Safety issue driver floor mat keeps getting entangled with gas and brake pedals. The hooks design by Hyundai for there 2011 sonata fails to keep them in place. *updated 12-20-12 smch *tr
2011 Hyundai Elantra cruise control problems
severe 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 15 cruise control complaints filed for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple owners report cruise control failures to disengage on braking and sudden uncommanded acceleration resulting in near-collisions and crashes. These are unverified complaints but serious enough that you should get a pre-purchase inspection focused on throttle response, cruise system operation, and brake light function before buying.
Owners of 2011 Hyundai Elantras describe two primary hazards: cruise control not shutting off when brakes are applied, and unpredictable acceleration without driver input. In the cruise-control failure, braking does not disengage the system; the car continues accelerating and requires manual button-press intervention. Two owners report life-threatening incidents: one nearly collided with a vehicle ahead when braking appeared to accelerate the car instead, and another was forced to swerve between two oncoming vehicles.
Sudden acceleration is reported frequently and across varying conditions—at startup, during traffic light stops, while driving, and during parking maneuvers. RPMs spike to 6000–8000 and hold elevated for minutes. The gas pedal feels stuck or slow to return. Owners describe acceleration continuing 10+ seconds after releasing the pedal. One crash into a light pole at 30 mph resulted in severe injury; another incident totaled the vehicle. A dealership refused to acknowledge the problem despite customer-provided internet reports.
Owners also report stalling in motion, loss of power while driving 55 mph, rough idle, throttle body cleaning and replacement with no permanent fix, and brake light circuit failures. One owner notes NHTSA has an open investigation (DP21003) on throttle control vulnerabilities specific to this vehicle.
Same Hyundai Elantra cruise control reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Cruise control fails to disengage on brake application
Brake pedal press does not automatically disengage cruise control. Vehicle continues at cruising speed despite braking. Owner must manually press cruise control button on steering wheel to stop the acceleration.
When: May 2014, November 2016
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control remains engaged when brakes applied; Vehicle accelerates or maintains speed despite braking; Manual disengagement via cruise button required
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced brake light switch
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer replaced brake light switch; owner notes similar recalls on other Hyundai/Kia models
Sudden uncommanded acceleration
Vehicle accelerates without driver input or continues accelerating after releasing gas pedal. Occurs while driving, at traffic lights, and during parking maneuvers. Engine RPMs spike to 6000–8000 RPM and remain elevated. Gas pedal feels stuck or unresponsive. Multiple incidents reported including near-collision and crashes into parked vehicles and light pole.
When: 90,000 miles and beyond; occurs 3–5 times per month; summer 2013; 75,000 miles; 55 mph; 30 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Unexpected acceleration without driver command; RPMs spike to 6000–8000; Gas pedal feels stuck or returns slowly; Acceleration continues 10+ seconds after pedal release; Vehicle accelerates during gear shifts; Occurs at startup and intermittently during operation; Restarting does not always resolve issue
Codes mentioned: DP21003 (throttle control system vulnerability)
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body cleaned and replaced by independent mechanic; failures recurred; no permanent fix documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA open investigation on throttle control vulnerabilities; Hyundai dealer quoted $900 for accelerator sensor replacement (labor not included) but did not acknowledge problem; corporate ignored complaint
Engine power loss and stalling
Vehicle loses engine power while driving or stalls in motion without warning. Accompanied by rough idle and all dashboard lights illuminating. Occurs at low speeds and at highway speeds (55 mph). One incident during parking lot departure caused broad-side near-miss.
When: Low speed; 55 mph; 12,554 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of engine power without warning; Engine stalls in motion; Rough idle; All dashboard lights illuminate; AC and radio continue operating during stall
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to diagnose; no repairs documented
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) warning light with power loss
ESC indicator illuminates while driving. Accelerator sensor causes vehicle to lose power for approximately 3 seconds. Power returns when accelerator pedal is depressed again. Pushing ESC button restores normal operation.
When: 125,200 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ESC warning light illuminates; Loss of power for ~3 seconds; Vehicle hesitates during acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Accelerator sensor replacement quoted at $900 plus labor
Throttle control—gas pedal does not return to idle
After accelerating, releasing the gas pedal does not reliably reduce engine speed. Engine continues running at elevated RPM for up to 10 seconds after pedal release. Occurs sporadically and unpredictably. Mechanic diagnosed throttle body fault.
When: Over 1 year period; occurs numerous times
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed deceleration after releasing gas pedal; Engine continues accelerating 10 seconds after pedal release; Elevated RPM between manual transmission shifts; RPM overshoots on gear change when clutch engaged
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic diagnosed throttle control issue
Cruise control does not stay engaged
Cruise control will not remain engaged. Feature turns on but does not maintain set speed. Separate from brake-disengagement issue.
When: January 2017
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control turns on but does not stay engaged; Cruise control non-functional
ESC OFF indicator intermittently illuminates
Electronic Stability Control OFF indicator comes on intermittently and will not reset without engine restart.
When: March 2018
Symptoms owners cite: ESC OFF light comes on intermittently; Indicator does not reset without restart
Brake light circuit malfunction—only third brake light functional
Only third brake light (center-mounted) operates. Primary brake lights fail to illuminate.
When: March 2018
Symptoms owners cite: Left and right brake lights non-functional; Only center brake light works
Difficult speed regulation; jerky acceleration from stop
Vehicle difficult to regulate speed on freeways. Car jolts forward when accelerating from red light on green signal. Vehicle feels stuck at one speed. Sluggish pickup when attempting to accelerate.
Symptoms owners cite: Difficult to regulate speed; Jerky forward motion from stop; Vehicle stuck at one speed; Slow acceleration pickup
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Hyundai elantra. While driving, the electronic stability control (ESC) indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the accelerator sensor was causing the vehicle to lose power for approximately three seconds. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal again and the vehicle operated normally. If the contact pushed the ESC button, the vehicle would operate normally.…
In may 2014 while utilizing the cruise control,applying the brakes did not disengage the cruise control even while my husband was braking to decrease speed as we were entering bastrop, tx on hwy 71. It took us by surprise, and my husband finally managed to bring the car under control by pressing the cruise control disengage button on the steering wheel. I took our vehicle to the dealership where…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2011 Hyundai Elantra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2011 Hyundai Elantra?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 40,000 and 85,000 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 85,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Hyundai/Elantra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.