2012 Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

138Engine complaints

21.3%Of all 649 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE138 · 21.3%

AIR BAGS123 · 19%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM122 · 18.8%

STEERING88 · 13.6%

Unspecified / other66 · 10.2%

Share of the 649 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Hyundai Elantra overview page.

What owners report

“2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WOULD NOT START WHEN IN PARK, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY HAS A FULL CHARGE. SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND BACK TO PARK, AND…”NHTSA complaint 10681641 — filed 02/05/2015

“MY CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT AND I USED THE KEY FOB TO UNLOCK MY CAR. I THEN TRIED TO START THE CAR BUT IT…”NHTSA complaint 10663679 — filed 12/11/2014

“HELLO, WELL, I AM THE FIRST OWNER, AND THERE WAS NOT ANY ACCIDENT BEFORE. LAST THURSDAY, AFTER I STARTED MY CAR, I TRIED TO SHIFT…”NHTSA complaint 10654604 — filed 11/12/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Hyundai Elantra have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2012 Hyundai Elantra: 138 of 649 complaints on file (21.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Hyundai Elantra have in total?

649 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 47 involved a crash, 11 involved a fire, 44 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.