2012 Hyundai Elantra problems and recalls

Owners have filed 674 complaints on the 2012 Hyundai Elantra, and NHTSA has issued 4 recalls. The most cited component is the Engine (140 complaints).

674
Complaints
4
Recalls
49
Crash reports
12
Fire reports
47
Injuries
91.1
Severity index

Severity index 91.1 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 91.1p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 24 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 82% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 140 complaints (20.8%)140 21%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 129 complaints (19.1%)129 19%Air BagsAir Bags: 128 complaints (19.0%)128 19%Service BrakesService Brakes: 99 complaints (14.7%)99 15%SteeringSteering: 90 complaints (13.4%)90 13%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 68 complaints (10.1%)68 10%SuspensionSuspension: 51 complaints (7.6%)51 8%Electronic Stability Co…Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 44 complaints (6.5%)44 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE14020.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12919.1%
AIR BAGS12819.0%
SERVICE BRAKES9914.7%
STEERING9013.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6810.1%
SUSPENSION517.6%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)446.5%

Complaints filed per year

042832011: 52012: 282013: 302014: 532015: 632016: 832017: 512018: 532019: 802020: 542021: 372022: 232023: 442024: 482025: 102026: 12 (partial year)1112131415168317181920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20115
201228
201330
201453
201563
201683
201751
201853
201980
202054
202137
202223
202344
202448
202510
2026 (year to date)12
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (102 against 114).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
15V87100023/12/2015ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)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 e
13V11500001/04/2013AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOWHyundai 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.
20V39300002/07/2020EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICALHyundai 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 o
23V65100022/09/2023SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULEHyundai 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 vehicl

Other Hyundai Elantra model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.