vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Hyundai ELANTRA: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

652 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

62,651 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 426 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 139 of 652 complaints (21.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior13120.1%
Steering behavior9614.7%
Electrical and battery issues7211.0%
Transmission and shifting365.5%
Engine operation314.8%
Fuel system concerns81.2%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine
139
Air Bags
123
Electrical System
123
Steering
88
Unknown Or Other
66
Service Brakes
59
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
44
Suspension
43
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine139
Air Bags123
Electrical System123
Steering88
Unknown Or Other66
Service Brakes59
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)44
Suspension43

Engine: 139; Air Bags: 123; Electrical System: 123; Steering: 88; Unknown Or Other: 66; Service Brakes: 59; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 44; Suspension: 43

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
69
25,000 to 49,999
92
50,000 to 74,999
99
75,000 to 99,999
73
100,000 to 149,999
78
150,000 and above
15
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00069
25,000 to 49,99992
50,000 to 74,99999
75,000 to 99,99973
100,000 to 149,99978
150,000 and above15

Under 25,000: 69; 25,000 to 49,999: 92; 50,000 to 74,999: 99; 75,000 to 99,999: 73; 100,000 to 149,999: 78; 150,000 and above: 15

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (99). 226 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2011
5
2012
27
2013
25
2014
50
2015
60
2016
81
2017
51
2018
52
2019
73
2020
54
2021
37
2022
23
2023
44
2024
48
2025
10
2026
12
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20115
201227
201325
201450
201560
201681
201751
201852
201973
202054
202137
202223
202344
202448
202510
202612

2011: 5; 2012: 27; 2013: 25; 2014: 50; 2015: 60; 2016: 81; 2017: 51; 2018: 52; 2019: 73; 2020: 54; 2021: 37; 2022: 23; 2023: 44; 2024: 48; 2025: 10; 2026: 12

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 131 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 96 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 72 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10424735 · 2011-09-12 (September 12, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOW SHIELD TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDES OF THE WINDOW BLOCK HIS VISION. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONTACT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,700.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424735 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10427043 · 2011-09-24 (September 24, 2011)

WHILE PULLING ONTO A CITY STREET AWAY FROM A CURB, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO DRIVE.I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE GEAR SELECTOR HAD JUMPED OUT OF D TO N. DID NOT. TRIED TO CONTINUE DOWN THE STREET, AND THE CAR DID THE SAME THING AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY OUT OF 1ST GEAR. RPM'S AND ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE, BUT TRANSMISSION WAS CONTINUING TO GRIND, BANG, JUMP AND NOT SHIFT. AFTER COAXING THE CAR TO MY RESIDENCE, SOME THREE OR FOUR BLOCKS AWAY, I NOTIFIED THE 24 HOUR HYUNDAI ASSISTANCE LIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,464 miles reported. Look up ODI 10427043 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10440887 · 2011-12-21 (December 21, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT ABNORMALLY INTO THE LEFT LANE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE TECHNICIANS REPLACE THE REAR AXLE. THE REAR AXLE WAS REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE APP…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,006 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440887 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10440980 · 2011-12-22 (December 22, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE HOOD FLEW OPEN INADVERTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HOOD WAS MISALIGNED. THE HOOD WAS ALIGNED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440980 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10441405 · 2011-12-27 (December 27, 2011)

I HAVE HAD TWO WINDSHIELDS CRACKS IN A 6 WEEK PERIOD OF TIME. THE DIAMETER OF THE IMPACT ON THE INITIAL IMPACT ON 11/911 WAS THE SIZE OF A PEA AND LEFT A HORIZONTAL CRACK THAT WAS ABOUT 12". THE SECOND IMPACT, ON ANOTHER BRAND NEW WINDSHIELD, LEFT AN IMPACT THE SIZE OF A PIN HEAD AND A CRACK 18" LONG. I BELIEVE THESE ARE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS, I DID NOT EVEN HEAR THE IMPACT ON THE SECOND WINDSHIELD. BY THE TIME I SAW THE CRACK AND PARKED MY CAR THE CRACK WAS ALMOST 6" LONG. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10441405 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10443541 · 2012-01-12 (January 12, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO TIRES, TIRE SIZE 205/55R/16 H426. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE TIRES EXHIBITED BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE CENTER WHERE BOTH DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10443541 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10443774 · 2012-01-14 (January 14, 2012)

THE HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2012 IS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT AND REAR SEAT WARMERS. THE SWITCH FOR THE FRONT SEATS RESETS TO OFF WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. THE SWITCH FOR THE REAR SEATS, HOWEVER, REMAINS IN THE ON POSITION. THE NEXT TIME THE CAR IS TURNED ON, THE REAR SEAT WARMERS WILL BE ACTIVATED AGAIN UNTIL THEY ARE MANUALLY DEACTIVATED. A CAVEAT IN THE HYUNDAI MANUAL STATES: "WITH THE SEAT WARMER SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION, THE HEATING SYSTEM IN THE SEAT TURNS OFF AND ON AUTOMATICALLY DEPENDING ON THE SEAT TEMPERATURE." THIS SAFETY FEATURE IS TO PRE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10443774 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10445049 · 2012-01-24 (January 24, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE, THE TRANSMISSION MADE A LOUD CLUNKY NOISE AND SHIFTED GEARS NOISILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 218.

Owner-reported narrative. 139 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445049 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

13V115000 · Structure | Air Bags:Side/Window

Reported: 2013-04-01 (April 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.

Consequence: If the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration injury.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
15V871000 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Reported: 2015-12-23 (December 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.

Consequence: If the one or more of the brakes are inappropriately applied, control of the vehicle may be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
20V393000 · Equipment:Electrical

Reported: 2020-07-02 (July 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.

Consequence: An overheated accessory outlet increases the risk of fire.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
23V651000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module

Reported: 2023-09-22 (September 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.

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗