2012 Hyundai Elantra Electrical System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel became inoperable and failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.
A while ago the airbag light starting coming on intermittently and I originally thought it was the sensor detecting weight in the passenger seat or not and perhaps the sensor was a little off but did not investigate. Over time the light become on constantly but I didn't notice this shift until the horn stopped working recently too. After some troubleshooting of the fuse and relay, an independent shop determined that the clock spring is the issue. After researching online I discovered there is an extended warranty for the clock spring on my vehicle of which I was unaware. I do not recall receiving a letter about this [XXX] ), although the warranty extension was announced years before my vehicle showed signs of an issue. I also saw from other posts that the clock spring is a common issue possibly impacting the reliability of the airbags and horn and dealers have been hesitant to replace the clock spring until the issue reaches a certain degree of severity. Now I wonder if the airbags in my vehicle have not been ready to deploy in case of an accident since the seatbelt light started coming on and driving without a functioning horn adds more risk of an accident. I'm surprised that a recall was not previously issued as both the airbags and horn impact the safety of the vehicle. Apart from the concern of the part reliability itself, the lack of communication around the safety bulletin vs how recalls are communicated seems it could have put many at risk of malfunctioning airbags that would increase the severity of injury in an accident and a malfunctioning horn that would increase the chances of an accident. How is a faulty part that impacts functionality of the airbags and horn not a safety-related defect that merits a recall? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
It’s been happening recently everyday when going to start the car it doesn’t start and I have to pop the hood, open the fusebox cover and lift the wire attached to the fusebox and then when starting the car it starts. It’s been happening every other day and sometimes a week after.
I received notice of Safety Recall Number 193 from Hyundai Motor America. I contacted the service department at 2 local dealerships - Hyundai Fairfax and Hyundai Springfield - about a month ago to try to schedule this preventive maintenance but neither location replied to my inquiry. I don't know if recalls are optional for dealerships but I don't know what else to do. I was informed in an online chat that I could submit this dealership complaint through your website. I hope you can advise on my options/next steps. Thank you.
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE CAR ALARM WENT OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON (THE CAR WAS SITTING IN OUR GARAGE AND NO ONE WAS ATTEMPTING TO STEAL IT). WHEN IT WENT OFF IT WAS VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING...LIKE 2 OR 3 AM. WE TRIED EVERYTHING WE KNEW TO TRY TO SHUT IT UP...FINALLY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER WHERE WE WERE LATER TOLD THAT ONE OF THE MANY SENSORS HAD GONE BAD AND THEY WOULD ORDER A REPLACEMENT PART. THAT SEEMED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM INITIALLY...BUT A FEW MONTHS LATER THE ALARM WENT OFF AGAIN AT 2 OR 3 AM FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WE CALLED THE DEALER AND WERE TOLD THEY HAD NO AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS FOR TWO WEEKS. WE WAITED THE TWO WEEKS WHILE THE CAR SAT UNUSED AND DISCONNECTED FROM THE BATTERY AND THEN BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME THEY HAD THE CAR FOR MOST OF A WEEK SAYING THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ALARM DISCHARGING. WE FINALLY JUST PICKED UP THE DEFECTIVE CAR...AND THAT VERY SAME DAY...AGAIN AT 2 AM, THE ALARM WENT OFF AGAIN. MY HUSBAND TRIED EVERYTHING HE WAS TOLD TO TRY TO SHUT IT UP...NOTHING WORKED. SO, HE WENT TO AGAIN DISCONNECT THE BATTERY...BUT THE DEALER HAD TIGHTENED THE CABLES TO THE BATTERY TOO TIGHTLY. AFTER SPENDING AN HOUR AND HALF A CAN OF WD40 WE WERE ABLE TO DISCONNECT ONLY THE POSITIVE CABLE TO THE BATTERY...AND THERE IT HAS SAT FOR NEARLY A MONTH...UNUSED AND DISCONNECTED. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI DIRECTLY AND THEY SEEM UNABLE MUCH ADVICE OTHER THAN 'TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER OR BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND ASK THEM TO TRY AGAIN.' WE WOULD LIKE TO JUST GET RID OF THIS CAR BUT COULD NOT SELL IT IN GOOD FAITH WITH THIS CURRENT PROBLEM...SO IT IS BOTH UNUSABLE AND NOT WORTH MUCH AS A TRADE IN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE ANY INJURIES OR SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER DEEMED THE VEHICLE WAS LOSS. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF UNKNOWN. INVALID VIN.
BATTERY DRAINING OVERNIGHT. BRAKE LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS GOING OFF AND ON OVERNIGHT. ALL OF THIS GOES OFF WHILE STATIONARY.O
DASH DISPLAY OF ODOMETER/MPG/ET CETERA NO LONGER IS READABLE DUE TO DIM OR MISSING DIGITS. THIS WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO BUT HAS RECURRED. I NO LONGER CAN SEE NECESSARY INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAR'S EQUIPMENT OR DRIVABILITY STATUS. THIS OCCURS AT ALL TIMES, DRIVING OR STATIONARY.
INTERMITTENTLY ENGINE WON'T TURN OVER. IT WILL SOMETIMES GO A WEEK OR SO TURNING OVER NORMALLY, & THEN WITHOUT WARNING, IT WON'T START FOR 10-60 MIN OR LONGER ACCORDING TO 1000S OF DRIVERS. LAST NIGHT, I WAS STRANDED FOR 50 MIN IN A PARKING LOT AT NIGHT TRYING TO GET MY CAR TO TURN OVER. DASH LIGHTS UP, FUEL PUMP GOES ON, BUT THERE IS NO CRANK. I FILMED IT HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/NBZ957TB72U IT'S CALLED "HYUNDAI ELANTRA WONT START-AGAIN. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE..RIGHT." BUT THERE ARE 1000S OF OTHER COMPLAINTS IN THAT SEARCH. SOME FORUMS SAY IT'S A INHIBITOR SWITCH. THE DEALERSHIP DENYIES SUCH REPORTS ON HYUNDAI'S MANUFACTURER, ALTHOUGH MANY DRIVERS SAY ON THESE FORUMS THAT THEY HAD TO HAVE THEIR ELANTRAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE THEY WERE TOLD THERE IS NO PROBLEM. HELPPPP ME !!! IT RANDOMLY TURNED OVER 50 MINUTES LATER. THAT CANNOT HAPPEN! I COULD BE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. ANY OF THESE DRIVERS COULD BE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. LOOK AT THE COMMENTS ON ANY YOUTUBE VIDEO AFTER TYPING IN ELANTRA WON'T START. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE STRANDED FROM THIS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION HYUNDAI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. PLEASE READ MY DETAILS I TYPED ON MY VIDEO. BATTERY IS GOOD. I HAD MY SON WITH ME AT THE LYNNWOOD ONE EN ROUTE TO HIS DOCTOR APPOINTMENT AFTER IT WOULDN'T START FOR 10 MIN IN THE DRIVEWAY LAST MONTH. EVERETT I HAD AN APPOINTMENT SO THAT WILL BE ON RECORD. THEY DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT IT BECAUSE IT STARTED WHEN THEY TURNED THE KEY AND THEIR ONLINE MANUFACTURERS SITE REPORTED NO PROBLEMS AND THEY REFUSED TO DO A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH WHEN I ASKED. THERE'S NO WAY THE MANUFACTURER HASN'T HEARD OF THIS. THE EXAMPLES ARE OVERWHELMING. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT, IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY. MAJOR HAZARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THIS! PLEASE HELP ME. IT'S LIKE FORD DENYING TRANNY PROBLEMS IN THEIR'12 FOCUSES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT WAS PUMPING AIR INTO THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE VIA THE VEHICLE'S TIRE AIR PUMP SYSTEM AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TURNED ON WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER (TEXOMA HYUNDAI, 2500 TEXOMA PKWY, SHERMAN, TX 75090, (903) 892-0999) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE VEHICLE HAS CONSTANT INTERMITTENT START UP ISSUES WHERE YOU GET A CLICK WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF WHAT IF THE CAR RANDOMLY CUTS OUT WHILE DRIVING? THE FACT THAT THEY CHANTED THE BATTERY SIZE HAS CREATED CONCERNS OF POTENTIAL FIRES WITH THE VEHICLE AS THE FAULTY WIRING MIXED WITH A BATTERY SIZE THAT JUST A YEAR LATER HYUNDAI CHANGED COULD LEAD TO A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THE FACT HYUNDAI IS CHARGING PEOPLE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR "FIXES" THAT WITHIN HOURS OF COMPLETION ARE RENDERED WORTHLESS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS ISSUE IS WIDELY SEEN ONLINE FOR THIS YEAR MODEL BUT HYUNDAI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. EVEN SPOKE TO A PARTS MANAGER FROM HYUNDAI AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL IN PARTICULAR AS IT WAS THE FIRST OF THE NEW BODY STYLE AND THAT BY THE 2013 MODEL THEY HAD MADE CHANGES TO THE BATTERY SIZE AND CONNECTORS WHICH CORRECTED THE ISSUE FOR FUTURE MODELS.
THIS IS A PUSHBUTTON START VEHICLE. INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN THE BUTTON IS PUSHED, THE CAR WON'T START. THIS OCCURS WITH A FULLY CHARGED BATTERY, FOOT DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, ETC. THIS IS APPARENTLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH MY LOCAL DEALER PROFESSED TO NEVER HAVE HEARD OF IT. CONSENSUS ONLINE IS THAT IT IS A FAULTY "RANGE SWITCH", RESULTING IN A FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE TO SENSE THAT IT IS IN PARK. DEALERS CLAIM THAT THEY "CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM", AND SO CAN'T FIX IT.
"TAKATA RECALL" TURN IGNITION KEY TO START POSITION AND CLICK, CLICK, MOTOR DOES NOT START. TURN KEY OFF BACK ON TO START POSITION AND ENGINE STARTS. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ISSUES STARTING SPORADICALLY. IN ADDITION, ALMOST ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL EXCEPT THE PARKING INDICATOR. IT TOOK NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
CAR JUST WOULD NOT START 2 TIMES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS WITH NO WARNINGS. I GOT IT JUMPED BOTH TIMES, AND IT WAS OK. I HAD THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTER CHECKED AND THEY WERE ALL OK. I WENT ON A FORUM ABOUT IT AND MANY PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. MANY PEOPLE WERE SAYING IT WAS THE RANGE SWITCH THAT NEEDS REPLACED. PLEASE RECALL THIS. THANK YOU! *TR
2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO START IT. ACCORDING WITH NUMEROUS REVIEWS THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE INHIBITOR SWITCH (RANGE SWITCH).
THE ODOMETER IS COMPLETELY UNREADABLE. I KNOW THIS SOUNDS STRANGE, THE ONLY TIME I CAN SEE IT COMPLETELY CLEAR IS IN COLD FALL WEATHER IN THE EARLY MORNING. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR QUITE A WHILE. IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WHEN I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE CLUSTER LIGHTING THAT WOULD FIX IT. THIS IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW MANY MILES WE HAVE ON IT UNTIL THE WEATHER IS RIGHT FOR VIEWING. I KNOW I HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE ON FORUMS BEFORE. IT SHOULD BE A RECALLED PART.
BRAKE LIGHTS STARTED TO FAIL FIRST RIGHT SIDE REAR THEN ALL FAILED INCLUDING THE THIRD LIGHT.
2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA RANDOMLY WILL NOT START. WE REPLACED THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH AND ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER IT DID IT AGAIN. DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AFFECTED BY WEATHER. IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER TWICE, BUT SINCE IT STARTS WHEN IT IS THERE, THEY SAY THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. I WOULD SAY IN THE YEAR AND A HALF THAT I HAVE HAD THE CAR IT HAS STRANDED ME 4 TIMES AND NOT ON THE FIRST TURN OVER ANOTHER 15. I USUALLY TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND TRY AGAIN. AFTER A COUPLE TRIES IT USUALLY STARTS.
MY ELANTRA LIMITED 2012 UNLOCK MY DOORS OR START THE CAR UNLESS I PUT THE KEY UP TO THE START BUTTON. I DON'T HAVEAN IGNITION MY CAR ONLY STARTS WITH A PUSH BUTTON,BOTH KEY FABS WON'T WORK, I'VE RESEARCHED AND ALOT IF CUSTOMER HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT THIS HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES SOMEONE MENTIONED THE HAD RANGE SHAFT OR SOMETHING REPLACE AND IT WORKS BUT MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM
CRANKS BUT DOES NOT START. BATTERY IS FINE, CAR ONLY HAS 28000 MILES ON IT.
I TURN THE KEY AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS TURN ON. THE RADIO TURNS ON ALSO. THE PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE DOESN'T START. THERE IS NO NOISE WHERE YOU SHOULD HEAR THE STARTER. JUST SILENCE.
DOES NOT START ALL THE TIME.THE PANEL LIGHTS COME ON WHEN YOU TURN THE IGNITION ON BUT IT WILL NOT START ALL THE TIME.AFTER 5TO 20 MINUTES AND MOVING THE GEAR SHIFTER IT MAY START.
I PARKED MY CAR AT HOME AND SHUT IT OFF. I IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT IN ORDER TO ADJUST THE CAR'S POSITION, AND FOUND THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, BUT NOT THE ENGINE. 3 DASH LIGHTS--ENGINE, BATTERY, AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE THIRD ONE--REMAINED LIT. TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING MONDAY (10/19), AND THEY REPLACED THE STARTER.
FAILURE TO START. CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE CAR IS IN PARK AND THE INHIBITOR SWITCH PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING, EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN PARK. CAR CAN NOT BE TAKEN OUT OF PARK OR PUT BACK IN. COULD PRESENT A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD GET STRANDED SOMEWHERE WITH NO WAY TO START CAR. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND ACTUAL YOUTUBE VIDEOS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE REAL CONCERNS ABOUT MY DAUGHTER DRIVING THIS RELATIVELY NEW CAR AND THEN GETTING STRANDED SOMEWHERE
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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.