Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Hyundai Elantra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact initially received a recall notification from Hyundai Motors of America for an underbody corrosion preventative service. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was provided a list of repairs that needed to be performed on the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where pictures were taken to document the severity of the corrosion on the suspension. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where a second inspection of the corrosion was performed. Pictures of the suspension were taken by the dealer and submitted to the manufacturer; and the contact was provided a priority code number by the dealer. Despite the information that was submitted to the manufacturer, the manufacturer declined the repair. The contact was provided a case number by the manufacturer. …
My 2011 Hyundai Elantra with only 73,000 Miles on it was affected. Front Coil Suspension Springs cracked during winter month when road salt was being used for a big storm. I live in Northern KY almost on the Ohio border. It gets cold here and Road salt is used during the winter months which is why I believe the road salt has caused corrosion on the front coil springs .This defect has put my safety at risk as well as a passenger in my vehicle. I never received any type of recall notice ...... But see there is one. The repairs cost well over $1,000.00 . I have been doing alot of research on so many others with the same issue and according to many the recall is only for month specific manufacture date based on the date of manufacture. This is widespread far more than a few months that the vehicle was made. …
The component that failed was the front driver's side spring, and the piece that broke off is available for inspection upon request. The part failed while trying to leave my driveway to go to work on the morning of Fri, 3/18/22. Had the part failed while driving on the highway, I could have had an accident and worse. The vehicle was serviced by an independent service station, and verified that the spring fractured and had replaced the struts/springs on both front sides. The part has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance reps or others. There were no warning lights, but I only heard a very loud scraping noise as I tried to exit my driveway. There were no other symptoms or warnings. Side note: There is Safety Recall on the 2011 Hyundai Elantra for the exact same issue on cars in the NorthEast US States that salt their roads in the winter. …
On 10/30/2019 as I was driving down the highway at 75 mph, my front right coil spring broke and punctured my tire. Fortunately, I was able to get to the side of the road but was not in a safe area, putting others at risk. The faulty coil spring breaking and puncturing my tire could have caused a dangerous accident. Given my high rate of speed, I am very fortunate this did not cause an accident and injure myself or others. My car needed to be towed to a tire place, who discovered the broken coil spring, before again being towed to the dealership for repair. It was diagnosed that the spring broke and bent the seat on the strut assembly. Hyundai replaced my front right strut and spring under warranty but did not compensate for the destroyed tire to be replaced. On 2/6/2023 my other coil spring (left front) snapped as well. …
Periodically my car refuses to start. The battery is good, all lights on the dash are normal, headlights work, radio works, car is in parked position, yet when I turn the key it refuses to start. This is the second set of occurrences of the same issue. I experienced this issue last year (2014), at which time I had to take the car into service on more than three occasions before the figured it out. They eventually sorted out the issue in November of 2014. Now 6 months after, in May 2015, the same issue occurs only to find out that Hyundai will only warranty the part but not the labor costs. Today while at the dealership, there was at least one other Hyundai Elantra owner with the same issue. …
The driver's side coil broke and punctured the tire causing a blow out while driving 70 MPH in the middle lane of a highway. Terrified because the the smoke and the inability to steer the car I was barely able to get across the right hand lane and park on the side of the road. The car was towed to the dealership where I had purchased my 2012 Hyundai Elantra. I am the original owner, and have always serviced my car at the dealership. The coil spring broke on May 27th and the dealership is having difficulty locating a replacement for the coil spring. I am told that they could possibly have one by June 8th. This fact alone tells me that my car is not the only one with this issue. I am insisting that they replace the passenger side as well because I am certain that it is just a matter of time before that coil also breaks. …
My husband backed the car up 3 inches in our driveway and the front coil spring broke, shot through the tire and the tire exploded. We bought our 2012 Elantra in October 2011 and apparently there was a recall of the 2011 elantras for this exact issue for cars that are owned in the "salt belt" / cold weather states which is where we live, but the recall was only issued for elantras manufactured between 11/12/10 to 3/31/11. Mine is a 2012 which was purchased in October 2011and manufactured sometime between March 2011 and October 2011. I highly doubt that Hyundai, which apparently didn't know about the issue until an increase in warranty claims on the issue started an investigation of it in 2014, changed the front coil springs they were using to manufacture the same car just 1 "year" newer between the end of the recalled vehicle date and the manufacture date of my 2012 Elantra. …
I am terrified to drive my car on compacted snow or ice. The backend fishtails so bad I fear losing control. I have to slow down to 30 MPH to control the car. I will not drive on any big highways because I can't go over 30 MPH. Like other complaints I have lived in mn all my life and had many cars. I have never experienced what I am with this car. They back end has a mind of it's own. If you go to carcomplaints.com you will see what others are experiencing. There are lots of complaints on this issue. Look up the 2013's to understand what is going on. I love my car but now feel I have to get rid of it. In good conscience I can't sell this to a private party. I don't want to be responsible for their death. Only choice is thru a dealer and lose money. I suppose a Hyundai dealer is my only option because some of them are aware of this problem. One admitted it was a design flaw. …
Our vehicle is just outside of the production window that applies to Hyundai recall 133 regarding fractured coil springs. Our right front coil spring broke, resulting in the puncturing of the tire. Both us and the previous owner of the vehicle live and have used the vehicle in the defined snow/salt region. The vehicle impacted a pothole. Immediate inspection showed no damage to tire or wheel. Driver continued on to work, parked, and at the end of the workday began to drive home. After turning a corner, an audible "grinding" was noted, and driver stopped, looking under the vehicle for lodged debris. Second motorist stopped to assist, and an attempt to move the vehicle was made, at which point it was noted that the suspension was "off", and they believed a portion of the braking system was resting on the tire. …
Rear end fishtails severely when I hit a pothole, sewer lid or any bump in the road. I have come very close to hitting other cars beside me and head on from this problem. I am terrified to drive my own new car. I have taken it to two different Hyundai dealerships and their service department says there is nothing wrong with the car and it operates as designed, yet they have also told me that this is a very common complaint they did lower the pressure in the tires and suggested I put cases of water in my trunk to weigh down the back end of the car. I have added 70 pounds of weight in the trunk and still it does not help at all. I have read that in the snow the problem is ten times worse. I live in a state where we get plenty of snow and I dread the thought of having to drive that car during that time. I am so disappointed I don't even have the words to express how upset that I am.
Suspension complaints in other Elantra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2012 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA has 45 complaints about the suspension of the 2012 Hyundai Elantra, 7% of the model year's 654 complaints. The component named most often is rear (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Hyundai Elantra suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Hyundai Elantra suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 49,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.