CarComplaints.com Notes: Be aware that there's a significant trend of owners complaining that the Elantra's fuel economy is significantly less than the EPA estimates.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
43,791 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Hyundai Elantra electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments (Page 3 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #78

Aug 172016

Elantra

  • 78,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. While driving various speeds, the vehicle shut off. Also, the vehicle would not shift gears correctly and the contact was unable to park the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000.

- Stratford, CT, USA

problem #77

Feb 172017

Elantra

  • 32,160 miles
Car won't start intermittently. Had battery and alternator checked. Lights go on, radio works but car won't start. Car is usually parked in a parking lot or driveway. Weather is nice not too hot or too cold.

- Carrollton, TX, USA

problem #76

Aug 152016

Elantra

  • 64,170 miles
All of the issues I am having appear to be involved with the components of/electrical connections to my steering wheel. The red airbag "error" light came on (intermittently at first) about 6 months ago when the vehicle had approx 64K miles on it. Over the next few months, the horn has stopped working (another potentially large safety issue), and the buttons that control the upward volume and radio station browsing have been wavering between working sometimes and not working at all. I did some research about the airbag and horn problems, and there were many stories from other owners of Hyundai Elantras of various years with the same issues. In addition, their experiences with dealers sounded very much like mine in that they (the dealer(s)) want to charge a sum of money to first inspect the vehicle and then charge for the repair(s). Because the airbag and horn problems are potentially very dangerous, I felt the need to report these concerns. I am attaching a picture that I took with my cell phone on 8/17/16 for reference.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #75

Jan 022017

Elantra 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Sold a lemon law buyback car without my knowledge. From what I understand I was to sign a document stating that I new that I was purchasing a lemon law buyback car. I did not find out until I went to get the plates for my car and they showed me the title. I contacted the dealership and basically my loss their gain. May 2015 had to replace hose and have A/C recharged costing almost $300 July 2015 had to have both from wheel bearing replaced along with tires costing me $800 June 2016 had to have end links on sway bar and cv joint and shaft replaced. This was under the powertrain warranty still in place on the car check engine light come on and off at random times. When tested said it was an O2 sensor. The back drivers side door lock sticks. So I have to manually lock it for my key fob to lock all of the doors. Today was just told I need wheel bearings and tires on the front end. I believe this car has too many issues being a newer car. I have never had a car with this many issues. Especially a newer car. I cannot get out of the loan because it is a lemon law buyback and the resale on it is horrible. I cannot afford the upkeep on the problems it keeps having. Something is wrong this car.

- Preston, ID, USA

problem #74

Dec 102016

Elantra

  • 57,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. When the turn signals were engaged, the opposite signal would activate independently after the turn was completed without warning. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure was unable to duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 57,000. The VIN was not available.

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #73

Oct 012012

Elantra

  • 20,000 miles
2012 Hyundai Elantra limited. The airbag warning light appeared randomly at first then remained on constantly. Over time, functionality of all steering wheel mounted controls for cruise control, trip computer, bluetooth, audio system, and horn were lost. I disassembled the steering column to access and remove the air bag clockspring. I tested the connections for continuity with a handheld meter and found none on any terminal. The clock spring failed.

- Nelsonville, OH, USA

problem #72

Nov 082016

Elantra

  • 107,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Random no start. Push button start will just make one click sound and not start (this is not a low battery clicking sound). After numerous attempts, the engine will start. One time it took over 10 minutes of pushing the start button on and off to finally get it to start. It seems to happen at random times. It will start fine for months and then just randomly not start. It happened in the past an just started happening again about a week ago.

- Orem, UT, USA

problem #71

Oct 222015

Elantra

  • 30,000 miles
On November 8th, 2016, saint paul, mn, my car would not start up. No warning signals came on and just made a "clicking" noise". I called Hyundai's roadside assistance when they arrived he told me to try to start it up. The car then came on which was approx. A 45 minute wait. In October 2015- eagan, mn, I was driving on the highway, I felt dizzy, nauseous and had a panic attack. I tried pulling over to the side of the road, the car would not stop despite stepping on breaks, the car kept pulling toward the side of the grass that was surrounded with gravel. I ended up hitting and stopping at a guardrail. The driver side wheel was blown and along the drivers and passenger door was scratched, there was also some front end damage which got repaired. In approx. March 2015- West saint paul, I just got off the highway when my car lost power. I started it up, pressed on the gas and ended up rear ended the driver in front of me. In 2014, maplewood, mn, I was at a restaurant's drive-thru and my car lost all power and steering for about 5-10 minutes. I called Hyundai's roadside's assistance to report the incident. In 2014, eden prairie, mn, I was driving on the highway and my car completely lost power and the steering wheel locked up. I called Hyundai's roadside assistance to report the incidence. About 15 minutes later, the car started up and no longer needed roadside assistance's towing service.

- Oakdale, MN, USA

problem #70

Sep 122016

Elantra

  • 63,000 miles
2012 Hyundai Elantra. While attempting to start the vehicle, it failed to start without warning. The vehicle had to be placed in neutral in order to start it. According with numerous reviews there is something wrong with the inhibitor switch (range switch).

- Lithia, FL, USA

problem #69

Jul 252016

Elantra

  • miles
My Elantra limited 2012 unlock my doors or start the car unless I put the key up to the start button. I don't havean ignition my car only starts with a push button, both key fabs won't work, I've researched and alot if customer have the same complaint this happens multiple times someone mentioned the had range shaft or something replace and it works but many people are complaining about the same problem

- Jefferson, WI, USA

problem #68

Jun 102014

Elantra

  • 30,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced issues starting sporadically. In addition, almost all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel except the parking indicator. It took numerous attempts for the vehicle to start. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

- New Market, MD, USA

problem #67

Apr 012016

Elantra

  • 0 miles
Cranks but does not start. Battery is fine, car only has 28000 miles on it.

- Egg Harbor Township, NJ, USA

problem #66

Jan 122015

Elantra

  • 66,000 miles
Brake lights started to fail first right side rear then all failed including the third light.

- Dimmitt, TX, USA

problem #65

Feb 162016

Elantra

  • 51,000 miles
My car accelerate on its own without me pressing on the gas randomly. Some days it drives normally and other days I can feel the car accelerating on its own. It was so bad 2 days ago that when I got off the highway it was trying to accelerate into the car in front of me at a red light. I had by foot on the brake and the car was revving to 5000 rpms. I took it to Hyundai who could not find a problem but charged me $250 to clean the throttle body.

- New City, NY, USA

problem #64

Jan 132016

Elantra

  • 40,000 miles
2012 Hyundai Elantra randomly will not start. We replaced the neutral safety switch and about two weeks later it did it again. Does not seem to be affected by weather. It has been towed to the dealer twice, but since it starts when it is there, they say they can't replicate the problem and therefore can't fix the problem. I would say in the year and a half that I have had the car it has stranded me 4 times and not on the first turn over another 15. I usually turn the key to the off position and try again. After a couple tries it usually starts.

- St Louis Park, MN, USA

problem #63

Jan 162016

Elantra

  • 77,000 miles
Car won't start. At first, we thought it's the battery so we got our battery jump starter. But it wasn't the case. Lights and electrical works but the car starter won't turn over. Towed it to the dealer. The following day, went to dealer to check it and the car started without any problem. Dealer's mechanics still hasn't seen it yet that day. There might be some loose wiring or inhibitor switch problem.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #62

Sep 012015

Elantra

  • 45,000 miles
My car has been having issues with starting. The problem isn't all the time. I'm not sure what the trigger is, but one or twice a week, it won't start. I thought it was the battery, but it's not. I changed it and still giving me issues. I read online and found that it might be the range switch because people that has this issue had their range switch replaced and no more issue. Before they replaced the range switch, they recommended to put in "N" position before start, which I did and it worked for a while. Now, I have to put the E-brakes on before it cranks. The last couple of weeks, I have issues with locking my car. Neither the electronic push button on the door nor remote works. I had to manual lock it with the key. But this issue isn't all the time either. It only happened 6 times so far.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #61

Jan 102016

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 55,743 miles
Car just would not start 2 times in the past two months with no warnings. I got it jumped both times, and it was ok. I had the battery, alternator, and starter checked and they were all ok. I went on a forum about it and many people were complaining about the same issue on the 2012 Hyundai Elantra. Many people were saying it was the range switch that needs replaced. Please recall this. Thank you!

- Wheeling, WV, USA

problem #60

Dec 172015

Elantra

  • miles
Car is parked and when trying to turn on it won't start. Happened four times this week and today it had a bad/burning odor coming from the engine. Looks like a fuse went out.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #59

Dec 172015

Elantra

  • miles
Car was parked and when trying to turn it on it won't start and gives me error "battery discharge" it has happened four times this week. Today car had a bad/burned odor coming from the engine.

- Houston, TX, USA

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