NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
THE HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2012 IS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT AND REAR SEAT WARMERS. THE SWITCH FOR THE FRONT SEATS RESETS TO OFF WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. THE SWITCH FOR THE REAR SEATS, HOWEVER, REMAINS IN THE ON POSITION. THE NEXT TIME THE CAR IS TURNED ON, THE REAR SEAT WARMERS WILL BE ACTIVATED AGAIN UNTIL THEY ARE MANUALLY DEACTIVATED. A CAVEAT IN THE HYUNDAI MANUAL STATES: "WITH THE SEAT WARMER SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION, THE HEATING SYSTEM IN THE SEAT TURNS OFF AND ON AUTOMATICALLY DEPENDING ON THE SEAT TEMPERATURE." THIS SAFETY FEATURE IS TO PREVENT INJURY TO SOMEONE USING THE SEAT. MY CONCERN IS THE POTENTIAL HAZARD THE REAR SEAT WARMERS POSE WHEN THEY ARE NOT BEING USED BY A PASSENGER AND THE DRIVER IS UNAWARE THEY ARE ACTIVATED. ON COLD WINTER DAYS THE REAR SEAT WARMERS COULD BE HEATING AT MAXIMUM WATTAGE EVERY TIME THE CAR IS TURNED ON, UNBEKNOWNST TO THE DRIVER. WITH THIS BEING A SEATING AREA OFTEN USED BY CHILDREN, I BELIEVE THERE IS A HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT THESE SWITCHES COULD BE LEFT IN THE ON POSITION FREQUENTLY AND FOR LENGTHY PERIODS OF TIME. THIS POSES BOTH A HEALTH RISK, AS WELL AS, UNDUE WEAR ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND REAR SEAT COMPONENTS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO TIRES, TIRE SIZE 205/55R/16 H426. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE TIRES EXHIBITED BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE CENTER WHERE BOTH DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. I BELIEVE THIS CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM! I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE SELLING DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT AT A COST OF $90.00 (NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY). I HAD THE ALIGNMENT DONE AND IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM! I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR EVALUATION. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME TO EXPECT TO BE CHARGED FOR REPAIRS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY! THE SECOND DEALER ALSO SAID THE CAR NEEDED ALIGNMENT AT A COST OF $100.00! I DECLINED THIS REPAIR; IT HAD NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME! I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THIS IS BEING MOVED UP REGIONAL! I HAVE NOT HAD ANY CONTACT FROM HYUNDAI REGIONAL AS OF THIS DATE! I BELIEVE HYUNDAI IS AWARE THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SYSTEMS ON 2011, 2012 AND 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA AND HAS NO PLAN TO ISSUE A RECALL UNTIL SOMEONE DIES! I BELIEVE HYUNDAI'S PUBLIC POSITION ON THIS MATTER IT TO TELL CUSTOMERS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEIR CARS; THEY JUST NEED ALIGNMENT, AT THE CUSTOMERS EXPENSE! I BELIEVE HYUNDAI HAS ADOPTED THE POSITION THAT IF A CUSTOMER IS CHARGED OFTEN ENOUGH, THEY WILL STOP COMPLAINING, DRIVE THE CAR OR TRADE IT FOR ANOTHER BRAND! EITHER WAY, HYUNDAI IS OFF THE HOOK! I DO NOT PLAN TO BE HYUNDAI'S TEST SUBJECT!!! I WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM UP TO ASKING HYUNDAI TO BUY THE CAR BACK FROM ME! *TR
I OWN A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LIMITED, WHILE DRIVING ON A ROAD WITH BUMPS THE CAR SKIPSOR SWAYS BACK AND FORTH, THE CAR FEELS LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE CONTROL ALSO IF YOU HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND YOU HIT BUMPS THE CRUISE WELL TURN OFF BY ITSELF CAUSING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC. BETWEEN THE TWO PROBLEMS, IT'S A VERY UNEASY FEELING WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE OVER BUMPS, THE FEELING OF LOSING CONTROL AND SLOWING DOWN IS A VERY BAD PROBLEM. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER SHIP AND TRY BLAMED ON THE LOW PROFILE TIRES THAT COME STOCK ON THIS VEHICLE...THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED OR BUMP SOMETIMES THE SMALLEST OF BUMPS CAN CAUSE THIS. *TR
AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR NEW WITH ALL OF 31 MILES ON IT I NOTICED ON MY 350 MILE DRIVE HOME FROM ANCHORAGE TO FAIRBANKS ALASKA THAT THE REAR END OF THE CAR WOULD SKIP AROUND UNPREDICTABLY WHEN HITTING A BUMP OR WHEN I HIT AN ICY PATCH OF ROAD (AND AS A RESULT OF THE SKIPPING AROUND, THE REAR TIRES WEAR/CUP RIDICULOUSLY FAST, WHICH MAY ALSO BE DANGEROUS BUT IS MOSTLY ANNOYING AND EXPENSIVE). DESPITE A FEW ATTEMPTS BY THE DEALER AT REPAIRING THE STEERING COLUMN IT STILL DOES IT, 30K MILES LATER. AS FAR AS SPEED, IT HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED ABOVE ABOUT 35 MPH . IT IS BAD ENOUGH IN THE SUMMER TO FEEL LIKE THE REAR END IS LEAVING THE ROAD, BUT IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN THE WINTER WHEN TRACTION IS ALREADY TENUOUS AT BEST. SOONER OR LATER THIS IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA EQUIPPED WITH CONTIPRO CONTACT TIRES, LINE SIZE: P215 45 R17 (N/A). THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 42 MPH WHEN THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE WAS DEFLATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,754.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE HOOD FLEW OPEN INADVERTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HOOD WAS MISALIGNED. THE HOOD WAS ALIGNED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING VEERED THE VEHICLE TOWARD THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ELECTRIC AND SHE NEEDED TO BECOME ACCUSTOMED WITH USING IT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
I HAVE HAD TWO WINDSHIELDS CRACKS IN A 6 WEEK PERIOD OF TIME. THE DIAMETER OF THE IMPACT ON THE INITIAL IMPACT ON 11/911 WAS THE SIZE OF A PEA AND LEFT A HORIZONTAL CRACK THAT WAS ABOUT 12". THE SECOND IMPACT, ON ANOTHER BRAND NEW WINDSHIELD, LEFT AN IMPACT THE SIZE OF A PIN HEAD AND A CRACK 18" LONG. I BELIEVE THESE ARE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS, I DID NOT EVEN HEAR THE IMPACT ON THE SECOND WINDSHIELD. BY THE TIME I SAW THE CRACK AND PARKED MY CAR THE CRACK WAS ALMOST 6" LONG. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT ABNORMALLY INTO THE LEFT LANE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE TECHNICIANS REPLACE THE REAR AXLE. THE REAR AXLE WAS REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,006.
I HAVE THE 2012 ELANTRA AND FROM THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT I NOTICED IT WAS HARD TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE OUT ON THE HIGHWAY THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME BECAUSE MY WIFE NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT IT THEN I STARTED SEEING COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE I AGREE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HYUNDIA NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO LATELY WHEN U TRY TO RESTART THE CAR AFTER SITTING SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT START UNLESS U PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL ITS BEEN IN THE DEALER SHOP TWO TIMES (BUSTED STRUT AND WAS POPPING IN FRONTEND) AND THE CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AS FAR AS THE STEERING I KNOW ITS NOT THE TIRES OR THE ALIGNMENT JUST HAD NEW TIRES INSTALLED AND REALIGNED. *TR
WHILE PULLING ONTO A CITY STREET AWAY FROM A CURB, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO DRIVE.I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE GEAR SELECTOR HAD JUMPED OUT OF D TO N. DID NOT. TRIED TO CONTINUE DOWN THE STREET, AND THE CAR DID THE SAME THING AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY OUT OF 1ST GEAR. RPM'S AND ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE, BUT TRANSMISSION WAS CONTINUING TO GRIND, BANG, JUMP AND NOT SHIFT. AFTER COAXING THE CAR TO MY RESIDENCE, SOME THREE OR FOUR BLOCKS AWAY, I NOTIFIED THE 24 HOUR HYUNDAI ASSISTANCE LINE. BEING SUNDAY, THEY COULD NOT HELP. NO WAY TO TOW CAR TO DEALERSHIP. DROVE CAR TO DEALERSHIP AT ROUGHLY 15 MPH. CAR CONTINUED TO BALK AND JUMP. DEALER MANAGER WAS CONTACTED ON MONDAY MORNING. AFTER CHECKING WITH HYUNDAI AND A COMPUTER READOUT ON AUTO, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED. INTERESTING TO KNOW IF OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM. MAY LEAD TO A TOTAL RECALL OF THE 2011 AND 2012 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ON THE HYUNDAI ELANTRA AUTOMOBILES. INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE CONDUCTED!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD CONSTANTLY PULL TO THE LEFT ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY REFERRED HIM TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR REPAIRS APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES WITHIN A ONE YEAR PERIOD FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,000. UPDATED 11/14/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ON 5/2012 THE VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT AT 65MPH AND ALMOST WENT OFF THE ROAD. UPDATED 11/19/2012 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOW SHIELD TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDES OF THE WINDOW BLOCK HIS VISION. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONTACT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,700.
MY 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WOULD NOT START THIS MORNING AND THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED STARTING IN MAY 2014. I HIT MY DOOR UNLOCK ON MY KEY FAB AND THE DOORS UNLOCKED FROM HERE I PROCEEDED START MY CAR. EVERYTHING STARTED BUT THE CAR. I TURNED BACK TO THE STARTING POSITION AND TRIED AGAIN SAME RESULTS. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN AMAZINGLY IT STARTED. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY CAR? THIS HAS HAPPEN BEFORE THE FIRST TIME CALLED A TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND BY THE TIME HE ARRIVED IT STARTED . THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A VISIT TO NORTH COUNTY HYUNDAI IN CARLSBAD,CA. OF COURSE THE DEALERSHIP FOUND NOTHING WRONG . AGAIN WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR? *TR
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON DEALER REPORTS IT IS A FAULTY CLOCK SPRING. I SEE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN THE PAST WITH OTHER HYUNDAI YEARS AND THE DEALER STATES IT IS A PROBLEM THEY FREQUENTLY SEE.
THE FRONT PILLARS CREATE VERY LARGE BLIND SPOTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING. THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT. DUE TO THE UPSWEEP DESIGN OF BACK WINDOWS THE REAR PILLARS CREATE LARGE BLIND SPOTS WHEN CHANGING LANES. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS I HAVE ALMOST WRECKED BECAUSE OF THIS. I WILL BE GETTING RID OF THIS CAR DUE TO THE VERY POOR AND DANGEROUS VISIBILITY. *TR
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 paying extensive checks on top of getting the problem resolved. I don't have money like that. I live along surviving off of one income.