2012 Hyundai Elantra Reliability
The 2012 Hyundai Elantra has 676 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Compared with other Elantra model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Elantra's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
676
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Recall campaigns
49
Complaints citing a crash
13
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Hyundai Elantra complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2011 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 140 | 21% |
| Electrical system | 129 | 19% |
| Air bags | 128 | 19% |
| Service brakes | 99 | 15% |
| Steering | 90 | 13% |
| Unknown or other | 68 | 10% |
| Suspension | 51 | 8% |
| Stability control | 44 | 7% |
2012 Hyundai Elantra recalls
4 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V115000 | Apr 1, 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. |
| 15V871000 | Dec 23, 2015 | Stability control | 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… |
| 20V393000 | Jul 2, 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… |
| 23V651000 | Sep 22, 2023 | Service brakes — 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…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
How the 2012 compares with nearby Elantra years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Elantra analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 455 | 3 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2011 | 461 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2012 (this page) | 676 | 4 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2013 | 1,331 | 4 | Service brakes | Avoid |
| 2014 | 387 | 2 | Engine | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2012 Hyundai Elantra on the used market
- 24 of 428 2012 Hyundai Elantra listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2012 Hyundai Elantra
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 4 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2012 Hyundai Elantra can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2012 Hyundai Elantra reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
The 2012 Hyundai Elantra has 676 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Compared with other Elantra model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Elantra's typical year.
What are the most common 2012 Hyundai Elantra problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra are engine (140), electrical system (129), air bags (128), service brakes (99). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Hyundai Elantra have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra, including 13V115000 (air bags — side/window) and 15V871000 (stability control). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Hyundai Elantra compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 461 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid); the 2013 has 1,331 complaints and 4 recalls (avoid). The 2012 has 676 complaints and 4 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 Hyundai Elantra?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Hyundai Elantra research
Other Hyundai Elantra model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 Elantra, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.