2025 Hyundai Elantra N

To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration I am submitting this formal safety complaint regarding a persistent and dangerous pattern of mechanical and electronic failures in my 2025 Hyundai Elantra N. These issues have rendered the vehicle unsafe for regular operation on public highways. The safety concerns began at 2810 miles when the vehicle first showed signs of structural and electronic instability. Since that initial mileage the vehicle has demonstrated a progressive inability to maintain its steering and alignment specifications which has led to unpredictable and hazardous driving conditions. By 16550 miles the steering issues became severe. The vehicle intermittently began to dart to the left or right without driver input. A diagnostic alignment check at that time confirmed multiple values were out of specification including the right front and right rear toe. These red zone readings were documented by the dealership machinery but the root cause was not corrected. Along with the steering failures the electronic systems began to malfunction. The steering wheel buttons and drive mode memory settings started resetting randomly which prevents the driver from reliably controlling vehicle configurations. As of February 28 2026 at 18037 miles the condition of the vehicle has deteriorated further. The steering system is now physically incapable of holding factory specifications for more than 30 days. In the last 1487 miles the alignment shifted from the right side of the car to the left side with the left front and left rear toe now showing failing red values. This mechanical instability causes the vehicle to wander and pull aggressively. Most critically the electronic safety systems are now failing. The Lane Keep Assist functionality frequently deactivates itself without warning or external cause. When this safety feature shuts down it often coincides with the car darting toward other lanes.

NHTSA ID

11721218

Incident

Feb 28, 2026

On January 10, 2026, I purchased a brand new 2025 Hyundai Elantra N with manual transmission. At approximately 517 miles, the vehicle experienced complete clutch and transmission failure and was towed to the selling dealership. The dealership diagnosed the failure and presented a repair estimate of $6,222.96, classifying it as "customer pay/user error" and denying warranty coverage. Parts identified for replacement included the clutch cover assembly and flywheel assembly. I did not authorize any repair. I escalated to Hyundai Motor America corporate, who confirmed the dealership had not responded to their warranty inquiry for over two weeks. On February 18, 2026, Hyundai Motor America's National Consumer Affairs formally denied my warranty claim in writing, stating the clutch failure was due to "improper operation" and classifying it as external influence rather than a manufacturing defect. A complete clutch and flywheel failure at 517 miles on a new vehicle represents what I believe to be a manufacturing defect. No evidence of abuse or improper operation was provided to support the denial. The vehicle remains unrepaired at the dealership with no loaner vehicle provided and no resolution offered.

NHTSA ID

11718817

Incident

Feb 4, 2026

After my recent software update Elantra N I have had issues with my n buttons on my stearing wheel will random default to factory setting and I have to go back into the settings to reset how I have it set. I also have been having my exhaust valve randomly open and stick open it doesn’t respond to drive modes and stays wide open I look in exhaust and confirmed it is stuck open. When it’s stuck the car will not pop or anything. In ordered for me to fix it I have to pull over and plug in a obd2 scanner that I had to go out of my way to purchase. From there I have to put it in acssesory mode and do an active test on the valve which basically opens and closes it. There is no code on the scanner. And sometimes tha still won’t work I have taken it in to my local Hyundai dealer on multiple occasions and still have not had my issue resolved they ordered a spring it didn’t work I also had a new valve motor put on and still hasn’t fixed the issue. My dealer has said they cannot replicate it. It does it every drive. And had only started after the new update. As the car comes loud from factory when valves open I have been having to pull over and attempt to reset before going into my neighborhood as I have had neighbors complain of noise.

NHTSA ID

11712249

Incident

Dec 4, 2025

The "consider taking a break" alert is way too sensitive and there is no way to turn it off. It's distracting while driving with lights and chimes for no apparent reason. If there were a way to shut it off there would be no issue.

NHTSA ID

11707785

Incident

Dec 17, 2025

I was driving down I-45 mid day on October 14th, 2025 going about 65-70MPH and out of no where I hear a loud gunshot like noise and about a minute or two later I heard my sunroof crack and glass fall in. I believe it is from nickel sulfide inclusions

NHTSA ID

11693502

Incident

Oct 14, 2025

“Consider taking a break” pops up constantly, especially if you’re driving through construction and just in general. It’s distracting to have to ding at me every 5-10 minutes. It will turn down my audiobook on CarPlay and make me miss information ad well as impacting my GPS giving direction. It’s pointless, frustrating, and I can’t turn it off. It should be optional.

NHTSA ID

11691439

Incident

Sep 21, 2025

I bought a brand new 2025 Elantra N at a dealership in IL. It had 25 miles on the dash and still had the plastic on it. We tried to drive it home and there was no A/C. The local dealership in MS inspected it and it needs a brand new evaporator core. They said it came from the factory needing this repair.

NHTSA ID

11659601

Incident

Apr 23, 2025

Some Elantra (CN7), Elantra Hybrid (CN7 HEV), and Elantra N (CN7 N) vehicles may exhibit loose windshield side garnishes. This bulletin provides instructions to replace the windshield side garnishes with improved parts to correct the condition.

This bulletin provides information related to a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software update for some vehicles equipped with an 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT). The software update revises the touch point learning variation, improving drivability and judder symptoms. Certain 8WDCTs (indicated by a new part number) received an updated clutch spring. The correct TCU software update must be matched with the correct corresponding 8WDCT hardware, otherwise, drivability concerns may occur. This service procedure should be performed prior to any 8WDCT replacements done for drivability/judder concerns.

This bulletin provides information related to the navigation and head unit software changes introduced in the 2026 1st Navigation Map and Software Update. The changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and navigation system. Refer to the 2026 1st Navigation Map and Software Update Key Improvements and Additional Improvements tables in this TSB for a list of specific changes. The software can be downloaded via Navigation Updater (NAU) and updated by USB.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehicle manufacturers and have primarily been found in vehicles that previously experienced a crash and underwent airbag replacement using non-genuine parts. These dangerous inflators have ruptured during deployment, posing a serious risk of injury or death due to metal fragments entering the vehicle cabin. To date, Hyundai is aware of three people who have died while driving a Hyundai vehicle with one of these substandard replacement airbag inflators that deployed in what likely would have been a survivable crash. NHTSA has issued a public advisory urging vehicle owners and service professionals to have vehicles inspected if there is reason to believe that a non-genuine replacement airbag may have been installed. Vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles, prior airbag deployments, or unknown repair histories may present a higher risk. NHTSA strongly cautions against self-inspection by vehicle owners and recommends inspection by trained technicians.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been identified in U.S. vehicles following prior crashes, theft, or non‑certified airbag replacements. These inflators are not approved for use, may rupture during deployment, and have caused serious injuries and fatalities. Please see attached announcement, provided by NHTSA, for more details.

Some 2019MY and newer vehicles equipped with a front view camera may illuminate certain warning lights and trigger DTC C272246 fault code for the front camera. In the following cases, the front camera auto-calibration range may be exceeded while driving: • If the front camera is not properly installed and is completely or partially detached. • In case of excessive changes affecting the vehicle's balance (e.g., loading excessively heavy cargo in a specific location of the vehicle, or significant under-inflation of the tires). • Specific road conditions affecting the vehicle's balance (e.g., excessive road crown) This TSB provides instructions on how to service the vehicle when the front camera related warning light(s) are triggered due to system out of calibration (DTC_C272246).