HyundaiElantra2010Overview/hyundai/elantra/2010/base/

2010 Hyundai Elantra

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2010 Elantra.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2010 Hyundai Elantra is a compact passenger car pairing a four-speed automatic transmission with an engine that takes 4.2 quarts of 5W-20 or 5W-30 API oil, delivering EPA figures of 26 city, 34 highway, and 29 combined mpg. With 451 total owner complaints, four recalls, and steering as the top complaint area, this model year sits in the middle-to-lower tier of the Elantra's complaint history spanning 1992 through 2026 — well below the 2013 peak of 1,325 complaints, making it a relatively stable but not trouble-free point in the lineup's reliability curve.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182010

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy26/34/29 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 121R · 600 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 121R · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195-65R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rimN/A inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length177.6 in
Overall width70.1 in
Overall height58.3 in
Wheelbase104.3 in
Curb weight2747 lb
Track (front / rear)60.6 / 59.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined26 / 34 / 29 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume98 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Elantra of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.80 sec — 2010 Touring SE Wagon
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2010Touring SE Wagon 2.0L I-48.80 sec16.80 sec138 hpFWD
2009Touring Wagon 2.0L I-48.10 sec16.50 sec138 hpFWD
2009Touring Wagon 2.0L I-48.10 sec16.30 sec138 hpFWD
2007SE Sedan 2.0L I-47.90 sec16.30 sec138 hpFWD
2007SE Sedan 2.0L I-410.00 sec17.50 sec138 hpFWD
2007SE Sedan 2.0L I-410.20 sec17.50 sec138 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-20 / 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 25.0-33.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts116-123 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts11.6-16.6 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts29-43 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.0-33.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub145-203 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub145-203 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)660 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.52-.64 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance7480-10,120 ohms

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.04-1.15 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.73-5.40 oz
Standard BCI Group Number121R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature177 °F
Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature177 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)49.0-50.5 psi
Engine Oil Pressure35.5 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle36-43 ft-lbs / 58-72 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH FN3 (16 inch) CALIPER PR NOS. 1LH/1ZG
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0004 in / 0.0002 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.393 in / 1.023 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head bolts. Apply Loctite 5900H or equivalent on the front edge of the cylinder head gasket. Both the upside and the down side. Assembly of the cylinder head must be completed within five minutes of applying the liquid gasket compound.

124.0-27.0 ft. lbs.24–27 ft. lbs
290 degrees-95 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees-95 degrees90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Radiator (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAir Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Electronic Throttle Control System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Rotor (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (replace)
Every 37,500 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Timing Belt Tensioner (inspect)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2010 Hyundai Elantra sits at the onset of a severe upward trend in federal complaints for its generation, with complaints spiking from 279 in 2009 to 451 in 2010 before eventually peaking at 1,325 in 2013. For the target year specifically, steering issues dominate the complaint landscape with 181 reports, followed by airbags at 39, and the electrical system and powertrain tied at 21 each. The record also notes 49 crash-related complaints and 12 fire complaints for 2010, though the data does not specify the root causes for these incidents. While its 4 recalls match the 2009 model, the dramatic escalation in overall complaints indicates the 2010 model introduced or exacerbated systemic issues that worsened significantly in subsequent years. Given its position at the beginning of the generation's most problematic arc and the high concentration of steering defects, the 2010 Elantra is a risky purchase; buyers should instead seek a post-2013 model when complaint volumes stabilized.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
46
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
451
Owner complaints
49 involved a crash · 12 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 451 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering181
Air Bags39
Electrical System21
Power Train21
Structure15
Service Brakes9
Steering,Electronic Stability Control (Esc)9
Steering,Electrical System8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V061000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/ModuleReported 04/02/2020

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… 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…

15V100000Steering:Electric Power Assist SystemReported 23/02/2015

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Elantra vehicles manufactured June 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010, and 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles manufactured November 1, 2008, to April 30… Remedy: Hyundai will verify the proper operation of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and update the EPS control unit, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2015. Owners may…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 46 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…
DTN DCS2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety…
25-BD-012H TSB2025-11-05Exterior LightingThis bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated…
24-BD-001H2024-02-14VisibilityThis bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade…
23-EM-005H2023-10-13Engine And Engine CoolingThis bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Elantra. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2010 Elantra take?

4.2 qt of 5W-20 OR 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2010 Elantra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Elantra get?

EPA figures are 26 city / 34 highway / 29 combined mpg.