2012 Hyundai Elantra MPG
The 2012 Hyundai Elantra gets 28 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway (32 combined), across the 2 versions the EPA rated.
The most efficient pairs the 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, at 32 mpg combined. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2011 model.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elantra | 1.8 L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 38 | 32 | Regular · 278 g CO₂/mi |
| Elantra | 1.8 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 38 | 32 | Regular · 278 g CO₂/mi |
2012 Hyundai Elantra fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2012 Hyundai Elantra costs about $2,040 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (32 mpg combined), or roughly 14 cents a mile.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2012 Hyundai Elantra specs
The EPA lists one engine for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra: a 1.8 L 4-cyl. It came with automatic and manual transmissions, with front-wheel drive. The EPA classes it as a midsize car.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L | 4 | Automatic 6-spd; Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 2 |
2012 Hyundai Elantra problems
Owners have filed 654 complaints about the 2012 Hyundai Elantra with NHTSA, the U.S. vehicle-safety agency, as of October 2026.
Engine is the most-reported area (15% of component mentions), followed by electrical system (14%) and air bags (13%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 43 complaints a year: more than the 2011 (27 a year) and fewer than the 2013 (93 a year).
That ranks 3rd of 17 Hyundai Elantra model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 654, 47 mention a crash, 12 a fire and 30 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 139 | 15% |
| Electrical system | 126 | 14% |
| Air bags | 124 | 13% |
| Steering | 88 | 10% |
| Unknown or other | 66 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 60 | 7% |
| Suspension | 45 | 5% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 44 | 5% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 41 | 4% |
| Power train | 40 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 27 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 18 | 2% |
| Wheels | 17 | 2% |
| Structure | 16 | 2% |
| Tires | 16 | 2% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 15 | 2% |
| Visibility/wiper | 12 | 1% |
| Visibility | 7 | <1% |
| Seat belts | 6 | <1% |
| Equipment | 4 | <1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 3 | <1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | <1% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | <1% |
| Seats | 2 | <1% |
| Back over prevention | 1 | <1% |
| Firerelated | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated after the failure. …
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel became inoperable and failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
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. …
2012 Hyundai Elantra recalls
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra.
The most recent, campaign 23V651000 from September 2023, concerns hydraulic service brakes.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Elantra years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23V651000 | September 22, 2023 | Hydraulic service brakes | 2011–2015 |
| 20V393000 | July 2, 2020 | Equipment | 2011–2012 |
| 15V871000 | December 23, 2015 | Electronic stability control (esc) | 2011–2012 |
| 13V115000 | April 1, 2013 | Structure, Air bags | 2011–2013 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 2 versions of the 2012 Hyundai Elantra; the best overall score is 5 out of 5 stars.
The 4-door FWD Early Release version scored 4 stars overall.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-door FWD Early Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 4-door FWD Later Release | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Hyundai Elantras can be compared fairly. Among other 2012 models in the EPA's midsize cars class, the 2012 Nissan Sentra (29 mpg), 2012 Toyota Camry (28 mpg) and 2012 Kia Optima (27 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 28 | 254 | 14 | 4 |
| 2010 | 29 | 380 | 22 | 3 |
| 2011 | 32 | 433 | 27 | 5 |
| 2012 | 32 | 654 | 43 | 4 |
| 2013 | 32 | 1,314 | 93 | 4 |
| 2014 | 31 | 386 | 30 | 2 |
| 2015 | 31 | 262 | 22 | 3 |
Every Hyundai Elantra model year compared →
Similar 2012 models
FAQ
Is the 2012 Elantra a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2012 Hyundai Elantra has 43 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (3rd most of 17 model years), 4 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 5 stars and up to 32 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2012 Elantra problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are engine (139), electrical system (126) and air bags (124). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2012 Elantra have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Elantra get?
The EPA rates the versions at 32 mpg combined (28 city, 38 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Elantra per year?
About $2,040 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).