WHEN CAR IS IDLING OR WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WHEEL MOVES SLIGHTLY. THIS IS NOT NOTICEABLE WHEN TURNING.
NHTSA ODI 11000797
Home · 2011 Hyundai Elantra Gt · Complaints
These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.
76 of 459 complaints match · Steering · clear filters · page 3 of 4
WHEN CAR IS IDLING OR WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WHEEL MOVES SLIGHTLY. THIS IS NOT NOTICEABLE WHEN TURNING.
NHTSA ODI 11000797
IN MAY MY STEERING COLUMN STARTED MAKING A METALLIC LIKE SOUND EVERY TIME I TURNED IT. THERE IS SOME LOOSE PLAY IN THE STEERING NOW NOTHING MAJOR BUT THE NOISE IS VERY FREQUENT WHEN TURNING.
NHTSA ODI 10995695
CLICKING NOISE WHEN MOVING STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. BOTH STOPPED AND WHILE DRIVING. NAPLETON DEALER SAYS I NEED TO HAVE IT FIXED FOR SAFETY REASONS. THEY WANT 325 TO FIX. SAYS IT'S NOT ON RECALL LIST. I FEEL BECAUSE OF HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS AND DEALERS ACKNOWLEGEMENT OF SAFETY ISSUE THEY SHOULD COVER THE COST.
NHTSA ODI 10950052
WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL THERE'S A CLICK OR POPPING NOISE. WAS TOLD BY DEALER IT IS STEERING COLUMN BUSHING AND REPAIR WOULD BE OVER 400 DOLLARS. THE CAR CAN BE SITTING IDLE OR BEING DRIVEN WHEN THIS OCCURS.
NHTSA ODI 10928810
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING INADVERTENTLY BECAME STUCK IN THE CENTER POSITION AND TOOK CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO MOVE. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN SEVERE OVERSTEERING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
NHTSA ODI 10923816
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.
NHTSA ODI 10909679
MY 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA IS UNDER HYUNDAI RECALL 137. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REGULAR SERVICE SINCE 8/31/16. I MENTIONED THE ESC WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR INDICATED IT WOULD REQUIRE DIAGNOSTICS AT AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND ESTIMATED BY PHONE THE REPAIR WOULD BE ABOUT $1,700 BECAUSE THE YAW SENSOR OF THE ESC SYSTEM HAD FAILED AND DAMAGED THE STEERING COLUMN NOW NEEDING REPLACEMENT. I ASKED THEY REQUEST A GOODWILL REPAIR SINCE THE CAR WAS JUST OUT OF THE 5 YEAR BUMPER TO BUMBER WARRANTY AND AWAITED NOTICE. MEANWHILE I REVIEWED THE INTERNET FOR THE HYUNDAI REPAIR ISSUES AND FOUND MY CAR WAS ON HYUNDAI RECALL 137 FOR THE ESC SYSTEM. I NOTED THE DEALERS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE REPAIRNING THIS ISSUE AT NO CHARGE TO CUSTOMERS UNDER THE RECALL. MY DEALER HAD NOT ADVISED ME MY CAR WAS UNDER RECALL NOR MADE MENTION UNTIL I TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER. I AM STILL WITHOUT MY CAR OR A LOANER AS THE DEALER TRIES TO GET FROM HYUNDAI USA AN AUTHORIZATION TO REPAIR MY CAR.
NHTSA ODI 10903888
THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAR BRIEFY MOVES COMES OUT OF ALIGNMENT EACH TIME I DRIVE OVER ANY SIZE POTHOLE OR AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT IT ARROUND JULY OF 2013.
NHTSA ODI 10881578
THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE MAIN DASH CONSOLE STAYING ON. WAS CONCERNED AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED AT DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TOO TIGHT/DEFECTIVE AND THERE IS A 50/50 CHANCE AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. MY VEHICLE JUST WENT OUT OF BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. IF THERE IS ANY QUESTION THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURING ISSUE THEN I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL.
NHTSA ODI 10861174
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE VEERED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,000.
NHTSA ODI 10837794
I HAVE A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA, THE PROBLEM I AM REFERRING TO IS RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN AND POWER STEERING COUPLING. I AM AWARE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM FOR OTHER 2011 SONATAS BUT MINE DOES NOT FALL INTO THIS SMALL NUMBER OF RECALLED VEHICLES. I AM HOWEVER HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE STEERING FEELS LOOSE AND MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHEN YOU MOVE THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH, THIS HAPPENS BOTH WHEN NOT MOVING AN WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. TENDS TO BE WORSE AT LOWER SPEED. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO A SERVICE MANAGER AT A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP ALREADY AND HE SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING I COULD DO BUT PAY OUT OF POCKET TO GET IT FIXED. I FEEL THIS IS NOT RIGHT BECAUSE OF THE SHEER NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE FULLY AWARE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES BUT REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
NHTSA ODI 10821521
THE ELANTRA HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE FOURTH TIME TO INSPECT CLICKING NOISE WHILE STEERING TO THE RIGHT. THE CAR IS CLOSE TO 60 K AND ITS WARRANTY IS ENDING SOON. SO FAR THE RIGHT AXLE HAS BEEN REPLACED, REPLACED BOTH WORN AXLE WASHERS. STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY FAILED INTERNAL, ABNORMAL WEAR. REPLACED STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. NOW THE DEALER STATES THAT PROBLEM CANNOT BE FOUND.
NHTSA ODI 10778839
I WAS DRIVING ON A BACK ROAD TO MY NEXT DESTINATION WHEN SUDDENLY MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. THE EPS AND ESC LIGHTS WERE ON IN THE DASHBOARD. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER. TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON. SEEMED OK. POWER STEERING RETURNED. EPS AND ESC LIGHTS OFF. WENT UP A FEW FEET TO STOPLIGHT. LOST POWER AGAIN. DID NOT FEEL SAFE. STOPPED THE CAR. CALLED FOR TOW TRUCK. TOWED TO NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALER. THEY DID DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. ONE TECH SAID IT WAS STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. THEY SAID TO FOLLOW UP WITH REGULAR DEALER NEXT WEEK IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. ON 4/7/15 CAR BROUGHT INTO DEALER AGAIN FOR SAME PROBLEM. THEY DID AN EPS UPDATE. ON APRIL 15, 2015 MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING US. HE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE HE LOST POWER STEERING. HE PULLED OVER RESTARTED CAR TWICE. THEN STEERING CAME BACK. EPS AND ESC LIGHTS WENT OFF. CALLED HYUNDAI DEALER TODAY. HE SAID TO BRING IT IN. I HAD IT TOWED IN. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10706179
I STARTED THE CAR AND COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT APPLYING HEAVY FORCE. LOOKING AT THE DASH BOARD THE ESC AND EPS LIGHTS WERE BOTH ON. I TURNED OF THE CAR AND RESTARTED AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. A FEW DAYS AGO I SAW THE RECALL OF THE 2009 AND 2010 CARS REGARDING THIS VERY PROBLEM. I CALLED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO REPORT MY ISSUE BUT WAS TOLD MY 2011 CAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS VERY ISSUE APPEARING IN ELANTRA CARS AS RESENT AS 2014. I ASK THE SAFETY BOARD TO REEXAMINE THE ISSUE IN REGARDS TO LATER YEAR OF THE ELANTRA CARS. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10691727
CAR WOULD NOT START. CHECKED ALL CONNECTIONS, BATTERY WAS FINE. CONSULTED INTERNET, MANY COMPLAINTS MENTIONED A FAULTY "RANGE SWITCH". HYUNDAI SHOULD RECALL. CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT. CAR WAS AT DEALERSHIP ON 1/9/14 AT 40,285 MILES. ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED. TOOK CAR IN AGAIN TO DEALERSHIP 3/4/2014 AT 41,775 MILES. STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED AS ONGOING CLICKING NOISE PERSISTS TO PRESENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10664139
I WAS TRAVELING TO MEMPHIS, TN. THE REAR END OF THE CAR WOULD CONSTANTLY JERK OUT TOT THE LEFT WHEN I WOULD HIT BUMPS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A NORMAL REACTION FOR THIS KIND OF SUSPENSION. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONSTANT, AND DURING THE WINTER, IT TRIED TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE ALMOST LOST CONTROL, AND IT IS SCARY BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW IF OR WHEN IT'S GONNA CRASH. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. THIS WILL EVENTUALLY KILL SOMEONE UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10609439
I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ACCIDENTS BUT I HAD MANY ALMOST ACCIDENTS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. I CAN'T EVEN GO OVER A BUMP OR LOOK TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT BECAUSE IT STEERS OFF SO BAD. I HAVE TO HOLD IT VERY TIGHT THE WHOLE TIME. I'M SCARED FOR MY LIFE AS WELL AS WHOEVER IS WITH ME. HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP JUST SAYS ITS BECAUSE ITS ELECTRIC STEERING BUT I THINK THEY JUST DONT WANT TO DEAL WITH IT. I HOPE THERE IS SOMETHING DONE SOON. *JS
NHTSA ODI 10608817
DROVE THE NEW ELANTRA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SNOW AND IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL. TRIED NOT TO DRIVE IT THAT WINTER AND THOUGHT WOULD BUY SNOW TIRES THE NEXT WINTER. THAT SUMMER DURING RAINSTORM THE ELANTRA HANDLED POORLY. DISCOVERED PASSENGER REAR TIRE WAS BALD. DEALER CHECKED AND ALIGNMENT WAS WITHIN FACTORY SPECS.???? HELPFUL HYUNDAI MECHANIC AGREED SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND SHIMMIED REAREND FOR BETTER ALIGNMENT. COMPANY PAID FOR TWO TIRES. NOW IT HANDLES GREAT. WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS HAPPENED IN CARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM. COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW HARD IT WAS TO CONTROL ON A ROAD WITH SLIGHT SNOW COVERAGE. DEALER SAW OTHER CARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. 2 *TR
NHTSA ODI 10576034
THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT/RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL IS STICKY.WHEN THE WHEEL IS LEFT STRAIGHT, IT WILL GO STRAIGHT BUT A SMALL TURN TO LEFT/RIGHT RESULTS IN VERY JERKY AND UNSAFE RIDE FOR HIGHER MILEAGE SPEED. IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE FOR LONGER PERIOD OF TIME AND ON ICY ROADS DUE TO DRIVING BEHAVIOR. HYUNDAI SAYS IT IS BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. I DON'T CARE IF IT IS THAT. IT JERKS TO LEFT/RIGHT WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS PAINFUL. I HAVE CHANGED TIRES AND BRAKES THINKING THOSE WERE THE CULPRIT. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS IN A WRECK AND DIE. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10535657
I WAS DRIVING MY ELANTRA WHEN THE EMS ELEC. STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE AUTO BEGAN TO SHAKE AS I WAS DRIVING. THE ROAD WAS DRY AND WEATHER WAS REGULAR. IT FEELS AS IF THE AUTO IS DRIVING ON FLAT WHEELS OR ON ICE. I LOSE STABILITY IN MY STEERING. I HAVE TAKEN MY AUTO TO HYUNDAI TWICE. THEY CLAIM THEY THERE COMPUTERS CAN'T FIND ANY ERRORS. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT RANDOMLY OCCUR AND CAN'T BE CREATED AT WILL. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING WHILE THESE INCIDENTS HAPPEN. I'VE FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE ONLINE WITH OTHER ELANTRA 2011 CUSTOMER. HYUNDAI DOESN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND STEERING. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10508736
WHEN VEHICLE IS AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING JUST OFF OF CENTER IS A REALLY QUICK JERK. DRIVING STRAIGHT IS NO PROBLEM AT ALL, BUT AS SOON AS ANY CORRECTION IS MADE RIGHT OR LEFT AT ANY SPEED, THE CAR QUICKLY JERKS. ON ICY ROADS, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, AND EXTREMELY TIRING EVEN ON DRY STRAIGHT ROADS. THE CAR IS VERY QUIET TO DRIVE AND GETS GREAT MILEAGE, BUT IS A LITTLE SCARY AT TIMES. I FEEL THERE IS A DESIGN ERROR THAT NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED. THIS WILL KILL PEOPLE... *TR
NHTSA ODI 10503477
THE STEERING HAS A STICKY SPOT IN IT WHICH YOU HAVE TO PULL TO GET OUT OF WHICH MAKES YOU SWERVE THE CAR TO DO SO. IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. IT MAKES IT REALLY HARD TO STAY ON THE ROAD. IT "ROAD WALKS" BADLY. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THIS YEAR MODEL. I BELIEVE IT IS THE VSM ON THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS I AM GOING TO END UP IN A WRECK TRYING TO HOLD THE CAR ON THE ROAD. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10501915
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. NONE OF THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,450 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
NHTSA ODI 10445637
VEHICLE SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN BRAKING, JUST LEFT AND RIGHT OF CENTER. FEELS AS IF THE POWER ASSIST IS EITHER FAILING OR RESISTING - REQUIRES UNDUE EFFORT TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE EPS UNIT. PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED, BUT NOW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. STATES THAT EVEN THOUGH IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT THEY HEAR ABOUT THIS CAR, AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF IT, IT IS "NORMAL" FOR THIS MODEL. THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING, AND THAT IT IS NOT DANGEROUS. HOWEVER, I AM AFRAID IT IS POTENTIALLY QUITE DANGEROUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10444724
THE COMPUTERIZED STEERING IN THIS VEHICLE RESULTS IN THE WHEELS BEING PULLED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM; THIS IS JUST A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE HERE. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10410207
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