2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra. This model year has 669 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2012 Hyundai Elantra Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Electrical Faults
Airbag Malfunctions
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 142 | 3 | 7 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 128 | 4 | 1 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 127 | 26 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 97 | 8 | 3 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 90 | 9 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 68 | 4 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 51 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 44 | 8 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 43 | — | 1 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 39 | — | 3 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 26 | 3 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 19 | 1 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 18 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 18 | — | 1 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 17 | 2 | 2 | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 15 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 12 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 6 | 4 | — | — | |
| Equipment | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Firerelated | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 669 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
The contact owned a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that around 4:00 o'clock in the morning, she was awoken by the sound of her dogs barking; she then discovered that her vehicle had caught fire and had burned to the ground. The fire spread, which caught fire to a nearby…
The contact’s son owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while the contact’s son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled, and the rear of the vehicle caught fire. The contact’s son pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road, and t…
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. Neither an independent mechanic nor a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagno…
To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this complaint regarding a 2012 Hyundai Elantra equipped with the 1.8L Nu engine, which is experiencing premature internal engine damage that presents a potential safety risk. Vehicle details: Year/Make/Model: 2012 Hyundai Elantra Mileage:…
Car check engine light illuminated and car began shaking and stalled at 79284 miles. Local mechanic said engine was dry and would need full replacement, no dashboard lights indicating oil level or engine issues prior to this point.
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel became inoperable and failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint …
I have had my car since 201. I brought it brand new. In that time, I have had to replace the tire sensors (TPMS) on my tires multiple times. They keep failing or something is wrong with the system. Even after brand new tires (and sensors) the warning fault light on the dash i…
Driver side wheel baron was scrubbing together and brake fluid was leaking I lost speed can't go over 35 miles on the speedometer my airbag light is on on the dashboard, abs, the car with 2 lines and tire along with engine sign is on I look up for recall and it listed everything…
We went to a dealership to get it inspected due to a knocking noise in the engine. They used a tool and said it was most likely cylinder 3 piston slap. There was an issue with this according to Hyundai in the past. This puts my wife at risk because if it ends up blowing up, it co…
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V393000 (EQUIPMENT). The contact stated that the fuse on the modified Tire Mobility Kit failed after it was replaced as stated in the recall repair. The contact replaced the fuse with…
Car accident. My car was T-boned on the passenger side, the side airbag did deploy. The impact from the accident pushed my car into on coming traffic and I hit 2 other cars. One in the front grill and the other in the left rear quarter panel. The front airbag did not deploy and …
I have constantly had problems with the airbag light going on & off for simply no reason driving the road. Also the windshield sensor light keeps going off making it unsafe to drive at night. I am am a senior citizen & I have to work and I keep going back & forth with my mechanic…
. During the accident on February 1, 2025, at the moment of impact, the passenger seat belt suddenly unlatched and became stuck on my right hand. As a direct result, I suffered a fracture in my right hand at the exact point where the belt got caught, as well as fractures in my fo…
Seatbelt failed passenger was thrown forward hitting windshield afterwards airbag deployed throwing passenger upwards hitting roof of vehicle Issue: Delayed airbag deployment Issue: Seatbelt failure
The brake pedal stopper pad broke and fell off which resulted in the brake lights remaining illuminated the entire time the car was driving, which is very hazardous. I am not sure how long it had been broken for before I realized that this dangerous condition was occurring. The b…
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the ABS and air bag warning lights were intermittently illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the pa…
At first the car was fine when I bought if off some random guy and it drove a little rough but was good for the mean time. A month into driving the car I come to realize that the timing change needed to be replaced since it would keep turning off on its own in idle. As I was chan…
Unknown I have two urgent recall warnings on my vehicle and am unable to park near building structures according to the recall instructions.
My steering wheel started making loud rattling and clunking noise. This happened when I turned or slowed down or went over a bump. It got worse very quickly. I suddenly could not steer at all. So I ran into a pole. Thankfully it wasn't another car or a person. Many people have th…
I took my car into Burns Hyundai (Marlton, NJ) for the ABS recall on [XXX], and while leaving the lot, my car doors began locking/unlocking when I braked or accelerated... I called them and took it back on the 10/09 and I was told they did everything correctly and I would have to…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra.
Recalls for 2012 Hyundai Elantra
4 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2012 Hyundai Elantra — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2012 Hyundai Elantra reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2012 Hyundai Elantra has 669 NHTSA owner complaints, 48 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (142 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Hyundai Elantra?▾
#1: Engine Problems (142 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (128 complaints). #3: Airbag Malfunctions (127 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Hyundai Elantra?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2012 Hyundai Elantra?▾
The 2012 Hyundai Elantra has 48 crash-related complaints and 12 fire reports out of 669 total NHTSA complaints. 42 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2012 Hyundai Elantra have any recalls?▾
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The largest issue: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC). Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2012 Hyundai Elantra?▾
The 2012 Hyundai Elantra has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Hyundai Elantra reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2012 Hyundai Elantra
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.