2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Suspension623.1%
- Airbags415.4%
- Electrical311.5%
- Powertrain (other)311.5%
- Tires & wheels27.7%
- Engine27.7%
- Other / unspecified27.7%
- Steering27.7%
- Exterior lighting13.8%
- Body & structure13.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
IN THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION, THE TRAILING ARM BROKE OFF WHERE THE ANTI-ROLL BAR IS MOUNTED, TO WHERE THE ANTI-ROLL BAR IS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE SUSPENSION. THE CLUNKING NOISE THAT RESULTED FROM THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED IN EARLY MARCH 2019, AND OCCURS WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE DATE OF OCCURRENCE OF 3/1/19 IS APPROXIMATE.
I HAD CAR JUMPED 10-12 TIMES, BATTERY REPLACED ,ALTERNATOR REPLACED ,IF TURN RADIO ON WHEN ENGINE OFF FOR 15 MINUTES CAR WILL NOT START ,THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES CONTINUE'S.FURTHERMORE WATER LEAKING 2X'S FROM,PASSENGER SIDE HEAT VENT; LEATHER STEERING WHEEL COLOR COMING OFF,1ST 4 MONTHS OF HAVING CAR VERY BAD SMELL I HAD TO DRIVE WITH MY WINDOW OPEN OR GOT HEADACHE'S. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL,AND WOULD WEAR OFF. ALSO SWAY BAR REPLACED 2'S, DEALER HAD TOLD ME HYUNDAI DIDN'T WANT TO PUT ANYMORE MONEY INTO MY CAR,AND JUST TO TRADE IT IN PROBLEMS CONTINUE. I AM AWAITING ANSWER FROM COMPANY.I AM IN OUTSIDE SALES THEREFORE DEPEND ON MY CAR, IHAVE TO CARRY JUMPER CABLES WITH ME ALL THE TIME. IAM AWAITING ANSWER FROM THE COMPANY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DASHBOARD SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WENT ON YESTERDAY AND REMAINED ON AS LONG AS MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, THE WARNING LIGHT DID NOT TURN ON AGAIN. THE DEALER'S SERVICE TECHNICIAN THINKS IT IS PROBABLY THE CLOCK SPRING BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. HE SAID TO BRING IT IN RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON. HE LOOKED UP MY VIN AND SAID MY VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE 15 YEAR, UNLIMITED MILEAGE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE CLOCK SPRING WHICH HYUNDAI ISSUED FOR SOME VEHICLES. HE QUOTED $140 JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.
MY CAR IS SUBJECT TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V-310 RECALL FOR AIR BAGS. I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM HYUNDAI THAT ADVISES ME TO GO TO WWW.HYUNDAIUSA.COM/CAMPAIGN117 TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR. I HAVE TRIED 4 TIMES TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR, BUT THE WEBSITE DOES NOT WORK. IT CONFIRMS MY VIN, BUT WHEN I ENTER MY ZIP CODE, THE SITE LOCKS UP SO I NEVER GET TO THE SITE WHERE I SCHEDULE THE REPAIR. WHAT GOOD IS A RECALL IF HYUNDAI WON'T LET ME SCHEDULE THE REPAIR? HELP PLEASE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE ODOMETER IS COMPLETELY UNREADABLE. I KNOW THIS SOUNDS STRANGE, THE ONLY TIME I CAN SEE IT COMPLETELY CLEAR IS IN COLD FALL WEATHER IN THE EARLY MORNING. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR QUITE A WHILE. IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WHEN I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE CLUSTER LIGHTING THAT WOULD FIX IT. THIS IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW MANY MILES WE HAVE ON IT UNTIL THE WEATHER IS RIGHT FOR VIEWING. I KNOW I HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE ON FORUMS BEFORE. IT SHOULD BE A RECALLED PART.
I HAD CAR JUMPED 10-12 TIMES, BATTERY REPLACED ,ALTERNATOR REPLACED ,IF TURN RADIO ON WHEN ENGINE OFF FOR 15 MINUTES CAR WILL NOT START ,THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES CONTINUE'S.FURTHERMORE WATER LEAKING 2X'S FROM,PASSENGER SIDE HEAT VENT; LEATHER STEERING WHEEL COLOR COMING OFF,1ST 4 MONTHS OF HAVING CAR VERY BAD SMELL I HAD TO DRIVE WITH MY WINDOW OPEN OR GOT HEADACHE'S. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL,AND WOULD WEAR OFF. ALSO SWAY BAR REPLACED 2'S, DEALER HAD TOLD ME HYUNDAI DIDN'T WANT TO PUT ANYMORE MONEY INTO MY CAR,AND JUST TO TRADE IT IN PROBLEMS CONTINUE. I AM AWAITING ANSWER FROM COMPANY.I AM IN OUTSIDE SALES THEREFORE DEPEND ON MY CAR, IHAVE TO CARRY JUMPER CABLES WITH ME ALL THE TIME. IAM AWAITING ANSWER FROM THE COMPANY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE POWER TRAIN DOES NOT SHIFT AT TIMES, STICKS IN 3RD GEAR, POPS IN AND OUT WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH.
WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR GETS STUCK BETWEEN 25 AND 40 MPH. IT WONT PROCEED TO THE NEXT GEAR. I HAVE TO LAY OFF THE GAS, LET IT DROP BACK DOWN AND HOPE THAT IT WORKS THE NEXT TIME I ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS NOT LOW. THE CAR IS IN MOTION WHILE THIS ISSUE HAPPENS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED 4 TIRES ON 6/14/2013, AND HAD TO REPLACE THEM ALL OF THREE OF THEM ON 8/11/2014. FOR BELT SEPARATION. THE COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT STAY ON THE ROAD. I CONTACTED BRIDGESTONE ON 8/20/2014, TO REPORT THE 3 FAULTY TIRES, AND THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK WITH ME. I HAVE REACHED OUT SEVERAL TIMES TO THEM WITH NO REPLY. THEY GAVE ME A REFERENCE# AND THAT WAS IT. I DROVE APPROX.20,000 MILES ON THE TIRES. I WANT THEM TO LOOK IN TO THE TIRES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT FAULTY. BUT I CAN NOT GET A RESPONSE FROM THEM. THE MAKE IS FUZION TOURING 91H. BY SENDING THIS EMAIL I HOPE SOMEONE WILL LOOK INTO THIS. I WOULD HATE TO THINK IF I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HWY. I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED , WORST YET THE OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD WOULD HAVE BEEN EFFECTED. I CAN NOT EXPRESS HOW SCARY THIS WAS FOR ME. *TR
CAR GETS BLOWOUTS, RIM DAMAGE, OR SIDEWALL BUBBLES WHEN HITTING POTHOLES. THE COMBINATION OF THE SUSPENSION AND TIRE SIZE DOES NOT WORK . THE WHEELS ARE P215/45R17. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY ISSUE IS WITH AUTOMAKER HYUNDAI AND A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE ENGINES OF SOME 2011-2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA CARS. I OWN ONE OF THESE CARS. IT IS FOR MY DAUGHTER, 17, WHO PAID THE MAJORITY OF THE $7000 WITH HER OWN MONEY TO BUY THE CAR. SHE HAS PUT AROUND 6-7 THOUSAND MILES ON IT SINCE SHE BOUGHT IT AND DESPITE HAVING THE CAR LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC PRIOR TO PURCHASE, THE ENGINE HAS DEVELOPED A TICKING/KNOCKING NOTICE. AFTER TAKING IT TO A LOCAL DEALER IN MILWAUKEE, AMAMTO HYUNDAI, THEY HAVE SAID THE ISSUE IS A BAD ROD BEARING AND THE ENGINE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE COST IS IN EXCESS OF $4000 - MORE THAN HALF IF WHAT SHE PAID FOR THE CAR. I HAVE DONE SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE WEB OVER THE LAST 10-14 DAYS AND HAVE FOUND THIS PROBLEM IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE ENGINES, BUT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED BY HYUNDAI FOR THE ELANTRA. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THEY HAVE RECENTLY ISSUED RECALLS FOR OTHER MODELS FOR VERY SIMILAR DEFECTS IN THE ENGINE, DONE IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS, THAT CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL AND OR CATCH FIRE IN THE HYUNDAI SONATA AND THE KIA SOUL. I HAVE GONE TO HYUNDAI WARRANTY DIRECT AND HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT, BUT I WAS DENIED AS WE ARE THE SECOND OWNER AND BEYOND THE 60,000-MILE WARRANTY. HYUNDAI DOES OFFER A 100,000 MILE ON SOME CARS AND IN SOME CASES HAVE REPLACED THE ENGINE. BUT, IN THE RESEARCH THAT I HAVE, HYUNDAI TRIES TO 'DODGE AND DENY' AT ALL COST. I HAVE EVEN FOUND A LINK TO A PENDING CLASS-ACTION SUIT FOR MY VERY ISSUE. I HAVE PROOF AND DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW YOU THAT BACKS UP WHAT I HAVE FOUND. I ALSO HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY HYUNDAI IN MARCH OF 2014 (#14-20-002) THAT CLEARLY STATES THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO KNOCK AND THE REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.
WHILE ON A TRIP ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS CHEAP GAS, WHICH I JUST FILLED UP WITH MOBIL GAS. ALSO I JUST CHANGED OIL AND TOLD IT WAS CAUSED BY A PINT OVERFILL. THEY MUST HAVE PUT ON COMPUTER AND ADJUSTED SPECS AND TURNED ENGINE LIGHT OFF. I LOST 5 MILES TO GALLON, ALSO DOESN'T SHIFT JUST RIGHT. I READ SOME COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET ABOUT TRANSMISSION TROUBLE ON MY TOURING MODEL. THEY STOPPED MAKING THE MODEL IN 2012? THE DEALER WAS IN COCOA BEACH FL. CAR BOUGHT AT DEALER NEW IN NPW FL. I PLAN A 3000 MI RETURN TRIP SOON, AFRAID TO TAKE CAR INCASE I GET STUCK ON HWY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR GETS BLOWOUTS, RIM DAMAGE, OR SIDEWALL BUBBLES WHEN HITTING POTHOLES. THE COMBINATION OF THE SUSPENSION AND TIRE SIZE DOES NOT WORK . THE WHEELS ARE P215/45R17. *TR
THE FIRST OF SEVERAL SIDEWALL BULGES APPEARED ON THE TIRES. TIRES (KUMHO SOLUS 215/45R17) FAIL FREQUENTLY WITH UNEVEN SIDEWALL WEAR AND BLOWOUTS. EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR ON TIRES THAT SHOULD EASILY LAST 50K MILES. OVERALL CABIN NOISE IS RIDICULOUS. WE WERE SOLD 17 INCH ALLOY RIMS AS A ADDED "FEATURE" ON THIS CAR BUT GIVEN THE CAR'S PERFORMANCE AND FREQUENCY OF TIRE FAILURE A 16 INCH WHEEL WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH SAFER. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WITH THE ENGINE STARTED AND IN PARK YOU CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT AND IT HAS A THUMPING NOISE. IT SEEMS LIKE IT DOESN'T AFFECT THE STEERING BUT THIS IS THE CAR MY WIFE DRIVES AND IT MAKES HER VERY NERVOUS. IT MAKES YOU VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS GOING TO LOCK UP AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
WANDERING ALL OVER THE ROAD. PULLS RIGHT MOST OF THE TIME. CURRENTLY HAVE 19000MILES, 7 ALIGNMENTS, NEW SET OF TIES. AFTER ALIGNMENT VEHICLE WILL DRIVE STRAIGHT FOR 15-20 MIN. THEN STARTS PULLING AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE DAY 1. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
UNABLE TO READ THE PART OF THE DASH THAT TELLS MILAGE DURING THE DAY. ONLY ABLE TO READ IT AT NIGHT. THEREFORE, WHEN I HAD MY OIL CHANGED TODAY, THE MECHANIC HAD TO ASK ME IF I KNEW THE MILEAGE SINCE HE WAS UNABLE TO READ IT. I TOLD HIM APPROX WHAT I HAD LAST NOTICED IT LAST NIGHT. THIS IS A PROBLEM WHEN GOING ON TRIPS AND MY NAVIGATION SYSTEM SAYS TO STAY ON A CERTAIN HWY FOR 16 MILES, FOR EXAMPLE, AND I AM UNABLE TO READ THE DISPLAY. IT ALSO MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CHECK MY MILAGE WHEN I FILL UP WITH GAS DURING THE DAY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DRIVER WINDOW DROPPED TO THE DOOR WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WENT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER WHO CHARGED ME OVER &400 AND STATED THAT THIS ISSUE IS VERY COMMON FOR ELANTRA. I HAVE ELANTRA TOURING AND MY CAR IS NO QUALIFIED FOR RECALL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .