2012–2016 MD/UD (5th generation)
2012–2016 Hyundai Elantra Common Problems and Years to Avoid
5 documented problems with the 2012–2016 Hyundai Elantra, with symptoms, affected years, and typical repair costs. 1 of them are serious. 4 carry a recall or TSB number.
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2012–2016 Hyundai Elantra recalls and service bulletins
| Recall / TSB | Issue | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA 23V-651 (Hyundai internal number similar) | ABS module internal brake-fluid leak / engine bay fire risk (recall) | major |
| Hyundai Engine II class-action settlement (2022); check VIN eligibility at hma-e2settlement.com | Nu-engine oil consumption / tick and warranty-extension settlement | moderate |
| NHTSA 15V-871 | Electronic stability control unintended braking (recall) | moderate |
| NHTSA 13V-115 | Side curtain airbag headliner bracket displacement (recall) | moderate |
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the vehicle's age, mileage, or how many owners it has had. Check your VIN against the NHTSA database to see what is still outstanding on your specific vehicle, a recall listed here may already have been performed.
ABS module internal brake-fluid leak / engine bay fire risk (recall)
majorThe ABS module's internal circuit board can develop a short from a slow internal brake-fluid leak, which in the worst case causes an engine-compartment fire, while parked or while driving. Hyundai recalled roughly 189,000 model-year 2011–2015 Elantra/Elantra GT/Coupe vehicles in 2023; dealers inspect and replace the ABS module and a related fuse, free of charge.
Nu-engine oil consumption / tick and warranty-extension settlement
moderateA subset of 1.8L/2.0L Nu engines burn oil faster than spec or develop an audible tick, prompting owner complaints and a 2022 class-action settlement ("Hyundai Engine II") that extended warranty coverage for qualifying engine failures on Nu- and Lambda-family engines. It is far less severe and less common than the Theta II bearing-failure/engine-fire issue on Sonata and Santa Fe of the same years. Don't conflate the two, but it's worth checking oil level between changes on a used example.
Electronic stability control unintended braking (recall)
moderateA malfunctioning ESC wheel-speed sensor can cause the brakes on one or more wheels to apply unexpectedly, increasing crash risk. Hyundai recalled 2011–2012 Elantras (carrying into early MD production); dealers reprogram the ESC module.
Side curtain airbag headliner bracket displacement (recall)
moderateThe support bracket that anchors the headliner during a side curtain airbag deployment can become displaced, raising the risk of an occupant laceration injury in a side-impact crash. Dealers install a reinforcement free of charge.
Panoramic sunroof rattles and wind noise (owner-reported)
minorCars with the optional panoramic sunroof commonly develop rattles from the sunshade track and wind noise at highway speed as the seals age. Not a safety issue; dealer adjustment or aftermarket felt/seal kits usually resolve it.
Problems listed here are compiled from NHTSA complaints, recalls, technical service bulletins, and widely documented owner reports for the 2012–2016 Hyundai Elantra. Not every vehicle will experience these issues.
Which Hyundai Elantra model years does this cover?
These problems and recalls specifications apply to every Hyundai Elantra built from 2012 through 2016 — the MD/UD (5th generation), compact sedan (also sold as coupe 2013–2014 and gt 5-door hatchback through 2016 on the related ud platform). Nothing in this specification changes between those model years. Pick your year for the engines it offered, what changed that year, and the problems recorded against it.
What changed during the 2012–2016 Hyundai Elantra
- 2012MD generation launch (sedan only)
- 2013Elantra Coupe and Elantra GT (UD platform hatchback) join the lineup with the 2.0L Nu GDI available; Elantra Sport sedan trim added
- 2014Facelift: revised front/rear fascias, new wheel designs
- 2015–2016Sedan carries over largely unchanged in its final two years before the AD redesign; GT hatchback continues into 2017 on the related UD platform after the sedan moves to AD
2012–2016 Hyundai Elantra problems and recalls: common questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012–2016 Hyundai Elantra?
- The recurring ones are: abs module internal brake-fluid leak / engine bay fire risk (recall); nu-engine oil consumption / tick and warranty-extension settlement; electronic stability control unintended braking (recall); side curtain airbag headliner bracket displacement (recall); panoramic sunroof rattles and wind noise (owner-reported). Each is detailed above with symptoms, affected years, and typical cost.
Which 2012–2016 Hyundai Elantra years should you avoid?
- The years to be most careful with are those affected by abs module internal brake-fluid leak / engine bay fire risk (recall) (2012–2015). A documented problem is not automatically a reason to walk away. Service records showing the repair was done change the picture entirely.
Are there recalls on the 2012–2016 Hyundai Elantra?
- 4 of the issues listed carry a recall or technical service bulletin: NHTSA 23V-651 (Hyundai internal number similar) (abs module internal brake-fluid leak / engine bay fire risk (recall)), Hyundai Engine II class-action settlement (2022); check VIN eligibility at hma-e2settlement.com (nu-engine oil consumption / tick and warranty-extension settlement), NHTSA 15V-871 (electronic stability control unintended braking (recall)), NHTSA 13V-115 (side curtain airbag headliner bracket displacement (recall)). Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of age or mileage. Check your VIN on the NHTSA site to see what is outstanding.
How much do 2012–2016 Hyundai Elantra repairs typically cost?
- Typical figures for the issues above: abs module internal brake-fluid leak / engine bay fire risk (recall), Free under recall; nu-engine oil consumption / tick and warranty-extension settlement, $0 (oil top-offs) to $3,000–$5,000 for an out-of-warranty short block; electronic stability control unintended braking (recall), Free under recall; side curtain airbag headliner bracket displacement (recall), Free under recall.
Sources
- AMSOIL lookup, 2012 Elantra 1.8L oil spec/capacity
- AMSOIL lookup, 2014 Elantra 2.0L GDI oil spec/capacity
- PR Newswire, 2014 Hyundai Elantra Coupe 2.0L GDI 'Nu' engine specs (173 hp)
- NHTSA recall 23V-651, ABS module internal leak / fire risk
- NHTSA recall 15V-871, ESC unintended braking
- NHTSA recall 13V-115, side curtain airbag bracket
- Hyundai Nu Engine class-action settlement overview, BBB National Programs
- Hyundai Motor America press release, 2022 Engine II litigation settlement
- fueleconomy.gov, 2013 Elantra EPA ratings (all trims)
- Edmunds, 2013 Elantra specs (curb weight, fuel tank)
- Hyundai/Kia OEM oil filter 26300-35505 fitment listing
- wheel-size.com, Elantra MD/UD OE tire and wheel fitments