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
675 reports, newest first.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 27, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. IN ADDITION, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND POWER STEERING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HYUNDAI OF NEW PORT RICHEY (3936 US HIGHWAY 19, NEW PORT RICHEY, FL 34652, (727) 359-0633), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,863.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Engine, Aug 24, 2018
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON LEFT LANE, ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED AND CAR SKIDDED A LITTLE BECAUSE BRAKE WAS DEPLOYED AUTOMATICALLY OR THE WHEEL LOCKED. IT MADE 2 BRAKING/SKIDDING SOUND. THEN SUDDENLY I WAS ABLE TO STEER AGAIN AND POSITION THE CAR TO THE RIGHT FOR SAFETY. ENGINE WONT TURN ON. BURNING SMELL AND SOME SMOKE MAYBE FROM LOCKED BRAKE? CAR TOWED TO NEAREST HYUNDAI SHOP.
Electrical system, Aug 23, 2018, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT WAS PUMPING AIR INTO THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE VIA THE VEHICLE'S TIRE AIR PUMP SYSTEM AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TURNED ON WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER (TEXOMA HYUNDAI, 2500 TEXOMA PKWY, SHERMAN, TX 75090, (903) 892-0999) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 20, 2018
THE BRAKES LIGHTS AND FRONT PASSENGER LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS GOING. APPARENTLY, ITS HAPPENING WITH MANY HYUNDAI CUSTOMERS, THERE FORUM WRITTEN ONLINE ABOUT THESE SAME ISSUES ALL THE TIME. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE OVER 30 BULBS IN 4 YEARS.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 14, 2018
TAKATA RECALL CAR DOESN'T WANT TO START AND STRUGGLES TO DO SO. HAVE REPLACED BATTERY AND KEY FOB BATTERIES. THIS HAS TO BE A STARTER ISSUE, POSSIBLY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. SAYS "KEY OUT" WHILE I'M DRIVING IT HALF THE TIME. I AM AFRAID IT WILL CUT OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING IT! I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS! BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS.
Engine, Aug 10, 2018
VEHICLE STALLED TWICE WHILE DRIVING. ONCE WHILE MERGING FROM A HIGHWAY ON TO A SURFACE STREET. HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE INVOLVING 2012 ELANTRAS AND OTHER YEARS AS WELL. THIS ISSUE WAS ALSO PRESENT IN THE SONATA, AND ULTIMATELY WAS SETTLED WITH A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. SPEAKING WITH AN ATTORNEY WE ARE ALSO AWARE OF INSTANCES WHERE VEHICLES HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE AS A RESULT OF THESE DEFECTIVE ENGINES.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Aug 3, 2018
WELL I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND LATER FOUND OUT IT HAD A RECALL ON IT.... SOMETIMES WHEN I PRESS THE BREAKS IT SEEM LIKE IT FLOODING AND BE PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND MAKING NOISES UNDERNEATH NEAR TIRES.. IT ALSO HAVE A SENSOR LIGHTS ON.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Aug 1, 2018
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.
Steering, Aug 1, 2018
WHILE DRIVING CAR STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND. CALLED HYUNDAI WAS TOLD TO CALL SERVICE LET SERVICE DEPARTMENTS KNOW THE PROBLEM IS TXX7 MDPS CUPPLING. ADVISED NOT SURE IF COVERED WITH MY100,000 WARRANTY ASK SERVICE DEPT. CASE #1484920
Air bags, Jul 17, 2018
THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL CAMPAIGN ON THE CLOCKSPRING FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND OFF WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. HYUNDAI CHARGED FOR A DIAGNOSIS WHICH REVEALED A "B1346 DRIVER AIRBAG RESISTANCE TOO HIGH (1ST STAGE)" CODE, BUT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING UNDER WARRANTY. ON HYUNDAI'S OWN WEBSITE THEY DESCRIBE THE REASON FOR THE ADDITIONAL WARRANTY AS: "THE CLOCK SPRING IS AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WHICH ROTATES WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAINTAIN PROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE AIRBAG UNIT. HYUNDAI'S SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO ILLUMINATE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WHEN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE INCREASES, WHICH CAN BE CONTRIBUTED TO BY USAGE PATTERNS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS." AND IN REGARDS TO WARRANTY EXTENSION: "HYUNDAI IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY TO 15 YEARS, UNLIMITED MILEAGE, FROM THE DATE OF ORIGINAL RETAIL DELIVERY OR DATE OF FIRST USE. THIS COVERAGE IS AUTOMATIC; THERE IS NO ACTION NEEDED ON YOUR BEHALF." I WOULD LIKE HYUNDAI OF AMERICA TO REPLACE THE PART AS PROMISED, AS I CAN'T AFFORD TO DO MORE DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES, AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
Engine, Jul 9, 2018
DRIVING DOWN ROAD ENGINE DIED TOWED TO DEALER TOLD NEEDED NEW ENGINE HAD ONE AT 44,000 DONE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS ENGINE LASTED TO 76,000 NOW NEEDS ANOTHER ENGINE. ENGINE IS SO BACKORDERED DEALERSHIP TELLING ME 6 MONTHS. SO MANY ELANTRA ENGINES BLOWING UP SHOULD BE A RECALL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Engine, Jul 5, 2018, crash
AFTER PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPACE, I WENT TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND IT LUNGED FORWARD SEVERAL FEET ONTO THE PAVEMENT AND UP 2 STEPS IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE...THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, AT THE CURB
Engine, Jun 24, 2018
TAPPING FROM ENGINE. HAVE ASKED DEALER TO INSPECT AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO ISSUE FOR THE LAST FOUR OIL CHANGES AND INSPECTIONS. WITH THE RECALL OF OTHER HYUNDAI, I'M THINKING THIS MAYBE THE SAME ISSUE.
Power train, Engine, Jun 21, 2018
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO AUTO ZONE & VIDE 0713 & P0711. I ALSO TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AAMCO WHICH VERIFY THE SENSOR IN THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED HOWEVER THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE TRANSMISSION APART TO FIX. I ONLY HAVE 31,000 ON MY VEHICLE. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ALREADY OR DO YOU EXPECT THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER 1000,000 EVEN THOUGH I AM 2ND OWNER. THEY DID GIVE ME A CARD FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
Suspension, Jun 18, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE VEHICLE. UPON PULLING OVER AND INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING PUNCTURED ONE OF THE TIRES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS ATTRIBUTED TO THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
Other or unspecified, Jun 11, 2018
ON ABOUT 3/23/2016 I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON I-287 ON MY MORNING COMMUTE WHEN MY SUNROOF EXPLODED, RAINING GLASS DOWN UPON ME. I ASSUMED IT WAS HIT BY A ROCK UNTIL I READ ABOUT THE EXPLODING SUNROOF PROBLEM. MY INSURANCE COMPANY (GEICO) PAID $1,323 TO REPLACE THE SUNROOF.
Steering, Jun 7, 2018
STEERING WHEEL IS WOBBLY. MY MECHANIC SAID HE COULDN'T FIX. NEED TO TAKE TO DEALERSHIP
Air bags, May 18, 2018, crash
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING, ON MARCH 23, 2013, JUST THREE DAYS BEFORE I AM TO HAVE AN ANTERIOR CERVICAL DISCECTOMY AND FUSION (WHICH IS THE RESULT OF A PREVIOUS AUTO ACCIDENT) A DRUNK DRIVER RUNS A RED LIGHT. T-BONING OUR 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE IMPACT CAUSES THE 2012 ELANTRA TO SPIN THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, COMING TO REST IN ITS ORIGINAL DIRECTION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STREET, JUST A FEW FEET SHY OF A LARGE TREE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.
Air bags, May 18, 2018, crash
IN JUNE 2012 A TRUCK MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS T-BONED BY ME IN A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE TRUCK WAS HIT SO HARD IT ROCKED OVER ONTO ITS DRIVER SIDE WHEELS BEFORE COMING TO REST ON ALL FOUR. I LEARNED LATER THE IMPACT BROKE THE REAR AXLE. THAT SAID, MY FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
Service brakes, May 17, 2018
I HAVE HAD A FEW INCIDENTS WHERE MY CAR SUDDEN ACCELERATES WHEN I AM NOT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR.
Electrical system, May 14, 2018
THE VEHICLE HAS CONSTANT INTERMITTENT START UP ISSUES WHERE YOU GET A CLICK WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF WHAT IF THE CAR RANDOMLY CUTS OUT WHILE DRIVING? THE FACT THAT THEY CHANTED THE BATTERY SIZE HAS CREATED CONCERNS OF POTENTIAL FIRES WITH THE VEHICLE AS THE FAULTY WIRING MIXED WITH A BATTERY SIZE THAT JUST A YEAR LATER HYUNDAI CHANGED COULD LEAD TO A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THE FACT HYUNDAI IS CHARGING PEOPLE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR "FIXES" THAT WITHIN HOURS OF COMPLETION ARE RENDERED WORTHLESS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS ISSUE IS WIDELY SEEN ONLINE FOR THIS YEAR MODEL BUT HYUNDAI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. EVEN SPOKE TO A PARTS MANAGER FROM HYUNDAI AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL IN PARTICULAR AS IT WAS THE FIRST OF THE NEW BODY STYLE AND THAT BY THE 2013 MODEL THEY HAD MADE CHANGES TO THE BATTERY SIZE AND CONNECTORS WHICH CORRECTED THE ISSUE FOR FUTURE MODELS.
Engine, May 14, 2018
MY ENGINE HAS VERY LOUD TICKING SOUNDS. AS WELL WHEN I GO TO SHIFT MY CAR BACK INTO PARK THE ENGINE REVS ERRATICALLY. WHILE SITTING IDLING IT GOES LOWER AND HIGHER.
Engine, Apr 26, 2018
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE 2012 ELANTRA WITH 85200 MILES. I HAVE HAD IT FOR 1 1/2 YEARS AND NOW MY SON OWNS IT (AS OF AUG 2017, MAKING HIM THE THIRD OWNER. HE LIVES WITH ME). THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AS REQUIRED. THE TICKING SOUND THE ENGINE MADE SINCE WE GOT THE CAR HAS BEEN STEADILY INCREASING IN SOUND, AND OF RECENT, IT IS THE WORST IT HAS BEEN. I SELL CARS FULL TIME (OUR DEALERSHIP OWNS 2 HYUNDAI STORES), AND I ALSO OWN ANOTHER 2013 ELANTRA THAT I DRIVE PRESENTLY. OUR SERVICE DEPT TOOK APART THE ENGINE (ON THE 2012) TO FIND METAL SHAVINGS WHICH LED TO THE DIAGNOSIS THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE. MY SON IS 2000 MILES OUT OF HIS EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND HYUNDAI, NOR THE WARRANTY COMPANY IS EAGER TO FIX IT. I WAS TOLD BY OUR SERVICE DEPT THAT IN THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF, 5 ELANTRAS CAME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM NEEDING NEW ENGINES AND HYUNDAI WOULDN'T REPLACE. HYUNDAI STATES THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO A RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS BECOMING A BIGGER AND BIGGER UNIVERSAL PROBLEM WITH ELANTRA OWNERS. THE TICKING IS LOUDEST WHEN RUNNING COLD, AND/OR IN COLD WEATHER. (CAR IS IN OHIO). METAL SHAVINGS FROM THE ENGINE FOUND IN THE OIL IS NOT A 'NORMAL' ISSUE. I AM SEEKING RECOURSE WITH HYUNDAI TO FIX/REPLACE MY ENGINE. THE DATE STATED ON THIS FORM AS TO "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" IS WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY DEALERSHIP AT WORK TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE TICKING HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BUT NEVER AS LOUD AS IT HAS BECOME. MY SON HAS HAD THE CAR AT COLLEGE, BUT I KEEP TRACK OF IT NEEDING OIL CHANGES AND HAVE DOCUMENTATION.
Suspension, Apr 25, 2018
I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A STORE PARKING LOT AND WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP. MY FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO A CAR REPAIR PLACE AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT THERE THROUGH BURNING RUBBER AND INCREDIBLY LOUD NOISE. I BOUGHT THE TIRES A MONTH PRIOR. WHOLE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS REPLACED.
Other or unspecified, Apr 23, 2018
RADIO HAS STOPPED WORKING