2012 Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 161 engine complaints for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra, 25% of all 652 complaints filed for the year. Median mileage at failure was 67,000. No related recalls are listed for this engine issue.
- Engine complaints
- 161
- 25% of 652
- Crashes reported
- 7
- Fires reported
- 7
- Injuries reported
- 9
- Median mileage
- 67,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Owners report the engine compartment catching fire while the vehicle was parked and not running.
- Some drivers describe the vehicle lunging or surging forward unexpectedly while shifting into park or moving at low speed, sometimes resulting in a crash.
- Several complaints describe fires starting while driving, with smoke odor or a check engine light appearing beforehand.
- One owner reported the vehicle stalling while being driven, followed by a fire at the rear of the car.
- Fires have been reported at a wide range of mileages, including cases as low as 20,000 miles and as high as 225,000 miles.
When 2012 Hyundai Elantra engine complaints were filed
First complaint Jan 29, 2012, latest Aug 20, 2026.
Engine recalls for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine complaints by Elantra model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many engine complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra?
- NHTSA lists 161 engine-related complaints for the 2012 Elantra, which is 25% of the 652 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra engine?
- No related recalls are listed in the data for this engine problem area.
- At what mileage do 2012 Elantra engine problems typically appear?
- The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2012 Elantra is 67,000 miles.
- Have there been fires or crashes linked to 2012 Elantra engine complaints?
- Yes, NHTSA data shows 7 crashes, 7 fires, and 9 injuries associated with complaints in this area.
- How does the 2012 Elantra compare to other years for engine complaints?
- The 2012 Elantra's engine complaints made up 25% of its total complaints, similar to 2011 (25%) but lower than years like 2019 (54%) and 2018 (53%).