Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai Elantra Touring vs Toyota Camry
How the Hyundai Elantra Touring and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Hyundai Elantra Touring vs Toyota Camry: The Elantra Touring had 454 complaints in one year, with 233 about steering, while the Camry averaged 206 complaints per year over 10 years. The Camry also has 31 recalls versus 4 for the Elantra Touring. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai Elantra Touring or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai Elantra Touring
The Hyundai Elantra Touring is a compact wagon that, based on owner complaints, has a troubling pattern of steering and electrical problems. Over just one year, it generated 454 complaints, with more than half about steering, often involving clunking, clicking, or sudden loss of power steering assist. With 49 crash-related reports and 53 injuries in that single year, this vehicle demands careful inspection before purchase.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a long history and a much lower complaint rate per year—about 206 annually over 10 years. However, it still has 2,056 total complaints and 31 recalls, with common issues in the power train, engine, and brakes. While the per-year rate is lower, the variety of problems means a used Camry should be checked for transmission shudder, throttle delay, and electronic parking brake faults.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai Elantra Touring | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 454 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 49 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 454.0 | 205.6 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 53 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Hyundai Elantra Touring
- 01STEERING233
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM58
- 03AIR BAGS52
- 04SERVICE BRAKES44
- 05POWER TRAIN34
Owners frequently report clunking or clicking noises when turning the wheel, often traced to a worn steering coupler or rubber damper. Some also experience sudden loss of power steering assist, making the car hard to steer at low speeds, which is a serious safety concern.
The EPS (electric power steering) light may come on intermittently, and power steering can become very difficult. This often requires turning the car off and on to reset, but the problem can return, leaving the driver with heavy steering.
There are reports of airbags deploying unexpectedly while parked, cracking the windshield, and of airbags failing to deploy in a severe front-end collision. Both scenarios are dangerous and indicate potential SRS system faults.
Some owners report the steering wheel becoming difficult to turn along with the ABS warning light, and others see multiple warning lights (airbag, check engine, ABS, EPS) come on while losing power. These electrical gremlins can affect braking and steering simultaneously.
“Vehicle developed clunking noise in the steering. Was told it was coupler issue. The dealership, Nlorthbay Hyundai, in Petaluma, California, was negligent in the replacement, creating a grinding metal on metal noise, and damaged the steering column as well. T…”
“My 2010 Elantra just started making a clicking noise when slightly turning the steering wheel back and forth. Doing online research, I discovered it is a common problem on Hyundai, with the same symptoms as my problem, that there is a rubber star damper gear…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners of recent Camrys report the ignition key getting stuck and not releasing even when the car is in Park, requiring a battery disconnect to remove. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, often with the check engine light on, pointing to transmission or engine management issues.
A common complaint is a delayed throttle response—pressing the gas pedal and waiting several seconds before the car moves. This can be dangerous when merging or pulling out, and may be accompanied by shuddering and check engine lights.
The electronic parking brake (EPB) may fail to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Owners also report a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area, which dealers often say is normal for the ABS system, but it can be unsettling.
Multiple systems—smart stop, vehicle stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction simultaneously. This suggests complex electronic integration issues that may be hard to diagnose and expensive to fix.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Hyundai Elantra Touring — 4 recalls
The 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…
The risk: 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.
The fix: 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 Hyu…
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 fix: 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.
The 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 sen…
The risk: 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.
The fix: 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 numb…
The 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 Tiburo…
The risk: 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…
The fix: 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.
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Hyundai Elantra Touring or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has far fewer complaints per year (about 206) compared to the Hyundai Elantra Touring (454 in a single year). In practice, this means the Camry is likely to have fewer recurring problems, but it still has its own set of issues, especially with the power train and electronics. The Elantra Touring's high steering-related complaint rate is a major red flag for a used buyer.
Key differences
- The Elantra Touring has 454 complaints in one year, with over half about steering, while the Camry averages 206 per year over 10 years, with more diverse issues.
- Steering problems dominate the Elantra Touring (clunking, loss of assist), whereas the Camry's top complaints are power train (stuck key, shuddering) and engine (throttle delay).
- The Elantra Touring has 49 crash-related reports and 53 injuries in one year; the Camry has 171 crash-related and 158 injuries over 10 years, but per year that's lower.
- Both have 1 death reported, but the Elantra Touring's single-year data suggests a more concentrated risk pattern.
- Test the steering at low speeds and while turning—listen for clunking or clicking noises that could indicate a worn coupler or damper.
- Check for any intermittent EPS warning light and ensure power steering assist is consistent; sudden loss of assist is a reported safety issue.
- Try removing the key from the ignition after parking—if it sticks, it could be a sign of the reported power train defect.
- Test the electronic parking brake by engaging and disengaging it several times; failure to release may require an expensive repair.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls, especially steering and airbag recalls on the Elantra Touring.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the steering system, including the coupler and EPS, on the Elantra Touring before purchase.
- For the Camry, test drive at various speeds to feel for transmission shudder or delayed throttle response.
- Check all electronic systems on both cars: warning lights, infotainment, driver aids, and parking brake functionality.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and confirm that any recall repairs have been completed.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Hyundai Elantra Touring or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai Elantra Touring vs Toyota Camry
- Hyundai Elantra Touring total complaints
- 454
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Hyundai Elantra Touring total recalls
- 4
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Hyundai Elantra Touring avg complaints/year
- 454.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Hyundai Elantra Touring top complaint area
- STEERING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN