Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Hyundai Elantra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2010 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the accelerator pedal and brake pedal failed to respond. The vehicle began spinning and crashed into an embankment. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to her residence. There were no reported injuries: air bag deployment, police report or fire. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company.
The contact owned a 2010 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that he did not receive a notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V061000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was included in the recall and the vehicle caught on fire while parked in his residence parking lot. No warning lights were illuminated. The fire department extinguished the flames. A police report was filed and the contact was informed that the origin of the fire came from the front of the vehicle. The manufacturer was not yet made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,500.
The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the brake pedal would depress to the floorboard without warning. The contact had initially taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where he had the brake booster and brake master cylinder replaced. The contact then stated that when the engine was off, the ABS system remained activated as the ABS warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle back to the independent mechanic and was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V061000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact took the vehicle to a dealer and the recall repair was performed however, the failure persisted. The contact then called the manufacturer and was referred to another dealer. …
The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to turn in direction with the ABS warning light illuminated. After turning off and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated normally, but the failure reoccurred. Recently, the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was restarted, but failed to self-correct. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V100000 (STEERING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 85,000. The VIN was not available.
So I was driving my vehicle like normal and all of a sudden the driver airbag light came on on the dash and as I'm getting closer to home my check engine light came on my ABS came on as well as my EPS and my TPS , was losing power to the vehicle. I made it home, put it in park and smoke started rolling. Look under the hood. There's a fire under the hood. I'm not sure what all damage it has caused, but it appears to be coming from the ABS and the electrical I don't know what damage was caused by the ABS catching fire, but I was unaware that there was a problem with the vehicle, I am I just bought the vehicle in May and it's just happened August 11 of 2023
The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V061000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact called the local dealer who stated the parts were not yet available. The contact called ABC Hyundai (6825 Redwood St, Las Vegas, NV 89118, [phone]) and was informed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
As I was driving, the steering wheel and brakes locked up so I couldn't steer nor brake. Luckily I was in a parking lot so I cruised the vehicle to a stop without crashing. If I had been on a road or turning, I would have crashed. No indicator lights went on. I took the car to a Hyundai dealership where they couldn't find any problems and recommended I replace the steering column. I searched online and several others have reported a similar issue. [redacted]
The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Elantra. The contact recently purchased the vehicle. The contact researched and became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V113000 (Exterior Lighting), 15V100000 (Steering) and 20V061000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the repairs were unable to be completed because the required tools were unavailable. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the brake pedal would intermittently depress to the floorboard without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to two separate independent mechanics, and both informed her that the brakes were okay and could not determine the cause of the failure. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
My brake lights are not going off when I take my foot off of the brake pedal. I have had to start disconnecting the battery cable so it will not drain the battery. I stop lamp switch replaced when it was recalled. And the steering wheel tilt does not stay in the high spot it falls to the lowest position.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
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.
Remedy: 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.
Brake complaints in other Elantra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2010 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the brakes of the 2010 Hyundai Elantra, 10% of the model year's 380 complaints. The component named most often is foundation components › disc › rotor (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Hyundai Elantra brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-061 (control unit/module, Feb 4, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2010 Hyundai Elantra brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 72,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 5 fires and 5 injuries and 1 death to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.