2007 Hyundai Elantra problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007 Hyundai Elantra, most often about brakes. There are 4 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
38
Recalls
4
Crashes
1
Fires
7
Injuries
1
Median mileage
125,000 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Brakes is the most-reported problem area, named in 16 of 38 complaints (42%).
  • Suspension (10) and engine (8) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 125,000 mi.
  • Owners reported 1 crash, 7 fires and 1 injury.
  • The 2007 Hyundai Elantra has 4 recalls on file.
  • NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations covering this vehicle.
  • It ranks 19th of 22 Hyundai Elantra model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).

2007 Hyundai Elantra problems by category

  • Brakes
    16 complaints
  • Suspension
    10 complaints
  • Engine
    8 complaints
  • Body & Structure
    5 complaints
  • Electrical System
    4 complaints
  • Other / Unknown
    4 complaints
  • Airbags · 1 crash
    3 complaints
  • Steering · 1 crash
    2 complaints
  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    2 complaints
  • Acceleration & Cruise Control
    2 complaints
  • Lighting
    1 complaints
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    1 complaints
  • Wheels & Tires · 1 crash
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Service brakes11
Suspension8
Engine8
Unknown or other4
Electrical system4
Air bags3
Service brakes, hydraulic3
Power train2

When problems happen (mileage)

1Under 10k10k–30k30k–60k460k–100k8100k–150k8150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2007 Hyundai Elantra complaints that list mileage.

2007 Hyundai Elantra recalls (4)

  • Recall 20V061000Feb 4, 2020476,111 vehicles
    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.

    Risk: 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.

    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. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 188.

  • Recall 13V113000Apr 1, 20131,712,336 vehicles
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

    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 informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

    Risk: 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.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 11V179000Mar 15, 201195,783 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

    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 the higher pressure than intended if the seat was position in one of the forward positions in which a lower pressure deployment is intended.

    Risk: A higher pressure deployment than intended increases the risk of injury resulting from airbag deployment.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 11V143000Mar 15, 2011188,697 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

    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.

    Risk: 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.

    Remedy: 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • DP21003Opened Nov 12, 2021Closed Jun 20, 2023

    Throttle control system vulnerabilities

    The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can b…

  • PE09003Opened Jan 14, 2009Closed Apr 24, 2009led to recall 09V122000

    Stop lamp switch failure

    By letter dated april 15, 2009, hyundai notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall (nhtsa recall number 09v122) to replace the stop lamp switches on many of its model year 2005-2008 vehicles.see recall 09v122 for a complete list. The agency opened its investigation based on five complaints of stop lamp failure across several 2007 hyundai models. The agency also received early warning (ewr) reports on this issue.most of those failures were traced to the improper operation of the stop lamp switch that controls stop lamp illumination.a malfunctioning stop lamp switch can cause the v…

  • PE08044Opened Jul 17, 2008Closed Sep 3, 2008led to recall 08V429000

    Engine stalling - fuel pump failure

    On august 19, 2008, hyundai submitted a defect information report to nhtsa concerning fuel pump failure resulting in engine stall in approximately 65,000 model year 2008 hyundai elantra vehicles with 2.0 liter beta engines produced from november 5, 2007, through june 28, 2008 (nhtsa recall no. 08v-429, hyundai campaign 086).the recalled vehicles are equipped with fuel pumps manufactured with upper body components from a different supplier than those manufactured prior to november 5, 2007.according to hyundai, the new supplier's upper body components had incorrect dimensional characteristics re…

Recent 2007 Hyundai Elantra complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Sep 17, 2026101,000 miSCBrakesEngine
    The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving and attempting to turn into the driveway, there was a burning odor and white-grayish smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that while the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to slow down as intended. The vehicle was parked at the residence. The contact exited the vehicle, and smoke was still coming from the engine compartment. The failure mileage was 101,000.
    NHTSA complaint #11764989 · source
  2. Filed May 1, 2026WIAirbags
    I've contacted 4 separate Hyundai dealerships on carrying out this recall to correct the issue, and all of them have told me they can't fulfill the recall because the car is too old and they use tablets, but the recalls requires a computer. I've contacted Hyundai and they've been no help. They've told me in their words "As much as we'd like to assist, transactions between the dealership and the consumer are strictly between those parties. We're unable to intervene in any…
    NHTSA complaint #11735173 · source
  3. Filed Feb 2, 2026IABrakes
    Applying the brakes and they don’t engage abs. Couldn’t come to a stop at very slow speed. They jammed up. And the dash lights don’t illuminate. Very similar to recall 188 Thanks
    NHTSA complaint #11715142 · source
  4. Filed Jul 4, 2025MOEngineOther / UnknownTransmission & Drivetrain
    I was driving and I felt my car sputter and lunge forward slightly. Then my car lost power and when I pressed down on the accelerator it would not give out any power. The battery light came on and the car would not start after pulling over.
    NHTSA complaint #11671197 · source
  5. Filed May 2, 2025241,000 miTXTransmission & Drivetrain
    The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle jerked. The contact stated that during warm temperatures, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear and then remained in first gear. The contact stated that the RPM fluctuated, and the engine revved. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or the local dealer. The…
    NHTSA complaint #11658461 · source
  6. Filed Oct 10, 202480,000 miNYBody & StructureSuspension
    The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, the driver's side front control arm fractured. Additionally, the contact noticed that the undercarriage was rusted. The contact was able to pull into a parking spot. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the arm to the steering wheel was rusted and had cracked. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
    NHTSA complaint #11619100 · source
  7. Filed Nov 9, 2023160,000 miOHBody & Structure
    The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle for an alignment, the contact was made aware of excessive corrosion on the sub frame. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who confirmed that the alignment could not be completed due to corrosion on the sub frame. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.
    NHTSA complaint #11554342 · source
  8. Filed Sep 22, 2023MDSuspension
    What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Rear Upper Rearward Control Arms How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Part rusted out and broke causing severe vehicle control issues while driving specifically at higher speeds. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? NA Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance…
    NHTSA complaint #11546000 · source

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Other 2007 Hyundai models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology