8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$90
Average Mileage:
38,450 miles
Total Complaints:
36 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (29 reports)
  2. replace inhibitor switch (3 reports)
  3. battery does not last long! replacement is expensive! (1 reports)
  4. problem solved by reprogramming (1 reports)
  5. replace ignition (1 reports)
  6. replace shifter assembly (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Hyundai dealer.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #16

Sep 042015

Elantra 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,061 miles

Dealer said they could not repair unless problem was duplicated and an error code was found on computer. Had to wait for problem to duplicate itself at dealer, which did not happen immediately.

After a lengthy phone call with service dept. one technician diligently looked for problem and finally found it. I hope by replacing this assembly the starting problem will end.

- gnva, Virginia Beach, VA, US

problem #15

Aug 072015

Elantra GT 2.0L 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,742 miles

I bought this car brand new in July 2013, it just turned 2 last month. Starting about 6 weeks ago, the engine randomly won't start, but all the electrical comes on. There is no grinding, clicking, whirring, no sound at all when trying to start the car, it doesn't even seem to make an attempt. AC, windows, lights, dashboard, radio, etc. I had the battery and the alternator tested at a local Autozone and both registered 100% fine. Sometimes it only takes an attempt or two to get the car to start, sometimes I have to leave it alone for a few minutes, and sometimes I have to jump it get it to turn over.

I replaced the battery 6 weeks ago (after 1st event) because I assumed that was the issue. Now I'm not sure it was even necessary to replace it, because the same issue occurred a week later. Today it did it again after I went to the mall for about 30 mins and came back out. After multiple attempts to start the car I went inside and waited for about 10 mins then came out and tried again, it started on first attempt. Once the engine actually starts, the car functions completely normally.

I'm taking it in to have it looked at next week; will update with cost, if any. Vehicle is still under full warranty.

Update from Aug 12, 2015: Just got a call from the dealership. They've had my car for a day and a half. Could not duplicate (not shocking, since this happens seemingly at random), computer is giving no error codes, everything tests fine. They have no idea what's wrong with it. This car is just barely 2 years old and only has 50k miles on it and I guess I just have to be ok with having a vehicle that sometimes doesn't start.

They said next time it won't start, I should just have it towed in, but honestly it's likely to start by the time it's towed, so I'll just end up wasting money on a tow. I'm at a loss.

Update from Nov 6, 2015: It's definitely a faulty inhibitor switch. I saw a video on youtube of a guy getting with the same issue I was having, and he put the car in N and then back to P and the car started. This is a fix. The dealership still won't do anything unless they can get it to replicate (it's only done this to me once now in the last 4 months or so), but the last time I went in for my 50k maintenance, I told them about the "fix" I found and they did verbally acknowledge that yes, it's probably the inhibitor switch, but unless the car throws a code, Hyundai won't give them any money to fix it.

Very frustrating, but at least now I won't be stranded again. Hopefully.

- ladyfawn, Smyrna, GA, US

problem #14

Jun 112015

Elantra ES

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,800 miles

THIS STARTED AFTER I HAD IT IN FOR A RECALL ON THE GEAR SHIFT. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN . I TRY TO START. LIGHTS EVERYTHING WORKS, BUT ENGINE DEAD. THEN TRY AGAIN. MIGHT WORK OR NOT. THIS MORNING HAPPENED. WAITED 10 MIN. TRIED WORKED LIKE IT SHOULD IT HAS HAPPENED 7 TIMES.

- sstark, Springfield, MO, US

problem #13

Aug 192015

Elantra GLS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

2014 Elantra. Happened before and again today.

Go in car, turn key, dash lights light up but no start for car to start. Wiggled shifter and started the first time. This time removed manual shifter plastic cover on left hand side of shifter. Put small screw driver in it and pushed down to release the shfter handle. Put the shifter down to first gear and back up to park while having foot on brake. After putting back into park tried to start and the starter spun and car started.

Think Hyundai has defective Park switch but they will not say until I crash and die, then it has to be at least 10 or more people for them to own up and correct the problem. My attempts with dealer goes nowhere, once they sell the car, they do not care.

- John S., Shirley, US

problem #12

May 202015

Elantra Gls Pzev

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,286 miles

CURRY Hyundai, Subaru in Cortland Manor , NY 10567 ordered some parts....On May 30, 2015 they spent all day doing something but 2-3 days later car got worse. If in May I needed to turn the key 4-5 times to start the car after the "fix" I got to do that about 10-15 times every 3 days. I had another visit to CURRY Hyundai on June 16, 2015 and was informed that there is nothing wrong with the car and it would be better if I'll go to the Hyundai of White Plains - I am leasing the car from. The Thursday, June 18th car was dead.

I had some research on line to see which Hyundai dealer has a good review. It was Stamford, CT Hyundai. So Friday , June 19th I called Hyundai Towing and was towed to Connecticut. After car being there for 2 weeks ( till JULY 2nd ) they could not find why it does not start.

But, after speaking to the customer service, I was assign CASE ID : 8023902.

The issues are: 1. I paid cash to be tow. 2. I was OUT OF JOB for 1 week and rented a car to be able to work.

- crompond221, Yonkers, NY, US

problem #11

Jun 252015

Elantra

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,800 miles

Four weeks ago the car wouldn't start, engine wouldn't turn over. Hooked a battery charger to it. Battery was more than halfway charged. Tried to start it when it got a full charge and it started. Today the engine wouldn't turn over. Again I hooked up the charger. Battery was, again, a little more than halfway charged. After it was fully charged I tried to start it. Nothing. Radio worked, windows rolled up and down, fan came on, but the stinking engine wouldn't turn over. Four hours later, I tried to start it again and it still wouldn't turn over. Just now, I tried to start it again (3 1/2 hours after the last try) and it started right up. I turned it off and it started again.

I bought this car for safety, reliability, and because the dealership was nearby. They have since moved out of town. Now the nearest dealership is 110 miles away. If I have them tow the car, I will be without it for several days or a week or more. If they fixed it, I could live with that, but after reading the other complaints, it seems sure that they won't fix it and I can't just keep having it towed so far away if they aren't going to fix it.

How do they get away with this???

I guess I need to try to sell the unsafe, unreliable piece of garbage and hope that potential buyers don't read this page.

- dianewa, Clarkston, WA, US

problem #10

Jul 232015

Elantra Limited V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,800 miles

I had to call road side assistance two Thursday evenings in a row. The dashboard lights came on but the car wouldn't turn on. After a two hour wait, it turned on finally on the first event. The second time I had to have it towed. My dealership was very nice and tried to get Hyundai corporate to pay for what they felt was an electrical short behind the radio. They also gave me a loaner and offered to keep it more than the four days to see if they could duplicate it but no luck. I was not aware that many others have had this same problem. We only have the one car so I can't have a car that I can't depend on--especially at only about 25.000 miles.

Is there away that this flaw can be brought to the forefront so that Hyundai has to acknowledge that there is a problem and make sure it gets fixed?

- Patty Z., Ashburn, VA, US

problem #9

Jul 062015

Elantra Limited

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

So since December of 2014 my car has been to the dealership 4 times because the engine will not turn over. I go to start my car and everything turns on but the engine. The first time they said the battery terminals were loose, the second time there nothing was wrong because they could not duplicate the issues, the third it was towed in and they said it was a brake switch, and the last time in the shop they couldn't duplicate the issue and handed my car back. The manager said they would handle this and get down to the problem and nothing. I was even in contact through corporate because I tweeted, they said they would send someone outand no one ever called me back. I have had to miss work because my car wouldn't start. It happened again Monday after a few tries I got it to start so I didn't take it in because I needed it to get to work. My biggest fear it will happen somewhere unsafe. How do you charge 25,000$ for a car and it doesn't start. This has become such an issue. I don't get how they don't know what is wrong. I have started taking videos every time I get into my car because in the last 2 weeks it happened 3 times. This is almost a joke now. I thought having a 2 year old car this wouldn't happen. I see on here it is a common problem and not just happening to me. Not to mention this is my second Elantra on my loan because the first on they sold me had to be replaced because the tire pressure light kept coming on. To say the least this car is crap!

- Kristin R., Glenolden, PA, US

problem #8

Mar 102015

Elantra GLS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,524 miles

I am so very upset about this PROBLEM that is happening with me and my New 1 year old car, 2013 Hyundai Elantra.. There is a problem with my car starting. Now everything comes on; dash, lights windows, radio, everything except the engine. It simply will not start. All of a sudden I'm having this problem and the Dealership service department claims they can't duplicate the problem. Which I find very hard to believe. Why is the car NOT starting for me all of a sudden but is starting you them. They can't explain this issue to me. I am at a loss for words and don't know where to turn.

I'm so upset to have purchased a $20,000 new car for safety and reliability and I am not safe and it is not reliable. Please, if anyone sees this complaint and can guide me with what I am suppose to do next outside of being stranded 3x's please advise me where to turn next. This problem started March 10, 2015, again March16, & March19th. Car taken in for service March 26th, & I was told nothing could be found & it started for them. Now, the next morning preparing to leave for work the car did not start and was Towed back to the dealership. It was there the entire weekend and is still there. The dealership had no loaner vehicle for me so I was simple out of luck with that and is taking a bus to get back & forth to work.. Please Help with a solution to this problem.

- doloress, Newark, NJ, US

problem #7

Mar 302015

Elantra Limited

  • Automatic transmission
  • 19,300 miles

I have a 2013 Elantra. For the second time in 10 days the car won't start. No engine sounds whatsoever. Towed to dealership again. First trip car there for 4 days. They said it was oil in PCV valve from previous oil change (which was done at a Hyundai dealership). Fast forward 10 days, SAME EXACT PROBLEM. Car will not start. But sits at dealership for a bit and it starts.

When I'm driving it feels like it is losing power and after a seconds it's ok. I told service person this. I finally got fed up and Tweeted. Got a response from Hyundai saying they will make sure everything is looked at. This goes beyond an annoyance. There is something wrong with this make/model/year.

I provided a list of things for them to look at...this time I hope they do.

I will say that Tweeting to @Hyundai gets a response, now let's see if they find and fix the problem.

Update from May 4, 2016: The issue was finally fixed. But it took persistence on my part, basically saying the car stays until you fix it. When they hooked it up to the computer diagnostic nothing showed as wrong/broken. Luckily the area manager for the dealership happened to be coming in for his scheduled visit to the dealership. The service manager explained the problem and the area manager didn't even skip a beat and said its the RANGE SWITCH. It appears to be a known problem to SOME managers but evidently is not relayed to service departments. This manager ADMITTED it will not show on the computer diagnostic test. Insist they test for this and take it up the chain, not just to the dealerships service manager but to their manager.

- Virginia A., Austin, TX, US

problem #6

Feb 282015

Elantra GLS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,954 miles

I BOUGHT THE THE CAR NEW. BEEN TOWED INTO THE DEALER SHIP TWICE OVER IT NOT STARTING .RADIO, LIGHTS WORK BUT NO SOUND COMES FROM THE STARTER. I EMAIL CORP AND NO PLACE THEY ARE SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE AND PASS IT ON TO SOMEONE ELSE.

- easmeilnc, Garner, NC, US

problem #5

Aug 012014

Elantra

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

Under hood start smoking, engine would not start, had to get someone to jump start. Hear tapping from engine.

Going down the road, put head light on, dim the light, went off on my car.

- .Pansy B., Cope, SC, US

problem #4

Mar 142015

Elantra

  • Automatic transmission
  • 9,700 miles

Went to take my son to baseball. The engine will not turn over. No sound was made. Radio turns on. I've had this car a little over a year! It doesn't even have 10,000 miles on it yet. I'm hoping it can be jumped like others have reported.

- J T., Hoover, AL, US

problem #3

Aug 262014

Elantra LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

Car won't start in morning at least one to twice a week. I took it to dealer and they do not find anything wrong with it. Battery, starter and everything checks out fine.

- krauseje, Huntington Beach, CA, US

problem #2

Jan 162013

Elantra

  • CVT transmission
  • 20,000 miles

Until today I hadn't given the issue much thought. Randomly my Elantra wouldn't start in the mornings, my husband and I would go through the hassle of jumping it with his car, I would call in late to work and we would go about our normal routine. The first time it happened my husband suggested there was something wrong with the battery, which frustrated me as my car was not even a year old. I purchased it in June of 2012, the issues started around Jan of 2013. The car jumped fine though and we didn't have any issues for a while afterwards.

Then a few months down the road the same thing, the car just wouldn't start. I hadn't left any lights on or anything else that would drain the battery, but again we jumped it and it was fine. This has been happening sporadically throughout the past roughly year and a half and we are finally fed up! This morning it wouldn't even start after we had the jumper cables hooked up. The engine wouldn't even turn over, everything else comes alive but the engine won't start. Occasionally it will just stick and if I apply the brake more or wiggle the key around it will start up, but not today, and really I shouldn't have to do that either. I don't know what the dealership will say when we call today but I wont be taking no or "we can't do anything" for an answer.

If you have an Elantra and you have the same issues don't assume it's just a battery issue like we did. Get it checked out and leave a complaint. Attention needs to be drawn to this issue.

- mabrooks, Mount Airy, MD, US

problem #1

Jul 232014

Elantra GLS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,582 miles

I continually have a problem with my Elantra not starting. It has been occurring for several months now and the dealer has not been able to find any problems with the car. About once a week I go out to start my car after it has been sitting in my garage overnight and the car just will not start. All the lights on the dash come on and there is no clicking sound with the starter, but the car just will not start. I can usually get the car started after much tinkering with it....such as locking the doors, putting my foot on the brake while starting, taking the key in and out, etc...

To me it almost seems like something with the security system on the car, but the dealer feels it may be a starter issue, but no one can seem to replicate the problem. At this point, the dealer wants me to have the car towed to them when this occurs the next time and they will try to troubleshoot it then. At this point, I'm just very frustrated with this issue as it has become a big nuisance. This is a brand new car and I expect it to start.

- cooper315, Janesville, WI, US