There are 8 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2021 Hyundai Elantrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
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.
Driving on highway, dashboard reported "Check Forward Safety System" and "Check Smart Cruise Control System". The car then disabled both while I was driving. This has happened 6 times to me. The first time I brought it to dealer and they stated it was a calibration problem. They reset it and I had no problems for a while. The problem has occurred 5 times more and will stay on for about a week or so and then just go away. It works again and then occurs again. So, it is intermittent and recurring. Each time the diagnostic code reported by the software to my phone is C162078. I see the 2018 Kona had the same exact problem and a software update TSB was put out there. ( https: [XXX] ) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Check forward safety system is on all the time, dealer refusing to fix it. Did have airbag recall repai done yesterday Had computer update done on car.
The forward collision warning stopped working several months ago. We gave the (leased) car to the dealer for repairs after 4 weeks of waiting (parts, etc.) We were told the car was fixed and ready for pick-up. I drove it from Baltimore to DC for a meeting and on several occassions when car stopped abruptly in front of me on the highway it did not give a warning, when I tried using cruise control, it would not engage because the conditions for doing so had not been met - same message I had when foward collision was not working. It's pretty clear that this was not fixed and instead they must have changed the messaging so that it does not appear as a warning when you start the car. The feature is really important to us because it has prevented a potentially fatal accident on a winding road in NY state where we found a truck on our lane due to a downed tree on the other lane - the car braked well before I did- which is the point of these safety systems. The dealer is Len Stoler Hyundai in Owings Mills
Hello everyone. I NEED HELP i have a 2021 hyundai elantra and i have had the same issue for over 10k+ miles and 6 months. My traction control light, (no matter what speed or acceleration/deceleration.) will flicker on and off, make a horrible noise almost as if the ABS is applying but no ABS light comes on, and the pedals will go stiff and the whole car jerks. My 2021 elantra has had a new transmission put into it AND when that didn’t fix the issue, the wheel speed sensor was replace… well if that had fixed the issue, i wouldn’t be writing this post. after a new transmission, and wheel speed sensors, didn’t fix the issue the dealership themselves advised me to look into the lemon law being they had no idea at this point what was going on with my car. i have attempted getting my car bought back under the lemon law (Ohio) which my car meets the qualifications being that the issue was brought the the dealerships attention, before the 12 month or 18k (whichever came first) which in this case was taken to them before both. and that my car had been in the shop more then 30 days cumulative (it’s been 41) and hyundai has denied my request for a buy back, and has told me i need to do more research or get an exterior 2nd opinion. (pretty much a lawyer). they’ve advised me to “just keep taking it to the shop and get it fixed”. the issue is, this does not occur all the time. it is completely random and will do it once in a week and then not again for another 3. but when this happens, it’s scary. it’s loud, the pedals go stiff and the whole car jerks. accelerating or decelerating. the dealership will not replace something if they cannot duplicate the issue which is also a reason it’s taken so long to get any sort of answers. i have multiple videos, the service MANAGER, has rode in my car with me while this issue has occurred and stated himself my vehicle is unsafe, and i should not be driving it. i need help!
Forward collision system continually fails. This disables the vehicles cruise control. The vehicle has been in the shop multiple times with no resolution.
My vehicle was slowing down and was halfway into a parking spot. Then, it suddenly accelerated, jumped over commercial parking blocks, and ended up stopping after hitting a wall. My brake was not working at that moment. I initially reported it to Hyundai USA (as a dealership doesn't seem to consider this a serious issue at all), but decided not to let them investigate on their end based on their slow and unprofessional responses.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026