Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.

Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.

ProblemsByVin File / 2012-HYUNDAI-ELANTRA
2012 · hyundai

hyundai Elantra problems

1 safety recall. 669 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

0 5 10
Reliability score
6.6 / 10

Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.

0
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate

Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

airbags
107 reports · avg $1,100
severe
electrical
103 reports · avg $850
severe
steering
90 reports · avg $700
severe
engine
75 reports · avg $3,100
severe
brakes
57 reports · avg $450
severe
suspension
45 reports · avg $900
moderate
powertrain
37 reports · avg $2,500
severe
tires
15 reports · avg $150
severe

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2012 Elantra · steering
STEERING GETS STICKY OR STUCK. IT'S NOT LIKE IT GETS COMPLETELY STUCK THAT YOU CAN'T TURN THE WHEEL, BUT THERE'S A NOTICEABLE RESISTANCE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AND WANTING TO CHANGE LANES. LEFT OR RIGHT IT DOES IT BOTH…
12/31/2016 · NHTSA ODI #10938950.0
2012 Elantra · other
CAR WON'T START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. FOR ABOUT A WEEK STRAIGHT, I WOULD TRY TO START MY CAR IN THE MORNING AND IT WOULD NOT START. ALL LIGHTS COME ON IN THE CAR SO IT'S NOT THE BATTERY. AFTER ABOUT 3 TRIES, CAR STARTS. ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I LEAVE WORK AT LUNCH TIME AFTER IT HAS…
12/31/2014 · NHTSA ODI #10669240.0
2012 Elantra · engine
Car has been properly maintained for years. No accidents or known major issues. Suddenly the car would not start one workday morning. The tow truck driver was unable to start the car; towed car to repair location. Nationally known major service station said the car was low on…
12/30/2021 · NHTSA ODI #11445532.0
2012 Elantra · suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP, TAR, OR ROUGH PAVEMENT, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME UNSTABLE AND SWAY VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED.…
12/30/2015 · NHTSA ODI #10816949.0

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 15V871000 23/12/2015

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Elantra vehicles manufactured October 29, 2010, to October 25, 2011

If the one or more of the brakes are inappropriately applied, control of the vehicle may be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Common questions

Is the 2012 Hyundai Elantra reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.6 out of 10 based on 669 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Hyundai Elantra has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

What's the most common problem on the 2012 Hyundai Elantra?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 107 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Hyundai Elantra has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2012 Hyundai Elantra?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 669 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 10 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with hyundai. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
Get a free warranty quote →