CarComplaints.com Notes: Be aware that there's a significant trend of owners complaining that the Elantra's fuel economy is significantly less than the EPA estimates.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
32,387 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Hyundai Elantra brakes problems

brakes problem

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2012 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #33

Apr 212020

Elantra

  • 106,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the brake lights remained illuminated while the vehicle was in motion, without the brake pedal being depressed. The failure persisted for approximately ten days. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #32

Mar 092020

Elantra

  • miles
Brake lines get corroded by the holding bracket screws probably because of not water resistant type of metal and start leaking.

- Elk Grove Village, IL, USA

problem #31

Dec 192019

Elantra

  • 132,450 miles
Stability control malfunction, I lose control and the brake applied unexpectedly and the crash my car I am ok but I have damage in my car. I went to dealer for this recall and they did not fixed now I dont know if they are going to pay for

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #30

Nov 152017

Elantra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After about 60,000 miles all of my exterior lights are constantly going out completely. Within the last six months I have changed my brake lights at least 8 times. My head lights have been changed about four times and my high beams both went out at the same time. One day I was driving on the inner state and all my back exterior lights went out. Some days they may work if I have the lights position in the on position instead of automatic daylight position and vice versa. This started happening roughly around the end of 2017 and over time it has gotten worse.this is very unsafe to operate a vehicle and all your lights go out not to mention its expensive to continue to replace bulbs that won't work beyond a month.

- Norcross, GA, USA

problem #29

Apr 022014

Elantra

  • miles
Grinding noise when applying brakes in 2012 Hyundai Elantra after just 22000 miles. Mechanic smooted rotors but said the calipers are not functioning properly and it would happen again. Happened a few months later and in checking online found literally thousands of similar complaints. Most of us are concerned that the brakes can't possibly be functioning properly. In particular I try to leave a great distance just in case a sudden stop is needed and the brakes don't work like they should. Every person on the forum is getting the same line from the Hyundai dealers, it's your rotors and pads, not covered by warranty, we are replacing our rotors and pads only to have them ruined within a few months. My independent mechanic (not affiliated with the Hyundai dealer) insists that the calipers are the problem, they are not functioning properly and are ruining the rotors and pads. The calipers just happen to cost $700 for the part alone, and I'm sure labor would be steep. In addition, if it was the calipers, those would be covered by our warranties. It really appears that Hyundai has bad brake calipers on it 2012 and 2013 Elantras and they are unwilling to acknowledge the problem and perhaps are hoping to put us all off until the calipers are no longer under warranty. My concern is there are a lot of us out there driving around like this and what happens when an urgent stop is needed and the brakes don't function properly. This could have very dire consequences.

- Unknown, OH, USA

problem #28

Jul 212018

Elantra

  • miles
2012 Hyundai Elantra collision to drivers side door. Drivers side and drivers airbags did not deploy.

- Conroe, TX, USA

problem #27

Jun 262019

Elantra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall. I bought this car from the original owner in 2016 around the time a recal for it went out and I didn't know until today. My car sometimes takes two times to actually start. I turn key and have to either hold it or stop and do it again. My car hydroplanes extremely easily compared to other vehicles. Normally it is only a second besides the time I rear ended someone with no bad weather then another while it was raining and I lost complete control and thank god no one was around me and I am used to the vehicle so I could gain control again truly a miracle. Other smaller issues I ignore.

- House Springs, MO, USA

problem #26

Apr 182019

Elantra

  • 36,000 miles
As I backed out of a parking place and attempted to stop the car in reverse to check the area behind me, the car stalled out completely, the engine stopped and the brakes would not respond and seemed stuck. I put the car back in park and turned it off, then finally on the third try, the engine engaged and I had control of the car, moved back into the parking place and then managed to back out normally and proceed.

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #25

Feb 182019

Elantra

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that she had to depress the brake pedal with full force to stop the vehicle. In addition, the air bag indicator was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to southtowne Hyundai riverdale (7665 ga-85, riverdale, ga 30274), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Conley, GA, USA

problem #24

Mar 012019

Elantra

  • miles
Takata recall for my Hyundai Elantra 2012. Found the recall on credit karma. Brakes

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #23

Jul 052017

Elantra

  • 67,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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

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