2012 Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems
- 98
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 98 stored complaint records:
- 2 indicate a crash
- 3 indicate injury
- 4 indicate fire
What owners report
- engine light · 10 records
- failure mileage · 8 records
- ticking noise · 6 records
- under warranty · 6 records
- wouldn start · 6 records
- engine started · 5 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 33 |
| 30–60k mi | 27 |
| 1–30k mi | 17 |
| 100–150k mi | 10 |
| 150–400k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine
Engine ticking. Brought it in and they informed me i need an engine replacement. They also informed me if i do not get the engine fixed and continue to drive it, it could stall and or potentially blow up. Vehicle is under 100k miles, however i am second owner, so it is not covered under warranty. I do have all of my service records, i definitely maintained the vehicle so there is no reason to have to replace the…
ODI 10984687
Engine
The engine is making a ticking noise. Was told that the lifters need to be replaced and there is too much back pressure. I will need a new engine. Several other models are under a recall but not this brand.
ODI 10971680
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai elantra. While driving 50 mph, the engine failed without warning. The vehicle was towed, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 46,000.
ODI 10937093
Engine
Going 60 mph on freeway. Heard terrible noise and oil light went on. Pulled over. Oil was very low. Rod knocking. Towed to dealer where repairman said engine shot because of damaged bearing and sludge. Car still under original warranty: 2012 hyundai elantra, 1.8 engine, 46,000 miles. Dealer refuses to contribute any money. Wants $6200 to repair with remanuf engine. Won't provide form estimate. Car cannot be safely…
ODI 10936101
Engine
Engine failure. Driving on freeway.lost power. Engine light came on. Noise from engine. Pulled over to gas station. Oil was low. Towed to dealer. They said the car had severe oil sludge throughout engine. My car was made at the same alabama manufacturing plant as the recalled hyundai sonatas that were recalled for engine failure. My car is still under the 5 year warranty. Hyundai of america will not repair or…
ODI 10971151
Electrical System · Engine
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…
ODI 10927480
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai elantra. The contact stated that while in park, the engine compartment caught fire. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was not filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000.
Fire reported
ODI 10871900
Engine
Have a ticking sound in engine. Took to dealership was going to charge me $62.00 to look at it. Took around 45 mins. Service person came and told me it sounded like a piston slap . With further look at the engine they said i need a new engine. Say what! Will i looked on line and youtube about this problem. Went to a web sight about complaints found a lot of them about ticking . Called and asked if it was a short,…
ODI 10872245
Electrical System · Engine · Unknown Or Other
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.
ODI 10820880
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Engine
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…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10925952
Engine · Unknown Or Other · Vehicle Speed Control
My car was sitting at my apartment. Went to go to the store and the car wouldn't start. The car would not turn over no matter many times i would try and start it. I had to call my dad who told me to hold gas pedal down and start the car. This happened twice. Took it to the dealership, said they couldn't do anything about it because it wasn't happening at that moment. Car starts to jerk while driving. Started off…
ODI 10783786
Body · Engine · Power Train
Highly frustrating and potentially life threatening situation hyundai has put me in. On september 11th my vehicle caught on fire in the rear by the exhaust pipe. Prior to this my vehicle had been at rick case hyundai 3 times with me complaining the transmission was not working properly the 1st time i was told there are no codes so we have to wait till it breaks, the 2nd time i was told no codes sorry, and the third…
Fire reported · 1 injury
ODI 10785750
Engine
Takata recall poor engine performance. Rough idle at cold start. Smell gas as well. Randomly blows huge amounts of smoke out the tail pipe while accelerating. "example" merging on interstate. This has been going on since the vehicle reached 50,000 miles. All maintenance work has been done. Now at 77,986 runs like a grass cutter. Just runs rough.
ODI 11031373
Electronic Stability Control · Engine · Service Brakes
Problem : esc light flashes while driving, some time makes rumbling noise , power loss, feel like car in neutral, steering felt lock, sudden break and creates unsafe condition. Not all symptoms come up same time but one of them while light flashing. Details : 1. First time happened in june/july 2015 contacted dealer. Since dealer cannot replicate they did test drive and felt everything normal. I drove 1 year scarred…
ODI 10883835
Electrical System · Engine
This is a problem that has been going on with other elantra drivers. There are videos on you tube with this issue. The vehicle doesn't start at times and it should be a recall on this issue. This is a new car and should have issues like that. It seems to be a problem with the starter or the ignition switch. *tr
ODI 10713470
Engine
I turned the key to the start position so i could start the car, but it would not start up. The car was in park. I did some research on the internet, and found some videos on youtube, and people commented they were having the same issue. Some people mentioned that if you turn the key so you can move the shifter from park to neutral, and back to park, the car may start up. I tried exactly this, and as soon as i…
ODI 10695178
Engine
Today i went out to start my car after it sitting out over night (living in north dakota my vehicle has always sat out in the cold over winter and started with no issues) and it would not start. The lights, doors, widows, everything else electrical worked just find, but the engine will not turn on. I tried charging the battery and jumping it with a friends vehicle. Nothing has worked. I have been reading online this…
ODI 10689818
Electrical System · Engine
2012 hyundai elantra would not start when in park, even though the battery has a full charge. Shifted to neutral and back to park, and it started on the first try. *tr
ODI 10681641
Electrical System · Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
Car would not start. After multiple attempts at turning key, it finally started. Lights and horn functioned properly, but i replaced the battery anyway. Car would still not start on first few attempts. Engine would not turn over at all, then after several attempts at turning key, it would start, as if nothing was wrong. Brought it to dealer, they said they cleaned out some parts of the engine and updated the…
ODI 10681634
Engine
Our 2012 elantra began making knocking sounds during cold starts. The noise was fainter when the engine was warm but never disappeared completely. The sound became louder when the weather was colder. When i originally took the car to the dealer, i told them that i thought the problem may have been the timing belt but was informed that the 2012 had a timing chain and not a belt. When the noise became too loud, i…
ODI 10851307
Electrical System · Engine
My car was parked outside overnight and i used the key fob to unlock my car. I then tried to start the car but it would not start. I had my foot pressing on the brake and pushed the ignition button and the lights/radio would come on but the car made a click noise and would not crank over to start. I tried this 5 times before it started. It was not that cold so weather was not a factor. I then drove to work and at…
ODI 10663679
Electrical System · Engine · Unknown Or Other
When turning on the ignition switch the car interior lights light up. Turning the key to the ignition position, nothing happens. There is no draw on the dash lights or any other lights on the car. It simply has no noticeable effect. I have to turn the key off and on numerous times before it starts. Not starting is, of course, a concern. The expenses from taking it to a mechanic has become a real drain on our…
ODI 10644937
Electrical System · Engine
My 2012 hyundai elantra will not start. I tried several times to get it to start and it finally started. All indicator lights will turn on but when i turned the ignition all the way nothing happens. This has happened to me multiple times a year. I had it towed before to the dealership since it's still under warranty but the dealer couldn't find nothing wrong since it started up for them. The issue has only ever…
ODI 10639672
Electrical System · Engine
Yesterday afternoon i got into my car to go to the store, and it wouldn't start. I continued to turn the key to on position, then back off and wouldn't start. Then tried again in then it finally started barely. Again i got into my car to go to work, and it wouldn't start again. I switched the key back off position and on again and still no start. Tried it again 2 more times to start and finally it started up. I had…
ODI 10633251
Electrical System · Engine
The vehicle in question periodically fails to start. This has been an ongoing issue with this vehicle for several months. At first the vehicle would not start on occasion but has since began having starting issues more frequently. I contacted my dealer and was told of two possible issues regarding a stop lamp switch and a faulty starter. I brought the vehicle in and they were unable to identify a problem. I…
ODI 10631964