2021 Hyundai Elantra Complaint Log

I am filing a complaint regarding a safety recall repair for my vehicle that is not being handled in a timely or reasonable manner by an authorized dealership Delray Hyundai 655 NE Sixth Ave, Delray Beach. Vehicle Information: 2021 Hyundai Elantra SE VIN: [XXX] Recall Information: NHTSA Recall #24V879000 Recall #271 – Backup Camera Inspection/Replacement This recall involves a failure of the backup camera system, which directly impacts visibility while reversing and poses a safety risk. The manufacturer has indicated that a remedy is available; however, the dealership I contacted is refusing to perform recall repairs on weekends and is only offering an appointment more than a month out (scheduled for May 4th). Given that this is a safety-related recall affecting rear visibility, this delay is unreasonable and places me at continued risk while operating the vehicle. I rely on my vehicle daily and should not be required to wait an extended period for a safety recall repair that is already available. Additionally, limiting recall repairs to weekday-only appointments creates an unnecessary barrier for consumers who work standard business hours. I am requesting that this issue be reviewed, and that appropriate action be taken to ensure dealerships are providing timely access to safety recall repairs, especially when the defect impacts vehicle safety. Thank You INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My vehicle has been in the shop here at McGrath Hyundai in Chicago, IL 30+ times since I bought it 5/21. Electrical, (rear), 6 horns, 6 blower motors, multiple warranty and recalls and now my front driver seat belt. They’re refusing to fix it even though I have reported it before. They’re saying over 60,000 miles makes it no longer under warranty. I reported it before and they said that it was okay. It was not okay and still isn’t okay and they think I’m going to pay $1500 to get it fixed now as well as re wiring the back of the vehicle for $600, which I have been reporting issues with for years.

I bought my car at McGrath Hyundai in chicago in May 2021. It’s been in their shop 30 plus times for various and repeated issues. As of late, over the last 6 months, I have reported to them and to Hyundai, my drivers side seat belt won’t retract properly and the high mounted brake light warning continuously goes off, a dinging, stating that there is an issue. Hyundai and McGrath repeatedly misdiagnosed and refused to fix these issues when they were first brought to their attention when under 60,000 miles. NOW that the car is over 60,000 miles, conveniently they’re stating that it’s out of warranty and will cost $2k. The technicians and service advisor Christine Tonelli at McGrath, knowingly and willfully misdiagnosed my car, attempting to cover up the issues stating that there was no issue. They said the seat belt was fine and the wiring wasn’t the issue for the high mount d brake light and kept changing the bulb. They knew it should have known there was a seat belt issue with it not retracting and the same with the high mount d brake light. Suddenly after 60,000 miles, they now state I was right the whole time by telling me it will be $2000 to fix it. I have all service records and emails.

Description of the Safety Problem: In the early morning hours of January 8, while driving my Hyundai vehicle, I ran off the road into a ditch. I was extremely disoriented and activated the vehicle’s built-in Blue Link SOS emergency assistance system for help. I successfully connected with a Blue Link operator and repeatedly told her that I did not know where I was and that I was scared and needed assistance. While I was actively requesting help, the SOS call was disconnected. After the disconnection, I attempted to reconnect using the SOS system but was unable to do so, despite the vehicle having power and an active, paid telematics subscription. The system did not reconnect or provide further assistance. I was forced to call 911 from my personal cell phone to obtain emergency help. This resulted in a delayed response and a $1,300 towing expense that I would not have incurred if the SOS system had functioned as marketed. This incident raises serious safety concerns. The vehicle’s emergency SOS system failed during an active emergency, disconnected while the driver was disoriented and requesting help, and provided no ability to reconnect. This defeats the purpose of an integrated emergency safety feature and could place drivers at risk of serious injury or death. I am reporting this incident so NHTSA can evaluate the reliability and safety of Hyundai’s Blue Link SOS emergency system during real-world emergencies.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 51,192 and at the time of receiving the vehicle from the dealer it was discovered that the mileage was 50,310.

The horn is not working when I press the horn or on the key fob. I had it checked and the fuses were fine. The seat belt chime also does not work out of nowhere, same time the horn stopped working.

Daytime and night time running lights turn off and on randomly with brights engaging random as well. Turn signals not operating but intermittently and wipers not turning on intermittently. This Started in Nov 2025. First time dealership could get it in was Jan 2026, stated Multifunction switch was bad and covered under warranty, now not covered after getting it in 3.5 months later. Due to the this being a known safety concern for Hyundai Genesis with extended warranty put in place, would love a review on Elantra as well because there are several spots in threads stating the same issue. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Forward sensors in vehicle have been failing while driving rain or snow since 2021; would go way on its own. Most recent failure has occurred with no debris or obstruction to sensor on a clear and sunny day. The sensor failure has been stagnant and will not go away, increasing a safety concerns while driving.

The Horn never worked since I bought it in August 2023, i’ve been in a countless near accident situations where I was rendered helpless. I’ve had several instances where I get locked out of my car because the vehicle would not read the key. I tried fix the issue because I assumed it was a dead car or key battery but the same problems kept happening shortly after. I became aware of the issue with the horn not working, when I recently purchased the vehicle. I tried to contact the ALM dealership salesman to report the issue and they told me he had recently quit. They mentioned bringing it back to the shop but it wasn’t guaranteed that the issue would be fixed.

The Forward collision warning light comes on randomly at times and disables the system. It’s done this on 3 occasions. No one has inspected the vehicle. I was told everything was normal. No injuries involved. The problem has occurred 3 times now with code c1620078. The history codes show this has happened to the previous owner as well. I bought it in 7/2025 and it happened driving it home from buying it, in 11/25, and 12/10/25

Front sensor problem. Sensor Check Forward Safety System. ABS, Auto Hold light came up out of no where. No damage to sensor.

How are you? The problem with our Hyundai involves the engine and engine control system. My vehicle is equipped with the same 2.0-liter Nu GDI engine that Hyundai recalled in other 2021 and 2022 vehicles for engine stalling, internal engine damage, and fire risk. Although my VIN is not currently listed, the engine itself is identical to the recalled engines and is available for inspection. Since early ownership, the vehicle has repeatedly hesitated, surged, and jumped when accelerating from a stop, especially at stoplights and intersections. This unpredictable behavior creates a clear safety risk because the vehicle does not respond consistently in traffic and increases the risk of a collision. These issues are ongoing and reproducible under normal driving conditions. The symptoms have occurred many times and were not isolated events. The vehicle has been presented for service and the issues described. No misuse or maintenance-related cause has been identified. Prior to and during these events, the vehicle has shown reduced power, inconsistent throttle response, and hesitation. At times, warning lights and engine behavior consistent with internal engine distress have appeared. These symptoms match those described by Hyundai, Consumer Reports, and NHTSA in recalls involving this same engine. Hyundai has already acknowledged that this engine defect can lead to stalling, seizure, oil leaks, and fire, and that warning systems may not fully detect the problem until damage has already begun. Because my vehicle uses the same recalled engine and exhibits the same failure characteristics, I believe it should be reviewed as part of a recall expansion or defect investigation.

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment while the vehicle was idling. The RPM fluctuated and the vehicle stalled while at a complete stop, and while shifted to park(P). The contact restarted the vehicle and was able to continue driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The failure had occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who confirmed that the 2.0L engine was known for similar issues. The dealer confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine). The vehicle was not diagnosed due to a lack of diagnostic trouble codes being displayed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

Windshield wipers will stop midway moving and stay in place at random times while switched on. Not related to rain droplet mode. Happens at random. Obstructs view of road.

Subject: Vehicle Safety Complaint – Engine Failure – Hyundai To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting a vehicle safety complaint regarding a serious engine failure involving my Hyundai vehicle. The engine experienced a failure significant enough to require replacement. This raises serious safety concerns, as sudden engine failure can result in loss of power while driving, increasing the risk of an accident. In addition: •Hyundai Motor America has not adequately addressed the issue •My case (#xxxx) remains unresolved despite escalation •I have experienced delays, lack of transparency, and no meaningful resolution Given Hyundai’s known history of engine-related issues, I believe this may represent a broader safety concern affecting other drivers. I respectfully request that NHTSA: 1.Review this incident as a potential safety defect 2.Investigate whether this issue is part of a larger pattern 3.Take appropriate action to ensure consumer safety I am available to provide documentation and further details if needed. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Heating core on car has gone out 3 times the first time costing $2,042.03 to repair, the two follow up ones were done under the warenty

The horn does not work. I've been out of a horn for the last 4 1/2 months. The horn fuse blows every time I replace it and if I use the horn it blows. Now I replace the fuse and the horn still doesn't work on this vehicle

The reverse camera does not work

I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding a significant safety issue with my vehicle’s backup camera system. The backup camera consistently malfunctions, displaying glitchy images with distorted lines across the screen. This issue renders the camera essentially unusable, as it fails to provide a clear view of the area behind the vehicle, posing a serious safety hazard. This malfunction directly impacts my ability to safely reverse, especially in crowded areas where visibility is crucial. The camera’s unreliability puts pedestrians and other drivers at risk, as I am unable to fully ensure that my path is clear when reversing. I strongly believe this defect poses a significant safety concern that needs to be addressed by the manufacturer. I request that the NHTSA investigate this issue and take appropriate action to ensure that this problem is resolved for myself and the many other affected vehicle owners. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Several times, including yesterday, my forward collision avoidance engaged by braking suddenly and strongly and INAPPROPRIATELY, almost causing me to be rear-ended. I was nowhere near the car in front of me, and fortunately due to traffic was traveling below the speed limit. This seems to happen whenever there is an overpass above the road. I have reported this to Hyundai, and they don't seem very concerned. Very dangerous. I would think there could be a software or sensor update that can correct this situation.

The camera started to fail for a few days and then it was fine, then the blind spot started to fail and then the camera was useless.

High Beam Assist, Check Rear Cross-Traffic Safety System, Check Blind-spot safety system, Check forward safety system, Check Lane Keep Assist System, Traction Control disabled. ALL of those messages came on while driving. Rear backup camera quit working, reverse lights do not engage. No remedy for recall still. Vehicle is unsafe to operate without recall being fixed. This is my only transportation, FIX it!!!

Unintended acceleration is happening. After about 15-30 minutes of driving, accelerating from a stopped position becomes very difficult in the sense that the vehicle does NOT accelerate when gas pedal is pressed. This can be extremely dangerous as you do not know when the vehicle will no longer accelerate and could get hit when crossing an intersection or turning onto any road at all. ESC warning light came on today and vehicle will no longer start but goes into auxiliary mode. This is not the first time, second, third, nor even 5th time a report on this vehicle has been made and with each report more issues are arising with seemingly NO fix in sight.

The windshield is damaged very easily when a small rock hits it on the road. It's been hit before the recall and the new windshield is damaged. It's a hazard especially if it can be easily cracked. I've had other vehicles that can handle small rocks on road ways. These are damages from tiny rocks. This windshield is very weak, the Crack continues to spread all over day to day.

My back up camera fails to work consistently. This issue appears to only worsen with every use. Sometimes to screen will appear half on and half off. I have yet to receive any notice of a recall and would like to get this fixed if at all possible. Thank you!

Radar equipped to front of vehicle has malfunctioned, disabling all forward safety systems and adaptive cruise control. Without this equipment functioning, cruise control is completely disabled and the vehicle will not automatically brake or provide forward warnings. The vehicle component has not been inspected, but this is a recurring issue amongst other owners of this model. There is a warning lamp that turns out that states "Check Forward Safety System"

Rear backup camera suddenly stopped working and when in reverse the sensors kick in and breaks the vehicle when there's no object or vehicle behind. Also the code for the backup sensor came up but dealer didn't do anything.

I owned a 2021 Hyundai Elantra N Line that experienced a recurring transmission issue. In warm weather conditions the transmission would intermittently slip and stutter, causing a jerky engagement when attempting to accelerate. In cold weather the vehicle operated normally without these symptoms. When the issue occurred, the vehicle would sometimes hesitate or fail to move forward smoothly when pressing the accelerator. This created unsafe driving situations, particularly when pulling into traffic or accelerating from a stop. On multiple occasions this behavior nearly resulted in rear-end collisions because the vehicle did not respond reliably to throttle input. The issue appeared to be temperature related, as the problem consistently occurred during warmer weather while the vehicle operated normally in colder conditions. Because the vehicle could fail to accelerate predictably, this created a safety hazard for myself and other drivers. I believe this may indicate a potential defect in the transmission system.

Back up Camera. When reversing cannot see out back window do to incline of glass making hard to reverse. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There was not any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear.

Back up camera doesn’t work. When put in reverse the screen is static and when you press the back up camera button it won’t turn on

My car has two warning lights on my dashboard. First one is Check Foward Safety system. Second one is Check Smart Cruise Control System. Both of them turned on when I was driving in the middle of a highway. These warning lights activated out of the blue, without any unusual circumstances.I cannot use my smart cruise control system and the car is not able to alert me about forward collision. This issue has already been addressed through a recall for my vehicle's model and year in Korea. My vehicle was produced in Korea and was imported to the United States; however, Hyundai has not issued a recall regarding the same problem in the United States. This is a safety concern, and Hyundai should repair it free of charge, and the company should compensate customers who have already undergone repairs for the repair costs.

Pop up display "Check Forward Safety System and Check Smart Cruise Control System" during driving on the free way with no reason. 3 month ago same thing happened. fixed that problem with re-calibration to the front sensor. But. same problem happen today. This problem is recalled in south korea on last year.

Forward collision sensor suddenly failed to function properly. This issue was NOT caused by any damage or a collision; it happened while driving on the highway. Hyundai does not fix this under any warranty, even though the issue was not caused by damage. It appears to be a bad quality/faulty sensor.

Over the past 4 months, this car's safety sensors have randomly activated on 4 different occasions. The car will suddenly brake when this occurs, which puts me and the other drivers around me at risk of crashing. Each time, I've taken it to a Hyundai dealership for repairs. They always claim they can't recreate the issue and don't fix anything. I've provided the dealer with pictures and videos of the warning lights on my dashboard. It doesn't seem to help them diagnose the problem.

I have had to get the horn replaced on my ELANTRA six times the horn goes out and this can be a very big safety hazard as it has caused people to almost hit me because they didn’t see me and my horn wasn’t working to alert them this needs to be addressed as soon as possible as this could cause someone to lose their life in the wrong instance

Constant sound of flowing water throughout the front of the vehicle. Several service appointments later and there is still no solution to the issue that has been going on for over a year. Thia can be heard like a stream of water flowing. Engine ticking, loud rattling from engine. You can hear in from inside of the car.

I am filing a complaint regarding an unresolved and ongoing issue with my 2021 Hyundai Elantra N Line. The vehicle currently has approximately 80,100 miles. This issue began when the vehicle had under 60,000 miles. At that time, I brought the vehicle to a Hyundai dealership because the check engine light was on and I was informed it was related to the EVAP system, specifically the purge valve. I spent approximately five hours at the dealership and was told the issue had been repaired. However, shortly after leaving the dealership, the check engine light returned with the same issue. Since then, I have attempted multiple times to resolve this problem. I even purchased a new purge valve and had it installed by an independent mechanic. Despite replacing the purge valve, the check engine light remains on and continues to report EVAP system issues. I also had a mechanic perform a smoke test on the system, which did not reveal any leaks in the EVAP system. The mechanic stated they could not determine why the system continues to show a purge valve or EVAP-related code and suggested that only Hyundai may have the tools necessary to properly diagnose the issue. I contacted Hyundai corporate customer service for assistance, but they informed me that each dealership is privately owned and they could not intervene or assist further. This issue has now been ongoing for approximately two years. I continue to experience the check engine light and now the vehicle is beginning to have drivability problems including vibration and jerking during acceleration. This unresolved issue also affects my ability to pass vehicle inspections if the check engine light remains on. I am requesting assistance in resolving this ongoing issue and receiving proper diagnosis and repair support from Hyundai so that the vehicle can be repaired correctly.

vehicle only has 14k miles and is showing an error message for "check forward safety system" and "check smart cruise control system" after some research found this is a very common issue with multiple Elantra's where the front radar goes bad causing safety systems such as automatic braking/acceleration, and cruise control to not work. this is a big safety issue that has been reported by many drivers. the error happened going a steady 40mph with no other cars around on an open road. nothing was hit the radar just suddenly failed

When driving at 55MPH with cruise control on, the car suddenly accelerated to 75MPH, this happened on the open road and was able to keep under control. Auto has less than 10,000 miles. I will be contacting Hyundai customer service for a case number on this incident. First indication of a problem was cruise control, auto braking failed iin June of 2023. This follows a replacement of defective front radar unit by Hyundai which was replaced at 8295 miles on July 26, 2023. This problem first occurred in late June/early July of 2023. There was no warning.

The horn is a known issue to stop working on the Hyundai Elantra. I have had my car for 10 months, and the horn does not work. This is a very big safety concern and I have been told by mechanics and other Hyundai Elantra owners this is a constant issue.

While my son was driving on the highway, the smart cruise control suddenly stopped working with "Check forward safety system" and "Check smart cruise control system".

One day I was on the highway driving and the front collusion safety warning appeared. I thought the warning went off because the sensor was dirty due to dead bugs. However, I pulled over and the sensor did not appear dirty. After awhile the sensor went off on its own. Then a few weeks late the front collusion safety warning appeared again while I was driving on the highway. The warning has not fixed itself. I cannot use my cruise control. I took it to the Hyundai dealership and they told the me senor is off alignment and it will cost $500 to repair because they have to remove the entire bumper. I have seen on Hyundai forums this is a common problem.

The horn stops working. It is not a fuse related issue. It is the horn itself. There are multiple reports of horn failure in this model, 2021 and 2022, on the internet and social media. There are people reporting that dealerships are also seeing a lot of cars with horn failure. This is a serious safety issue. Someone could go off the road into the woods and crash, unable to signal with a horn that they’re there. Unable to beep their horn to get the attention of a child or animal that is about to run into the road. There are countless scenarios where the horn is important. Cellphones don’t work everywhere… a horn should always work. There are far too many reports of the horn issue for it to not be a manufacture related issue. Please look into this. This could have pretty tragic implications that could otherwise be avoided. I will attach a screenshot from a social media Hyundai group of the 2022 model. I need to get into the dealership to have mine repaired and will do so asap. I’m just very concerned about the safety of everyone. Some are reporting dealerships are not clear about if the horn issue, which involves replacement of the steering assembly, is covered, while others are saying it is.

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 2 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle accelerated. The vehicle collided with a median and another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained stomach chest and arm injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 52,000.

My car has 76,000 miles on it fully maintained and recorded at hyundai dealerships. One day I’m driving and a check engine light pops up the same day I get it taken in to have it diagnosed, few hours go by I get a call they tell me that the Integrated thermal management module on my car has burnt out. I was surprised because my car is fairly new I asked them how could it prematurely fail they could not give me answer and they told me I would have to pay out of pocket for it and I did. They advised me that I should not drive the car as it could pose severe risk to engine failure as coolant is connected to the part in question. So I left my car there and they ordered a new part and it got fixed the very next day, it was ready for me to pick up. I’m frustrated because I’m not the only one who had this problem and warranty did not cover Hyundai did not want to work with me to resolve my issue and as a result it costed me money and time. I’m not the only one who has this problem but is it really safe for my car to have this part if it could cause engine damage worse fire in that area due to a design flaw.

I bought my 2021 hyuandai elantra on September 7 2023 almost 2 months ago and the emergency braking system comes on pretty often while driving my vehicle on the road and freeway so the brakes will lock on me whenever the car is in drive which could cause a serious crash and probably cause damage over time to brake pads and other things this problem has occurred over 5 times within 2 months

Forward Collision warning system continues to engage dangerously and inappropriately, almost causing me to be hit from behind, as I always leave plenty of room in front. This is very scary and very dangerous. Software updates have not remedied the situation. Hyundai motors seems completely uninterested.

Engine shots off while on the automatic stop and go idle . It is being doing it for a while but it is happening more often even with the auto idle off and it even happened at the freeway. It gives me a message to put it in park or neutral and turn the engine on manually. Making this a very dangerous situation because cars behind me don’t know that my engine suddenly shots off. Thanks

Headlight lens are holding condensation , I've noticed this problem a few times now , and at night time it is a problem to see unless the brights of the lighting is engaged ,, RE: it's not my eyes , I've just got new bifocal glasses ,,, or maybe they just need adjusted up a bit , I will take it in for inspection, the Hyundai Elantra 2021 , I just purchased on 07/12/2023 , along with the seatbelt recall , I now know why they seem to not always want to latch together several times , thank you for the help researching my new car

The contact owned a 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked unattended. Approximately thirteen hours later, he was notified by the fire department that the vehicle had caught fire. A police report was filed. There were no reported injuries. The vehicle was parked where the fire occurred. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and later the contact's insurance provider declared the vehicle a total loss, the cause was assumed to be electrical. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.