Hyundai Elantra touring problems

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The Hyundai Elantra, also known as the Hyundai Avante (Korean: 현대 아반떼), is a compact car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai since 1990. The Elantra was initially marketed as the Lantra in Australia and some European markets. In Australia, this was due to the similarly named Mitsubishi Magna Elante model; similarly, in other markets, the name Avante is not used due to its similarity with Audi's "Avant" designation, which is used for their line-up of station wagons. The name was standardized as "Elantra" worldwide in 2001 (except in South Korea and Singapore).

First generation (J1; 1990)

The Elantra (codename J1) was launched in October 1990, and received a mid-term facelift in 1993.

It was sold in Europe from the spring of 1991. It replaced the somewhat larger on the outside Stellar, although that model had not been offered in many markets. The Elantra competed with the likes of the Ford Sierra and Vauxhall Cavalier/Opel Vectra, but at a considerably lower price.

The Elantra was powered by a Mitsubishi-designed 1.6 L (1595 cc) straight-four. This DOHC 16-valve 1.6 L unit produced 113 PS (83 kW) at 6000 rpm and could push the Elantra to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 9.5 seconds. The quarter-mile (0.4 km) run took 17.1 seconds and produced 129 km/h (80 mph). Top speed was 187 km/h (116 mph). The Elantra got 22 mpg‑US (11 L/100 km) in the city cycle. Starting in 1993 a Mitsubishi-designed 1.8 L (1836 cc) inline-four option was available; this unit produces 135 PS (99 kW) at 6000 rpm and replaced the twin-cam 1.6 in the home market.

photo of Hyundai Elantra touring car production

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Hyundai Elantra touring model years

hyundai elantra touring 2013 photo
Elantra touring 2013
Hyundai

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0

0

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hyundai elantra touring 2012 photo
Elantra touring 2012
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647

1

25

2.8
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hyundai elantra touring 2011 photo
Elantra touring 2011
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450

3

42

2.2
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hyundai elantra touring 2010 photo
Elantra touring 2010
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433

4

42

2.2
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hyundai elantra touring 2009 photo
Elantra touring 2009
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272

3

43

2.9
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hyundai elantra touring 2008 photo
Elantra touring 2008
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Common Hyundai Elantra touring problems

The Hyundai Elantra Touring, produced between 2009 and 2012, is known to have several common problems based on complaints from owners.

Another issue that has affected the 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring is the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) system failure. This problem has been reported by 2 owners, with the EPS light coming on randomly, causing the steering wheel to stop working.

The 2010 model year also has problems with the steering and suspension system, with complaints about shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage, power steering, wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension.

In the 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring, there have been reports of stabilizer bars becoming loose, affecting 5 owners.

Lastly, the 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring has been reported to have issues with the lights on the dashboard flashing, affecting 2 owners.

These problems have contributed to the Hyundai Elantra Touring's reputation for reliability issues, with the 2010 model year being particularly problematic.

Hyundai Elantra touring

What is the main problem of the Hyundai Elantra?

There have been reports of window regulator failure, weak and foggy headlights, difficulty steering, and even loss of brake power. If these problems are ones that you have, we suggest taking your vehicle into the dealership or to the nearest mechanic.

What year was bad for the Hyundai Elantra?

2013 was not a good year for the Elantra. In fact, it's the sedan's worst year to date. CarComplaints identified the 2013 Elantra as the worst model year for the compact sedan. With over 1k complaints and 3 recalls, it's undoubtedly one of the worst Hyundai Elantra years to avoid.

How many miles can a Hyundai Elantra touring last?

How many miles can a Hyundai Elantra last? A Hyundai Elantra can easily last 150,000 to 250,000 miles with regular maintenance and good driving practices. If you drive around 15,000 miles per year, it will survive 13 to 17 years before needing costly repairs or breaking down.

Why not buy a Hyundai Elantra?

While the Elantra is reliable, it still has some issues like defective airbags, rough-running engines, poor-quality coil springs, and faulty brake boosters.

Percentage distribution of complaints by Hyundai Elantra touring years

We have researched Hyundai problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Hyundai Elantra touring cars and compiled the top 5 most problematic Hyundai Elantra touring model years:

Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Hyundai Elantra touring model years.

Distribution of the number of complaints by Hyundai Elantra touring years

We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:

Hyundai Elantra touring car problems categorized by type of issue

After analysing all complaints related to Hyundai Elantra touring , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:

  • Steering problems
  • Air bags problems
  • Electrical system problems
  • Engine problems
  • Service brakes problems

The graph below shows statistics for all Hyundai Elantra touring vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

Distribution of the number of complaints where the accident occurred by Elantra touring model years

A total of 138 complaints were registered in which the accident occurred. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.

Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by Elantra touring model years

There were a total of 38 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.

Distribution of the number of complaints with injuries by Elantra touring model years

There were a total of 123 complaints that resulted in a injuries. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.

Distribution of the number of complaints with deaths by Elantra touring model years

There were a total of 1 complaints that resulted in a death. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.

The NHTSA has received 1802 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Hyundai Elantra touring . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Hyundai Elantra touring vehicles.

Latest 25 complaints

Hyundai Elantra touring 2012
  • Date Of Incident: 2024-10-12
  • Date Complaint: 2024-10-20
  • VIN: 5NPDH4AE1CH
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: A while ago the airbag light starting coming on intermittently and I originally thought it was the sensor detecting weight in the passenger seat or not and perhaps the sensor was a little off but did not investigate. Over time the light become on constantly but I didn't notice this shift until the horn stopped working recently too. After some troubleshooting of the fuse and relay, an independent shop determined that the clock spring is the issue. After researching online I discovered there is an extended warranty for the clock spring on my vehicle of which I was unaware. I do not recall receiving a letter about this [XXX] ), although the warranty extension was announced years before my vehicle showed signs of an issue. I also saw from other posts that the clock spring is a common issue possibly impacting the reliability of the airbags and horn and dealers have been hesitant to replace the clock spring until the issue reaches a certain degree of severity. Now I wonder if the airbags in my vehicle have not been ready to deploy in case of an accident since the seatbelt light started coming on and driving without a functioning horn adds more risk of an accident. I'm surprised that a recall was not previously issued as both the airbags and horn impact the safety of the vehicle. Apart from the concern of the part reliability itself, the lack of communication around the safety bulletin vs how recalls are communicated seems it could have put many at risk of malfunctioning airbags that would increase the severity of injury in an accident and a malfunctioning horn that would increase the chances of an accident. How is a faulty part that impacts functionality of the airbags and horn not a safety-related defect that merits a recall? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Hyundai Elantra touring 2009
  • Date Of Incident: 2024-07-29
  • Date Complaint: 2024-10-12
  • VIN: KMHDU46D09U
  • Components: STRUCTURE
  • Summary: I previously brought my car in for a recall in 2014 for underbody corrosion and it was repaired; however, now there has been severe corrosion of the underbody, not just the components listed in the recall but nearly the whole underbody is severly rusted and corroded (see pictures below). My mother was driving my car in July 2024 when the rear subframe completely snapped near the control arm while she was driving. Luckily she did not get injured or hurt, but it could have been potentially fatal especially with this happening. I reported this to Hyundai Motor America and towed my car to the dealership. The dealership has submitted a goodwill request to cover the repairs of the recall not the other ones; however, I raised a potential oversight for the previous recall whereby the corrosion of other components not explicitly named in the campaign such as the sway bars and backing plates which could also directly impact the vehicle’s structural integrity and safety if corroded. The omission of ALL of the components that would be subject to corrosion in the recall campaign could have been an oversight and the recall should have covered all critical underbody components prone to corrosion, not just the ones explicitly listed in the recall. Other parts corrosion are a direct consequence of the same environmental factors that led to the corrosion of the subframe and control arms. Since these components are interconnected, and since Hyundai has acknowledged the issue with the crossmember corrosion through the recall, it stands to reason that the other components’ damage should also be addressed as part of the overall remedy. These additional parts would have been exposed to the same environmental factors (e.g., road salt, moisture) that caused the other components to corrode. Since Hyundai acknowledges that these environmental factors led to corrosion in the subframe and control arms, it stands that the other components would also be affected too.
Hyundai Elantra touring 2012
  • Date Of Incident: 2024-10-01
  • Date Complaint: 2024-10-04
  • VIN: KMHDH4AE4CU
  • Components: STEERING
  • Summary: Steering wheel locks up when trying to start car. Have to jiggle steering wheel to get it unlocked. While driving steering wheel make clicking sound and catches back and forth while driving
Hyundai Elantra touring 2012
  • Date Of Incident: 2024-10-03
  • Date Complaint: 2024-10-03
  • Fire: 1
  • VIN: KMHDH4AE5CU
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
  • Summary: The contact owned a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and turned off, there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the engine compartment had caught on fire. The vehicle was extinguished by the Fire Department. A fire report was filed, and a fire report number was provided; however, the cause for the failure was not yet determined. A Police report was not filed. No medical attention was needed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage junkyard. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the vehicle would be destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available. Parts distribution disconnect.
Hyundai Elantra touring 2009
  • Date Of Incident: 2024-10-01
  • Date Complaint: 2024-10-01
  • Number Of Injuries: 1
  • VIN: KMHDC86E29U
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: I backed into my driveway, placed the vehicle in park and as I was setting the parking break the drivers side airbag deployed. The vehicle was still running.
Hyundai Elantra touring 2009
  • Date Of Incident: 2024-08-22
  • Date Complaint: 2024-09-29
  • VIN: KMHDC86E29U
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: The radio turns on and off in its own heat blows threw the vent when heater is off abs lock showed not working when inspection then showed as it was working air bag light always on none of the dash board lights work lock buttons work when it wants to
Hyundai Elantra touring 2009
  • Date Of Incident: 2024-09-10
  • Date Complaint: 2024-09-25
  • VIN: KMHDC86E39U
  • Components: STEERING
  • Summary: This vehicle is part of RECALL CAMPAIGN 127. This vehicle had a software update to "Fix" problem but is now recurring. The dealership says they will not fix it.
Hyundai Elantra touring 2012
  • Date Of Incident: 2024-09-09
  • Date Complaint: 2024-09-11
  • VIN: 5NPDH4AEXCH
  • Components: STEERING
  • Summary: The steering wheel is locking up and unable to turn key/ignition while parked. This has happened multiple times. I jiggle the steering wheel while trying to turn key. It takes much effort and time until it finally unlocks. The first incident happened perhaps 2 years ago. This week it has occured 3 times within the past 3 days. I do not see any warning lights on my dashboard.
Hyundai Elantra touring 2012
  • Date Of Incident: 2024-03-26
  • Date Complaint: 2024-09-03
  • VIN: KMHDH4AE8CU
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: See attached document for complaint.
Hyundai Elantra touring 2011
  • Date Of Incident: 2024-03-28
  • Date Complaint: 2024-09-03
  • VIN: KMHDH4AE7BU
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: See attached document for complaint.
Hyundai Elantra touring 2010
  • Date Of Incident: 2024-06-08
  • Date Complaint: 2024-08-19
  • VIN: KMHDU4AD6AU
  • Components: STEERING
  • Summary: EPS Electric Power Steering warning and unable to steer to drive. I was quoted $3,200 to repair.
Hyundai Elantra touring 2012
  • Date Of Incident: 2024-08-14
  • Date Complaint: 2024-08-17
  • VIN: KMHDH4AE2CU
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: Brake lights stuck in the on position with no turn signal lights working. Brake light switch defect.
Hyundai Elantra touring 2009
  • Date Of Incident: 2024-08-09
  • Date Complaint: 2024-08-12
  • VIN: KMHDU46D79U
  • Components: STEERING
  • Summary: On several occasions, starting in the Fall of 2023 and occurring most recently on 8/9/24, I observed my Elantra's red EPS warning light turn on, and the steering wheel became very "stiff" while driving. Power steering was instantly disabled, resulting in momentary loss of control of the rate of turning in the vehicle. These symptoms are in accordance with Hyundai Recall Campaign 127, but a VIN search revealed the vehicle has been serviced for the recall. I have reached out to Hyundai customer service and a dealership, neither of which attempted to fix the issue.
Hyundai Elantra touring 2009
  • Date Of Incident: 2024-07-15
  • Date Complaint: 2024-07-30
  • Fire: 1
  • VIN: KMHDU46D89U
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
  • Summary: The contact owned a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that on one occasion when the vehicle was turned on, the brake and ABS warning lights illuminated. On another occasion, while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied for approximately 5 days, there was smoke coming from the front of the hood of the vehicle. The department extinguished the fire and a fire report was filed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard where it was deemed totaled by the insurance company. A dealer was contacted and confirmed there were no recalls associated to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Hyundai Elantra touring 2011
  • Date Of Incident: 2023-05-01
  • Date Complaint: 2024-07-29
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, a fellow motorist alerted the contact that the vehicle was smoking. The contact pulled over and waited for an extensive period before restarting the vehicle. The contact was able to drive to the destination while driving at a slow speed. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel since owning the vehicle. The contact also stated that the vehicle stalled upon depression of the accelerator pedal while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the recall was not serviced due to poor customer service. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

Latest 5 recalls Hyundai Elantra touring

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 11 recalls for different components of the Hyundai Elantra touring.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.

  • Model: Hyundai Elantra touring 2009
  • Report Received Date: 2020-02-04
  • Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
  • Summary: 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.
  • Model: Hyundai Elantra touring 2010
  • Report Received Date: 2020-02-04
  • Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
  • Summary: 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.
  • Model: Hyundai Elantra touring 2011
  • Report Received Date: 2020-02-04
  • Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
  • Summary: 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.
  • Model: Hyundai Elantra touring 2009
  • Report Received Date: 2015-02-23
  • Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
  • Components: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
  • Summary: 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.
  • Model: Hyundai Elantra touring 2010
  • Report Received Date: 2015-02-23
  • Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
  • Components: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
  • Summary: 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.

Latest negative Hyundai Elantra touring car reviews

  1. Bernard Weber 2025-07-14

    Vehicle year: 2011

    The oil seal on the right-hand side of the engine (accessory side, not transmission side) failed due to worn main bearings. This caused the crankshaft to move within the engine block, pushing the oil seal out. Unfortunately, the car's ownership history prevented us from being able to use the 100,000 mile power-train warranty. However, we were fortunate that the repair shop honored their warranty and repaired the engine at no charge. Although it took 5 weeks, we were grateful to have our car back on the road. The engine light recently came on, so we will continue to monitor the situation. Thank you for your understanding.

  2. Antwan Smith 2025-07-03

    Vehicle year: 2012

    Your family will absolutely love the Touring! It's perfect for shorter individuals (5'2 to 5'4) as it offers great visibility and a low-dash design. The controls are well laid out and easy to use, making it a breeze to navigate. While the radio may be small and fiddly, the ride is stiff and the handling is good. Although it's not truly sporty, it's still a vastly better driver than my '13 Elantra Sedan, which had unsettled handling. The handling is predictable and the road holding is good. While the engine may be weak and the mileage not great in this class, the seats are surprisingly comfortable on long (14+ hour) drives.

  3. Elias Gleichner 2025-06-22

    Vehicle year: 2009

    My wife needed a car with ample space for her business. After reading all the reviews and comparisons, we decided to purchase the Elantra Touring. Unfortunately, we experienced some issues with the radio not working properly, but it never acted up at the dealership. Then, the ignition switch started locking up and we had trouble turning it, which made my wife hesitant to drive the car for fear of being stranded. We dropped the vehicle off at the dealership, and they informed us that it would take 2 weeks to fix the ignition switch. However, we have been waiting for 4 weeks now, as the parts for this car are not stocked in the US and we are waiting for them to arrive from Korea. It has been frustrating having to rent a car, and we have not received much help from the dealership or Hyundai. We are hoping to get this issue resolved soon so that we can enjoy our car without any further problems.

  4. Bernardo Pfannerstill 2025-05-17

    Vehicle year: 2010

    Hi there! I wanted to share my experience with this car. Unfortunately, I've only had it for a couple of weeks and I'm in the process of returning it. I found the ride to be extremely rough, which was physically jarring for me as the driver. Additionally, I found the seats to be very uncomfortable and the steering wheel was at an odd angle, slightly to the left, rather than being straight on to the driver. This, coupled with the rough ride, caused lower back problems for me, which is something I've never experienced before.

  5. Jamarcus Klein 2025-04-24

    Vehicle year: 2009

    It's a practical, roomy, and affordable car to own. However, the comfort leaves something to be desired. The soundproofing is non-existent and the ride can be quite harsh. The interior feels a bit cheap. On the other hand, the engine is the best entry-level engine in any compact car I've tried so far. It's really torquey, efficient, and easy to maintain. In the end, the car gets the job done and for the price, it's a great value.

Latest positive Hyundai Elantra touring car reviews

  1. Cyrus Zieme 2025-07-11

    Vehicle year: 2011

    I've owned the Touring for 6 years now and I must say, I'm quite satisfied with it. It's been a great car for my family of four. I was looking for a car with versatile cargo space but not an SUV since I prefer to ride low to the ground. The pros of this car are its spacious cargo, excellent braking, nice interior layout, and price for the amount of car. In many regards, it's a hidden gem. The cons are that the ride can be a bit bumpy, the thin fabrics make light dirt stains stand out, and the OEM tires wore out quickly and did not perform well in the snow. However, with good all-season or snow tires, this car does well. At 45,000 miles, I've only had one minor repair (the brake pedal was making a little noise but nothing dangerous) that was included in the warranty. I narrowed down my choices to the Prius and Subaru Outback, but I didn't enjoy driving the Prius, and the Outback's boxer engine was too loud and I didn't like the sitting position. I also considered the Golf and Matrix, but the cargo space was too small. So far, I have no regrets.

  2. Everett Jaskolski 2025-07-11

    Vehicle year: 2009

    If you're looking for a car that's both fun to drive and spacious, the Hyundai Elantra Touring is an excellent choice. My large dog loves the room behind the back seat, and when you need even more space, just fold down the back seats. Driving is a blast, with quick steering response and a peppy little engine that gets you up to highway speed in no time. With almost 50,000 miles on mine, I've had no problems - just routine maintenance. As a retiree, my daily drive is usually about 3 to 12 miles with stops or lights in-between, and I average 24 mpg. On longer trips, I get about 32-33 mpg. Even after moving to Los Angeles and owning a larger truck, I still love driving my Hyundai so much that I only put 450 miles on the truck last year. The room behind the last seat is one of the largest I've seen for a small compact 4-door hatchback, and I can even fit an 8-foot 2x4 in the car by sliding it up to the front dashboard and still close the rear hatch. In LA, I average about 15 miles an hour (including some small sprints on the freeway), and I still average around 22 miles per gallon in the city. On a long, 300-mile trip on the highway, I average 30-32 miles per gallon. What can I say? I love my Hyundai Elantra Touring - it's the best car I've ever owned for driving in the city.

  3. Zane Waelchi 2025-07-06

    Vehicle year: 2011

    The good: Am in my 3rd year of ownership and the car has been reliable so far. It is amazingly spacious and has a clean interior design which I find appealing and uncluttered. Good visibility all around and the car handles well. With quality winter tires (I prefer Michelin) it has been very good in winter (am driving in Canada). I like the manual shift even though it feels odd sometimes. Has unusually good pulling power on hills in top gear (5th). If you flog it, it will respond willingly and feels quite sporty.Responds harshly to bumps (see my comments on tire size).

  4. Koby Hoppe 2025-07-02

    Vehicle year: 2010

    Before settling on the ET SE A/T, I had considered the '09 Outback and Honda FIT. I was impressed by the ET's spacious backseat and unmatched cargo room when the seats are folded down. In terms of safety features, the ET is top-notch with airbags all around, ABS, ESC, and maximum braking when the pedal is suddenly depressed. Comparatively, the Honda FIT is roughly the same price but lacks ESC. The ET offers more passenger room than some of the compact and midsized SUVs on the market. However, the suspension is quite hard, which means you can feel every imperfection on the road.

  5. Kenyon D'Amore 2025-06-29

    Vehicle year: 2009

    I gave one of my kids this car last year and she tells me it's still going strong with no major problems.

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