Your vehicle report
2012 Hyundai Elantra
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 654
- Received Sep 2011 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Airbag warning light stays on75 complaints · 11% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Engine won't start or cranks intermittently73 complaints · 11% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Engine stalls and loses power while driving33 complaints · 5.1% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #23V651000Park outsideHyundai 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.
- Recall #20V393000Hyundai 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Vehicle catches fire from wiringFirst signal: Apr 2026
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 47 crashes, 12 fires, 44 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 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 (to Oct 2026) | 14 |
| Total | 654 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag warning light stays on | 75 | 11% | – | |
| Engine won't start or cranks intermittently | 73 | 11% | – | |
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 33 | 5.1% | – | |
| Engine knocking from rod or main bearings | 28 | 4.3% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 24 | 3.7% | 7.4× | NHTSA recall #13V115000 |
| Steering wheel clunks or clicks when turning | 23 | 3.5% | – | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 22 | 3.4% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 20 | 3.1% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 17 | 2.6% | – | |
| Coil springs break and puncture tires | 15 | 2.3% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 13 | 2.0% | 6.1× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Apr 2026 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.4% |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 13 | 2.0% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 10 | 1.5% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 10 | 1.5% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 8 | 1.2% | – | |
| Brake lights fail or stay on | 8 | 1.2% | – | |
| Gear shifter fails to register Park | 8 | 1.2% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 7 | 1.1% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 7 | 1.1% | – | |
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 7 | 1.1% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #23V651000September 22, 20231,649,478 vehicles affected
Park outside: NHTSA advises this until the repair is done.
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 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.
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 recall #20V393000July 2, 2020272,126 vehicles affected
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 overheat with prolonged use, such as by using the Tire Mobility Kit air compressor to inflate a tire.
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 recall #15V871000December 23, 2015155,000 vehicles affected
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 engine power may be reduced. These symptoms will be accompanied by illumination of the ESC indicator lamp in the instrument cluster.
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 recall #13V115000April 1, 2013186,250 vehicles affected
air bags: side/window; structure
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.
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN