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2012 Hyundai Elantra Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 4 NHTSA recalls and 670 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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30/100

Avoid This Year — 2012 Hyundai Elantra

The 2012 Hyundai Elantra is among the worst-performing model years for this vehicle. NHTSA data shows high complaint and recall activity. Strongly consider a different model year.

4
NHTSA Recalls
4 recalls on record
670
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
48
Crashes + Injuries
12 fire reports

Own or buying a 2012 Hyundai Elantra?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2012 Hyundai Elantra (4)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Hyundai dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #15V871000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #13V115000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #20V393000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #23V651000
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Most Common Problems — 2012 Hyundai Elantra

Based on 670 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Air Bags
107
Electrical System
103
Steering
90
Engine
72
Service Brakes
58
Suspension
45
Unknown Or Other
43
Power Train
37
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Hyundai Elantra — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2012 model year is highlighted.

2010 450 complaints 2011 459 complaints 2012 670 complaints 2013 1,322 complaints 2014 380 complaints 2015 258 complaints 2016 282 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2013 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2015 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2012 Hyundai Elantra

Is the 2012 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2012 Hyundai Elantra has 4 recalls and 670 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2012 Hyundai Elantra have?
The 2012 Hyundai Elantra has 4 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Hyundai Elantra?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra are: Air Bags, Electrical System, Steering, Engine. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2012 Hyundai Elantra safe to buy?
The 2012 Hyundai Elantra has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 4 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Hyundai Elantra should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Hyundai Elantra are: 2015. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2013.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.