Owners report brake pedal failure on 2010 Elantras ranging from intermittent sinking to complete loss of stopping ability. Several collisions occurred when drivers pressed the brake pedal and the vehicle accelerated instead, including one crash into a guardrail at 10–15 mph that injured the driver and totaled the car. Others describe the brake pedal locking solid, making it impossible to depress, sometimes accompanied by shaking and grinding in snowy conditions. A few owners took their cars to independent mechanics for diagnosis; one had the brake booster and master cylinder replaced but the failure persisted and the ABS light stayed on—even after a dealer performed the recall repair.
Rotor rust and pitting appear widespread, with all rotors affected even at low mileage (one case reported at 12,044 miles). Rear rotors corrode more severely, causing brake pulsation and premature rear brake pad wear. Hyundai warranty covers only manufactured defects, not rust from weather.
One vehicle caught fire while parked with no prior warning lights. Brake line corrosion and disconnected vacuum lines show up in the complaints. Owners also cite long delays getting the recall (Campaign 20V061000) completed—parts were unavailable for months, and some dealers had inoperable computer systems. Recall notices failed to reach at least one affected owner.
Failure modes owners describe
Brake pedal sinks to floor / loss of braking power
Brake pedal depresses fully without warning or fails to respond during braking, resulting in significantly reduced or absent braking force. Some owners report the failure occurred after independent shops replaced the brake booster and master cylinder, and persisted even after recall repair at dealers.
When: 48,000 to 130,000 miles; some intermittent, some sudden
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depresses to floorboard without warning; Brake pedal fails to respond when pressed; Vastly reduced braking power; Pedal locks up or becomes immovable in snow/low-gear driving
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported brake booster and master cylinder replacement at independent shop; another had ABS module replacement recommended at dealer; brake line replacement performed at independent shop due to rust
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 20V061000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) issued; recall repair performed at dealers but failures persisted in some cases; dealer diagnostic claimed vehicle performing to standards despite failure report
Brake pedal locks; vehicle accelerates instead of braking
During hard braking, brake pedal locks and vehicle accelerates forward instead of stopping. Owner reports this is the second occurrence. Resulted in multi-vehicle collisions at low to moderate speeds.
When: Unknown specific mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal locks when pressed hard; Vehicle accelerates forward when brakes applied; Occurs during emergency braking in traffic
ABS system malfunction / ABS warning light illumination
ABS warning light remains illuminated when engine is off, indicating the ABS system is activated abnormally. Occurred after brake booster and master cylinder replacement and persisted after recall repair.
When: 112,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminated on instrument panel; ABS system remains activated when engine is off
Repairs/costs cited: ABS module replacement recommended; dealer stated recall was serviced and owner responsible for additional repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 20V061000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); recall repair performed but ABS issue persisted
Rotor rust and pitting / brake pulsation
All brake rotors rusted and pitted, with rear rotors worse than front. Caused brake pulsation during braking and resulted in premature rear brake pad wear. Owner notes identical-use 2006 Kia with 113,000 miles has no rotor rust or corrosion.
When: Pre-inspection; exact mileage unknown; another case at 12,044 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pulsation when applying brakes; All rotors rusted and pitted; Rear rotors more severely affected; Premature rear brake pad wear; Loud dragging noise at low speed
Repairs/costs cited: Rear brake shoes replaced; rotor replacement implied; one case had rotors repaired at dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai stated rotors warranted 5 years / 60,000 miles but only manufactured defects covered; rust and pitting from weather not covered per manufacturer
Brake line corrosion and failure
Brake lines rusted and failed, resulting in brake fluid leakage. One owner found rust on brake lines in addition to the failed line. Another owner's ABS warning light illuminated with brake lines needing replacement.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights on with no braking response; Rust on brake lines; Brake line disconnection
Repairs/costs cited: Brake line replacement performed at independent shop; technician noted additional rust on other brake lines
Brake booster vacuum check valve failure
Brake booster vacuum check valve suddenly failed during driving, with vacuum line completely disconnected from the valve. Resulted in vastly reduced braking power and near inability to stop vehicle.
When: Unknown mileage; part never serviced prior
Symptoms owners cite: Vacuum line disconnected from check valve; Vastly reduced braking power; Near inability to stop vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Vacuum line was completely disconnected; part never serviced prior to failure
Recall parts unavailable / service delays
Multiple owners unable to schedule or complete recall repair (NHTSA Campaign 20V061000) due to parts not yet available or dealer computer systems inoperable. Manufacturer exceeded reasonable timeframe for parts distribution and service availability.
When: After recall notification issued
Symptoms owners cite: Recall parts unavailable at multiple dealers; Dealer computer systems inoperable; No service appointments available; Excessive delays in parts distribution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 20V061000 issued but recall parts distribution and service infrastructure failed
Vehicle fire while parked
Vehicle caught fire while parked in residence parking lot. No warning lights illuminated prior to fire. Fire department extinguished flames. Police report filed. Owner did not receive recall notice despite VIN being included in recall.
When: 100,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fire while parked; No warning lights prior to fire; Fire origin from front of vehicle
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 20V061000; owner did not receive recall notice despite VIN inclusion
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.