2012 Hyundai Elantra Powertrain & Transmission Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle jerked and suddenly experienced unintended acceleration along with the speedometer increasing. The accelerator pedal was released and the brake pedal was depressed to slow the vehicle in speed. The contact merged to the side of the road. The contact attempted to continue to drive the vehicle but the failure persisted. No warning lights illuminated. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 186,000.

My 2012 Hyundai Elantra Limited engine began making a tapping/ticking noise a few years ago. The noise became louder and then I discovered that my car qualified for the EXTENDED POWERTRAIN WARRANTY which was granted to any 2011-2016 Hyundai Elantra owner with 1.8L Nu Engine that a class action lawsuit brought against Hyundai Motor Corporation. I was never notified by Hyundai but rather a mechanic that I brought my car to that was aware of the campaign. I contacted Hyundai and was told to have the engine diagnosed by my local Hyundai Dealer. The results of the diagnosis were submitted to the Hyundai Motors Corporation Warranty department and my claim was denied as I was told that my mileage and years were past the qualifying criteria. I had brought my 2012 Hyundai Elantra Limited to the Hyundai dealership that I had purchased the car as certified used Hyundai in 2014 for the engine diagnosis to determine if the engine noise was related to the Extended Powertrain Warranty granted to owners of any 2011-2016 Hyundai Elantra with 1.8L Nu Engine. The borescope results and photos were sent to the Hyundai Motors Corporation Warranty department and it was confirmed that my engine did indeed have the "piston slap" problem as outlined in the class action lawsuit and all four cylinders were severely scored. Upon contacting Hyundai to request the borescope video and photos that I had paid $200 to the Hyundai dealership service department for the diagnosis, I was told if i wanted the video and photos I would have to hire an attorney to obtain them from the Hyundai warranty Department! I was never notified of this "secret" campaign! Needless to say I am extremely unhappy about this. I deserve to have this engine fixed under the extended warranty that Hyundai failed to notify me about. This is UNREAL! Please tell me what can be done here. Thank you, Douglas E Stevens

The same issue that caused recall of these vehicles for several models years, such as this campaign: 2013-2014 Hyundai Elantra (MD/UD, JK, GD) Brake Pedal Stopper Replacement (Recall Campaign 170), is occurring in this 2012 vehicle, which does NOT yet have this recall. The Brake Pedal stopper Pad has deteriorated. I am reprinting the language of the above referenced recall as it exactly explains the safety issue with this vehicle. "The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature."

CASE # [XXX]Oct. 7, 2021 HYUNDAI RECALL RESOLUTION TEAM CONTACTING ME ON A SAFTY RECALL ON MY HYUNDAI VEHICLE (on phone answering machine) NOTICE OF PROPOSED CLASS SETLEMENT FOR HYUNDAI ELANTRA (Brown et al. v. Hyundai Motor America et al.) (Received booklet in mail) Description of adverse performance of 2012 Hyundai Elantra– VIN [XXX]: All of these issues occur in any weather or if the car is warmed up or not. They don’t occur all the time but about half the time. -From a standing stop (like when entering an intersection or turning on to a road) lightly pressing on gas pedal will get car moving then in 2-3 seconds it will stall out for 2 or 3 seconds, almost to the point of the engine stopping. At that point, moderately pressing on the gas again will cause the car to accelerate suddenly & forcefully. It is terrifying when a car is coming at you & you don’t know if it’s going to start accelerating or just die. -Driving and maneuvering in a parking lot is quite a risky adventure. At these slow speeds the car will randomly stall, lurch, hesitate & accelerate suddenly & forcefully with just a light touch on the gas pedal. Not the best performance when trying to park or maneuver around closely packed cars. -I have taken the car to the dealership at least 5 times to remedy this problem & they either said this behavior was not detectable or it was operating as designed. I have documentation consisting of service invoices. They obviously weren’t being truthful, considering the Recall & Class Action Lawsuit that has subsequently been issued dealing with this issue, revealing that HYUNDAI knew about this problem. Can I finally get my car to operate properly & SAFELY? [XXX]   THIS IS THE TRANSCIPT FOR THE PHONE CALL FROM HYUNDAI ON OR AROUND 9-14-21 ON ANSWERING MACHINE (It didn’t identify which recall it was referring to): This is the HYUNDAI Recall Resolution Team contacting INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Engine- drive chain and running tough pet Firestone there’s a engine recall on 2012 Elantra

I'VE HAD MY CAR FOR 4 YEARS. AND THE LAST THREE YEARS IT STARTED HAVING ISSUES. HARD SHIFTING AND SHAKING AT RANDOM TIMES ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP COUNTLESS TIMES AND ONLY RECENTLY WAS GIVEN A DIAGNOSED WITH A TRANSMISSION SENSOR READING TOO HOT. BEFORE THAT EVERY MECHANIC SAID THEY COULDN'T SEE ANY ISSUE . I FIND IT ALARMING THOUGH BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY KNOW IF IT'S THE SENSOR OR ACTUALLY THE TRANSMISSION AND IT'S FRUSTRATING THAT NOBODY SEEMS TO HAVE HAD ANY ANSWERS FOR THE LAST SO MANY YEARS. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A VERY COMMON ISSUE. AND SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE PINPOINTED AND RESOLVED MUCH SOONER. A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN IT WOULD SHIFT ABRUPTLY IT WAS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE ROAD. CURRENTLY IT'S NOT LUNGING AS DRAMATICALLY. HOWEVER IT'S STILL DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. I HAVE KEPT UP ON ALL THE MAINTENANCE RELIGIOUSLY INCLUDING FLUSHING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND REPLACING IT AS DIRECTED. I DEFINITELY THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BECAUSE EVERYONE I KNOW THAT HAS A HYUNDAI ELANTRA HAS HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. AND IT DEFINITELY COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS ESPECIALLY FOR INEXPERIENCED DRIVERS.

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO AUTO ZONE & VIDE 0713 & P0711. I ALSO TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AAMCO WHICH VERIFY THE SENSOR IN THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED HOWEVER THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE TRANSMISSION APART TO FIX. I ONLY HAVE 31,000 ON MY VEHICLE. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ALREADY OR DO YOU EXPECT THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER 1000,000 EVEN THOUGH I AM 2ND OWNER. THEY DID GIVE ME A CARD FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

TAKATA RECALL CAR DOESN'T WANT TO START AND STRUGGLES TO DO SO. HAVE REPLACED BATTERY AND KEY FOB BATTERIES. THIS HAS TO BE A STARTER ISSUE, POSSIBLY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. SAYS "KEY OUT" WHILE I'M DRIVING IT HALF THE TIME. I AM AFRAID IT WILL CUT OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING IT! I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS! BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS.

INHIBITOR OR RANGE SWITCH WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR IT ONLY MAKES A SINGLE CLICK AND THE DISPLAY DOES NOT ALWAYS SHOW THAT THE CAR IS IN PARK. SOMETIMES SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL ALLOWS FOR A START. SOMETIMES WIGGLING GEAR SHIFT WHILE IN PARK ALLOWS FOR A START. SOMETIMES IT JUST DOESN'T WANT TO START. MECHANIC WON'T REPLACE ANY PART IF THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE (2012) AS WELL AS THE 2011 AND 2013 MODELS. THIS CAN SERIOUSLY CAUSE PEOPLE TO BECOME STRANDED!!!

THE POWER TRAIN DOES NOT SHIFT AT TIMES, STICKS IN 3RD GEAR, POPS IN AND OUT WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH.

GEAR WILL NOT SHIFT OR MOVE. TRANSMISSION CABLE BROKE AND LEFT THE VEHICLE IMMOBILE.

SOLD A LEMON LAW BUYBACK CAR WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND I WAS TO SIGN A DOCUMENT STATING THAT I NEW THAT I WAS PURCHASING A LEMON LAW BUYBACK CAR. I DID NOT FIND OUT UNTIL I WENT TO GET THE PLATES FOR MY CAR AND THEY SHOWED ME THE TITLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND BASICALLY MY LOSS THEIR GAIN. MAY 2015 HAD TO REPLACE HOSE AND HAVE A/C RECHARGED COSTING ALMOST $300 JULY 2015 HAD TO HAVE BOTH FROM WHEEL BEARING REPLACED ALONG WITH TIRES COSTING ME $800 JUNE 2016 HAD TO HAVE END LINKS ON SWAY BAR AND CV JOINT AND SHAFT REPLACED. THIS WAS UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY STILL IN PLACE ON THE CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. WHEN TESTED SAID IT WAS AN O2 SENSOR. THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK STICKS. SO I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK IT FOR MY KEY FOB TO LOCK ALL OF THE DOORS. TODAY WAS JUST TOLD I NEED WHEEL BEARINGS AND TIRES ON THE FRONT END. I BELIEVE THIS CAR HAS TOO MANY ISSUES BEING A NEWER CAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WITH THIS MANY ISSUES. ESPECIALLY A NEWER CAR. I CANNOT GET OUT OF THE LOAN BECAUSE IT IS A LEMON LAW BUYBACK AND THE RESALE ON IT IS HORRIBLE. I CANNOT AFFORD THE UPKEEP ON THE PROBLEMS IT KEEPS HAVING. SOMETHING IS WRONG THIS CAR. *TR

VEHICLE STATIONARY. SHIFTER IN "PARK". ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE. TURNED KEY IN IGNITION - CAR DID NOT START. RADIO, LIGHTS, AIR AND ALL OTHER PERIPHERALS STARTED AND FUNCTIONED APPROPRIATELY. TRIED TO "JUMP" VEHICLE USING TWO DIFFERENT JUMPER-CABLE SETS. HAD BATTERY TESTED - OEM BATTERY, 4 YEARS OLD, RATED AT 550 AND FUNCTIONING AT 542 - GOOD BATTERY, NO NEED FOR REPLACEMENT. POPPED OUT THE SHIFT LOCK INSERT. INSERTED FLAT HEAD SCREWDRIVER TO DEPRESS THE BUTTON. PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL. PUT KEY IN IGNITION, TURNED TO START - CAR STARTED AS IF NOTHING WAS WRONG. DROVE FOR ABOUT 30 MINTUTES. STOPPED AT A STORE. ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE AS NORMAL - VEHICLE STARTED FINE. PARKED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK - VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. REPEATED THE SAME PROCESS FROM THE PREVIOUS TIME IT WOULDN'T START AND WAS SUCESSFUL. HAVE A VIDEO SHOWING THE SHIFTER GOING THROUGH ALL GEARS - WHEN PUT INTO "PARK" THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER COMPLETELY GO OUT AND THEN EVENTUALLY FLICKER BACK ON. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE THE VIDEO, AS A PICTURE WOULD NOT SHOW THE ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS CORRECTLY AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL TO START THE VEHICLE. THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT HELP THE VEHICLE START AND HAD TO BE PUSHED IN ORDER TO START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE DETAILS OF THE REPAIR COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

CAR WONT START WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN IT OVER. ALL LIGHTS WORK EVEN AIR WILL BLOW BUT WONT START

WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR GETS STUCK BETWEEN 25 AND 40 MPH. IT WONT PROCEED TO THE NEXT GEAR. I HAVE TO LAY OFF THE GAS, LET IT DROP BACK DOWN AND HOPE THAT IT WORKS THE NEXT TIME I ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS NOT LOW. THE CAR IS IN MOTION WHILE THIS ISSUE HAPPENS.

RIGHT FRONT AXLE BOLTS BECAME VERY LOOSE AT 39,000 AND THE AXLE COULD HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND OR WHEEL POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL AND BEING INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT. HYUNDAI SHOULD EITHER USE EFFECTIVE LOCK WASHERS OR LOCK TIGHT ON THE BOLTS TO PREVENT THEM FROM BACKING OUT OF THE AXLE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE TRANSMISSION AND OR WHEEL. A RECALL SHOULD BE ORDERED. IF YOU GOOGLE THIS PROBLEM THERE IS A VIDEO ON THE WEB WHERE ANOTHER ELANTRA HAS THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. I BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE MY ELANTRA STARTED MAKING A VERY NOT8ICEABLE POPPING SOUND WHEN YOU PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE BOLTS BECAME PROGRESSIVELY LOOSE TO THE POINT THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN I WOULD TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE AXLE WOULD POP DUE TO LOOSENESS AND WHEN I PLACED MAY FOOT BACK ON THE ACCELERATOR IT WOULD POP. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW. WHEN I LOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THEY CHARGED ME $63.65 TO RE-TORQUE THE AXLE BOLTS THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BECOME LOOSE.

FAILURE TO START; CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE CAR IS IN PARK AND IT PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING, EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN PARK. CAR CANNOT BE TAKEN OUT OF PARK OR PUT BACK IN SOMETIMES AFTER IT IS STARTED AND IDLING. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, VERY FRUSTRATING. HAVE BYPASSED THE SITUATION BY TAKING THE SAMLL CLIP FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE OFF, THEN DEPRESSING TRANSMISSION ENGAGER AND MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND THEN BACK INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WILL THEN START. AFTER ALL THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN FOR THIS VERY SAME SITUATION, I CANNOT BELIEVE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL HYUNDAI?

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 TIME THEY ACTUALLY REPLACED A BROKEN PART THAT CONTROLS THE SHIFT TIMES IN THE TRANSMISSION. COULD SHOW THEM MY PROBLEM. I ASKED HYUNDAI CORPORATE TO DO AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE FIRE AND HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THEY WENT THROUGH THEIR 6 WEEK PROCESS AND THEN DENIED MY CLAIM SAYING IT WASN'T FOUND TO BE A MALFUNCTION OF ANY PARTS THAT CAUSED THE FIRE. I HAVE VIDEO OF WHERE THE FIRE STARTED, THE TRANSMISSION NOT WORKING, AND COUNTLESS PICTURES THAT SHOW THE FIRE OBVIOUSLY STARTED AT THE TAILPIPE DUE TO AN INCREASE IN TEMPERATURE BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHEN I ASK HYUNDAI FOR THE INFORMATION THAT LEAD TO THEIR CONCLUSION THEY SAY IT'S CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY AND WILL NOT LET ME SEE IT. WHEN I TELL THEM THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL NOT WORKING AND EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT THERE IS A BURNING SMELL AND I'M SCARED FOR MY SAFETY AND LIFE DRIVING THIS CAR THEY JUST SAY HYUNDAIS DECISION IS FINAL AND THEY WON'T HONOR MY WARRANTY ON THE CAR. THEY CLAIM IT'S PERFECTLY SAFE TO DRIVE AND OPERATING AS INTENDED AND DESIGNED. I FEEL THEY ARE COVERING SOMETHINGS UP OR NEVER ACTUALLY INVESTIGATED THIS INCIDENT WHICH IS WHY THEY WON'T RELEASE INFORMATION. DURING THE FIRE MALFUNCTIONS IN THE HEAD SHIELD AND TAILLIGHT WIRING WERE DISCOVERED MAKING FOR 4 POSSIBLE LIFE THREATENING DEFECTS MY CAR WAS PARKED AT WORK IN MY PARKING SPACE WHEN THE SMOKE AND FIRE STARTED.