2012 Hyundai Elantra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 675 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 49 involved a crash and 12 involved a fire. 47 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 22, 2023
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
Campaign 23V651000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, electricalJul 2, 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Hyundai Elantra and Sonata Hybrid, 2012 Accent and Veloster vehicles. The 12V accessory socket outlet may have been over-tightened during installation, possibly disabling the thermal fuse and allowing the outlet to overheat with prolonged use, such as by using the Tire Mobility Kit air compressor to inflate a tire.
An overheated accessory outlet increases the risk of fire.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Tire Mobility Kit accessory outlet plug with a direct-to-battery connection wire harness kit, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 193.
Campaign 20V393000 on NHTSA.gov
Electronic stability control (ESC)Dec 23, 2015
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Elantra vehicles manufactured October 29, 2010, to October 25, 2011. Due to an electronic stability control (ESC) sensor malfunction, the brakes for one or more wheels may be applied unexpectedly and the engine power may be reduced. These symptoms will be accompanied by illumination of the ESC indicator lamp in the instrument cluster.
If the one or more of the brakes are inappropriately applied, control of the vehicle may be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will verify the proper operation of the ESC sensors, and update the ESC system's calibration, free of charge. The recall began June 6, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 137.
Campaign 15V871000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowApr 1, 2013
Hyundai Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured from November 12, 2010, through March 5, 2013. A support bracket attached to the headliner may become displaced during a side curtain airbag deployment.
If the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration injury.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will apply adhesive strips to the headliner, free of charge. The safety recall began during April 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 109.
Campaign 13V115000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
128 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Oct 28, 2019
AIRBAG LIGHT ON EVEN WHEN IN MOTION.NO INCIDENT OR ACCIDENTS HAPPEN.IT WONT TURN OFF EVEN AFTER MINUTES OF START UP.
Air bags, Oct 22, 2019
WHILE DRIVING, MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT NOR DID I DRIVE OVER ANY BUMPS IN THE ROAD. IT GOES OFF, THEN COMES BACK ON AGAIN.
Air bags, Sep 28, 2019
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AT 197,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED.
Steering, Air bags, Electrical system, Sep 17, 2019, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MADE POPPING NOISES AND THE STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE EXPENSIVE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISES WORSENED AND THE VEHICLE'S HORN NO LONGER FUNCTIONED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A LIGHT, THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF HER BEGAN TO REVERSE INSTEAD OF MOVING FORWARD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SOUND THE HORN, BUT IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SETTLED THE MATTER THROUGH THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DAY AFTER THE CRASH, THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY SEIZED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE AIR BAG FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V115000 (AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
Air bags, Sep 16, 2019
AIR BAG LIGHT ON, SENSOR UNDER PASSENGER SEAT DEFECTIVE. $2000 TO REPLACE! IT CAME ON AFTER STARTING.
Air bags, Sep 12, 2019
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND WILL NOT TURN OFF NOW, EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. AFTER RESEARCHING IVE SEEN THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE BUT HAVE HEARD IT IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX. A RECALL IS NECESSARY!!!
Air bags, Aug 29, 2019
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND HAS NOT TURNED BACK OFF
Air bags, Jul 29, 2019
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SPONTANEOUSLY AT ABOUT 104,000 MILES.
Electrical system, Air bags, Jul 17, 2019
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON DID MY RESEARCH AND IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL
Air bags, Seat belts, Service brakes, Jun 30, 2019, crash
2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA COLLISION TO DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. DRIVERS SIDE AND DRIVERS AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
Air bags, Jun 27, 2019
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS TURNING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, MOST OF THE TIME IT IS ON.
Air bags, Jun 16, 2019
SSRS LIGHT CAME ON AND WON'T TURN OFF. IN MOTION ON THE CITY STREET
Air bags, Jun 14, 2019
DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON
Air bags, May 14, 2019
THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS . I AM TOLD THAT WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON IT MEANS THAT THE AIRBAGS DON'T WORK WHICH COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN A CRASH. *DT*JB
Air bags, Apr 5, 2019, crash
THIS CAR WAS IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT IN MOTION ON A HIWAY AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.
Air bags, Mar 30, 2019
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON.CAR WAS DRIVEN TO STORE AND TURNED OFF.WHEN RESTARTED THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON.
Air bags, Service brakes, Mar 25, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FULL FORCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHTOWNE HYUNDAI RIVERDALE (7665 GA-85, RIVERDALE, GA 30274), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Steering, Air bags, Service brakes, Feb 28, 2019
TAKATA RECALL. WHEN DRIVING UP TO 40 MPH MY STEERING WHEEL STARTS MAKING SOME FUNNY NOISE AND IT SHAKES REALLY BAD AT THE SAME TIME.
Air bags, Feb 26, 2019
" TAKATA RECALL" - I GOT IN MY CAR, STARTED IT UP AND THE ONLY LIGHT THAT WOULD NOT GO OFF LIKE IT SHOULD WHEN YOU START UP THE CAR WAS THE "AIRBAG" LIGHT. SO I TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND FIGURED MAYBE ITS A FLUKE AND STARTED MY CAR UP AGAIN AND IT STAYED ON. MY LIGHT FOR MY AIRBAG CAME ON FOR NO REASON. I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING AND DIDN'T RUN OVER A POTHOLE. I FIND IT REALLY ODD THAT THE LIGHT JUST CAME ON OUT OF THE BLUE. THE CAR DIDN'T EVEN HAVE 94,000 MILES ON IT YET. I'M ALWAYS TELLING PEOPLE HOW GOOD MY CAR IS AND HOW IT HAS AIRBAGS FOR DRIVER, PASSENGER AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS. SOMEONE SHOULD REALLY CHECK THIS OUT. BEFORE THIS CAR, I OWNED A SUBARU AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A 2002, NOT ONCE DID MY AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON. THE YELLOW LIGHT YOU SEE ON THE PICTURE CAME OFF WITH THE LAST RECALL ON MY CAR REGARDING THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM. I TOOK IT INTO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND THEY HANDLED THE RECALL, AFTER THAT THE LIGHT CAME OFF AND HAS STAYED OFF. BUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON.....
Air bags, Feb 16, 2019
AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON FOR NO REASON.
Air bags, Feb 3, 2019
WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON AND OFF. THE LIGHT WILL SOMETIMES NOT TURN ON EXCEPT DURING IGNITION AND SOMETIMES WILL BE LT CONTINUOSLY WITH OR WITHOUT A PASSENGER. THIS ALSO OCCURS AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS, ON SURFACE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, IN ANY GEAR.
Air bags, Jan 10, 2019
AIRBAG DASH LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY.
Air bags, Jan 7, 2019
THE DASHBOARD SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WENT ON YESTERDAY AND REMAINED ON AS LONG AS MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, THE WARNING LIGHT DID NOT TURN ON AGAIN. THE DEALER'S SERVICE TECHNICIAN THINKS IT IS PROBABLY THE CLOCK SPRING BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. HE SAID TO BRING IT IN RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON. HE LOOKED UP MY VIN AND SAID MY VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE 15 YEAR, UNLIMITED MILEAGE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE CLOCK SPRING WHICH HYUNDAI ISSUED FOR SOME VEHICLES. HE QUOTED $140 JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.
Air bags, Dec 26, 2018
THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T TURN OFF
Air bags, Dec 10, 2018
AIRBAG LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REFUSES TO LOOK INTO IT, UNLESS I PAY FEE FOR ASSESSMENT. I SEE LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING 2012 ELANTRA HAVING SAME PROBLEM. SOME OF THEM HAVE OFFICIAL RECALLS, BUT MY VIN DOESN'T SHOW ANY RECALL, SO DEALER IS NOT LOOKING INTO IT WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR IT.