Hyundai Elantra Touring years to avoid (and the best years)

142 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 recalls across 4 model years, 2010 to 2013. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.

142complaints
4recalls
12reported crashes
6reported fires
13reported injuries

Which Hyundai Elantra Touring years should you avoid?

No Hyundai Elantra Touring model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical Hyundai Elantra Touring year has 26 complaints on file. The busiest year is the 2010 (75).

What are the best Hyundai Elantra Touring years?

The Hyundai Elantra Touring years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2013 (16), 2012 (22) and 2011 (29). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.

NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.

Every model year

Year	Complaints	vs typical year	Recalls	Crashes	Injuries	Our read	Most reported
2013	16	0.6×	0	2	2	Few red flags	Wheels
2012	22	0.9×	1	2	3	Few red flags	Suspension
2011	29	1.1×	3	4	3	Few red flags	Speed control
2010	75	2.9×	4	4	5	Some concerns to check	Steering

Most reported problem areas

Share of the 104 complaints sorted by system, all years together.

Steering, suspension & tires51 (49%)
Engine & powertrain19 (18%)
Airbags & seat belts9 (9%)
Electrical & infotainment8 (8%)
Structure & body8 (8%)

Recalls (4)

Brakes · 20V061000 · Feb 2020 · model years 2010, 2011
An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Steering · 15V100000 · Feb 2015 · model year 2010
If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Structure · 14V310000 · Jun 2014 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012
If the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration injury.
Exterior lighting · 13V113000 · Apr 2013 · model years 2010, 2011
Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.