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:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
200,383 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2012 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #39

Aug 232018

Elantra

  • 169,000 miles

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

While driving at 35 mph on left lane, engine suddenly died and car skidded a little because brake was deployed automatically or the wheel locked. It made 2 braking/skidding sound. Then suddenly I was able to steer again and position the car to the right for safety. Engine wont turn on. Burning smell and some smoke maybe from locked brake? car towed to nearest Hyundai shop.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #38

Jul 312018

Elantra

  • miles
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 for one or more wheels may be applied unexpectedly and the engine power may be reduced. These symptoms will be accompanied by illumination of the ESC indicator lamp in the instrument cluster.

- Drakes Branch, VA, USA

problem #37

Mar 232016

Elantra

  • 30,000 miles
On about 3/23/2016 I was driving at highway speed on I-287 on my morning commute when my sunroof exploded, raining glass down upon me. I assumed it was hit by a rock until I read about the exploding sunroof problem. My insurance company (geico) paid $1,323 to replace the sunroof.

- Hastings-On-Hudson, NY, USA

problem #36

Apr 032018

Elantra

  • miles

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

Radio has stopped working

- Dracut, MA, USA

problem #35

Mar 012018

Elantra

  • 45,000 miles
Both visors - mechanism inside exploded now visors stuck in odd position where does not block sun and hits you in the forehead if you have an accident it would kill you.. this is defect in plastic mechanism that holds the visor.. I can see online thousands have the same issue.. defective mechanism in visor.,

- Tamarac, FL, USA

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problem #34

Nov 082017

Elantra

  • 84,500 miles
I pulled into a parking spot, the car accelerated by itself jumping the curb running about 15 feet and hitting a rock before I could stop it.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #33

Oct 112017

Elantra

  • 82,000 miles

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

Clicking noise when accelerating/ starting car

- Hillsboro, NH, USA

problem #32

Oct 102017

Elantra

  • 72,000 miles
My 2012 Hyundai Elantra began having acceleration problems for the past 6 to 9 months. As I step on the gas at approximately 30 to 40 mph the automobile kicks, bucks and does not accelerate as intended. My Hyundai dealer replaced the fuel pump/assembly ($700) and it seemed to get worse.failure to accelerate as expected is a danger if you are trying to enter a busy highway or trying to get out of the way of another speeding vehicle. This seems to occur at speeds up to 65 mph when stepping on the gas. This happens on a regular basis but not every day.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

problem #31

Jun 212017

Elantra

  • 124,000 miles
Intermittent...car is stationary and I attempt to start car with push start and the engine will crank for approx 3 second and then start. I turn car off and hear a tick tick tick from engine. Restarts with no hesitation. This is usually after a drive around town and then I come home and maybe about 6 hours later I'll go back into my car and it will sputter again. No solution as of yet.

- Oceanside, CA, USA

problem #30

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 #29

Dec 152016

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 47,400 miles

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

While driving on city street, the passenger side sun visor broke flopping down while being adjusted by passenger causing wife to be startled as she steered the car 2015. Driver side sun visor broke flopping downward as I was adjusting it while driving city street 45 mph causing me to have to re-gain control of vehicle. 2016 we have both visors and parts and photo's.

- Palm Harbor, FL, USA

problem #28

Nov 262016

Elantra

  • miles
Since purchasing this vehicle on numerous occassions I've had neighbors tell me my trunk has been found open and numerous times I look outside and its open the keys hung on the wall of my house it happens any and everywhere grocery store etc. Its not a safe place to put anything without the chance of being stolen from trunk or give acces to the main cabin cause thats where the backseat release is open season for theft

- Camden, NJ, USA

problem #27

Sep 292016

Elantra

  • 95,500 miles
I have had numerous experiences where the vehicle wont start. I went to get gas one morning and after I pumped the gas and got in to drive off my car wouldn't start. I waited for aaa and while waiting tried turning over the key and it started right up. Like I said this has happened about ten to twelve or more times. I recently changed the battery but it happened again several times. Someone needs to do something regarding this complaint as I see it is something that has been complained about numerous times.

- Hemet, CA, USA

problem #26

Aug 022016

Elantra

  • 75,000 miles
Vehicle wont start at times. This happened when I first bought the vehicle and Hyundai changed the inhibitor switch. Recently started having the same problem of it not starting. Dealer showed me where the reset is so I was able to start it and bring it to the dealer. Again they changed the inhibitor switch. I was told they changed the design of the switch and hopefully I won't have this problem again. Hyundai paid for the part but I had to pay for labor. I'm sure I am not the only one that had this problem.

- West Haven, CT, USA

problem #25

Jul 252016

Elantra

  • 106,000 miles
Intermittently, my car does not start. I turn the key and nothing happens. I try it again. Nothing. I try it again and it starts. It happened when the car was sitting overnight in my garage. It happened after I was in a store for about 45 minutes. It happened after I was in another location for 2 hours. I brought it to the dealer about a year ago when it happened and they said nothing was wrong because it didn't do it for them. (of course, it didn't!) then, after another couple of times of it happening again, I researched and found it was probably some kind of switch. I told that to the dealer and they replaced something which seemed to fix the problem. Now, all of a sudden, it's happening again. I am afraid to drive this car for fear I will be stranded somewhere unsafe one day.

- New Brighton, MN, USA

problem #24

Apr 172016

Elantra

  • 10,000 miles
Over the last several years my Elantra has stalled immediately upon starting. It doesnt matter if the engine is hot or cold. Just filled up with gas or anywhere in between. The problem is very intermittent. Usually it would then start on the 2nd or 3rd try but has on several occasions left me stranded requiring a tow. The dealership acknowledged this was a known problem but unless they can replicate the problem, there is nothing they can do. Ive had the throttle body cleaned and all new spark plugs, but its still acting up. I dont want to keep throwing money at it guessing what could be wrong. This began around 10,000 miles and it now is approaching 80,000. Id like for Hyundai to acknowledge there are hundreds of similar complaints and to investigate the problem.

- Grove City, OH, USA

problem #23

Mar 252016

Elantra

  • 23,000 miles
Sunroof shattering: While traveling on the highway in Virginia on 3/25/16 I heard a crack, pop, and then shattering. Pieces of glass could be heard sliding over the top of the car and seen in the back window. No item was seen inside of the car to suggest an outside object breaking the glass. I dropped off the car at the Hyundai service department in white flint.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #22

Mar 022016

Elantra

  • miles
My 2012 Elantra ltd edition has a keyless entry and push button to start. Recently I am having problem to open the doors or start the cars. Sometimes it starts the engine and sometimes it does not. I am surprised this problem is lot more common in the forum and it has not been taken care by Hyundai or NHTSA. I am missing my work. This is my second Hyundai and this is it. No more Hyundai for me. I paid big bucks for it and no one cares. I have left the message to the dealership in the morning and they have not called me. I had owned many cars before and never had a problem like this.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #21

Feb 252016

Elantra

  • 46,000 miles
The vehicle has accelerated on it's own twice now -- today and about a month ago. Both occurrences were exactly the same. They were while parking in my office's parking lot after driving 20-30 minutes on the highway. As soon as I took my foot off the brake it was if I was pressing down on the gas pedal but I was not. When I stopped and put the car in park the RPM shot all the way up and engine was revving as if I had my foot all the way down on the gas pedal. This did not stop until I shut the engine off. I then restart the car and it is not happening. Then, with the car still in park, I gently tap on the gas and it starts again. The gas pedal does not appear to be physically stuck. About an hour later I start the car and try tapping on the gas and cannot reproduce the problem. I see these complaints all over the internet. Hyundai needs to own up and issue a recall before somebody gets hurt, this is very dangerous and scary.

- North Babylon, NY, USA

problem #20

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

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