2012 Hyundai Elantra problems and complaints
Owners have filed 676 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The most-reported areas: Engine (140), Electrical System (129), Air Bags (128).
Key takeaways
- 676 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 49 involve a crash, 13 a fire, 47 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 140 | 21% |
| Electrical System | 129 | 19% |
| Air Bags | 128 | 19% |
| Service Brakes | 101 | 15% |
| Steering | 90 | 13% |
| Unknown Or Other | 68 | 10% |
| Suspension | 51 | 8% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 44 | 7% |
| Power Train | 43 | 6% |
| Hydraulic | 41 | 6% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 | 4% |
| Wheels | 19 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Headlight bulb
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Hyundai Elantra 4 DR FWD Later Release | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2012 Hyundai Elantra 4 DR FWD Early Release | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2012 Hyundai Elantra 2 DR FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic - filed 2026-10-16
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from under the hood. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road, and the contact exite...
Service Brakes - filed 2026-09-28
Rear metal brake line is heavily corroded and leaking. Failed approaching intersection and had to use emergency brake to avoid crash.
Engine - filed 2026-08-20
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle was diagnosed with a failed crankshaft sens...
Diagnose it yourself
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
More for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.