YearToAvoid

2012 Hyundai Elantra Steering Problems

NHTSA lists 88 steering complaints for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra, 13% of its 652 total complaints for the year. These complaints link to 9 crashes and 5 injuries, with a median failure mileage of 67,000 miles, and no related recall is on file.

Steering complaints
88
13% of 652
Crashes reported
9
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
67,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the steering wheel becoming unstable or hard to control at highway speeds, sometimes accompanied by a loud noise.
  • Some drivers describe sudden loss of steering control during low-speed turns, leading to a crash.
  • Multiple owners report the vehicle pulling or veering to one side on straight roads, requiring constant correction to stay in the lane.
  • Several complaints mention rattling, clunking, or popping noises from the steering column, in some cases followed by a temporary inability to steer.
  • One owner reported the steering warning indicator illuminating along with popping noises from the column.

When 2012 Hyundai Elantra steering complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 21, 2011, latest Dec 3, 2024.

2012 Hyundai Elantra steering complaints: complaints filed per quarter52011 Q42013 Q32016 Q22017 Q42019 Q12020 Q32022 Q32024 Q1
88 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q4 to 2024 Q4; peak 2013 Q1 (5).

Steering recalls for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Steering complaints by Elantra model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010195 (51%)
  2. 201174 (17%)
  3. 201288 (13%)
  4. 2013271 (21%)
  5. 201428 (7%)
  6. 201526 (10%)
  7. 201619 (7%)
  8. 201771 (9%)
  9. 201816 (6%)
  10. 20199 (4%)
  11. 202020 (8%)
  12. 20215 (4%)
  13. 20222 (2%)
  14. 20233 (3%)
  15. 20247 (13%)
  16. 20251 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are steering complaints on the 2012 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA has logged 88 steering complaints for the 2012 Elantra, which is 13% of the 652 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for steering problems on the 2012 Hyundai Elantra?
No. NHTSA lists no related recalls tied to the steering complaints for this model year.
At what mileage do steering problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure among reported steering complaints for the 2012 Elantra is 67,000 miles.
Have steering issues led to crashes on the 2012 Elantra?
NHTSA data tied to steering complaints for this model year includes 9 crashes and 5 injuries, with no reported fires.
How does the 2012 Elantra compare to other years for steering complaints?
The 2012 Elantra's 88 steering complaints (13% share) are lower than the 2010 model's 195 complaints (51% share) and the 2013 model's 271 complaints (21% share), which report more steering complaints overall.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.