RecallRepo

2012 Hyundai Elantra Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2012 Hyundai Elantra has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,262,854 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 917 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 23V651000 2023-09-22 1,649,478 affected
Defect

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 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)…

Consequence

An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for…

EQUIPMENT 20V393000 2020-07-02 272,126 affected
Defect

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 allowing the outlet to overheat with prolonged use, such as by…

Consequence

An overheated accessory outlet increases the risk of fire.

Remedy

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Tire Mobility Kit accessory outlet plug with a direct-to-battery connection wire harness kit, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 193.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 15V871000 2015-12-23 155,000 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

If the one or more of the brakes are inappropriately applied, control of the vehicle may be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will verify the proper operation of the ESC sensors, and update the ESC system's calibration, free of charge. The recall began June 6, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 137.

AIR BAGS 13V115000 2013-04-01 186,250 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

If the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration injury.

Remedy

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will apply adhesive strips to the headliner, free of charge. The safety recall began during April 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 109.

Complaints by component

ENGINE
138
3crashes7fires4injuries
AIR BAGS
123
24crashes26injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
122
3crashes1fires3injuries
STEERING
88
9crashes5injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
66
4crashes
SERVICE BRAKES
59
8crashes7injuries
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
44
8crashes4injuries
SUSPENSION
43
POWER TRAIN
40
1fires1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
37
3fires
Total complaints917

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“I was going down the bridge on settlers landing road the yellow school bus was in the right turning lane with right turning signal on .as I approached the light in the middle straight lane to keep toward the landing (hotel) on settlers landing hampton va the bus some what merged back towards the…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2026-06-08

“I was going down the bridge on settlers landing road the yellow school bus was in the right turning lane with right turning signal on .as I approached the light in the middle straight lane to keep toward the landing (hotel) on settlers landing hampton va the bus some what merged back towards the…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2026-06-08

“*wife litely drives this car avg 4k miles a year* she left the house for the grocery store the other day and after the first stop light, noticed the brakes were engaging on their own. Luckily she called me before going any further and damaging the pads and rotors, or worse - causing a fire or…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2026-05-25

“The contact owned a 2012 hyundai elantra. The contact stated that around 4:00 o'clock in the morning, she was awoken by the sound of her dogs barking; she then discovered that her vehicle had caught fire and had burned to the ground. The fire spread, which caught fire to a nearby mobile home and a…”

ENGINE · reported 2026-04-24

“The contact’s son owns a 2012 hyundai elantra. The contact stated that while the contact’s son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled, and the rear of the vehicle caught fire. The contact’s son pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road, and the fire…”

ENGINE · reported 2026-04-06

“The contact owns a 2012 hyundai elantra. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. Neither an independent mechanic nor a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired.…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2026-03-17

“Car check engine light illuminated and car began shaking and stalled at 79284 miles. Local mechanic said engine was dry and would need full replacement, no dashboard lights indicating oil level or engine issues prior to this point.”

ENGINE · reported 2026-02-11

“To whom it may concern, I am submitting this complaint regarding a 2012 hyundai elantra equipped with the 1.8l nu engine, which is experiencing premature internal engine damage that presents a potential safety risk. Vehicle details: year/make/model: 2012 hyundai elantra mileage: approximately…”

ENGINE · reported 2026-01-21

Defect investigations

Investigation AQ23002 Opened 2023-11-17 · open

Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured…

Investigation DP21003 Opened 2021-11-12 · closed 2023-06-20

Throttle control system vulnerabilities

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003.…

Investigation EA12008 Opened 2012-09-13 · closed 2013-12-09

Headliner Bracket Detachment

In March 2013, Hyundai issued a safety recall to reinforce the attachment of the metal support brackets to the headliner assembly in approximately 186,254 model year 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra vehicles built in Korea and sold in the U.S. (see NHTSA recall 13V-115 for more information).The recall covers vehicles built…

Investigation EA12008 Opened 2012-09-13 · closed 2013-12-09

Headliner Bracket Detachment

In March 2013, Hyundai issued a safety recall to reinforce the attachment of the metal support brackets to the headliner assembly in approximately 186,254 model year 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra vehicles built in Korea and sold in the U.S. (see NHTSA recall 13V-115 for more information).The recall covers vehicles built…

Investigation EA12008 Opened 2012-09-13 · closed 2013-12-09

Headliner Bracket Detachment

In March 2013, Hyundai issued a safety recall to reinforce the attachment of the metal support brackets to the headliner assembly in approximately 186,254 model year 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra vehicles built in Korea and sold in the U.S. (see NHTSA recall 13V-115 for more information).The recall covers vehicles built…

Investigation PE12012 Opened 2012-05-10 · closed 2012-09-17

Side Curtain Air Bag Improper Deployment

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is aware of one incident of an improper deployment of the driver-side curtain air bag that deployed as a result of a crash involving a model year (MY) 2012 Hyundai Elantra.An inspection of this vehicle showed that a metal bracket (stiffener) in the headliner assembly had…

Investigation PE12012 Opened 2012-05-10 · closed 2012-09-17

Side Curtain Air Bag Improper Deployment

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is aware of one incident of an improper deployment of the driver-side curtain air bag that deployed as a result of a crash involving a model year (MY) 2012 Hyundai Elantra.An inspection of this vehicle showed that a metal bracket (stiffener) in the headliner assembly had…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.