RoadVitals

2012 Hyundai Elantra Other / unspecified Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the other system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Other / unspecified reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
22
Latest Jan 22, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 651 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Hyundai Elantra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming other

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Other / unspecified
Filed Jan 22, 2026

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 illuminates intermittently. Sometimes after 45 miles, it goes off. If I go on a rough road it sometimes illuminates and stays on for some time. The only fix mechanics have is to replace them every time, just for me to have the issue repeat later.

NHTSA ID
11712705
Incident
Jan 17, 2026
BrakesElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Dec 10, 2025

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 my 2012 Hyundai Elantra is doing I took it to Hyundai dealership in Orlando Florida on West colonial drive and 2 hours they called said it was ready they didn't do anything all the the same lights still on on the dashboard still leaking brake fluid and wheel baron and my brakes still scrubbing against each other speed reduction they claim they did the recall would not look at it again said they did it nothing changed I'm taking a risk of fire starting from brake fluid hitting the electrical box and wheel coming of and again All the lights on the dashboard is still on my name email address and everything is wrong on the paperwork except my phone number and I gave him my license with my information on it I'm asking the advisor how can he tell me that the work was done and recall doesn't necessary fix the problem but he knew my car remember everything that's impossible I told him why the lights still on and nothing changed also I asked him how do he know it's repaired he showed me no parts came off my car to say it was replaced nothing was replaced

NHTSA ID
11704352
Incident
Dec 1, 2025
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 18, 2025

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 one of the extra fuses provided by the dealer after the recall part was replaced. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,500.

NHTSA ID
11700102
Incident
Nov 11, 2025
Mileage
120,500 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Dec 3, 2024
Crash reported

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 this same issue. This needs to be recalled ASAP. It's either the pinion and rack issue or the steering wheel issue.

NHTSA ID
11628690
Incident
Nov 6, 2024
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 7, 2024
Fire reported

The contact owned a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving the vehicle, there was a smoke odor and the engine caught fire. The check engine light was illuminated. The contact pulled off the road and pushed the vehicle to a safe place where the fire would not spread to other objects. The vehicle was not drivable. There were no injuries and no police or fire report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 225,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID
11575963
Incident
Feb 15, 2024
Mileage
225,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jan 11, 2024

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ID
11564917
Incident
May 18, 2023
Other / unspecified
Filed Oct 5, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V393000 (EQUIPMENT) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REACH A REPRESENTATIVE AT SOUTHTOWNE HYUNDAI OF RIVERDALE (7665 US HWY 85, RIVERDALE, GA 30274) BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11362808
Incident
Sep 1, 2020
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 31, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V393000 (EQUIPMENT) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED MCDONALD HYUNDAI (6500 S. BROADWAY, LITTLETON, CO 80121; (720) 513-6046) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11352319
Incident
Aug 31, 2020
AirbagsOther / unspecified
Filed Feb 13, 2020

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY DASH CAME ON ABOUT A MONTH AGO FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND I HAD MY CAR INSPECTED AND NO CODES WERE SHOWN. THE REASON FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL UNKNOWN AND I WORRY THAT THE AIRBAG WONT DEPLOY IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. I'VE HEARD THIS HAPPENING TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT HYUNDAI ELANTRA OWNERS AND I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A SOLUTION FOR THIS COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11308918
Incident
Jan 19, 2020
Mileage
109,500 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Feb 10, 2020

ONE TPMS SENSOR FAILED DECEMBER 2018, NOW THE OTHER 3 FAILED IN THE SPAN OF THE LAST 6 WEEKS. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ITEM. HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THE TIRE IS REALLY LOW WHEN DRIVING, OTHER THAN A VISUAL OR AN AIR GAUGE. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING, ON THE LAST 3, THE CODE SHOWED ON START-UP

NHTSA ID
11308256
Incident
Dec 28, 2018
Mileage
54,000 mi
BrakesElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Jun 28, 2019

TAKATA RECALL. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER IN 2016 AROUND THE TIME A RECAL FOR IT WENT OUT AND I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL TODAY. MY CAR SOMETIMES TAKES TWO TIMES TO ACTUALLY START. I TURN KEY AND HAVE TO EITHER HOLD IT OR STOP AND DO IT AGAIN. MY CAR HYDROPLANES EXTREMELY EASILY COMPARED TO OTHER VEHICLES. NORMALLY IT IS ONLY A SECOND BESIDES THE TIME I REAR ENDED SOMEONE WITH NO BAD WEATHER THEN ANOTHER WHILE IT WAS RAINING AND I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL AND THANK GOD NO ONE WAS AROUND ME AND I AM USED TO THE VEHICLE SO I COULD GAIN CONTROL AGAIN TRULY A MIRACLE. OTHER SMALLER ISSUES I IGNORE.

NHTSA ID
11223168
Incident
Jun 26, 2019
ElectricalOther / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Sep 11, 2018

MY CAR HIGHLIGHTS HAS WENT OUT SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAVE REPLACED THE LIGHTS AND THEY STILL GOES OUT . AND THE BRAKES LIGHTS GOES OUT, AND NOW MY RACK PINYON IS GONE OUT. THIS CAR HAS COST ME MORE MONEY THAN ITS WORTH

NHTSA ID
11128611
Incident
Sep 8, 2018
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 15, 2018

STEERING WHEEL CLICKS WHEN MOVED EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT, EVEN WHEN NOT MOVING.

NHTSA ID
11085127
Incident
Apr 1, 2018
Mileage
69,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jan 16, 2017

I NOTICED I HAD TO AIR MY TIRE UP ONCE EVERY FEW DAYS, SO I THOUGHT THERE WAS A NAIL OR SLOW LEAK IN MY BRAND NEW TIRE, BUT THEN I HAD TO START AIRING IT UP DAILY, I THEN TOOK IT TO THE TIRE SHOP, THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO GET A NEW RIM BECAUSE THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE INSIDE OF MY RIM. BY THE TIME MY NEW RIM CAME IN I WAS HAVING TO AIR MY TIRE UP EVERY HOUR. I KEPT THE CRACKED RIM. I WAS DRIVING WHEN I NOTICED IT GOING LOW. IT DID CAUSE A BLOWOUT ON MY NEW TIRE, THERE IS NO REASON A 4 YEAR OLD RIM SHOULD HAVE CRACKED ON THE INSIDE. THEY ARE ALLOY WHEELS. BUT I HAD TO PAY ALMOST 200 DOLLARS FOR A NEW RIM AND THEN ANOTHER 100 ON A NEW TIRE AFTER I HAD JUST BOUGHT 4 OF THEM. THERE HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT ON THE ALLOY WHEELS. IF THE RIM WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO BE ON THE FRONT OF MY CAR IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10945454
Incident
Dec 23, 2016
Mileage
126,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Nov 14, 2016

BOTH REAR CALIPERS WERE SUBSTANTIALLY FROZEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AUTO HAS 20,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
10925949
Incident
Nov 9, 2016
Mileage
20,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Jul 27, 2016

I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW FROM A HYUNDAI DEALER IN MARCH 2012 PROBLEM 1. SINCE EARLY ON, THE CAR ALWAYS EXHIBITED A SERIOUS INSTABILITY IN THE REAR END. SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING, WHEN DRIVING ON ANY SMALL BUMP FOUND ON ANY NORMAL ROAD, THE CAR REAR SUSPENSION WILL NOT ABSORBE THE BUMP LIKE ANY NORMAL CAR WOULD BUT INSTEAD SEVERELY JUMPS AND THEN 'DARTS OR SHIFTS' LATERALLY. EVEN IN DRY PAVEMENT. HAVING LIVED IN THE NE AND ILLINOIS NOW, I AM A VERY EXPERIENCED DRIVING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. DRIVING THIS CAR IN EVEN 1/2" OF SNOW IS DOWNRIGHT TERRIFYING. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REAR END CONTROL AND TOTAL INSTABILITY NO MATTER HOW CAREFUL YOU DRIVE. I HAVE FOUND MYSELF NOT KNOWING IF I WAS GOING TO MAKE HOME WITHOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE PAST TWO WINTERS I HAD TO USE OTHER VEHICLE EVEN IF THE WEATHER FORECAST CALL FOR SNOWN FLURRIES. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A CAR SO UNSTABLE IN MY 45 YEARS OF DRIVING. BY THE WAY, LOADING UP THE CAR WITH PASSENGERS OR ADDITIONAL WEIGHT HAS ZERO IMPACT REDUCING THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM 2 THE REAR TIRES WEAR OUT VERY FAST. EVEN THOUGH I ROTATE THEM EVEN 5K MILES, THEY WEAR SO BADLY THAT THEY PRODUCE A LOUD ROAD NOISE FROM UNEVEN WEAR. I AM ON MY THIRD SET OF TIRES AND THESE NEED REPLACEMENT NOW. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO TO HYUNDAI, THEY CHECKED ALIGNMENT AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THE PROBLEM MUST BE THE TIRES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I LEARNED THESE CARS HAVE A SOLID , NON-ADJUSTABLE REAR END WITH A FIXED TOE-IN AND CAMBER. I AM CERTAIN THAT BOTH PROBLEMS I LISTED ARE CAUSED BY HYUNDAI'S REAR END DESIGN. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND HYUNDAI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE ACCIDENTS WITH LOSS OF LIFE WILL OCCUR. WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO THIS COMING WINTER? .A NEIGHBOR WITH A 2013 ELANTRA COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME INSTABILITY.

NHTSA ID
10889146
Incident
Dec 1, 2012
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Jun 1, 2016

DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE 2012 ELANTRA SUSPENSION/REAR END, THE REAR WHEEL TIRES ARE WORN OUT WELL BEFORE EXPECTATION. PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND AFTER 20K MILES DISCOVERED SIGNIFICANT WEAR ON THE REAR TIRES...ESPECIALLY THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. THOUGHT IT WAS A TIRE PROBLEM. REPLACED ALL TIRES, AND AFTER ONLY 16K MILES THE REAR TIRES AGAIN NEED REPLACEMENT. FRONT TIRES LOOK LIKE NEW. THE TIRES ARE LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD. AGAIN, STILL THOUGHT IT WAS A TIRE PROBLEM. WENT TO TIRE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE TIRES BUT THE FACT THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION CANNOT BE ADJUSTED FOR ALIGNMENT. IT IS FIXED BY HYUNDAI AT A -1.50 CAMBER...WHICH APPARENTLY CAUSES THE TIRES TO WARE OUT QUICKLY. I NOW AGREE THAT IT A CAR PROBLEM AND CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE REP SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE (WHICH I FIND DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE) AND REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE PUSHING IT BACK ON THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER STATED THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT COULD NOTHING TO RESOLVE IT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW WHICH HYUNDAI IS NOT READY OR WILLING TO ADDRESS.

NHTSA ID
10871868
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Other / unspecified
Filed Oct 31, 2014

HAD JUST HAD MY CAR IN FOR MY 20,000 MILE CHECK ONE WEEK AGO. HAD TIRES ROTATED AND ALL THE OTHER RECOMMENDED SERVICE. WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, GOOD WEATHER IN ATLANTA, GA, AND TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE WENT ON. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY (FORTUNATELY I WAS IN A LOCATION WHERE I COULD AND IT WAS EVENING WITH LESS TRAFFIC THAN THE NORM) TO FIND A STATION TO CHECK TIRES AND PUT IN AIR IN. ONE TIRE HAD A BUBBLE/BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE SHOWING A PRESSURE OF 29/30....DOWN THAT MUCH IN ONE WEEK WITH NO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CHANGES, I HAVEN'T HIT ANY POTHOLES OR BUMPS, OR ANY REASON WHY THIS SHOULD BE THE CASE. VERY FRUSTRATED AND AFRAID TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY AFTER READING ALL THE HORROR STORIES ABOUT THE WHEELS/RIMS/TIRES ON THIS CAR BEING THE WRONG SIZE FOR THE CAR. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER BEFORE SOMEONE DIES! WHY MUST THAT ALWAYS HAPPEN BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE? *TR

NHTSA ID
10651607
Incident
Oct 30, 2014
Mileage
20,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteeringTires & wheels
Filed Mar 10, 2014

POTHOLE INDUCED TIRE FAILURE - TORN SIDEWALL. THE LIMITED EDITION OF THIS CAR IS FITTED WITH 17" RIMS -- STOCK TIRE IS A 215.45.17. WITH APPROXIMATELY 22,000 MILES OF DRIVING, WE HAVE DESTROYED THREE TIRES ON POTHOLES, FORTUNATELY ALL WERE AT LOW SPEED AND THERE WAS NO LOSS OF CONTROL. HOWEVER, HITTING A POTHOLE OR OTHER BREAK IN THE PAVEMENT AT HIGH SPEED COULD EASILY DESTROY THE TIRE AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. THE ASPECT RATIO IS SIMPLY TO SMALL FOR SAFETY. A REVIEW OF AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR HYUNDAI ELANTRAS WITH 17" RIMS. I WAS HESITANT TO LET MY CHILDREN DRIVE THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. AT OUR OWN EXPENSE WE HAVE REPLACED THE STOCK WHEELS AND TIRES WITH A 16" WHEEL AND LARGER ASPECT TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568232
Incident
Apr 17, 2013
Mileage
9,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Oct 27, 2013

TWO! NOT ONE BUT TWO OF THE OEM TIRES HAVE BUBBLES IN THE SIDEWALL. THAT IS A BLOW OUT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND GOD KNOWS WHAT DAMAGE THAT CAN DO. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR THAT ONE OF THE TIRES COULD BLOW OUT AND SEND ME OFF INTO A DITCH. TO TOP IT OFF, THE CAR DID NOT COME WITH A SPARE TIRE (TO SAVE WEIGHT AND IMPROVE GAS MILEAGE) SO IF IT DOES BLOW OUT AND I CAN SAFELY CONTROL THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I'M SCREWED AND STRANDED. THIS HAPPENED TO ME LAST YEAR AND I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND BUY A NEW TIRE. BLOW OUTS ARE VERY DANGEROUS. NOW I HAVE TO CALL A TOWING COMPANY TO GET MY CAR AND GO GET NEW TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10549712
Incident
Oct 27, 2013
Mileage
36,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed May 14, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE SPLIT AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE TIRE SENSOR WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10511941
Incident
Nov 15, 2012
Mileage
35,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Mar 1, 2013

MY LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON SO I PULLED INTO THE NEXT GAS STATION AND NOTICED THAT 3 OUT OF MY 4 TIRES HAD A BUBBLE ON THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALLS. TIRES ARE HANKOOK P215 45R 17 87H - DOT 5M24 DLH - ONLY ONE OF THE TIRES HAD THIS NUMBER AT THE END (4711). I CALLED HANKOOK HQ AT (855) 275-8899 AND THE PERSON WAS VERY SHORT WITH ME TELL ME THEY NEVER HAD A TIRE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THEY DID HAVE A VOLUNTARY RECALL. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAITING FOR THEIR RETURN CALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10500895
Incident
Feb 28, 2013
Mileage
14,190 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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