2012 Hyundai Elantra: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 672 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 4 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
672
Complaints
4
Recalls
49
Crash reports
12
Fire reports
47
Injuries
95.8
Severity index
Severity index 95.8 - High. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 129 2012 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2012 Hyundai Elantra ranks 33 of 129 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 74% of its model-year peers. See the full 2012 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 139 | 20.7% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 129 | 19.2% |
| AIR BAGS | 128 | 19.0% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 98 | 14.6% |
| STEERING | 90 | 13.4% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 68 | 10.1% |
| SUSPENSION | 51 | 7.6% |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 44 | 6.5% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 139 of 672 complaints (20.7%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 28 |
| 2013 | 30 |
| 2014 | 53 |
| 2015 | 63 |
| 2016 | 83 |
| 2017 | 51 |
| 2018 | 53 |
| 2019 | 80 |
| 2020 | 54 |
| 2021 | 37 |
| 2022 | 23 |
| 2023 | 44 |
| 2024 | 48 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 10 |
Complaint volume is broadly steady year over year.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15V871000 | 23/12/2015 | ELECTRONIC 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 |
| 13V115000 | 01/04/2013 | AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 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. |
| 20V393000 | 02/07/2020 | EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL | 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 o |
| 23V651000 | 22/09/2023 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 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 vehicl |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.