Most common 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring problems
Share of the 22 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Elantra Touring complaints by model year
Best Elantra Touring years: 2013, 2009. Years to avoid: 2010. Compare all years →
2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring recalls (1)
Structure › Frame and members
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring:
Headliner Bracket Detachment
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…
What 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring owners say
Suspension
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.
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.
Air bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring. While driving 15 MPH through an intersection, a vehicle crashed into the passenger's side of the contact's vehicle. The contact stated that the front passenger sustained a cerebral hemorrhage, a cracked rib and suffered several headaches. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the air bag failure. The failure mileage was 1,800. .... Updated 02-20-13 the consumer stated the vehicle was totaled according to the insurrance company. Updated 02/25/2013
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.
Wheels & tires
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.
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.
2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring a good car?
Based on 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Elantra Touring rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Elantra Touring at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring?
The suspension — 6 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (4) and wheels & tires (3).
How many recalls does the 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring have?
There is 1 recall for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring, the most recent from June 10, 2014 (frame and members). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Elantra Touring?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010. See the full Hyundai Elantra Touring years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 26,000 miles; 62% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.