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 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
57,138 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments (Page 2 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #112

Feb 232021

Elantra 4-cyl

  • miles

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

2012 Hyundai Elantra. Consumer writes in regards to unintended acceleration. The consumer stated the vehicle suddenly surged forward while being driven 1-2 mph out of a parking lot. The consumer stated the brakes were depressed, but failed. The vehicle went over a parking spot barricade, into a feild, and crashed into a bolder. The airbags did not deploy. The consumer went into shock. Suffered a cut on the hand requiring stitches. The consumer suffered an auto immune disease, severe body pains, and developed inflammation requiring treatment with prednisone.

- Santa Barbara, CA, USA

problem #111

Feb 272021

Elantra

  • 110,000 miles
Just bought the car a couple weeks ago for my daughter. The car was parked in a parking lot and would not start. Tried jumping it. Changed battery in key. Gas tank was full. Finally looked on internet and finally looked on line and found a lot of others had the same problem. They said to push the car from the rear. We did and it started. Afraid my daughter will be stuck at night leaving work.

- Annapolis, MD, USA

problem #110

Nov 032020

Elantra

  • 197,798 miles
My 2012 Hyundai Elantra would stall at stop signs and lights. It would stop and start again.. I went to Hyundai to check it out and they said it was the fuel pump. The next day I was driving on the highway and turning off the highway my car stalled out and when I tried to pull over on the side of the road the brakes were hard to press. Using all my weight I got it to come to a stop. It would not crank. I tried about three times to crank it while holding down the gas. It eventually allowed me to change gears really quick and take off. I made it 5 minutes down the road to the house but it stalled as I parked. Now it won't crank at all. For the last couple of weeks I've been trying to crank it. I've had the fuel pump, the spark plugs, the camshaft sensor, and the camshaft position sensor changed and it still isn't cranking

- Jonesboro, GA, USA

problem #109

Jan 022020

Elantra

  • 95,000 miles

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

Motor ticks very loud uses a quart and a half of oil every 500 miles is not leaking it out but burning it occasionally makes a grinding noise and doesn't want to start.

- Campbellsburg, KY, USA

problem #108

Nov 042020

Elantra

  • 114,250 miles
A few weeks ago, I was driving my 2012 Hyundai Elantra (114,000 miles on it) and it started to sputter and I could not accelerate above 20 mph and engine light came on. There had been a similar intermittent probelm prior to this. I had it towed to my dealer and ended up with a replaced coil pack on one cylinder. On 11/4/20, I was run off the interstate by a semi because as I entered the highway, I could not accelerate beyond 20, and then 40 mph and the tacometer regisered 0. I took car back to dealer where they said that the "tech reset adapt.values" ("valves" is what they told me verbally). Well I left with the car after the supposed "fix" and 1/2 mile from the dealership, the same de-aclleration occured, and this time when I went back to dealership the manager had the tech run the diagnostics on original problem on his ipad and tech said the coil pack was fine. The manager then had the tech run all system computer checks and the second time around, an error pointed to the crankshaft so they ran all the computer updates, which took a good 20 minutes, and said that likely fixed the issue. I thought the issue was fixed but today, two days later, I was driving the car and the engine just stopped in the middle of the street while I was driving. I restarted the car and drove it a few miles and I noticed again that the tacometer was not working. This is the 4th time I had to take it to the dealership. I asked them why they didn't run updates when the car is in for routine maintenance and he said they only do so when a problem is noted. The initial issue almost got me killed on the highway. And according to the dealership, other drivers of Hyundai vehicles are experiencing the same issue. Someone will be killed if this safety issue isn't resolved. The issue has not been resolved as of today, 11/6/2020 regardless of what prior svc reports upload states.

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #107

Nov 032020

Elantra

  • 120,000 miles
For the past several months I have had a reoccurring issue with my 2012 Hyundai Elantra. About 1-3 times a week, my car will not start. All lights, radio, etc. Work fine when key is turned to on/start position but car will not start. It makes one click sound and then nothing. Generally, if I keep trying it will eventually start. Sometimes it takes 10 minutes and sometimes it takes a few hours. Along with this, about once a week my car will shift gears hard. It is an automatic and otherwise shifts fine. I have had routine maintenance completed on time since I bought this car in 2016. I have brought my car to my mechanic several times in the last few months and he cannot determine the problem since the car does not do this regularly. I read online that it could be the neutral safety switch (range inhibitor) so I replaced that. The problem still exists. I contacted the Hyundai dealership from which I purchased my car and they have no answers.

- Southport, NC, USA

problem #106

Nov 012020

Elantra

  • 102,000 miles

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

Car was parked and completely off. I put the key in the ignition and turned it partway. All electronic components and headlights came on. I turned the key all the way and it would not start. There was a loud rythmic clicking and each time it clicked all the electronics flickered. Jumping the battery did not work.

- Wixom, MI, USA

problem #105

Oct 262020

Elantra

  • 118,000 miles
The vehicle was stationary. My tire was flat on the side of the road in a desert and I turned the car off to change my tire. I tried to start my vehicle and all accessories turn on and the car unlocks with the electric key fob but the car doesn't start. Inhibitor switch is bad is faulty. It starts sometimes and doesn't start at sometimes. Many people have become stranded due to this defect and have reported it on car guru and many other Hyundai forums. Everyone believes there should be a recall for this faulty issue.

- Alamogordo, NM, USA

problem #104

Oct 232020

Elantra

  • 146,817 miles
I have been experiencing failures from my speed control. It moves slow on it own regardless of how high the meter says. When braking the car shakes and then on its own it goes off and all the lights on the dashboard comes on. This has happened to me 3 times on the highway. The engine light also came on recently and now my car vibrates/ shakes when idle or when it starts.

- Fayetteville, GA, USA

problem #103

Feb 012020

Elantra

  • 130,000 miles
The contact's daughter owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while her daughter was driving 55 mph, the battery warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The driver parked along the side of the road until roadside assistance arrived and jumped started the vehicle. The driver was able to drive to her residence. The driver had the battery replaced. The driver continued to experience the failure. The vehicle was taken to priority Hyundai located at 1499 S military hwy, chesapeake, va 23320, (757) 420-5450 however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the driver was informed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The VIN was associated with NHTSA campaign number: 20V393000 (equipment). The failure mileage was 130,000.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #102

Aug 202020

Elantra

  • 159,600 miles

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

My car is rattling when an idol. It sounds clunky, that's the best way I can describe it. It does it at a stop sign, stop light, in park and in place.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #101

Jul 012020

Elantra 4-cyl

  • miles
Air bag light is constantly illuminated engine has a continual loud ticking noise such as lifters noted appropriately 60,000 miles. Vehicle is still covered by 10/100,000 warranty yet dealer denies any issues with the motor. This is a known issue in California with a pending class action litigation, but not here in nys

- Schenectady, NY, USA

problem #100

Jan 082020

Elantra 4-cyl

  • miles
The vehicle is rattling it stalls out of no where its very loud in the engine. It stalls at stops and sometimes while driving in the middle of the street. The noise is constant.

- Monticello, NY, USA

problem #99

Jun 202020

Elantra

  • 155,000 miles
When I'm driving and I come to a stop my car would make clanking noises I turn my car off and turn it back on and it would stop. When it was time for an oil change I changed my oil and one night I'm driving home and it makes the clanking noise again along with a burnt smell I pull over turn my car off turn back on it still clanking and has clanked ever since. I towed my car home and haven't driven it again because when inspecting it, we noticed my oil level was perfect but timing chain was extremely loose and metal shavings in my oil.

- Saint Martinville, LA, USA

problem #98

Dec 132019

Elantra

  • miles
The engine started making a significant knocking sound, the vehicle only has 111000 miles on it, and the repair quotes are $6,500 which is almost what the vehicle was worth.

- Coralville, IA, USA

problem #97

Sep 012019

Elantra

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. While driving various speeds, the vehicle lost power and would not properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to thornton road Hyundai (669 thornton rd, lithia springs, ga) where it was diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 1420002. No further assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #96

Aug 012019

Elantra

  • miles
This vehicle I have to the mechanic several times this year and it fixed the yellow light goes off for two months or so and comes back on again. This has been going on for the past year.

- Brielle, NJ, USA

problem #95

Oct 032019

Elantra

  • miles
Hyundai Elantra 2012 gls shutting off while driving at low speed or at stopped, stopping, loosing control of your car at low speed no breaks or steering wheel, or speedometer after turning the car on..

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #94

Sep 192019

Elantra

  • 144,000 miles
I purchased the vehicle from a person not dealer. Hyundai was mint condition. Drives smooth. Its kept up and only serviced at Hyundai..144,000 miles. My 3rd day having this car the engine ticks and knocks. When checking the engine I literally burned my finger touching the engine it was so hot I had a blister the car ran for 1 minute not even. I researched this and thousanda od consumers have had engine and knocking also this left me stranded in freezing weather on a country road with my born and she got rsv

- Auburn, NY, USA

problem #93

Aug 022018

Elantra

  • miles
While sitting at light the car begins to jerk like it wants to cut off.yes this happens at stop signs in the country and city streets in town.

- Robersonville, NC, USA

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