The Hyundai Elantra is one of the most popular cars Hyundai makes, at least in the sedan segment. The car was first launched back in the early 1990s and ever since then, it is selling like crazy. This means that Hyundai is aware that the Elantra needs to be a really good car overall if they want to continue selling as many of these as they can.
In order for them to be successful, they need to make it a reliable car. Thankfully, they did as the Elantra really is a reliable car as a whole. There are some issues worth talking about, but they don’t take away from the car’s overall reliability too much. This will help you understand everything you need to know about the Elantra.
The most common issues with the Hyundai Elantra are associated with airbags, the engine and engine cooling system, the steering system, the brakes, and electrics. The good news is that the Elantra is not an expensive car to maintain which means that you can easily find these in very good condition if you want to buy used ones.
All in all, the Hyundai Elantra is a good car that can satisfy most people used to drive Hyundai sedans. It also now looks the part as Hyundai has significantly stepped up its game when it comes to both interior and exterior design.
Hyundai Elantra – Airbag issues
It seems like the most common Hyundai Elantra issues are associated with the airbags as virtually all Elantra generations have had various airbag-related problems. Many online owner feedback sites state that thousands upon thousands of owners have complained about the airbags in models since the 1990 and until now.
The airbag warning light tends to stay on for no apparent reason, but it can also sometimes signal that your airbags are defective. This can even result in the airbag not deploying in an event of a crash which can even be deadly. In order to fix these issues, you have to check the wiring, airbag sensors, the battery, and the clock springs
Hyundai Elantra – Engine and engine cooling issues
Probably the worst types of issues that can plague an Elantra are associated with the engine and its cooling system. Sometimes the car can stall the engine for no apparent reason, usually after the car refuses to accelerate. The check engine light is also known to illuminate often, sometimes simply due to a faulty sensor, but sometimes to communicate a serious problem.
Hyundai Elantra – Steering system issues
Steering system-related issues can also be seen with the Elantra fairly often, especially when the car’s power steering system fails and leaves you with no other option but to turn the wheel manually. These can also be accompanied by various noises coming directly from the column. Low fluid levels, a bad serpentine belt, or a failed steering rack are usually the cause.
To fix these issues, you ought to take your car to an experienced mechanic or preferably a Hyundai dealership. The only thing you can do is top up the steering fluid as this issue is predominantly being caused by low fluid levels.
Hyundai Elantra – Issues with the brakes
One fairly concerning issue the Hyundai Elantra tends to suffer from is related to the brake system. Some owners reported that the car is known to sometimes lose brake pressure during driving while others reported complete loss of braking ability. This even caused a bunch of Elantra owners to end up in an accident, sometimes even big ones.
These issues are typically caused by low brake fluid levels, damaged electronics, worn-out brake light bulbs, and even faulty brake pads and rotors. This is a serious issue, so be sure to take your car to an experienced mechanic.
Hyundai Elantra – Electrical issues
When it comes to electrics, modern-day cars come with so many necessary and downright unnecessary systems which inevitably make them complex and often prone to failing. The Hyundai Elantra is no different because you can buy it with virtually everything you can find on most serial production cars these days.
All of this means that these systems are known to fail, such as the infotainment system or the car’s phone connectivity suite. Other issues could include problems with the lights, especially in the interior. The A/C is also sometimes prone to failure which can be due to many potential reasons, most of which are wiring-related.
FAQ Section
Should I buy a Hyundai Elantra?
The Hyundai Elantra is a well-priced, well-equipped, and fairly reliable family sedan that offers quite a bit of value for the money. This means that the Elantra is capable of offering you an abundance of features throughout without needing to pay huge sums of money. It is modern, good-looking, and fairly comfortable as well.
However, if you are used to driving luxury cars or sporty cars, the Elantra isn’t likely going to float your boat. It may come with certain high-end features, but it isn’t a luxury car. Moreover, it drives in a restrained manner which means that it isn’t a sports car either.
Is the Hyundai Elantra a family car?
The Hyundai Elantra is a full-blooded family car, and that is the primary buyer group for the Elantra. For those who aren’t into SUVs and crossovers, they are likely going to enjoy the Elantra a lot. This is because the Elantra is spacious, well-equipped, and filled with loads of family-friendly features throughout.
It is efficient, safe, and refined enough which means that your kids should not have any issues falling asleep in the back.
Which cars rival the Hyundai Elantra?
The Hyundai Elantra resides in a really popular compact sedan market which means that many cars rival the Elantra. For starters, cars like the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford EcoSport, Kia Forte, and VW Jetta are head-on competitors in each market. Other cars like Nissan Sentra, the Toyota Corolla, and the Subaru Impreza are also really similar to the Elantra.
The Honda Civic sedan, the Mazda 3 sedan, and the Kia K5 sedan also fall into the same category as the Hyundai Elantra.
