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: engine
143 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 25, 2014
I'VE HAD THE FOLLOWING ISSUES WITH THE 2012 ELANTRA: 1.) THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THIS ONLY HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY SO IT IS HARD TO PREDICT WHEN IT WILL OCCUR AND WHERE YOU WILL BE STRANDED. ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL TURN ON BUT WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION ALL THE WAY NOTHING HAPPENS. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER SINCE IT STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE DEALER HAD NO IDEA HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR 3 WEEKS NOW AND STILL TRYING TO FIGURE WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. 2.) THERE ARE ALSO INSTANCE WHERE THE ENGINE STARTS BUT THE GEAR GETS STUCK IN PARK AND CANNOT SWITCH TO OTHER GEAR. I HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND TRY TO RESTART. 3.) THE BATTERY LIGHT INDICATOR BRIEFLY LIGHTS UP AT 60 MPH. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 15, 2014
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON I GOT INTO MY CAR TO GO TO THE STORE, AND IT WOULDN'T START. I CONTINUED TO TURN THE KEY TO ON POSITION, THEN BACK OFF AND WOULDN'T START. THEN TRIED AGAIN IN THEN IT FINALLY STARTED BARELY. AGAIN I GOT INTO MY CAR TO GO TO WORK, AND IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. I SWITCHED THE KEY BACK OFF POSITION AND ON AGAIN AND STILL NO START. TRIED IT AGAIN 2 MORE TIMES TO START AND FINALLY IT STARTED UP. I HAD THIS ISSUE ABOUT A YEAR AGO ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AND GOT IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND NOTHING BECAUSE IT STARTED RIGHT UP FOR THEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO TO GET THIS ISSUE FROM OCCURRING. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 9, 2014
THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION PERIODICALLY FAILS TO START. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. AT FIRST THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON OCCASION BUT HAS SINCE BEGAN HAVING STARTING ISSUES MORE FREQUENTLY. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD OF TWO POSSIBLE ISSUES REGARDING A STOP LAMP SWITCH AND A FAULTY STARTER. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY A PROBLEM. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI USA AND THEY WERE UNAWARE OF AN ISSUE REGARDING MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE AS THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE BUT THERE ARE RECALLS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE BUT WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I FEEL THAT HYUNDAI IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS WITH THEIR WARRANTY AND I DO NOT KNOW ON A DAILY BASIS IF MY VEHICLE IS GOING TO START THE NEXT TIME I ATTEMPT IT. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 30, 2014
ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK. LIGHTS,WINDOWS,RADIO,ETC. ALL WORKED. SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND CAR STARTED. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 20, 2014
THE CAR WILL NOT START ONCE IT IS TURNED OFF. IT COULD START ONCE AND GO TO THE STORE, AND THEN LOCK UP FOR A FEW HOURS. EVENTUALLY IT WILL ACT NORMAL AGAIN AD THEN START ALL OVER AGAIN. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 10, 2014
MY 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WOULD NOT START THIS MORNING AND THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED STARTING IN MAY 2014. I HIT MY DOOR UNLOCK ON MY KEY FAB AND THE DOORS UNLOCKED FROM HERE I PROCEEDED START MY CAR. EVERYTHING STARTED BUT THE CAR. I TURNED BACK TO THE STARTING POSITION AND TRIED AGAIN SAME RESULTS. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN AMAZINGLY IT STARTED. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY CAR? THIS HAS HAPPEN BEFORE THE FIRST TIME CALLED A TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND BY THE TIME HE ARRIVED IT STARTED . THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A VISIT TO NORTH COUNTY HYUNDAI IN CARLSBAD,CA. OF COURSE THE DEALERSHIP FOUND NOTHING WRONG . AGAIN WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR? *TR
Engine, Aug 5, 2014
THE CAR JUST WOULDN'T START , IT WORKED FINE THE PREVIOUS EVENING AND IT LOCKED AS WELL . TODAY MORNING NOTHING WORKS ,I HAD TO MANUALLY OPEN THE CAR WITH THE KEY , AFTER I PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION NOTHING LIGHTED UP ON THE DASHBOARD . TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES . *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 31, 2014
WHENEVER I TRY TO TURN ON MY CAR EVERYTHING TURNS ON EXCEPT THE ENGINE. THE LIGHTS AND EVERYTHING ARE FINE. THE BATTERY TESTS FINE. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. IT HAS NOT STARTED APPROXIMATELY 15-20 TIMES. BASED ON ACCOUNTS FROM OTHERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM THE ENGINE HAS ALSO STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. THANKFULLY THE ISSUE HAS ONLY EVER OCCURRED WHEN MY CAR IS PARKED, BUT I'D REALLY RATHER NOT RISK IT HAPPENING ON THE ROAD IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. *TR
Power train, Engine, May 13, 2014
VEHICLE BROUGHT TO LESTER GLENN HYUNDAI TOMS RIVER NJ ON MARCH 21, 2014 FOR NOISE IN ENGINE OR TRANS...SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG..THEY PUSHED CAR OUT AND TOLD ME IT WAS A CLAMP FOR MY EXHAUST..I CONTINUED TO HEAR NOISE..(IT DID NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME) SO THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER 3 WEEKS LATER..THEY DID DIAGNOSTICS ON VEHICLE AND PUSHED MY CAR OUT TELLING ME THAT I HAD "AGGRESSIVE TIRES" ON THE VEHICLE.AND THEY CHARGED ME 243.00 FOR DIAGNOSTICS..MY VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY..THEY TOLD ME IF I DIDN'T PAY I WOULDN'T GET MY CAR BACK...I HAVE BRAND NEW COOPER TOURING TIRES ON AND THE PROBLEM WAS THERE BEFORE THE TIRES..ON 05/12/2014 I DROVE TO NEW YORK TO VISIT MY DAUGHTER AND WHEN I LEFT WAS ON 278 WEST TRAVELING TO TOMS RIVER NJ . I WAS ON 278 FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES ..I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE..THE RPM'S WERE GOING CRAZY, SPEED OF VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 25MPH..WHITE SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF REAR AND UNDERCARRIAGE OF VEHICLE..IT WAS NOT OVERHEATING..MY PRESSURE FINE..I MANAGED TO GET TO SIDE OF BROOKLYN QUEENS EXPRESSWAY AND SHUT VEHICLE OFF..3 PEDESTRIANS STOPPED BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE..A TOW WAS CALLED..ARRIVED IN 1.5 HOURS..ONLY 1 TOW COMPANY ALLOWED ON THE BQE..I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE THE TOW..IT COST ME $660.00 TO GET MY VEHICLE BACK TO LESTER GLENN HYUNDAI..TOMS RIVER NJ...THEY DIAGNOSED MY VEHICLE SAYING IT WAS PCV VALVE ..I DO NOT FEEL LIKE MY VEHICLE WAS FIXED AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN IT..I WORK IN A FULL SERVICE GARAGE AND I HAD AT LEAST 15 MECHANICS LOOK AT MY VEHICLE..THEY ALL SAY ITS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND NOW I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR MORE THAN 20 MILES..CAN YOU HELP ME?? *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 23, 2014
I ACCELERATED OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND THEN LOST POWER BECAUSE THE CAR WENT OUT OF TIME AND STARTED MISFIRING. THEN WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF MY TAILPIPE. THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY CAR HAS MISFIRED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE REASON I KNOW IT MISFIRED IS BECAUSE I HAVE A CODE READER AND IT SAID CYLINDER 1 & 2 MISFIRE. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR, WAITED ABOUT 5 MINUTES, RESTARTED IT AND THE CAR RUNS FINE. THE DEALER CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND BY THE TIME I GET THE CAR TO THEM THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF. STRANGE BEHAVIOR WITH THIS CAR.
Engine, Jun 25, 2013
THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START. INITIALLY, IT WOULD SPONTANEOUSLY START AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF WAITING. LATER, IT WOULD NOT START UNTIL YOU'D WAIT ABOUT 3 HOURS. BEEN IN THE SHOP, WHERE I PURCHASED IT NEW, ABOUT SIX TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN. THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS AT NIGHT, AND I'M STUCK IN MY RURAL TOWN OR AT MY URBAN OFFICE, MY VERY LIFE IS AT STAKE. AND I CAN'T GET THE DEALER TO FIX OR REPLACE THIS LEMON. *TR
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 3, 2013
THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE 2011 RECALL WITH THE BRAKE SWITCH. MY CRUISE CONTROL SOMETIMES DOES NOT WORK AND 3 TIMES HAS CUT OFF ON ITS OWN. IT WILL NOT CUT BACK ON TILL VEHICLE IS PULLED OVER AND STOPPED. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED BUT ITS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY AND IM NOT SATISFIED WITH EITHER COCOA BEACH OR MELBOURNE DEALER. I HAVE A RECURRING CLUTCH PEDAL ISSUE AS WELL AND DO NOT TRUST THEIR TECHNICIANS ANY LONGER. I WILL JUST DRIVE THE CAR TILL IT LEAVES ME STRANDED OR IN A WRECK. WESTLAND HYUNDAI HOWEVER HAS NEVER HAD A REPEAT REPAIR. IM NOT SURE WHY THEIR TECHS ARE SO MUCH MORE RELIABLE. WISH I STILL LIVED IN UTAH TO HAVE MY ISSUES RESOLVED. *TR
Steering, Suspension, Engine, Apr 3, 2013
I HAVE THE 2012 ELANTRA AND FROM THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT I NOTICED IT WAS HARD TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE OUT ON THE HIGHWAY THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME BECAUSE MY WIFE NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT IT THEN I STARTED SEEING COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE I AGREE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HYUNDIA NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO LATELY WHEN U TRY TO RESTART THE CAR AFTER SITTING SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT START UNLESS U PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL ITS BEEN IN THE DEALER SHOP TWO TIMES (BUSTED STRUT AND WAS POPPING IN FRONTEND) AND THE CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AS FAR AS THE STEERING I KNOW ITS NOT THE TIRES OR THE ALIGNMENT JUST HAD NEW TIRES INSTALLED AND REALIGNED. *TR
Engine, Feb 28, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,010 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
Steering, Power train, Engine, Feb 11, 2013
ALMOST EVERY TIME I HAVE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED IN DRIVE FROM REVERSING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE JOLTS AND SEEMS THAT TRANSMISSION IS LAGGING OR CHANGING GEARS ABRUPTLY. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND I HAD MADE AN APPOINTMENT. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR INSPECTION, THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE WHAT I WAS TALKING DESCRIBING. IN ADDITION, WHEN I DRIVE THE POWER STEERING HAS HAD SOME ISSUES. IT HAS NEVER DROVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE AFTER TWO ALIGNMENTS. AND IT CAN BE TOUGH TO TURN THE WHEEL. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT HOW I HEAR A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS, HE TEST DROVE IT AND WAS CONFIRMED THAT HE AGREES THAT THERE IS CLUNKING NOISE, BUT SAID HE CANT PINPOINT IT AND IT WILL HAVE TO GET WORSE BEFORE HE COULD TELL. *TR
Suspension, Power train, Engine, Nov 5, 2012
WHEN I ACCELERATE AND EVERY TIME THE GEAR CHANGES, THE CAR WOULD JOLT AS IF I WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP. IT'S REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN THE CAR JOLTS WHILE I ACCELERATE, BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS WHEN I'M APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE CAR WOULD JOLT AND THE SPEED WOULD INCREASE WHICH NEARLY CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. I CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 13,000 MILES AND PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 1.5 YEARS AGO. WITHIN THAT TIME, THE IGNITION WOULDN'T START. I WOULD IGNITE THE CAR AND THE CAR WOULD EVENTUALLY DIE ON ME. PEOPLE SAID IT MIGHT BE THE SPARK PLUGS, TRANSMISSION OR EVEN THE BATTERY. HOWEVER, IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED ONLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE THAT INCIDENT. I NEVER EVEN WASTED MY BATTERY IN ANY WAY EITHER. WHAT IF THE CAR DECIDES TO TURN OFF WHILE I'M ON THE FREEWAY? I CAN'T AFFORD THAT TO HAPPEN. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Aug 9, 2012
CAR LURCHED, ENGINE SHUT OFF. CAR BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIT UP. EVENTUALLY MANAGED TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD WHERE THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED INTO PLACE. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS STILL FUNCTIONAL BUT CAR WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. OCCURRED AGAIN 800 MILES LATER AFTER "REPAIR" BOTH INCIDENTS NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jan 29, 2012
THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED THE NIGHT I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY BUCK/JOLT/JERK AS IF HITTING A SPEED BUMP IN A VERY JARRING MANNER. THIS ALSO HAPPENED DURING A TEST DRIVE OF A VEHICLE OF THE SAME TYPE AND COLOR (I'M NOT SURE IF THEY SOLD ME THE ONE DURING THE TEST DRIVE.). I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WHICH JOLTED IN THIS MANNER WAS REPAIRED AND SOLD TO ANOTHER CUSTOMER. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WERE TELLING THE TRUTH OR IF THEY GAVE ME THE SAME VEHICLE. STILL, THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT IS POTENTIALLY A BIG SAFETY HAZARD. THE SALESMAN WHO SAT NEXT TO ME WAS ALSO CONCERNED WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED TWICE IN THE SPAN OF ONE 10 MINUTE TEST DRIVE. I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW VEHICLE NOT EXPECTING THIS TYPE OF SERIOUS, INTERNAL ISSUE. AFTER SOME TESTING, I BELIEVE THAT THIS SUDDEN BUCK WILL MORE LIKELY OCCUR AFTER ACCELERATING THEN DECELERATING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. *TT