821 of the
12,072 complaints filed about the Hyundai Elantra
are about the other systems —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2017.
I own a 2022 Hyundai Elantra N Line. The HVAC system began malfunctioning when the center/forward-facing dashboard vents stopped producing airflow, while the side vents continued to work. Changing the HVAC mode does not properly redirect airflow to the center vents as intended. The vehicle was inspected and diagnosed, and I was informed that the ventilator lever/mode mechanism is broken or not functioning properly. This appears consistent with a known issue described in Hyundai Technical Service Bulletin 25-HA-001H/26-HA-001H concerning the ventilator lever and loss of airflow from the forward-facing center vents. This failure affects my ability to properly control where air is directed inside the vehicle, including directing airflow toward the windshield for defrosting/defogging. This could potentially reduce visibility in conditions where windshield defrosting is necessary and therefore create a safety concern. The problem has been confirmed through a vehicle diagnostic inspection. The vehicle/component is available for inspection upon request. I have also found other Hyundai Elantra owners reporting similar loss of center-vent airflow and HVAC mode-control problems. The issue occurred without a collision or other known event that would have caused the component to fail. The repair is also unusually labor-intensive because the failed ventilator lever is located behind the dashboard and requires extensive disassembly just to access the component. I was informed that the repair would require at least 14 hours of labor, resulting in an extremely high repair cost for what is essentially a small mechanical component. The amount of labor required to reach and replace the lever makes the repair disproportionately expensive. Additionally, I have encountered multiple other Hyundai Elantra owners reporting the same or very similar symptoms, including loss of airflow from the center/forward-facing vents while the side vents continue to function. Suggests occurring issues.
NHTSA complaint #11757990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle is a 2023 Hyundai Elantra N Line purchased from CarMax in February 2026 with approximately 40,000 miles. It currently has approximately 49,000 miles. The vehicle intermittently cuts off, hesitates to accelerate, and jerks/shudders during acceleration. The specific failed component or system is UNKNOWN because CarMax has not yet provided a definitive diagnosis. The suspected problem involves the engine, fuel/ignition system, transmission, electronic throttle, or another powertrain/control component, but this has not been confirmed. The vehicle’s sudden loss of power and hesitation during acceleration creates a safety risk because the vehicle may fail to accelerate when needed, including when entering traffic, changing lanes, or attempting to avoid a hazard. The unexpected cutting off of the vehicle also creates a risk of being stranded or struck by other vehicles. The problem has been reported to CarMax, but to my knowledge it has NOT been definitively diagnosed or confirmed by a dealer or independent repair facility. CarMax has required a diagnosis before proceeding with further assistance, resulting in delays in addressing the defect. I contacted Hyundai regarding the vehicle and was informed that the vehicle’s original sale/in-service date was October 6, 2023, and that Hyundai has no recorded service history at a Hyundai dealership since that date. Hyundai has not yet physically inspected the vehicle for this complaint. The specific warning lamps or diagnostic messages associated with the failure are UNKNOWN. The primary symptoms are the vehicle cutting off, hesitation when accelerating, and jerking/shuddering during acceleration. These symptoms have continued and remain unresolved. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. I am requesting that the vehicle be professionally inspected and that the underlying cause of the loss of power, hesitation, and jerking be identified and documented.
NHTSA complaint #11757020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The horn is intermittenly failing and was verified by a Weimer Hyundai in Morgantown, WV on XXX. This is a known defect in 2023 Hyundai Elantras and they have issued an extended warranty to address the problem. An absence of a horn is a safety issue as you cannot signal other drivers in emergency situations. It is unlawful to have a horn that does not operate in most states including WV ([XXX]) which is where I currently reside. While a horn is not required by NHTSA , if it is present it must be operable by driver (Safety Standard No. 101, 49 CFR '571.101). For these reasons I am requesting that this should have and should be considered a SAFETY RECALL which is NOT predicated on mileage. By issuing an extended warranty that stops at 120,000 miles Hyundai does not serve those with higher mileage vehicles. It is not fair for a driver to have to pay out of pocket for a KNOWN DEFECT that should have absolutely been addressed as a SAFETY RECALL. Hyundai has been contacted and I was given a case #42976455 and a case manager named Edward. Weimer was incontact with either him or Hyundai directly and they offered to split the cost of $600.00 intead of taking full responsibility. I have no full time job and cannot pay anything (nor should I have to) for a safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11753112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This vehicle lacks an engine immobilizer, a defect that has made 2011-2022 Hyundai and Kia vehicles unusually susceptible to theft via a method widely publicized on social media as the "Kia Challenge." My vehicle was stolen using this method, driven approximately 30-40 miles, and abandoned. It was found stripped of parts, including the catalytic converter. This defect is already the subject of a nationwide class-action settlement (hyundaitheftsettlement.com) and a multistate Attorney General settlement. I am filing this report to ensure my vehicle/incident is included in NHTSA's records on this ongoing safety issue.
NHTSA complaint #11751074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2016 Hyundai Elantra (75k miles) experiences severe, un-commanded Loss of Propulsive Power and a Severe Drivetrain Instability Hazard. At steady highway speeds, the automatic transmission completely loses hydraulic pressure, slips out of gear, and unexpectedly drops into a temporary "neutral." The engine suddenly revs up to high RPM on its own while losing all forward acceleration. After coasting helplessly, it violently slams back into gear, causing the vehicle to lurch forward. This also happens from a complete stop.The vehicle's OBD-II system fails to illuminate the Check Engine Light or store fault codes during these flares, providing zero warning before a loss of propulsion.This dangerous transmission slipping has occurred intermittently for several years. I repeatedly took it to an authorized Hyundai dealership to address this crash hazard. Because there was no active Check Engine Light, the dealership dismissed my concerns, refused to document it, and sent me away without a diagnosis. Recently, the service department acted in bad faith by misrepresenting my warranty terms (falsely claiming it was only 7 years) and refusing a live-data diagnostic scan. The bad faith dealership was Murdock Hyundai of Murray in [XXX], specifically the service manager Tyler as well as Krateton. The car is a verified vehicle under the Hyundai Nu 1.8L Piston Slap Class Action Settlement (TXXK Campaign). An official safety escalation case is open with Hyundai Motor America under my corporate case number XXX. I request a federal safety investigation into premature transmission pressure failure in 2016 Elantras, as this vehicle is entirely unsafe to operate. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11749052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My driver side window has not been working for almost 3 years now. I have taken it to 4 mechanics and they fix it but only last a couple days. They have all say they can’t really do anything about it since they need an original piece. My AC is another issue I have that I have tried fixing 3 times now. The same issue happens they fix it and it last about a week or so. The longest it has lasted was 2 weeks. The mechanics each say it needs a new compressor and I’ve bought 3 new compressor already. I’m not sure what to do anymore.
NHTSA complaint #11746493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am reporting an active odometer fraud case on a 2017 Hyundai Elantra, VIN: [XXX]. The seller listed this vehicle on Facebook Marketplace claiming it had 65,000 miles and was in like-new condition. Upon running a CARFAX report, the vehicle shows over 300,000 actual miles. The CARFAX also shows the vehicle already had 98,000 miles recorded in 2018, making the current 65,000-mile claim impossible. When I confronted the seller about the discrepancy, they claimed they purchased the vehicle from a mechanic and were unaware of the mileage history. They then immediately blocked me and deleted their Facebook listing. Shortly after, a second listing appeared under what appears to be the seller's wife's account advertising the same vehicle. The vehicle appears to have originated from Illinois and is being sold in Indiana, making this a cross-state fraud. The seller operates as a title-free flipper, never placing the title in their name, which appears to be an intentional strategy to avoid a paper trail. I have documentation including screenshots of the original listing, the CARFAX report, and records of my communications with the seller. I am prepared to provide all of this upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11746048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle splash safety shield has been a big problem . A few times it has made bump noises while slowly driving through speed bumps slowly or on street where there is a low crossway. Today it started making noise and I did not realize that it had loosen . While parking it made a grinding noise underneath the front. While angling to park it jammed underneath the car and would not allow the car to move forward or back. I’m lucky it didn’t happened while driving in the street or fwy. A friend help me to remove it from underneath. The safety shield is not strong nor sturdy I have the damaged splash safety shield in my possession.
NHTSA complaint #11744652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My daughter was in a parking lot and put her car in park, removed her keys and exited the vehicle. She walked around the vehicle and was removing her school bag and the car came out of park and rolled into another vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11743413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Car developed a sudden loss of power. Would start, although roughly (took a couple of times to start), then once shifted into Drive, the engine was very sluggish, like it was stuck in a lower gear. Upon stopping and restarting the engine, the problem would sometimes resolve and the car could be driven normally, however it felt unsafe to drive at normal speeds. No warning signs appeared. After consulting with a family member with this same year and model of Hyundai Elantra, it was suggested that the crankshaft position sensor might be at fault. After researching online, we discovered that this is a common issue with 2011-2016 Elantras with a 1.8 liter engine. (Reddit forums, also this link: [XXX] ). After trying transmission and other fluid flushes without luck, we took the car to a local Hyundai dealer. They said they were unable to replicate the issue but we told them to please replace the crankshaft position sensor, which they finally did. We were charged a total of $711.40 for this repair of a simple part. Please note, another Hyundai dealer in town replaced this part for my brother's vehicle free of charge. This should be a recall item for this vehicle and it should be replaced for free. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11740674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This complaint documents a recurring automatic transmission failure resulting in three complete vehicle shutdowns during active operation — two at highway speed and one in an active turning lane. The most recent failure occurred within 15 minutes of the vehicle being released from an authorized Hyundai dealership in College Park, Maryland, whose general manager admitted in a recorded call that the vehicle was released knowing the transmission was unrepaired and unsafe. The first failure occurred in 2025 on a highway with no prior warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, where the transmission was confirmed defective and repaired under warranty. The second failure occurred in January 2026, again on a highway with no warning. The dealership held the vehicle from January through May 2026 — four months — with no updates despite multiple owner inquiries. In April 2026 the dealership confirmed the transmission had failed again and was seeking Hyundai corporate authorization for the warranty repair. On May 21, 2026 I was told the vehicle was ready and the transmission had been fully repaired under warranty. This was false. On [XXX], within 15 minutes of leaving the dealership, the transmission failed a third time, completely shutting the vehicle down in an active turning lane with no warning. The general manager at Hyundai College Park later admitted in a recorded call that the transmission was never repaired and the vehicle was released only to recover the dealership's rental car, with full knowledge it was unsafe. All three failures were confirmed by the authorized dealer. Component is available for inspection. NHTSA investigation and recall consideration requested. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11739852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Upon arriving at my condo after work, pulled into the driveway that goes to 2nd floor underground. Had my foot on the brake and when the garage door started to rise, I put foot on gas pedal to inch forward and the gas pedal went all the way down. Braking did not stop the car. The car crashed through the garage door but that did not stop car. It continued till the car hit a cement boulder which finally stopped it. After car hit the cement boulder it continued to try and run. Obviously a huge risk factor when your car accelerates and can't be stopped. If that had happened on the street, I can't even imagine what could have happened. The car was totaled so I doubt if it has been checked by anyone. And there was no warning at all. Had not noticed anything unusual that give me any hint that the gas pedal would stick all the to the floor. When I researched unexplained acceleration there was reference to the throttle and 4 or 5 reasons why it would accelerate on its own.
NHTSA complaint #11738725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle is experiencing premature paint failure and delamination on factory-painted body panels with Quartz White Pearl (W8) paint. Paint is peeling, chipping, and separating from the underlying surface without collision damage, abnormal wear, or neglect. The issue appears consistent with widely reported Hyundai white paint adhesion defects affecting similar vehicles and paint codes. The condition developed gradually and continues to spread to additional areas of the vehicle. The affected paint failure exposes underlying surfaces and may reduce long-term corrosion protection of the body panels. No warning lights or messages appeared prior to the issue. The vehicle remains operational, but the paint defect appears to involve loss of adhesion of the factory-applied paint system rather than normal cosmetic wear or isolated rock chips. The issue is available for inspection upon request. The manufacturer has issued warranty extensions and programs related to similar white paint delamination conditions on Hyundai vehicles, but this vehicle was reportedly excluded despite having the affected paint code and similar failure pattern.
NHTSA complaint #11738677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This is the second time the horn has stopped working. The first time was a year or two ago (records available on request), and both of the two horn units failed. The manufacturer Hyundai replaced them both and told me the issue they were having was the stamped housing of the horn has a seam that folds up and collects water, may freeze, and causes the unit to fail. Clearly they installed two replacement units of the same style because both units just failed again. The way I found out was someone almost changed lanes into me, I tried to honk to alert them to not collide with me, and the horn didn't work. Thankfully I was able to stop fast enough to avoid the collision. I will be taking it to Hyundai for replacement again within the next few days. This needs to become a recall because clearly Hyundai hasn't accepted yet that they need to correct their design of this safety feature.
NHTSA complaint #11738447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I purchased a 2023 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid 2023 on December 15, 2023, and since early ownership I have experienced persistent jerking/clunking while slowing to a stop, harsh downshifts, hesitation during braking, and rough transitions between electric and engine power. The issue was first documented around 5,744 miles and continued through approximately six to eight repair/work orders, where dealerships repeatedly described the condition as normal hybrid/DCT behavior while performing software resets, adaptive relearns, and diagnostic checks. After continued complaints, Hyundai Techline became involved and the dealership concluded the vehicle “jerks pretty bad,” leading to a full transmission replacement under warranty. Despite the transmission replacement, the issue persisted and the dealership later confirmed slight clunking during downshifts and discovered a torn engine mount, which was also replaced. The dealership additionally noted that the issue did not occur while driving another Elantra Hybrid or the loaner vehicle, suggesting the condition was specific to my vehicle. I also opened a case with Hyundai Motor America Consumer Affairs regarding the recurring defect and repeated failed repair attempts, but the issue continues despite major drivetrain repairs. Hyundai Motors America Consumer Affairs has not been able to help me with this either. They also didn't provide me with the Federal Agency number when I requested them in order to reach out and seek help from the agencies. Hyundai didn't help me in any way. There were no warnings. They have been able to reproduce the issue but do not want to resolve the issue. I strongly believe no vehicle is designed in a way that it jerks and downshifts in a harsh manner causing distress to the driver/owner.
NHTSA complaint #11738642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle was parked and turned off in a residential driveway when a fire spontaneously ignited in the engine compartment. There were no warning lights, unusual sounds, or symptoms prior to the incident. The fire department responded and extinguished the fire using dry chemical suppressant and water. The vehicle was a total loss. The fire appears to have originated in the front engine compartment area. The vehicle was not involved in a collision. The vehicle has a 1.8L Nu DOHC engine and 4-wheel ABS system. This vehicle falls under known NHTSA recalls and class action litigation related to spontaneous engine fires in Hyundai Elantra vehicles, including issues related to defective ABS/HECU modules and engine defects associated with the Nu engine series.
NHTSA complaint #11737763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle developed clunking noise in the steering. Was told it was coupler issue. The dealership, Nlorthbay Hyundai, in Petaluma, California, was negligent in the replacement, creating a grinding metal on metal noise, and damaged the steering column as well. The Dealership refused failed to correct the damage and attempted to defraud me over $3,000 for an entirely new steering column, and refuse to honor promised repair warranty despite their own negligence that created the damage. I found out that Hyundai models including mine have coupler issues involving recalls, years ago. I was not aware of this, and so not sure if my vehicle was part of the recall. However, Hyundai Motor America failed to notify me to take my vehicle in for a safety check for the vehicle coupler. And while I found that that my vehicle qualified for an extended warranty due to the recall, HMA so lacking in responsibility, sound business and moral ethics, let alone serious concern for my safety, claims that my vehicle is past the extended warranty by a completely insignificant mileage. As far as am concerned my vehicle is not safe to drive, and it remains at the dealership while I exhaust all avenues to have my car fixed. I have documents including clear repair notes and service request documents to support my complaint. Complaint being filed against both the dealership, Northbay Hyundai and the manufacturer, Hyundai Motor America.
NHTSA complaint #11735156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.