VehicleVerdict

2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 95 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.8 times the median Elantra Touring year — the 2010 model ranks #1 of 6 Elantra Touring years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

Steering leads the complaint categories with 36 reports (38% of the total).

95

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

1

Investigations

8

Crash-involved

3

Fires reported

9

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 2010 compare to other Elantra Touring years?

Elantra Touring NHTSA complaints by model year, 2010 highlighted95 complaints2008: 1 complaints2009: 48 complaints2010: 95 complaints2011: 41 complaints2012: 28 complaints2013: 19 complaints
Elantra Touring NHTSA complaints by model year, 2010 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Elantra Touring years to avoid →

What are the most common 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Steering3638%
Electrical System1920%
Tires & Wheels88%
Airbags66%
Brakes55%
Visibility & Wipers44%
Suspension44%
Speed Control33%
Engine22%
Transmission22%
Body & Structure22%
Lighting11%
Fuel System11%
Driver Assistance11%
Other11%

Does the 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring have recalls?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

20V061000BrakesFebruary 4, 2020 · 476,111 units

Defect

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Elantra and 2009-2011 Elantra Touring vehicles. On February 21, 2020 Hyundai expanded the recall to include 46,425 model year 2007-2008 Entourage and 2007 Santa Fe vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 188.

15V100000SteeringFebruary 23, 2015 · 204,768 units

Defect

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Elantra vehicles manufactured June 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010, and 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles manufactured November 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010. The electronic power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may sense a discrepancy in the steering input signals and, as a result, disable the steering power assist.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

Hyundai will verify the proper operation of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and update the EPS control unit, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 127.

14V310000Body & StructureJune 10, 2014 · 35,000 units

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.

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.

13V113000LightingApril 1, 2013 · 1,712,336 units

Defect

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON I85 SOUTH APPROACHING THE EXIT 17 WHERE I HAD PLANNED TO EXIT, AS I BEGAN TO APPLY THE BRAKE THE ENGINE WAS RACING, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, I TURNED RIGHT ONTO THE EXIT, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN, I COULD NOT MAKE THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · May 11, 2012 · crash

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA TOURING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW HOURS WHEN IT ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPEARED ON THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS ALSO FILED BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · October 16, 2010 · fire

“STEM ON TPMS SENSOR BROKE TIRE WENT FLAT IMMEDIATELY . THE STEM IS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM, ROAD SALT WILL EAT INTO IT AND CAUSE IT TO BREAK . WHEN I HAD IT REPLACED I WAS TO TOLD THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT TYPE OF STEM. *TR”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · December 14, 2012

“THE HYUNDAI WAS AT AN INTERSECTION AND PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR. THE ACCIDENT WAS BAD AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE STATE TROOPER INVOLVED STATED HE THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS WELL. *TR”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · January 31, 2014 · crash

“I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON I85 SOUTH APPROACHING THE EXIT 17 WHERE I HAD PLANNED TO EXIT, AS I BEGAN TO APPLY THE BRAKE THE ENGINE WAS RACING, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, I TURNED RIGHT ONTO THE EXIT, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN, I COULD NOT MAKE THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · May 11, 2012 · crash

2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring — common questions

Is the 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 95 complaints put the 2010 model at #1 of 6 Elantra Touring years. It is one of the Elantra Touring years to avoid.

What are the most common 2010 Elantra Touring problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are steering (36 complaints), electrical system (19 complaints), tires & wheels (8 complaints).

Does the 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Hyundai Elantra Touring years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Elantra Touring years to avoid are 2010. The cleanest record among Elantra Touring years belongs to 2008.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.