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2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 25.5.

About this comparison →
22Owner complaints

Model-year median: 25.5

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
32
200975
201029
201122
201216
2013
Compare all Elantra Touring years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Suspension
6Air Bags
4Electrical System
3Power Train
3Steering
2
All reported categories
Tires
2Unknown Or Other
2Wheels
2Engine
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Exterior Lighting
1Structure
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

21 reports with mileage · 1 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

3 reports
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20,000 miles · Apr 15, 2016
Electrical System

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…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10855644

18,000 miles · Jan 7, 2015
Electrical SystemSuspension

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…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10670709

1,100 miles · May 23, 2013
Electrical System

PURCHASED CAR NEW JUNE 2012, CAR WAS NOT STARTED FOR ABOUT THREE DAYS TRIED TO START CAR, WOULD NOT START. I JUMP STARTED CAR TO GET IT TO THE SHOP, SAID WATER IN BATTERY LOW, ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER, SAME THING, DEALER KEPT CAR, REPLACED BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES, UNPLUGGED WIRES, CHASED WIRES FROM FRONT TO BACK, DEALER CALLED TWICE, W…

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PURCHASED CAR NEW JUNE 2012, CAR WAS NOT STARTED FOR ABOUT THREE DAYS TRIED TO START CAR, WOULD NOT START. I JUMP STARTED CAR TO GET IT TO THE SHOP, SAID WATER IN BATTERY LOW, ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER, SAME THING, DEALER KEPT CAR, REPLACED BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES, UNPLUGGED WIRES, CHASED WIRES FROM FRONT TO BACK, DEALER CALLED TWICE, WENT TO PICK UP CAR, WOULD NOT START AT DEALER. OUT OF SHOP, KEPT ABOUT 3 WEEKS, SAME THING, DEALER KEPT IN SHOP FOR ANOTHER 35 DAYS, PLUS THIS TIME IT HAD A BIG DENT IN LEFT DOOR, GAS LEAK,PART OF HEAT SHIELD HAD NOT REPLACED, RUST ON THE FRAME WHERE BATTERY ACID WAS SPILLED, RUST ON ENGINE AND SURROUNDING PARTS. GOT OUT OF SHOP, HAD IT FOR 1 WEEK, SAME THING NOT START, DEALER CALLED WRECKER, HAULED OFF, CONTACTED ME SAID WOULD TITLE IT AS A LEMON. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THOSE SIZE TIRES, MATTER OF FACT THEY WERE MADE IN VN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513335

Official recalls

1

14V310000 · Structure:frame And Members

Jun 10, 2014

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Elantra Touring vehicles manufactured December 15, 2009, through May 7, 2012. The affected vehicles have a support bracket attached to the headliner that may become displaced during a side curtain airbag deployment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration injury.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will apply adhesive strips to the headliner, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 117.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

RQ13004 · Headliner Bracket Detachment

Opened Dec 4, 2013 · Closed Jun 24, 2014

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window; Structure:body:roof And Pillars; Unknown Or Other

Hyundai is conducting a safety recall to reinforce the attachment of the metal support bracket to the headliner assembly in approximately 35,000 model year (MY) 2010-2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring vehicles built from December 15, 2009 through May 7, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-310 for more information).These Elantra Touring vehicles have a common headliner bracket design while the earlier MY 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles have a headliner bracket design that utilizes a shorter length bracket which, should it become separated from the headliner, is unlikely to be displaced into the path of the driver or any occupant.During this investigation, ODI identified a MY 2010 subject vehicle in a salvage yard with a deployed driver-side curtain air bag that showed the headliner bracket displaced downward into the driver's window area.Also, during a static side curtain air bag deployment test conducted by Hyundai, the headliner bracket almost completely separated from the headliner.The headliner tested came out of a MY 2010 subject vehicle.Finally, ODI identified two warranty claims on the subject vehicles that indicate potential headliner bracket issues.Warranty records for these claims indicate vehicle owners complaining of noise or rattling coming from the headliner area and Hyundai dealer technicians reported finding brackets that came loose or unglued from the headliner.ODI is not aware of any related injury allegations.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of NHTSA Recall (13V115) influenced by an earlier ODI investigation (EA12-008).EA12-008 involved the same defect issue on MY 2011-2013 Elantra models, and a similar remedy approach was utilized in the 13V115 recall action.Based on the recall action taken by Hyundai, this investigation is closed.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Air Bags:side/window

Hyundai is conducting a safety recall to reinforce the attachment of the metal support bracket to the headliner assembly in approximately 35,000 model year (MY) 2010-2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring vehicles built from December 15, 2009 through May 7, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-310 for more information).These Elantra Touring vehicles have a common headliner bracket design while the earlier MY 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles have a headliner bracket design that utilizes a shorter length bracket which, should it become separated from the headliner, is unlikely to be displaced into the path of the driver or any occupant.During this investigation, ODI identified a MY 2010 subject vehicle in a salvage yard with a deployed driver-side curtain air bag that showed the headliner bracket displaced downward into the driver's window area.Also, during a static side curtain air bag deployment test conducted by Hyundai, the headliner bracket almost completely separated from the headliner.The headliner tested came out of a MY 2010 subject vehicle.Finally, ODI identified two warranty claims on the subject vehicles that indicate potential headliner bracket issues.Warranty records for these claims indicate vehicle owners complaining of noise or rattling coming from the headliner area and Hyundai dealer technicians reported finding brackets that came loose or unglued from the headliner.ODI is not aware of any related injury allegations.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of NHTSA Recall (13V115) influenced by an earlier ODI investigation (EA12-008).EA12-008 involved the same defect issue on MY 2011-2013 Elantra models, and a similar remedy approach was utilized in the 13V115 recall action.Based on the recall action taken by Hyundai, this investigation is closed.

Structure:body:roof And Pillars

Hyundai is conducting a safety recall to reinforce the attachment of the metal support bracket to the headliner assembly in approximately 35,000 model year (MY) 2010-2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring vehicles built from December 15, 2009 through May 7, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-310 for more information).These Elantra Touring vehicles have a common headliner bracket design while the earlier MY 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles have a headliner bracket design that utilizes a shorter length bracket which, should it become separated from the headliner, is unlikely to be displaced into the path of the driver or any occupant.During this investigation, ODI identified a MY 2010 subject vehicle in a salvage yard with a deployed driver-side curtain air bag that showed the headliner bracket displaced downward into the driver's window area.Also, during a static side curtain air bag deployment test conducted by Hyundai, the headliner bracket almost completely separated from the headliner.The headliner tested came out of a MY 2010 subject vehicle.Finally, ODI identified two warranty claims on the subject vehicles that indicate potential headliner bracket issues.Warranty records for these claims indicate vehicle owners complaining of noise or rattling coming from the headliner area and Hyundai dealer technicians reported finding brackets that came loose or unglued from the headliner.ODI is not aware of any related injury allegations.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of NHTSA Recall (13V115) influenced by an earlier ODI investigation (EA12-008).EA12-008 involved the same defect issue on MY 2011-2013 Elantra models, and a similar remedy approach was utilized in the 13V115 recall action.Based on the recall action taken by Hyundai, this investigation is closed.

Unknown Or Other

Hyundai is conducting a safety recall to reinforce the attachment of the metal support bracket to the headliner assembly in approximately 35,000 model year (MY) 2010-2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring vehicles built from December 15, 2009 through May 7, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-310 for more information).These Elantra Touring vehicles have a common headliner bracket design while the earlier MY 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles have a headliner bracket design that utilizes a shorter length bracket which, should it become separated from the headliner, is unlikely to be displaced into the path of the driver or any occupant.During this investigation, ODI identified a MY 2010 subject vehicle in a salvage yard with a deployed driver-side curtain air bag that showed the headliner bracket displaced downward into the driver's window area.Also, during a static side curtain air bag deployment test conducted by Hyundai, the headliner bracket almost completely separated from the headliner.The headliner tested came out of a MY 2010 subject vehicle.Finally, ODI identified two warranty claims on the subject vehicles that indicate potential headliner bracket issues.Warranty records for these claims indicate vehicle owners complaining of noise or rattling coming from the headliner area and Hyundai dealer technicians reported finding brackets that came loose or unglued from the headliner.ODI is not aware of any related injury allegations.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of NHTSA Recall (13V115) influenced by an earlier ODI investigation (EA12-008).EA12-008 involved the same defect issue on MY 2011-2013 Elantra models, and a similar remedy approach was utilized in the 13V115 recall action.Based on the recall action taken by Hyundai, this investigation is closed.