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.

9.7

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,290
Average Mileage:
67,850 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace engine block (3 reports)
  2. not sure (2 reports)
  3. dealer mis diagnosed lol (1 reports)
2012 Hyundai Elantra engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments

problem #6

Feb 012019

Elantra

  • Automatic transmission
  • 67,000 miles

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

So it just cost me $3800 to replace my engine in my POS Hyundai 2012 Elantra. Hyundai is well aware of the engine problem, metal shavings in the oil pan and dealer called it Piston Slapping.

After several calls to Hyundai they agreed to pay 1/2 of the cost $2700.00 not close to the cost of the repair! Seems I am not alone in my pain, looking at other consumers with the same issue that received nothing but grief!

There needs to be some compensation for those of us that bought this car under the premise that it would be a good reliable car. LOL the car for trade in is about $5G! Is there a class action suit against Hyundai that anyone is aware of? I would join in a heartbeat!!!

- Carole T., Warrington, PA, US

problem #5

Mar 132019

Elantra

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles

Bought the car at 25,000. Have taken excellent care of it. Last fall the gas mileage dropped to 21 mpg and it developed an awful squeak when I turned the wheel on corners. Took it to a Hyundai dealer they replaced something to do with fuel and said there was a recall on it. They couldn’t find what the squealing noise was. It made a little difference but not much. It went to 23 mpg. Then the ticking noise started and got really loud about two weeks ago.

Mechanic put it on the diagnostic machine and told me it had a bad problem inside the engine and his guess was it was going to cost me $6000 + and to take it to Hyundai dealer which I did and there it sits. I was told by one of the mechanics that the problem I was having was an engineered glass flaw in the engine and it was happening frequently.

Now they want me to pay half of $6,000 to fix it. I told them that the marketing of Hyundai’s revolves around their guarantee of 100,000 miles and 10 years. I was told as I am the second owner it wasn’t covered after 60,000. My response was...it’s either warranted or it’s not and I fully believe it’s another way for them to get more money by not honoring it and making the owner pay for the repair. I wont be buying another Hyundai

- Jane M., Dunbarton, US

problem #4

Apr 132018

Elantra 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles

On April 13th my 2012 Hyundai Elantra with low mileage of 53,000 started with loud knocking noises every time I pressed the gas. I had the car towed to my local dealer - Burns Hyundai of Marlton. They informed me that they have to replace the engine block as a wrist pin failed rod bearing failed, metal shavings in oil pan due to damages of failure and thus the engine is dead.

I am the original owner and they submitted under the warranty to have the engine block replaced. After several days the approval was finally in but they are screwing me. The engines are on back order for 8 weeks. That is 2 months minimal with no vehicle and Hyundai is refusing to cover the full cost of a rental car. They said that they will cover $20 per day only through the dealer using enterprise but I have to pay $18 per day for the most basic compact car at $38 per day.

This is absolutely ridiculous. This pin and bearing should never had failed and I should not be told I have to put out a minimum of $1000 to have a vehicle due during their extended delays due to all of their failures.

I have issues a complaint to Hyundai who has a so sorry don't care attitude and Burns Hyundai is saying they will not cover as it is Hyundai. I have been without a vehicle to get to work or store for a week already. I certainly cannot nor should I have to put a cent!

Anyone know of any class action suits for this pin/bearing failure on the Elantras.

Why is this not all being covered under the warranty in FULL? Why is this not being covered or included like the recall on the Sonatas and Santa Fes.

- Lisa S., Maple Shade, US

problem #3

Apr 272018

Elantra

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles

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

Never ever buy a Hyundai Elantra. I just found out that my 2012 Elantra with 58,000 needs a new engine. I owe $10,000 on car and unfortunately I am second owner so warranty is no longer in effect. I want to cry, scream... The service guy put in what he called a "Good Will request" for financial assistance with new engine. Hyundai denied request. I cannot afford to fix it and yet, I need something to drive. Until I pay my loan off I can't afford a new car. I have never heard of a car with only 58,000 miles needing a new engine. The car started to make knocking noise right before 58,00 miles. I have had 2 Toyota's that were still running past 300,00 miles. I have never had a car that needed a new engine and I have had many cars with high mileage. I now have a car worth nothing that I owe $10,000 on. This is financially devastating to me as I am sure it would for anyone in same position. I am so screwed- I need a car that is reliable and now I can't even afford an unreliable car. I borrowed a car this past week that did not run the first time it rained and I have no idea what I am going to do in future. In my opinion Hyundai is committing a felonies by ripping off people like myself who had the sad misfortune to purchase one of their vehicles for thousands of dollars when they should have recalled the engine in the first place. I wish I had known about the overwhelming amount of Hyundai Elantra owners with low mileage who were told that their engine was shot when they took it in to have ticking/ knocking diagnosed. I cannot believe that any car manufacturer is allowed to get away with this. I will not let this rest, I will do everything I can to make sure everyone knows that Hyundai not only makes the worst vehicles but is the "psychopath" of car manufacturing; it has no conscience. I am out a car and more than the $10,000 I owe. If anyone has advice on what actions I could take, I would appreciate your feedback.

- Mary G., Mankato, MN, US

problem #2

Jan 152016

Elantra Limited 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 94,000 miles

At 94,000 miles the original engine failed. It required replacement on Jan 16, 2016 under warranty. Now today Dec. 23, 2017 the replacement engine failed at 124,000, a difference of 30,000 miles on the replacement engine. Services were all done at the dealer, engine was replaced with a new factory engine by the dealer, and today I am told the new engine is out of warranty.

I am out of my mind over this although the dealer did say that a prior authorization would be submitted in my behalf on Tuesday, as Monday is the holiday. Is that the life expectancy of a new factory engine, 30,000 miles? Hyundai is buying engine replacement claims on the Sonata to the tune of $9,500 every day. The replacement engine they sold and installed me failed in 30,000 miles. Something is wrong with the QC at Hyundai for all of these failures to be occurring. This is not over yet for me and Hyundai.

Update from Jan 12, 2018: So, I had another mechanic who has some 12 years of experience with Hyundai's go on a road test with me. A few blocks into the road test he made me pull over to check under the hood. He said the noise he was hearing did not sound like a failing engine. Meanwhile, during the road test our speed ranged from 30 to 60 MPH. The only complaint we have is this unusual, almost like an exhaust noise, that started overnight. This 12 year Hyundai veteran claimed that now he hears what the problem sounds like, and it didn't sound like a failing engine. We went back to the shop and four or five days later we get a call expressing "it needs and engine". I went down to the shop, they put the car up on a lift and pointed out the noise and how it is coming from the engine. Hard pressed, I asked if they could have a representative from Hyundai revisit this as it is a replacement engine with only 30,000 miles on it. We get a call over a week later, to be fair the holidays slowed the process down, "Hyundai will not consider providing any assistance to the repair". I get back to the service department and asked what my options are and the cost. I was supposed to hear from the service dept. today, Friday 1/12/2018, but surprise they never called.

The moral to this story is DO NOT BUY A HYUNDAI AND EXPECT TO GET CUSTOMER SERVICE. I am now looking into exploring our problem with the media, channel 2, 4, 5, 7, 11. An engine with 30,000 miles on it, which was replace and serviced by Hyundai, FAILING, is far from what anyone should expect. However, this is Hyundai so I guess anything goes. DO NOT BUY A HYUNDAI unless you enjoy getting screwed. We will continue to pursue a solution through the media but welcome any input from anyone.

Update from Jan 22, 2018: Well, I drove my car out of Hyundai after 1 month of them doing nothing. As a lark, i took it into Mavis Tires. I got a call in one hour saying that the car was fixed. They found the A/C compressor was loose, exhaust hanger bracket bolts was stripped and loose, the O2 sensor was loose and a second radiator cap laying on a heat shield causing additional noise. The car is running again quietly, responsive as good as it was prior to the day the noise began. Why couldn't the Hyundai highly trained mechanics find this? I spent one month without a car and the repair was done in one hour causting $58.00. Imagine if I told the dealer to replace the engine for $7,500 when the true cost of the repair was $58.00. they would have had some profitable day at my expense. How many other people fall prey to these tactics?

- James M., Port Jefferson Station, NY, US

problem #1

Dec 012016

Elantra Limited

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,000 miles

Total engine failure with no warning. Identical to the Sonata engine failure but my model never recalled. but

over 1 million other Hyundais were recalled. My car was made in 2012 in Alabama, same place as the Sonata's recalled.

- Victoria S., Rancho Cucamonga, US

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