2012 Hyundai Elantra: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Dec 11, 2023 · Brakes · FL

The contact's mother owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the headlights and the taillights remained illuminated while the vehicle was turned off. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start on two occasions and was jumpstarted. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

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 9, 2019 · Brakes, Lights · GA

After about 60,000 miles all of my exterior lights are constantly going out completely. Within the last six months I have changed my brake lights at least 8 times. My head lights have been changed about four times and my high beams both went out at the same time. One day I was driving on the inner state and all my back exterior lights went out. Some days they may work if I have the lights position in the on position instead of automatic daylight position and vice versa. This started happening roughly around the end of 2017 and over time it has gotten worse.this is very unsafe to operate a vehicle and all your lights go out not to mention its expensive to continue to replace bulbs that won't work beyond a month.

Filed Jul 13, 2017 · Acceleration, Electrical · 46,329 miles · CA

The first trouble started when I was driving on the highway at 60 miles/hour, my car started slowing down and would not accelerate. I had to drive at the speed the car would choose to run and in a few minutes it would work fine again. But this kept happening when I would accelerate the car on highways and I took it in to the dealer who said it was sensor problems. Engine light comes on when I use air conditioning, or use the head lights. Car will randomly not turn on although battery is new and makes a humming noise as I turn the key.

Filed May 21, 2015 · Brakes, Electrical · 49,000 miles · CA

Left tail/brake light is malfunctioning. When the headlights are on, the tail light is on; however, that same light is also the brake light, and when the brake is applied, the light will not illuminate.

Filed May 11, 2015 · Electrical, Suspension · 71,000 miles · FL

Periodically my car refuses to start. The battery is good, all lights on the dash are normal, headlights work, radio works, car is in parked position, yet when I turn the key it refuses to start. This is the second set of occurrences of the same issue. I experienced this issue last year (2014), at which time I had to take the car into service on more than three occasions before the figured it out. They eventually sorted out the issue in november of 2014. Now 6 months after, in may 2015, the same issue occurs only to find out that hyundai will only warranty the part but not the labor costs. Today while at the dealership, there was at least one other hyundai elantra owner with the same issue. I'd hate that the car refuse to start in an emergency situation this is obviously something that hyundai is aware of, yet refuse to take full responsibility and remedy the situation for myself and all other customers. I believe there should be a recall for this. I also have a second issue with this car, from the day of purchase. The car shakes at speeds between 40mph and 55mph. I have taken the car in on multiple occasions to two different hyundai dealerships, yet they cannot figure out the issue. They have balanced the tires, aligned the wheels, rotated the tires, etc, yet none of their attempts have resulted in a solution. This issue make driving the car feel very unsafe, and very unpredictable in wet conditions

Filed Dec 15, 2014 · Lights · NJ

My hyundai elantra 2012 gls sedan was sold as having daytime running lights (drls) according to monroney sticker. The federal safety agency and iihs dictate that "daytime running lights (drls) are headlights that are lit whenever a vehicle is running. A low-cost method to reduce crashes, they are especially effective in preventing daytime head-on and front-corner collisions by making it easier to see vehicles, particularly as they approach from far away." however, drls do not engage automatically when my vehicle is started, against to the federal safety agency and iihs drls definition. In order to operate drls in my hyundai elantra 2012, parking lights have to be engaged. In other words, when drls are operational, amber side parking lights and the rear tail lights are also on, which obviously masks turn and stop signals and in my opinion could represent a very real road safety issue. In addition, when drls are engaged, the interior gauge lights are automatically dimmed to a night driving level, which makes it much harder to read the gauge during daytime and represents a potential safety issue as well. Contacting multiple local hyundai dealerships and hyundai eastern region hqs was futile, since the only answer I was getting is that this is "a new design drls" and nothing will be done to address the issue. Ironically, it looks to me the end result of this "new design" represents not an increased safety for my vehicle (according to publications dot hs 809 760 and dot hs 811 029 drls are an important safety feature), but rather an increased risk of a collision due to masking turn and stop signals, and substantial dimming of the cabin. I noticed there are multiple complaints of this nature on the federal safety agency website both for 2012 and 2013 hyundai elantra. I would like to thank you for taking time to read my complaint, and I would ask the federal safety agency team to look into the situation promptly and to address this safety issue.

Filed Nov 8, 2014 · Electrical · 65,000 miles · CT

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.

Filed Aug 21, 2014 · Electrical, Fuel system · 31,500 miles · VA

After sitting overnight, vehicle failed to start following morning. Although all components requiring power (windows, headlights, radio, interior lights, etc.) seemed to be functioning ok, jump started vehicle, and it started immediately. A few days later problem recurred; let vehicle sit for some time, and vehicle then started immediately (no jump start). Today problem occurred yet again (waiting to see if vehicle will eventually start). A quick review of online forums indicates a possible issue with the shift interlock, or perhaps a faulty rain sensor. As an aside, a longer-term sporadic, presumably electrical, issue also exists with the passenger side front window. The window will go down without issue, but it often takes multiple attempts from either the passenger side or driver's side window control to get the window back up.

Filed May 24, 2013 · Electrical, Steering · 18,800 miles · CA

Car will periodically not start - all warning lights come on and there is a humming sound. Often occurs when wheel is on an angle. Car will typically not start 4-5 times in a row. Overhead lights work at the time of the failure. A few minutes later, after much jiggling of the steering wheel while turning on ignition, it starts fine. One time it started after emergency brake was released and the car rolled a bit. Brought to dealer who could not replicate problem but acknowledged this problem had occurred with other elantras. Dealer was about to release car when driver demonstrated that gear shift would not move out of park. Dealer found code c1513 brake switch shorted. Brake switch was replaced. Dealer kept car a few days with no replications. 7 days later, starting problem recurred at driver's home and again after a day at work. In both cases, wheel was not in "12 o"clock" position. In conversation with dealer, we discussed that when the steering wheel is locked (not sure of definition), car should not start. He recommended jiggling the wheel while turning ignition. He also explained that the gear shift will only move out of park if 1) ignition is in on position and 2) foot is on the brake. Why is steering wheel locking so often?