2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the power steering cutting out — the EPS/ESC warning lights come on and the wheel suddenly needs much more effort, sometimes only briefly and sometimes until the car is restarted. A smaller group reports other electrical and accessory faults (battery drain, ignition key not turning, engine compartment fires at very low mileage), airbag and sunroof concerns, and an early pull-to-the-right complaint. Steering complaints appear across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to well over 100,000.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out (EPS/ESC lights on)

   • 34 complaints (45%)
   • median 84,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,446 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Owners describe the steering suddenly becoming very heavy, often with the EPS and ESC warning lights lighting up on the dash. Some say assist returns after shutting the car off and restarting; others report it recurring and staying off. Complaints mention dealers resetting or reprogramming the system, updating EPS software, replacing a stop lamp switch, or quoting steering column and harness replacement, and several owners say the assist failed again afterward or that their VIN was not covered by the steering recall. Reported anywhere from about 3,000 to over 150,000 miles, with many between roughly 40,000 and 90,000 miles, often while turning or at low speed.

   Recall 15V1000001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive the car at low and highway speed and watch for the EPS and ESC lights; ask whether the 15V100000 steering software update was ever applied and whether the VIN is actually included in that campaign.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the car became difficult to steer almost resulting in my going off the road, when I go to a place that was safe to stop, I noticed that the eps light was illuminated red, and the ESC off light was illuminated yellow. I shut off the car and it the lights went off and remained off during my communte home. When I drove the care yesterday the lights came on at start up and stayed on my commute home. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11265684, filed 2019-10, 116,000 miles

   “First time the incident occurred, driving in traffic at about 20mph, slowing down at a traffic light, power steering went out and the ESC light came on. I had to stop the car and restart it in the middle of traffic to regain power steering. The car was taken to the dealership the following day. I was told the power steering needed an update . After the update the same thing happened a few days later while accelerating onto the highway. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10574827, filed 2014-03, 59,309 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults, fires, and no-crank ignition

   • 9 complaints (12%)
   • median 11,500 mi at 1.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2026

   Complaints describe engine compartment fires on parked cars, including one shortly after purchase, with an insurance investigation attributing the fire to an electrical origin. Other owners report the key not turning in the ignition, with the ignition cylinder and key replaced without resolving it, and difficulty getting recall-related brake and ABS module work scheduled at dealers. Fires reported on vehicles with very low mileage, under about 12,000 miles; ignition faults reported around 11,000 miles.

   Recall 20V0610001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether recall 20V061000 (ABS module moisture and electrical short) has been completed, and check for any history of electrical repairs or fire damage in the engine bay.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In october 2010 my 6-month old Hyundai Elantra Touring caught fire after sitting in my driveway for nine hours. The vehicle was completely totaled. My insurance company (geico) secured the car and hired a forensic engineering company (down forensic engineering, inc., cary nc) to investigate the origin of the fire. Down concluded that the fire was electrical and originated in the engine compartment. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10398944, filed 2011-04, 7,000 miles

   “In october 2010 my 6-month old Hyundai Elantra Touring caught fire after sitting in my driveway for nine hours. The vehicle was completely totaled. My insurance company (geico) secured the car and hired a forensic engineering company (down forensic engineering, inc., cary nc) to investigate the origin of the fire. Down concluded that the fire was electrical and originated in the engine compartment. Hyundai motor america conducted its own inspection, which did not conclusively determine the cause or origin of the fire. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10408213, filed 2011-06, 1,200 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Clicking or clunking noise from steering column

   • 15 complaints (20%)
   • median 82,000 mi at 7.8 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2026

   Owners report a clicking, clunking or thud noise when turning the wheel, especially while parked or at low speed, and some describe a looseness or play in the steering. Complaints mention a worn flexible coupling in the steering column being identified as the source. One owner says the repair was quoted at over $1,400 in parts, with the part needing to come from overseas. Commonly described from roughly 40,000 to 90,000 miles, noticeable at low speed or when stationary.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the car parked, turn the wheel slowly from side to side and listen for a click or thud; ask whether the steering coupling has been replaced or covered under the extended warranty described in the service bulletins.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In my steering wheel it makes a clunking noise. I brought it into a service station and they told me it needed a flexible coupling gromt. I didn't do this it is all the way down in the steering column. They told me it should be a recall because it is nothing I did. It does the noise when I am sitting still. If you turn the wheel it sounds like it is catching on something.”

   NHTSA complaint #11061433, filed 2018-01, 69,000 miles

   “Power steering stopped working. I had sqeaking noises when turning the wheel.also shimmering over slightest bumps. Dealer estimate for new steering columns was about $2000.00 . I was pulling out of a parking space when it froze. After I tuned of the car it worked. However I have read many complaints that this problem continues under normal driving conditions including highways. I feel the manufacturer should be responsible for this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11365908, filed 2020-10, 94,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Vehicle pulls to the right

   • 5 complaints (7%)
   • median 1,000 mi at 0.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2010–2011

   Owners describe the car drifting to the right at highway speed so that constant left pressure on the wheel is needed to go straight. Complaints say alignments and tire work did not correct it, and that dealers reported the car was operating normally or that the steering was set up that way for road crown. Some also link it to uneven front tire wear. Reported from very low mileage, sometimes under 1,000 miles and again around 3,000 to 15,000 miles.

   What to check: On a flat, straight road at highway speed, check whether the car tracks straight hands-off for a moment and look at the front tires for uneven inner-edge wear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Hyundai Elantra Touring pulls to the right while accelerating and traveling at 50 MPH. It hurts your wrist to keep it straight on the road. Alignment and tire rotation doesn't solve the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10353038, filed 2010-08, 500 miles

   “The Elantra Touring pulls to the right. After 6 trips to service and adjustments authorized by Hyundai the car still pulls to the right. It is very tiring continuously correcting the steering.”

   NHTSA complaint #10391208, filed 2011-03, 400 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbag light on or airbags not deploying

   • 6 complaints (8%)
   • median 53,942 mi at 3.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2023

   Owners report the airbag warning light staying on with no explanation, and in some cases airbags failing to deploy in a collision. One complaint describes the front airbags deploying while the car was parked with the parking brake set, cracking the windshield. Owners say dealers declined warranty coverage for the warning light. Reported from around 11,000 to 130,000 miles, in collisions and while parked.

   Recall 14V3100002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm the airbag warning light comes on and goes out at start-up, and ask whether recall 14V310000 (headliner support bracket during side curtain airbag deployment) has been performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Just want to indicate that my air bag light came on indicating it was broken. When asked about warranty the dealer said that was not under warranty. Now I hear there had been a recall on the Hyundai elantra sedan for air bag issues and the NHTSA is considering including the touring model in the recall. I just wanted to add my vehicle to the list of affected cars with an air bag issue!”

   NHTSA complaint #10555683, filed 2013-12, 130,000 miles

   “I have a 2010 Hyundai Elantra. On Saturday, July 22, 2023, after the car was put into park in my fathers driveway and the emergency brake put on, the front driver and passenger bags deployed. The force of it's deployment cracked the windshield in several places on the passenger side. There were no warning lights or indications that this would occur. The car was in park. The seatbelts are in a locked (not able to retract) form, so the car is not drivable. The two individuals in the front seat were disoriented for a short time. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11534596, filed 2023-07

Buying note. Give this model year a careful test drive with attention to the steering assist and warning lights, and confirm which open recalls — particularly the steering and ABS module campaigns — have actually been completed under the VIN. Service records showing recent steering column or coupling work and completed software updates are worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.