2012 Hyundai Elantra Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 40about this part
- Share
- 6%of 654 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 28,535miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 40 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2012 Hyundai Elantra, 6% of the 654 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 28,535 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11119974, filed 2018-08, 75,000 miles“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”
NHTSA complaint #11103012, filed 2018-06, 6 miles“The car shut itself off while we were driving. The car would not restart or shift into park and the key would not come out. Finally got the car to start in neutral and car sputtered and it registered no rpms, so it didn't move. After about 20 minutes car did start in neutral and we were able to make it home.”
NHTSA complaint #10604964, filed 2014-06, 6,673 miles“Periodically my car will not start or turn over to start. The normal wear and tear parts are young and a couple forums I have found on the internet show that other people with similar model years and the same year are having the same problem. There should be a recall on this issue. It was reported it might be the range switch or the shift interlock. Thank you for your concern. When I called into my local Hyundai dealership they sounded perplexed.”
NHTSA complaint #10711790, filed 2015-04, 25,000 miles“Intermittent problem: car didn't turn over. I waited a few minutes, tried it again and it started. Dealer couldn't find the problem. Second occurrence: wouldn't start, then it did when I tried it a third time. That same day, car was idling for about 3 minutes as I was sitting in it. I had put it in park and when I tried to put it in drive, it wouldn't budge out of park. I turned the car off (fearing the worst) and it started and allowed me to put it in drive.”
NHTSA complaint #10616436, filed 2014-07, 66,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10253275Apr 9, 2024This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and replace, if necessary, an automatic transmission with Incorrect Ratio DTC (transmission clutch slip in gear above limit) listed on…
- 10241874Aug 17, 2023Hyundai has launched an anti-theft software upgrade and window decal campaign (Campaign 993), combined with an anti-theft steering wheel lock campaign (Campaign P32), in response…
- 10176194May 21, 2020If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with the following symptoms and DTC, follow the Service Procedure on Page 4. ï· Check Engine light on ï· DTC P0880/P088000 - TCM…
- 10174807Apr 17, 2020The automatic transmission warranty repair policy authorizes in-dealership repairs of the following components for both OEM (new) and remanufactured automatic transmissions:
- 10174799Apr 9, 2020If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related…
- 10172227Feb 20, 2020If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related…
- 10170899Jan 2, 2020This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and repair a transaxle for the following Incorrect Ratio DTC (transaxle clutch slipping more than 200 rpm in gear).
- 10170511Dec 17, 2019If you are servicing a vehicle with a transmission slipping concern, follow the Service Procedure shown below and perform a stall test. This TSB provides a procedure to test each…
- 10165455Aug 12, 2019If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a ?Check Engine? light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid…
- 10163279Jun 4, 2019This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and repair a transaxle for the following Incorrect Ratio DTC (transaxle clutch slipping more than 200 rpm in gear).
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 5% |
| 2024 | 3 | 5% |
| 2023 | 9 | 9% |
| 2022 | 7 | 7% |
| 2021 | 7 | 5% |
| 2020 | 47 | 19% |
| 2019 | 11 | 4% |
| 2018 | 24 | 8% |
| 2017 | 62 | 8% |
| 2016 | 31 | 11% |
| 2015 | 18 | 7% |
| 2014 | 22 | 6% |
| 2013 | 57 | 4% |
| 2012 | 40 | 6% |
| 2011 | 21 | 5% |
| 2010 | 32 | 8% |
| 2009 | 8 | 3% |
| 2008 | 29 | 9% |
| 2007 | 10 | 4% |
| 2006 | 8 | 5% |
| 2005 | 7 | 5% |
| 2004 | 7 | 4% |
| 2003 | 9 | 4% |
| 2002 | 17 | 5% |
| 2001 | 16 | 5% |
| 2000 | 22 | 11% |
| 1999 | 41 | 32% |
| 1998 | 13 | 24% |
| 1997 | 31 | 27% |
| 1996 | 20 | 20% |
| 1995 | 19 | 17% |
| 1994 | 9 | 12% |
| 1993 | 5 | 21% |
| 1992 | 9 | 31% |
Other parts of the 2012 Hyundai Elantra
139 complaintsElectrical system
126 complaintsAir bags
124 complaintsBrakes
99 complaintsSteering
88 complaintsOther or unknown
67 complaintsSuspension
45 complaintsElectronic stability control
44 complaintsVehicle speed control
27 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
19 complaintsFuel system
18 complaintsExterior lighting
17 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology