2012 Hyundai Elantra: won't start

Filed Oct 30, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · NY

I went to start my car and it would not turn over. All the lights were on, the vehicle wouldn't move out of park, and the security system kept going off. The last time this happened I had the starter replaced and the neutral safety switch and it was fine for a bit but now it's happened again. This is at least the 3rd time I've had this issue. Please help! I know I'm not the only one. I had to have AAA come and pick my car up and bring it to a garage.

Filed Dec 30, 2021 · Engine · NJ

Car has been properly maintained for years. No accidents or known major issues. Suddenly the car would not start one workday morning. The tow truck driver was unable to start the car; towed car to repair location. Nationally known major service station said the car was low on oil, they filled with 2 quarts. No prior oil problems, no oil or engine idiot light on dashboard was lit, no oil puddles/stains. Car returned to owner, on short drive home, the engine trouble idiot light turned on. Used code reader to find P0014 - cam shaft positioning error code. Brought to local service station, was told car needs a new engine. No outstanding recalls. Recent newspaper article stated there have been problems with 2012 Hyundai Elantra engines. Maybe locked engine is related to other known issues?

Filed Feb 28, 2021 · Engine · 110,000 miles · MD

Just bought the car a couple weeks ago for my daughter. The car was parked in a parking lot and would not start. Tried jumping it. Changed battery in key. Gas tank was full. Finally looked on internet and finally looked on line and found a lot of others had the same problem. They said to push the car from the rear. We did and it started. Afraid my daughter will be stuck at night leaving work.

Filed Jan 7, 2021 · Acceleration, Engine · 197,798 miles · GA

My 2012 hyundai elantra would stall at stop signs and lights. It would stop and start again.. I went to hyundai to check it out and they said it was the fuel pump. The next day I was driving on the highway and turning off the highway my car stalled out and when I tried to pull over on the side of the road the brakes were hard to press. Using all my weight I got it to come to a stop. It would not crank. I tried about three times to crank it while holding down the gas. It eventually allowed me to change gears really quick and take off. I made it 5 minutes down the road to the house but it stalled as I parked. Now it won't crank at all. For the last couple of weeks I've been trying to crank it. I've had the fuel pump, the spark plugs, the camshaft sensor, and the camshaft position sensor changed and it still isn't cranking

Filed Nov 4, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 120,000 miles · NC

For the past several months I have had a reoccurring issue with my 2012 hyundai elantra. About 1-3 times a week, my car will not start. All lights, radio, etc. Work fine when key is turned to on/start position but car will not start. It makes one click sound and then nothing. Generally, if I keep trying it will eventually start. Sometimes it takes 10 minutes and sometimes it takes a few hours. Along with this, about once a week my car will shift gears hard. It is an automatic and otherwise shifts fine. I have had routine maintenance completed on time since I bought this car in 2016. I have brought my car to my mechanic several times in the last few months and he cannot determine the problem since the car does not do this regularly. I read online that it could be the neutral safety switch (range inhibitor) so I replaced that. The problem still exists. I contacted the hyundai dealership from which I purchased my car and they have no answers.

Filed Nov 2, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 102,000 miles · MI

Car was parked and completely off. I put the key in the ignition and turned it partway. All electronic components and headlights came on. I turned the key all the way and it would not start. There was a loud rythmic clicking and each time it clicked all the electronics flickered. Jumping the battery did not work.

Filed Oct 26, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 118,000 miles · NM

The vehicle was stationary. My tire was flat on the side of the road in a desert and I turned the car off to change my tire. I tried to start my vehicle and all accessories turn on and the car unlocks with the electric key fob but the car doesn't start. Inhibitor switch is bad is faulty. It starts sometimes and doesn't start at sometimes. Many people have become stranded due to this defect and have reported it on car guru and many other hyundai forums. Everyone believes there should be a recall for this faulty issue.

Filed Jul 29, 2020 · Airbags, Fuel system · 180,000 miles · VA

Since the day I purchased this car with zero miles it would randomly cut off and it would do that even when in drive like it wasnt getting gas. It would not turn over then after 20-30 min it would start right back up and this started right away and has done that ever since. I also had the o2 censor replaced as well. The tires are awful the suspension is even worse then my air bag light cut on out of nowhere and now my steering column is totally messed up. Directly behind the airbag. It clacks back n forth as you move the steering wheel even ever so slightly. If I hit my brakes the wheel shakes and the column rattles and clacks, if I go over bumps in the road or rr tracks same thing, the entire steering wheel shakes violently and rattles and clanks. I have been told by three different shops that this is a common issue with this car and design. The steering column was poorly designed and is going to break if I dont have it replaced. The cost to have this done is almost $1000 and it shouldnt be an issue I have to pay for bc of the poor design. There has been nothing done to the car on my end to cause this and I need help asap bc its my only car and I do not have $1000 to pay to fix a bad steering column that shouldnt be breaking to begin with!

Filed Mar 10, 2020 · Airbags, Electrical · 133,000 miles · AL

So my car all of a sudden started making a strange popping noise while driving the vehicle. Everytime I would turn my steering wheel at a certain angle the wheel would pop. As I drove the car it would continue to make this awful noise until one day im driving down the road and it popped and the steering jerked my car out of the lane . Driving home the wheel was rather stiff and I worried constantly about getting in an accident . My reason for the steering issue is I worry someone will be driving the car and it jerk them into a car coming from the other side of the road which will result in a head on collision. Second issue is the electronical system in general. Everytime I start my car it doesnt start all the way and it dies out mid driving ., I ended up pulling out of an up hill parking lot and not being able to stop the car at the stop sign because the car died out after I had it in drive. I had to pull up and bump the curb in order to stop the car from rolling out into oncoming traffic while leaving the parking lot. I am not sure if its dealing with the ignition in general but that would definatley be a saftey concern. My other issue is the airbag light will not go off. After a certain milage the light came on and I can not get any mechanic to even attempt to fix it over fear of air bag deployment and having to total the vehicle upon repair. I am seriously terrified if I get into a vehicle accident the air bags wont go off at all and it will result in either a really severe injury or even be fatal from airbag failure .

Filed Mar 12, 2019 · Electrical · 97,000 miles · WA

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.

Filed Sep 5, 2018 · Engine · 105,000 miles · OH

Intermittent engine ignition failure. Engine does not start when gear shift is in park and key is properly inserted and turned. Grinding noise and engine does not start. Problem occurs up to five times per week upon attempting to start the car. The issue began in april 2018 and is ongoing on a weekly basis. The defect has resulted in unreliable transportation. I replaced the ignition coils and ignition plate was cleaned. Problem was not resolved. Mechanic cannot identify the defect. Similar issues have been reported with hyundai sonatas, resulting in a recall. Many complaints about intermittent hyundai elantra 2012 ignition failure can be found online.

Filed Dec 12, 2017 · Engine · 67,000 miles · NC

Periodically (including today) my elantra will not start. All electronics turn on and the battery, engine, oil indicators appear on the dash. As many others have mentioned I wait 5-10 minutes and try my car again it will work just fine. Had a few diagnostics where the dealer suspected battery or oil change but I've had several batteries since oem and keep up to date on synthetic oil. Searched online and found many other complaints regarding range shift being the culprit. Either way I'll be taking it to be inspected before it gets any worse/will not start at all.