unstable electrical signal from the seat track position sensor such that, in a crash that requires driver frontal airbag deployment, the driver's airbag may deploy at th
What can happen. A higher pressure deployment than intended increases the risk of injury resulting from airbag deployment.
The free fix. Dealers will reprogram the air bag control module free of charge. The safety recall is expecting to begin during april 2011. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.
Apr 2011 · 2007–2009 · Air BagsThe front passenger air bag could deploy in crashes in which it should not deploy, increasing the risk of…
The defect. Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Elantra vehicles manufactured from july 14, 2006, through november 1, 2008. The front passenger seats in the vehicles contain a weight sensor designed to deactivate the right frontal airbag when occupants of certain weights occupy the seat. The electrical connector for the weight sensor is located under the center console, between the front seats. Under certain circumstances the connector could become contaminated and malfunction such that the front passenger airbag will deploy regardless of the weight of the occupant.
What can happen. The front passenger air bag could deploy in crashes in which it should not deploy, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant from the deployed air bag.
The free fix. Dealers will install a protective cover over the weight classification system connector to prevent contamination. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expecting to begin during april 2011. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.
What owners reported
the contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Elantra. The dealer tested the vehicle and confirmed that the speedometer is inaccurate by 5 miles. The test was performed while driving 60 MPH. The contact must continuously monitor the speedometer and subtract the mileage accordingly. The contact is aware of the safety risk involved…
2007 · 5 miles · Electrical system
I purchased a 2007 hundai Elantra in january 2007. My daughter also purchased the same vehicle. We both noticed that when driving the speed limit everything on the road would pass us. I timed myself on a measured mile at 60 MPH and discovered i was doing 55 MPH. I started researching the internet and discovered it is…
2007 · 60 miles · Electrical system
On december 5th, 2020 at approximatly 0645am i was driving my Elantra without and iissues or pre-indicators that something very bad was about to happen. I was on a busy road that is traveled all times of the day, getting on interstate 270 in columbus headed west. I estimate (picture included from accident site and…
2007 · 203 miles · Airbag system
the contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Elantra. While driving 60 MPH or greater, the rear of the vehicle swayed from left to right. The failure was prevalent when there was extra weight in the vehicle. The dealer stated that the extra weight changed the rear alignment and caused the vehicle to sway. The dealer attempted to…
2007 · 3,000 miles · Suspension
Built from 1,229 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-18 · open data · reproduce this page