HyundaiELANTRA MD2012Overview/hyundai/elantra-md/2012/base/

2012 Hyundai ELANTRA MD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Elantra.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2012 Hyundai Elantra represents a pivotal refresh of the compact passenger car, built on Hyundai’s streamlined front-wheel-drive platform and powered by a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine paired exclusively with a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. With EPA-estimated fuel economy figures of 28 city, 38 highway, and a combined 32 mpg, it delivered efficiency that set a benchmark in its segment, while its 4.2-quart oil capacity and recommended 5W-20 or 5W-30 viscosity underscored a straightforward maintenance profile. Though its 672 owner complaints and five recalls place it squarely in the middle of the Elantra’s broader reliability timeline—far below the 2013 peak of 1,325 issues but well above the near-flawless lows of later model years—the 2012 vintage remains a relatively dependable entry in the nameplate’s history, offering a practical snapshot of Hyundai’s mid-cycle refinement.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy28/38/32 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 550 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 550 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnMICOMOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195-65R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rimN/A inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Battery371103X565 alt 371103X100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length178.3 in
Overall width70.1 in
Overall height56.7 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight2789 lb
Track (front / rear)60.6 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined28 / 38 / 32 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume96 cu ft
Cargo volume15 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Elantra of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.8–9.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.80 sec — 2012 GLS Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2012GLS Sedan 1.8L I-47.80 sec16.00 sec148 hpFWD
2012GLS Sedan 1.8L I-48.90 sec16.70 sec148 hpFWD
2012Limited Sedan 1.8L I-49.50 sec17.10 sec148 hpFWD
2011Limited Sedan 1.8L I-48.60 sec16.60 sec148 hpFWD
2011Limited Sedan 1.8L I-48.80 sec16.70 sec148 hpFWD
2011Limited Sedan 1.8L I-48.90 sec16.90 sec148 hpFWD
2011Limited Sedan 1.8L I-49.10 sec16.80 sec148 hpFWD
2013SE Coupe 1.8L I-48.10 sec16.40 sec148 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-20 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 25.3-32.5 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidHyundai SP-IV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.7
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts145-152 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87-94 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14-17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts22-26 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts11.6-16.6 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts31-40 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.3-32.5 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub145-203 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub177-199 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)640 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)10 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)680 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)10 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.64-.86 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5,015-6,785 ohms
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.56-.68 ohms

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.16-1.27 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.04-3.75 oz
Standard BCI Group Number47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance550 cca
Standard BCI Group Number47

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature190 °F
Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature190 °F
Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle58-72 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle36-43 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0002 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113-16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9013–16 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Lubricate bolts with clean engine oil · M10 Bolts:

117.0-20.0 ft. lbs.17–20 ft. lbs
260 degrees-65 degrees60 degrees
360 degrees; M12 Bolts:60 degrees
120.0-23.0 ft. lbs.20–23 ft. lbs
260 degrees-65 degrees60 degrees
360 degrees-65 degrees60 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120-23 ft. lbs., Step 2: 120-12520–23 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBattery (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Disc Brake Caliper (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Filter (inspect)
Every 37,500 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Elantra sits at a sharp inflection point in the federal record, with complaints climbing from 459 in 2011 to 672 in 2012 and then surging to 1,325 in 2013 — the single highest figure in the entire 1992–2026 dataset — before falling back to 380 in 2014. This escalation is reinforced by 5 NHTSA investigations, tied for the most in the dataset, and 128 technical service bulletins, both signaling an unusually heavy regulatory and manufacturer-scrutiny window for that model year. The complaint mix skews safety-critical: air bags lead at 95 filings, followed by engine (69), steering (50), and electrical system (49), and the year also accumulated 49 crash-related and 12 fire-related complaints — the data does not specify root causes, but the volume itself warrants close inspection of any candidate vehicle. Recalls numbered 5, sitting between the 7 in 2011 and the 2 in 2014, so verifying that all campaigns have been completed is essential. Bottom line: 2012 is a year to approach cautiously, and a well-documented service history plus fully closed recalls should be non-negotiable before purchase.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
128
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
672
Owner complaints
49 involved a crash · 12 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 672 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags95
Engine69
Steering50
Electrical System49
Unknown Or Other35
Suspension35
Service Brakes, Hydraulic34
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)19

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V871000Electronic Stability Control (Esc)Reported 23/12/2015

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Elantra vehicles manufactured October 29, 2010, to October 25, 2011. Due to an electronic stability control (ESC) sensor malfunction, the brakes… Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will verify the proper operation of the ESC sensors, and update the ESC system's calibration, free of charge. The recall began June 6…

13V115000Air Bags:Side/WindowReported 01/04/2013

Hyundai Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured from November 12, 2010, through March 5, 2013. A support bracket attached to the headliner may become displaced during a side… Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will apply adhesive strips to the headliner, free of charge. The safety recall began during April 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 128 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…
DTN DCS2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety…
P33 OL2025-12-19Electrical SystemIn response to this trend, we engineered a software upgrade that addresses the social…
25-01-089H TSB2025-12-15Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides the service procedure for installation of a key cylinder…
25-01-089H DN2025-12-15Electrical SystemIn addition to the Anti-Theft software provided under Service Campaign 993 (TSB…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Elantra. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Elantra take?

4.2 qt of 5W-20 OR 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Elantra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Elantra get?

EPA figures are 28 city / 38 highway / 32 combined mpg.