48 complaints reported

2012 Hyundai Elantra Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
48
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2015

WE WERE ON VACATION IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS. WE HIKED FOR A COUPLE HOURS AND RETURNED TO THE CAR. I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY, NOTHING. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES, NOTHING. LIGHTS CAME ON BRIGHT, POWER WINDOWS WORKED, DASHBOARD LIGHTS BRIGHT. I TRIED TAKING IT IN AND OUT OF PARK, TRIED TURNING THE KEY DIFFERENT SPEEDS, NOTHING. THE ENGINE DID NOT TRY TO TURN OVER, NO CLICKING, JUST SILENCE. WE TRIED TO GET HELP, NO ONE STOPPED. AFTER AN HOUR OR SO, TRIED IT AGAIN, STARTED RIGHT UP. WE DROVE BACK TO OUR CABIN. IT STARTED FINE THE REST OF THE TIME WE WERE THERE. WHEN WE GOT BACK HOME, TOOK IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER. EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. HE SAID IF IT WAS WORKING FINE NOW, NOT MUCH THEY COULD DO. HE ALSO ADVISED ME THAT IF THEY DIAGNOSED IT FOR DAYS, FOUND THE PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION OR SOMETHING THAT DID NOT REQUIRE REPLACING A PART, THE ENTIRE LABOR COST WAS MINE TO PAY. THAT'S WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE HYUNDAI 5 YEAR, 60K WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER LABOR AFTER 36K. OUCH! A BUYER BEWARE/READ THE FINE PRINT MOMENT. SO, I LEFT SINCE IT HADN'T HAPPENED IN A COUPLE WEEKS. THIS FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN MID-OCTOBER. THREE WEEKS AGO, AFTER 2 MONTHS, AROUND DEC 20TH, 2014, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. SAME THING. JUST DEAD. BATTERY FINE. EVERYTHING WORKING BUT THE CAR. TRIED A HALF DOZEN TIMES, MOVING THE TRANNY SHIFTER, ETC. WENT IN THE HOUSE, CAME BACK OUT, STARTED LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. A WEEK AGO, SAME. THIS MORNING, JAN 8, 2015, AGAIN, SAME THING. I CHECKED THE BATTERY AND CONNECTIONS, BOTH FINE. AFTER 20 MINUTES OR SO, TRIED AGAIN, STARTED. IT IS HAPPENING MORE NOW. I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND HUNDREDS OF FOLKS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. THERE ALSO ARE YOU TUBE VIDEOS OF IT. SO, THIS MAKES ME WONDER WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. MY ELANTRA HAS ALMOST 59K ON IT, SO I WILL BE AT THE 60K LIMIT IN A MONTH OR SO. WHAT CAN I DO? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2014
May 2015

THE CAR WOULDN'T CRANK OR START WHEN I GOT TO THE GAS STATION. AFTER MULTIPLE TRIES WITH PUTTING THE CAR SHIFTER IN PARK TO NEUTRAL AND SWITCHING THE GEARS IT FINALLY STARTED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOOK IT DOWN TO GET LOOKED AT. AS I WAS DRIVING IT DOWN TO THE DEALERSHIP AS I WAS APPROACHING THE TRAFFIC LIGHT I REALIZED THE CAR WASN'T RUNNING ANYMORE AND BY THIS POINT I HAD LIMITED BRAKE ASSISTANCE AND ALSO LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND HAD TO USE THE E-BRAKE TO HELP WITH STOPPING THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT THE ACCIDENT THAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. THIS WAS A GREAT THING THAT I WAS DRIVING AND NOT MY WIFE AS SHE WOULD'VE FROZE AND MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO THINK HOW TO GET THE CAR TO STOP IN WHICH THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A ACCIDENT WITH BODILY INJURY OR EVEN POSSIBLE DEATH OF THE PERSON DRIVING THE CAR OR THE INNOCENT PERSON THAT WAS COLLECTED UP IN THE ACCIDENT BUT NO ONE WOULD KNOW AS IT DIDN'T HAPPEN, THANK GOD FOR THIS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED THE REST OF THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY LOOKED AT IT AND THE CAR STARTED FOR THEM AND THEY TESTED THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTER AND ALL TESTED GOOD SO THEY GAVE THE CAR BACK TO ME STATING IT WAS THE AC INVERT-OR THAT WAS PLUGGED IN TO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER. I TOLD THEM THAT I PLUGGED THE INVERT-OR IN AFTER THE CAR DIED TO CHARGE MY PHONE BUT THEY STILL INSISTED THAT I WAS LYING I GUESS. I DROVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT AND A FEW DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN BUT I WAS GOING 35 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITH NO INCIDENT AS I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR NORMAL SPEED AND KNEW IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN AS THE DEALER SHIP HAD NOT FOUND ANYTHING FAULTY. NOW IT SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY AND IS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WILL NOT START. THE DEALERSHIP MAJOR HYUNDAI OF STROUDSBURG, PA 18360 WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO BRING MY CAR BACK TO THEM AND HYUNDAI WILL ONLY TOW IT TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2014
Apr 2015

THE CAR WON'T START. THIS IS A PUSH BUTTON START. I THOUGHT PERHAPS THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE KEY THAT HAS TO BE IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF STARTING THE CAR. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS IS HAPPENED IN THREE WEEKS. THEN I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED AN ONLINE NUMBER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE MANUFACTURE IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE NOT ISSUING A RECALL BUT THEY CALL THIS A CAMPAIGN AND HAVE A NUMBER FOR THIS PROBLEM WHICH IS 933. THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR, BUT THEY WILL PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THEN I CALLED A DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT TO BRING THE CAR IN. I FEEL THIS IS ALL HUSH-HUSH, TO THE DISADVANTAGE OF THE OWNER, WHO COULD FIND THEMSELVES IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE CAR WILL START. PLEASE INVESTIGATE, INCLUDING AN ONLINE SEARCH, TO DETERMINE IF A NATIONWIDE MANDATORY RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2015
Jan 2015

INTERMITTENT START FAILURES. CAR FAILS TO START SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. HAD THE BATTERY TESTED AND IT CHECKED OK. SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER. THE SHIFTER SEEMS TO THINK THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK, BUT IS IS. SWITCHING IT BACK AND FORTH OUT OF PARK SOMETIMES WORKS, BUT NOT ALWAYS. VERY FRUSTRATING. UNRELIABLE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY "CORRECTED A GROUNDING ANOMALY". FAILED TO START AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. ONLINE REPORTS HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN SEEING HOW WIDESPREAD THIS PROBLEM IS. IF HYUNDAI DOESN'T RECALL THIS PROBLEM, THEIR RISING REPUTATION WILL BE DASHED. I WISH I HAD NOT BOUGHT THIS CAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2015
Jan 2015

THE CAR WONT START. THE BATTERY AND STARTER ARE FINE. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, JUST PERIODICALLY, MAYBE EVERY OTHER DAY OR TWICE A WEEK. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A PATTERN. THE CAR STARTS EVENTUALLY AFTER NUMEROUS TURNS OF THE KEY. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER IF I TURN OFF THE LIGHTS, RADIO ETC.. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2015
Dec 2014

2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY AS AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. THE DEALER STATED THE BATTERY WAS NOT UNDER WARRANT, SO A REIMBURSEMENT IS BEING REQUESTED. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2014
Sep 2014

A FEW WEEKS AGO, MY 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WOULD NOT START. I GOOGLED THE ISSUE AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS AFFECTED NUMEROUS HYUNDAI DRIVERS. THE ISSUE ENDED UP BEING THAT THE RANGE SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A RECALL. THANKS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2014
Sep 2014

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, ALL LIGHTS / ACCESSORIES WERE IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD DO NOTHING WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE START POSITION. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT NEW. AFTER RECOMMENDING A FUEL SYSTEM TREATMENT - WHICH WE HAD PREVIOUSLY UNDERGONE AT 40K - WE DECLINED. THE NET RESULT OF THIS VISIT WAS THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. AFTER EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM A FEW MORE TIMES (9/8,9/9,9/21, 9/23 ALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CALLS), SOMETIMES BEING ABLE TO START THE CAR AFTER A FEW MINUTES - SOMETIMES NOT. WE FIND OURSELVES AT AN IMPASS WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE TELLING US THEY WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC WITHOUT CHARGING US THE FEE - EVEN THOUGH WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I PAID IN EXCESS OF $1200 FOR THE 100000 BUMPER TO BUMPER EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2014
Sep 2014

THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. ALL OF THE INTERIOR ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS APPEARED TO BE WORKING. THE ENGINE FAILED TO TURN OVER. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CAR STARTED. THE VEHICLE STARTED DOZENS OF TIMES OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS WITHOUT ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE TO START HAS RECURRED TWICE MORE IN THE PAST FOUR DAYS. THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A BATTERY ISSUE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2014
Sep 2014

WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING MY 2012 ELANTRA, I STARTED HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING. DASH WOULD LIGHT UP NORMALLY, AND RADIO, ETC WORKED FINE, HOWEVER THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TRY TO TURN OVER AT ALL OR MAKE ANY NOISE WHATSOEVER. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR IS NOT SENSING THAT THE CAR IS IN PARK. THE DASH WILL NORMALLY DISPLAY P (FOR PARK), HOWEVER IN THESE INSTANCES THE DASH IS BLANK WHERE THE TRANSMISSION POSITION SHOULD BE DISPLAYED. THE SHIFTER IS ALSO STUCK IN PARK SO I CAN NOT MOVE TO ANY OTHER GEAR. IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, I HAVE TO USE THE SHIFT OVERIDE AND MOVE THE CAR OUT OF PARK AND THEN BACK INTO PARK. THE DASH WILL THEN DISPLAY THE P, AND I CAN START THE CAR NORMALLY. I HAVE TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND THEIR COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS DON'T DETECT ANY PROBLEMS. THEY SAID IF THEY CAN'T REPEAT THE PROBLEM THEN THEY WON'T CHANGE OUT ANY COMPONENTS. THIS IS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY I CAN GET IT TO THE DEALER WHEN THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2013
Aug 2014

SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, ON A SUNDAY, I GOT INTO MY 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE LOCAL KROGER AND TRIED TO START THE CAR. IT REFUSED TO START OR TURN OVER. IT DIDN'T MAKE A SOUND. THE LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC. WORKED FINE, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. I CALLED A FRIEND WHO CAME OVER AND JUMPED ME OFF. I THOUGHT THIS COULD BE RELATED TO MY BATTERY, BUT FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, I HAD NO PROBLEMS. THIS PAST SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT GAVE A LITTLE HICCUP, AS IF IT WASN'T GOING TO START, BUT THEN IT STARTED ANYWAY. I MADE A SHORT TRIP INTO TOWN, STOPPED AT THE STORE, CAME BACK AND THE CAR STILL STARTED FINE. BUT THE NEXT MORNING, MONDAY, AUG. 25, IT WOULD NOT START AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. MY NEIGHBOR GAVE ME A JUMP-OFF - IT TOOK A COUPLE OF MINUTES, BUT FINALLY THE CAR STARTED. I ASSUMED THIS WAS DEFINITELY THE BATTERY, SO I HEADED TO AUTOZONE AND GOT A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED. SEVERAL DAYS PASSED, AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. ON THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST 28, IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. I TRIED REPEATEDLY, NO LUCK. I CALLED A FRIEND, WHO CAME OVER TO JUMP IT OFF. STILL WOULDN'T START. I CALLED HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY HAD IT TOWED TO PRIDE HYUNDAI, A DEALERSHIP IN BATESVILLE, MISS. I GOT A RIDE TO WORK AND, LATER, I GOT A CALL FROM PRIDE HYUNDAI. THEY SAID THE CAR STARTED JUST FINE. THEY ALSO REPORTED THAT THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID IT STARTED FOR HIM AS WELL. I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND THEY SAID THEY'D LOOK AT IT. HOURS LATER, I CALLED THEM BACK (SINCE IT WAS CLEAR THEY HAD FORGOTTEN TO CALL ME) AND THEY SAID THEY'D HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. I ASKED THEM TO KEEP IT OVERNIGHT AND TRY IT AGAIN THE NEXT MORNING. THE LADY ON THE PHONE WENT OUT TO THE LOT AND CAME BACK - SHE SAID IT STARTED FINE FOR HER AND AGAIN SHE INSISTED THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2014
Aug 2014

A FEW DAYS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT, A WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT APPEARED ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THAT WEEKEND TO HAVE IT CHECKED AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, THE FIRST UNUSUAL THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THE HYUNDAI LOGO APPEARED ON THE NAV SCREEN WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION.TYPICALLY THE HYUNDAI LOGO ONLY APPEARS WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED-NEVER WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. ABOUT 10 MILES LATER, ALL OF THE POWER TO THE VEHICLE DISAPPEARED AS I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, IT FELT AS IF I HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER DETERMINING THAT WAS NOT THE CASE, I LOOKED AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO SEE ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. NOW I'M TRYING TO MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER WAS MAGICALLY RESTORED AND THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT THAT HAD APPEARED A FEW DAYS PRIOR WAS NOW GONE. I DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. NO, IT RESTARTED ALL BY ITSELF! I TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS WHO BOTH ASSURED ME THE CAR WAS FINE AND THAT WHAT I DESCRIBED WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO OCCUR. TRUST ME WHEN I TELL YOU THAT UNLESS YOU'VE EXPERIENCED LOSING ALL POWER TO A VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, YET HERE IS NOT ANOTHER FEELING LIKE IT. I NO LONGER FELT SAFE IN MY OWN VEHICLE AND MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR IT TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD HAVE FELT MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE HAD THE DEALERSHIP(S) FOUND SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. GIVEN THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG LEFT ME VERY LEERY OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ALSO, THE MPG GAUGE WOULD RESET ITSELF; AT IDLE, IT FREQUENTLY ALMOST STALLED; AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER AT IDLE; THE COMPASS READOUT ON THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WOULD ALSO FLICKER AT IDLE WHEN THE VEHICLE ALMOST STALLED---VERY BIZARRE BEHAVIOR FROM A VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2014
Jul 2014

MY 2012 ELANTRA STARTED FINE THIS MORNING AND EVERY DAY PREVIOUSLY, BUT WHEN I WENT TO START IT AFTER SHOPPING, IT WOULDN'T START. I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND NOTHING. HOWEVER, ALL OF THE LIGHTS INSIDE WORKED. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT TO START AND IT FINALLY STARTED. I CAME HOME AND THEN AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS, I WENT OUT TO GO SOMEWHERE AND ONCE AGAIN, IT WOULDN'T START. AFTER 3-4 TIMES OF TURNING THE KEY, IT FINALLY STARTED. I CURRENTLY HAVE IT READY TO BE PICKED UP TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP AS I AM ASSUMING IT WILL NOT START AGAIN THE NEXT TIME. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AS WELL AS VIEWING VIDEOS OF THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENING. I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN JUNE OF 2012 SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING STRANDED, BUT I MAY BE REGRETTING MY DECISION. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2014
Jul 2014

I ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR LAST NIGHT AND IT DIDN'T START, LIGHTS WERE ON FULL POWER AND EVERYTHING BUT NOT A SOUND FROM THE ENGINE... TRIED MANY MANY TIMES DIDN'T START. THEN RANDOMLY IT STARTED. DROVE HOME PARKED WENT OUT THIS MORNING AND TRIED AGAIN DID NOT START. I HAVE TRIED MANY TIMES THIS MORNING BUT AGAIN IT HAS NOT STARTED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2014
Jul 2014

ONE DAY IN JUNE, I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND THE PARK SENSOR ABOVE MY ODOMETER WOULD NOT SHOW. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE CAR WOULDN'T START AT ALL. I HAD TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO START THE CAR, BY TURNING THE KEY MULTIPLE TIMES INSIDE THE IGNITION AND PRESSING MY FOOT ONTO THE PEDAL. IT FINALLY STARTED, BUT NOT WITHOUT APPREHENSION ON MY PART. THE REST OF THE TIME, THE CAR WORKED OK FOR THE MOST PART, BUT WHENEVER I REACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT IT WOULD ACT AS IF IT WERE PARKED AND ACTED A BIT FUNNY. THE STORY ABOVE HAPPENED 8 MORE TIMES OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. I HAD THE BATTERY CHECKED TO SEE IF IT WAS A BATTERY PROBLEM, ONLY TO REALIZE THE BATTERY WAS FINE. I TRIED OTHER TECHNIQUES, SUCH AS TURNING THE KEY COMPLETELY 90 DEGREES, BUT THAT DIDN'T SOLVE IT. FINALLY, I WENT TO THE DEALER AND UPON MY STORY BEING SHARED, THE MECHANICS IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SWITCH WAS NOT WORKING. THEY HAD NOTICED MORE HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2012 CARS IN THE PAST FEW DAYS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. SINCE I AM UNDER THE 5 YEAR / 60,000 MILE WARRANTY, THIS ISSUE WAS FIXED AT NO COST. HOWEVER, WHILE THIS ISSUE WAS FIXED AT MY END. I WOULD HOPE THIS STORY WOULD SPUR A FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SWITCHES ON ALL HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2012S AND SEE WHAT ISSUES (IF ANY) COULD RESULT OVER A FAULTED TRANSMISSION RANGE SWITCH. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2014
Jun 2014

THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT MAY BE DUE TO THE SWITCH OVERHEATING. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT I WILL PARK MY CAR AND WHEN I RETURN A FEW MINUTES LATER AND TRY TO START THE CAR NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH. IF YOU GO TO YOUTUBE.COM AND TYPE 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA IGNITION PROBLEM INTO THE SEARCH ENGINE YOU WILL SEE OTHER 2012 ELANTRA OWNERS POSTING VIDEOS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP WHICH STATED THERE IS NO RECALL OF THE 2012 ELANTRA. AGAIN SINCE OTHER 2012 ELANTRA OWNERS ARE POSTING THIS ON YOUTUBE THAT TELLS ME THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2014
Jun 2014

TURN KEY IN IGNITION. NOTHING HAPPENS. TURN OFF, TURN ON, EVENTUALLY IGNITION WORKS AND CAR TURNS ON. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE FIRST VISIT TO DEALER TO TRY TO REMEDY ISSUE. FIRST TRIP TO DEALER 5/14/14. DEALER CAN'T RECREATE PROBLEM. PROBLEM CONTINUES. 6/11/14: TURN KEY, CAR WON'T START, TURN OFF, TURN ON, CAR WONT START. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, HYUNDAI DEALER CALLED, SENDS A TOW TRUCK. TOW TRUCK DRIVER TURNS KEY. WON'T START. TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAYS YOU NEED TO TURN THE KEY AND HOLD IT DOWN TO "RESET THE COMPUTER, RESET THE BRAKE SWITCH." HE DOES THIS AND CAR STARTS. HE TOWS IT TO DEALER 6/11/14. DEALER CAN'T RECREATE PROBLEM (SANDS DOWN PAINTED GROUND AREAS). 6/26/14- CAR STARTS BUT IS STUCK IN PARK, CAN'T SHIFT TO DRIVE. TURN OFF. TURN BACK ON. ABLE TO SHIFT TO DRIVE. LATER SAME DAY 6/26/14, TURN KEY IN IGNITION. NOTHING HAPPENS. HOLD KEY DOWN AS INSTRUCTED BY TOW TRUCK DRIVER ON 6/11. TURN OFF, TURN BACK ON, CAR STARTS. READ UP ON THE ISSUE ONLINE. SYMPTOMS SOUND SIMILAR TO BRAKE SWITCH RECALL ISSUES ON EARLIER MODELS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2014
May 2014

CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN KEY TURNED. DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER OR EVEN CRANK. THE ONLY SOUND WAS A SLIGHT CLICK IN THE ENGINE WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED. JUMP START WOULD NOT HELP. REMEDIED BY TURNING THE KEY UNTIL I COULD SHIFT OUT OF PARK TO ANOTHER GEAR, THEN RETURNED TO PARK. DID THIS MULTIPLE TIMES AND FINALLY THE CAR STARTED NORMALLY. CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING POWER WHEN DRIVING AND HAVING AN ACCIDENT, OR GETTING STRANDED SOMEWHERE. CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD CHECK FOR BATTERY ISSUES (WHICH IT IS NOT), BUT TO CALL THEM IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN (HOPEFULLY, NOT WHILE DRIVING). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Apr 2014
Oct 2013

VEHICLE WILL NOT START ONCE STOPPED. AFTER AN HOUR OR SO IT WILL RESTART. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ABOUT A YEAR. IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MORNING (OCT. 16). THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED IN BAYTOWN TEXAS. ALSO AT NTB STORE IN ATASCOCITA, TX. AFTER THOROUGHLY CHECKING ALL POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR THIS TYPE PROBLEM, THROUGH VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS THEN REPLACING THE BATTERY, NEITHER SERVICE CENTER HAS DETECTED A PROBLEM. THEY HAVE GIVEN A RESOLUTION OF NO PROBLEM FOUND. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR A YEAR NOW. THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2013
May 2013

PURCHASED CAR NEW JUNE 2012, CAR WAS NOT STARTED FOR ABOUT THREE DAYS TRIED TO START CAR, WOULD NOT START. I JUMP STARTED CAR TO GET IT TO THE SHOP, SAID WATER IN BATTERY LOW, ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER, SAME THING, DEALER KEPT CAR, REPLACED BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES, UNPLUGGED WIRES, CHASED WIRES FROM FRONT TO BACK, DEALER CALLED TWICE, WENT TO PICK UP CAR, WOULD NOT START AT DEALER. OUT OF SHOP, KEPT ABOUT 3 WEEKS, SAME THING, DEALER KEPT IN SHOP FOR ANOTHER 35 DAYS, PLUS THIS TIME IT HAD A BIG DENT IN LEFT DOOR, GAS LEAK,PART OF HEAT SHIELD HAD NOT REPLACED, RUST ON THE FRAME WHERE BATTERY ACID WAS SPILLED, RUST ON ENGINE AND SURROUNDING PARTS. GOT OUT OF SHOP, HAD IT FOR 1 WEEK, SAME THING NOT START, DEALER CALLED WRECKER, HAULED OFF, CONTACTED ME SAID WOULD TITLE IT AS A LEMON. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THOSE SIZE TIRES, MATTER OF FACT THEY WERE MADE IN VN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA TOURING, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2012
May 2013

MY ELANTRA LIMITED WILL NOT START OCCASIONALLY FOR NO REASON. I HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND BACK TO PARK, THEN REPEAT TO GET IT TO START. THIS HAPPENS SO OFTEN I AM USED TO IT DOING THIS, SO I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL. THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS IT UP. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2013
Apr 2012

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CUT OF COMPLETELY. ELECTRICAL, ENGINE, POWER STEERING, WINDOWS, EVERYTHING WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE AND SHUTDOWN. I WAS FORCED TO MANUALLY FORCE THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AWAY FROM TRAFFIC/INTO SAFETY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN 2 WEEKS! THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THE PCM/ECM. ONCE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. THIS IS COMPLETELY INEXCUSABLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2012
Jan 2012

TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED (AS IF I HIT SOMETHING ON THE ROAD) COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. DASH, RADIO, NAVIGATION, POWER STEERING WENT DEAD. A FEW SECONDS LATER POWER CAME BACK WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL ROLLING AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART BY DEPRESSING BRAKE AND "START/STOP" BUTTON. A FEW MINUTES LATER WHILE TRAVELING AT LOWER SPEED, THE EVENT REPEATED. THIS TIME POWER WOULD NOT RETURN. CAR WAS IN MOTION AND WAS ABLE TO ROLL TO EMERGENCY SHOULDER. CAR WAS STUCK IN NEUTRAL SO EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED TO PREVENT ROLL BACK. POWER GONE, UNABLE TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS, ACTIVATE SUNROOF, RADIO OR ANYTHING REQUIRING POWER. WHILE CALL WAS BEING MADE TO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND AFTER 10 MINUTE WAIT ON HOLD, DASH ILLUMINATED POWER AND CAR WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED WITH START/STOP BUTTON. DECISION WAS MADE TO LEAVE INTERSTATE AND TAKE BACK ROADS TO AVOID FATALITY IN EVENT OF REPEAT. FAILURE EXPERIENCE 3 ADDITIONAL TIMES. WAS ABLE TO VIDEO TAPE FAILURE: HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=XN9BPQ9FOGM&LIST=FLE9MKXPPKTQATS9TX4ZU9FQ&FEATURE=MH_LOLZ *TT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2012

Trend Over Time

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Quick Summary

The 2012 Hyundai Elantra has 48 Electrical System complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.