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Hyundai · NHTSA safety record

2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

22

Complaints

2

Crashes

1

Fires

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring have filed 22 safety complaints with NHTSA between December 2012 and July 2019. The most complained-about system is the suspension, named in 6 of them (27%). The typical failure was reported at 25,500 miles, the median across the 21 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 1 recall covering this vehicle.

Recalls (1)

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

14V310000 · June 10, 2014

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

Hyundai Motor Company · up to 35,000 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Headliner Bracket Detachment

RQ13004

Closed recall query · opened December 4, 2013 · closed June 24, 2014 · led to recall 14V310000

the air bags, the body structure, 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.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 22.

SUSPENSION 6 27%
AIR BAGS 4 18%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 14%
POWER TRAIN 3 14%
STEERING 2 9%
TIRES 2 9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 9%
WHEELS 2 9%
ENGINE 1 5%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 5%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 5%
STRUCTURE 1 5%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 7.

2012 2019
2012 to 2019

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · 39,990 miles

I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY AT SUPER DUTY FORD 250 GOING APPROX 50 MPH. I WAS STOPPED AND WAS PUSHED A CAR LENGTH INTO A CHEVY SILVERADO WHO WAS ALSO STOPPED, MY TRUNK TOOK MOST OF THE DAMAGE BUT THE FRONT END WAS PRETTY BAD TOO, BUT MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. NOT SURE OF THE MPH OF THE IMPACT TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, BUT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAVE NECK STRAIN AND BACK STRAIN; ALONG WITH MULTIPLE BRUISES FROM THE SEAT BELT. I KNOW THE AIRBAGS HAVE A SENSOR, BUT COULD THEY BE MESSED UP? *JB

NHTSA complaint 10541752. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · 1,800 miles

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 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED ACCORDING TO THE INSURRANCE COMPANY. UPDATED 02/25/2013 *JS

NHTSA complaint 10489036. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES

fire · 60,424 miles

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

NHTSA complaint 10649429, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

102,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11233280. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

8,000 miles

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD FOUR INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS REPLACED DUE TO THE DISPLAY PANEL FADING IN THE HOT WEATHER. THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN AND IT WOULD APPEAR THAT I NOW NEED A 5TH INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. SURELY, THERE MUST BE SOME THING THAT HYUNDAI CAN DO TO FIX THIS ONGOING ISSUE. THE ODOMETER, MILEAGE RANGE AND GEAR POSITION DISPLAY ARE AFFECTED.

NHTSA complaint 11223133. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.

NHTSA complaint 11228292. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

72,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11218699. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION

76,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11194307. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

100,939 miles

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

NHTSA complaint 11187209, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Hyundai Elantra Touring

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2011 29 3
2010 74 4

Other 2012 Hyundai models

Every Hyundai on this site — 201 vehicles, 276 recall campaigns and 3 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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