10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
39,919 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #23

Jul 052017

Elantra

  • 67,000 miles
Takata recall. When driving up to 40 mph my steering wheel starts making some funny noise and it shakes really bad at the same time.

- Chicago Heights, IL, USA

problem #22

Aug 232018

Elantra

  • 169,000 miles
While driving at 35 mph on left lane, engine suddenly died and car skidded a little because brake was deployed automatically or the wheel locked. It made 2 braking/skidding sound. Then suddenly I was able to steer again and position the car to the right for safety. Engine wont turn on. Burning smell and some smoke maybe from locked brake? car towed to nearest Hyundai shop.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #21

Jun 052018

Elantra

  • miles
Well I bought the car used and later found out it had a recall on it.... sometimes when I press the breaks it seem like it flooding and be pulling to the right and making noises underneath near tires.. it also have a sensor lights on.

- Rock Hill, SC, USA

problem #20

Jul 312018

Elantra

  • miles
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.

- Drakes Branch, VA, USA

problem #19

May 172018

Elantra

  • 114,000 miles
I have had a few incidents where my car sudden accelerates when I am not pressing the accelerator.

- North Bethesda, MD, USA

problem #18

Feb 012018

Elantra

  • 40 miles
My steering is loose and the wheel clunks and rattles. Sometimes it feels like the steering wheel will come right off. I can hit the slightest bump and it will rattle and shake like I ran over a huge pot hole. Also, when I'm driving the car will suddenly slow down and whine like I hit the brakes even when I didn't. I was almost rear-ended when I hit the gas but the car decided it wanted to suddenly slow down a few seconds later. There is something terribly wrong here. The engine is also making a ticking/knocking noise when warming up. This happens daily.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #17

Feb 162017

Elantra

  • 89,000 miles
Occasionally while traveling on the highway - any speed from 50-70 mph - the electronic stability control light will flash, even though there are no adverse conditions. While the light is flashing, I can feel that my left rear brake is applied, causing me to have to correct the course of the car. I do not feel safe in this car anymore. This did not start happening until after I received the recall service associated with campaign 137 for the the yaw sensor (which describes the exact scenario I am experiencing now). This has been going on for about 6 months so far (date noted below is most recent instance). In that time period I have had to have my rear rotors replaced, and the brake pads replaced twice. The second time I replaced the brake pads, they had heated up so much from dragging that they had fused onto the rotor, and the caliper was broken.

- Manchester, CT, USA

problem #16

Jan 092017

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 56,000 miles
I just crashed this car yesterday, 01/09/2017 on rt. 724 between birdsboro, pa and gibraltar, pa. I was driving with a 50-55 mph on a 55 mph road going to work with almost no traffic. I was driving in a straight line when it happened, I was not even turning.the sky was clear and no distractions. Suddenly, the car wheels went left and right and then all the way to the left taking me to opposite side of the road and crashing the car in a ditch then flipping on the driver's side(I attached pictures). My trials to turn it back to the right all failed. Emt came and were able to get me out. I almost got killed. I don't drink or smoke. I heard of several incidents like this about the steering in Elantra. The car has only 56000 miles on it. I believe the problem is with steering. I felt like there was no steering at all. Hyundai motors should be held liable for such faults in their cars and affected owners should be compensated. I don't want to drive Hyundai again. (the picture showing the tire marks was taken a few hours after the crash. It shows that the road was clear and clean).

- Birdsboro, PA, USA

problem #15

Nov 092016

Elantra

  • 20,000 miles
Both rear calipers were substantially frozen and had to be replaced. Auto has 20,000 miles.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #14

Aug 152016

Elantra

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. While driving various speeds, the vehicle braked independently and caused the electronic stability control warning indicator to illuminate. After the vehicle was parked, the brakes seized. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic stability control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V871000 (electronic stability control). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #13

Jul 022015

Elantra

  • 52,380 miles
Problem : ESC light flashes while driving, some time makes rumbling noise, power loss, feel like car in neutral, steering felt lock, sudden break and creates unsafe condition. Not all symptoms come up same time but one of them while light flashing. Details : 1. first time happened in June/July 2015 contacted dealer. Since dealer cannot replicate they did test drive and felt everything normal. I drove 1 year scarred but issue didn't occurred 2. few weeks ago this problem resurfaced dealer repeated same story but wanted to drive with me which is pending. While normal driving it happened and this time it was recorded on my cellphone to show as proof because in test drive it may or may not happen. I feel company and dealer not working closely and someone can cause serious issue of safety. I request to look into this reaching out to company and address this issue. I cannot upload video let me know if you need. Just loading a picture.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #12

May 172014

Elantra

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. While driving down a hill or making a turn at various speeds, there was an abnormal sound emitting from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on numerous occasions where it was diagnosed that the front driver side sway bar needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front and rear rotors and pads needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.

- Gloversville, NY, USA

problem #11

May 152015

Elantra

  • 45,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. While driving 25 mph, the vehicle became difficult to steer. The vehicle would sway to the left and the right instead of driving steady. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn and the brakes felt spongy. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #10

Mar 072016

Elantra

  • 101,200 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the brake system failed to engage while driving 50 mph in rainy conditions. The contact crashed into an embankment. The stability control warning light illuminated. The contact suffered injuries to the back and arms that required medical attention. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 15V871000 (electronic stability control), but the parts were not available for repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 101,200.

- Timpson, TX, USA

problem #9

Aug 132012

Elantra

  • miles
The contact owned a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. While driving approximately 30 mph, the brakes failed and the contact crashed the vehicle into a pole. The air bags did not deploy without warning. The contact sustained knee and chest injuries, but medical attention was not required. A police report was filed. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V871000 (electronic stability control). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.

- Monroe Township, NJ, USA

problem #8

May 152014

Elantra

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was driven to the dealer where they were unable to locate a failure. After experiencing the failure a third time, the technician replaced the brake switch. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.

- Conroe, TX, USA

problem #7

May 152015

Elantra

  • 49,000 miles
Left tail/brake light is malfunctioning. When the headlights are on, the tail light is on; however, that same light is also the brake light, and when the brake is applied, the light will not illuminate.

- Daly City, CA, USA

problem #6

Apr 092015

Elantra

  • 59,850 miles
Vehicle accelerated on it's own, and applying break pressure only slowed vehicle but kept accelerating. Hyundai reports no issues, yet this incident is all over the internet doing searches on Hyundai. Hyundai reports no recalls. When car placed in park mode, RPM shot to maximum of 8 and stayed there. When placed car back in drive, car RPM went to 2 and car wants to accelerate fast. Please NHTSA, apply pressure for recall for this very unsafe condition on a vehicle.

- Bolingbrook, IL, USA

problem #5

Jun 192014

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 31,685 miles
During normal vehicle operation at approx. 45 mph, dry pavement, the vehicle brakes suddenly locked up, causing the vehicle to skid left into oncoming traffic with tires screeching. During the skid into oncoming traffic and a frightening attempt to control the vehicle, the ABS light blinked several times then went off. This could have resulted in deadly consequences had I been driving in heavy traffic or on an interstate. ( a few days prior, while traveling at approx. 50 mph the brakes were making a horrific grinding noise with no pressure applied to the brake pedal. This resulted in decrease of speed in the vehicle in which it would not accelerate above 40 mph.) the vehicle was towed to the Hyundai dealer where they questioned if there was any problem. The computer readings were all good and showed no problems with the vehicle. Finally, after a service technician driving it home for the night and experiencing the problem twice himself, they realized there was a serious issue with the brakes. The hecu (hydraulic electronic control unit) had failed at 31,685 miles. This is the answer the service department has given for the problem. The vehicle is still currently in the service department being repaired. I am still in fear of driving this vehicle even though it is being repaired.

- Jackson, NC, USA

problem #4

May 292014

Elantra

  • 39,466 miles
I was driving in dry weather and on normal road conditions when the ESC light begin to blink for no apparent reason. I could not accelerate when this occurred, and then the vehicle brakes locked up. Luckily, I was entering onto a on ramp and the vehicle skidded to a stop onto the shoulder. If this would have occurred while traveling at a higher rate of speed it could have been very dangerous. I had the vehicle towed to a nearby Hyundai dealership for review of the issue.

- Pataskala, OH, USA

Read the next 3 complaints »