Automatic Emergency Braking problems of the 2023 Hyundai Elantra

The tracking number assigned by NHTSA for this issue is 11733456 I am writing to update and escalate my previously filed safety complaint regarding my vehicle. I recently received my car back from the dealership after they informed me that all issues had been repaired and that the vehicle was safe to drive. However, after getting the vehicle back, it is not the same, and it is not safe to operate. The vehicle pulls strongly to the left while driving, which creates a serious risk of losing control, especially at normal road speeds. In addition, multiple safety and driver?assistance functions are not working as intended. Despite these issues, the dealership insists that everything is “within specifications” and refused to take further corrective action. Because of these unresolved defects, I am afraid to drive this vehicle. I have already experienced a traumatic incident related to this car, and returning it in this condition has caused significant fear and emotional distress. I cannot go through another dangerous situation. I believe this vehicle poses a genuine safety risk to me and to others on the road. I am requesting that NHTSA review my complaint again, including this new information, as the problem persists after inspection and attempted repair. A vehicle that pulls to one side and has non?functioning safety systems should not be considered safe for normal use. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I am available to provide any additional details, documentation, or records you may require.

The transmission is slipping to the point that I have almost gotten in several accidents due to impatient drives and the car not engaging in gear like it should. Vehicle also has several electrical faults reverse braking system engages at random with nothing in its way,the key not in vehicle warning will sound randomly while key is in vehicle,horn stopped working out of nowhere,while washing vehicle with keys in pocket vehicles key warning system will sound about every 30-60 seconds only when washing vehicle,random front collision warning system with nothing in front of vehicle,seat height adjustment randomly stops working but the rest of the electric seat adjustment works then seat will start working again at random. When taken to dealership for diagnoses the dealer refused to diagnose electrical issues unless I paid out of pocket even though vehicle is under full warranty and all systems listed are warrantied.

Since 2/2/24 13 episodes of all safety features failing including blind spot monitor, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, and others. Last occurrence on 8-8-24. On one occasion the car failed to accelerate in the middle of an intersection, the car did move slowly and operation returned to normal after turning off the car and pressing the 12v reset button. Diagnostic codes found on car app include both c164286 and c164202 for all 13 episodes. Despite being told this code is "for the speed sensor because it saw a voltage drop from the battery system" the dealer claims there is nothing they can do because they can't recreate the problem. This is highly dangerous to my family and others as the safety features can prevent accidents. The most concerning is the car suddenly losing acceleration as this could potential happen where there is no safe way to get off the road in time prior to an accident. This loss of acceleration has been reported by many other people on the facebook group I am a part of called Hyundai Elantra hybrid owners. The loss of safety features occurred after all recalls were performed as of 8-8-24.

The vehicle applies automatic emergency brakes when another vehicle passes close by from behind in an adjacent lane, when the blind spot collision avoidance assist, feature is set to “active assist. ” the owner’s manual states that this feature operates when the turn signal is turned on in the direction of the detected vehicle. However, my experience shows that the car applies brakes even when the turn signal is off and the vehicle is driving straight within its lane, without changing lanes. As per NHTSA description automatic breaks to be applied if the driver ignores the warning and tries to change the lane. But Hyundai design applies brakes even if car driven within lane without any warning before applying break.

Car applies emergency brakes when another vehicle passes close by at higher speed from behind in adjacent lane when the blind spot collision feature in my car is set to "active assist". As per the owner’s manual page number 7-46 to 7-52, the collision assist is designed to operate when turn signal is turned on in the direction of detected vehicle. Also, it is mentioned that the audible warning will sound. In actual scenario car is applying breaks even when turn signal is off, driving straight, no lane change. Also, there is no audible warning sound when car applies automatic brake. Owner’s manuals write up is not matching with the issue I observed, and this is very serious safety issue.

Multiple times driving on highway at posted speed limit and vehicle displays emergency braking system and just comes to complete stop on highway with oncoming cars going 65mph. Has happened 3 times before.

My car has done 4 false automatic emergency braking incidents while I was on the freeway (all times). There was no vehicle in front of me or the sides and my car started applying emergency brakes with a message pop up on the digital dashboard. Looks like the system is falsely detecting there is a car in close proximity. When this happened, I noticed the back car hit the brakes and immediately switch lanes. The sudden brake could cause a collision. The car allows me to take control after a couple seconds but when the warning appears I can not. I have not reproduced or verified the case with a dealer but the instant has happen 3 times in the past month. It has not been inspected by any other parties.

Driving on a highway at 80mph, adaptive cruise control was engaged. It was a clear, sunny day, around 55 degrees f outside. We were 3. 5 hours into a 4 hour drive. There were no cars in front of the vehicle. There were other cars in the lanes immediately to both the left and right of us, as well as a car behind us. The car gave a warning for automatic emergency braking, although there was nothing to avoid. No vehicles were merging into us, no one was going to rear end us, and nothing was in front of us in or near our lane. The car then started braking automatically and attempting to swerve/turn automatically. I had to fight the automatic system to stay in our lane and not crash into the vehicles immediately to the left and right. This was extremely dangerous at highway speeds.

Subject: safety concern – unintended emergency braking my vehicle is experiencing a serious safety issue involving unintended emergency braking. While driving on the freeway, the vehicle has unexpectedly applied emergency braking on its own when other vehicles pass at higher speeds. This has occurred multiple times and has nearly caused accidents. This issue occurs consistently during my trips between [xxx] and [xxx] on highway xxx, typically happening once or twice per trip. I make this drive approximately 4–6 times per year. The problem remains unresolved and continues to occur as of today, April 29, 2026, posing an ongoing safety concern. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? ans: the forward collision warning didn't detect any vehicle ahead of me at the time of collision which caused the crash. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? ans: me and my CO passenger were luckily not injured but got almost killed during the collision. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? ans: the dealership or the Hyundai motor America couldn't replicate this issue. They didn't answer the question to why the detection didnt happen during the crash and why my automatic emergency braking failed. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? ans: yes, Hyundai motor America had a 3rd party company named bosch inspect the vehicle to check for any fault during the time of cash. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? ans: no there was no warning signs displayed during the time of collision and no signs after the collision as well. Funny part after the collision my front bumper came off, my headlights broke, and many other components were damaged like my air conditioning and my seat heater and stuff but none of those issues showed in my blue link report(a report that shows any signs of warnings or crash detection's) that came to me the next business day in my email from Hyundai.

My car has 11000 miles. 6 times I have had the emergency braking come on when there have been no cars close to me (4 times by 3500 miles and twice from 3500-11000). One time no other cars even in sight. I have been on the freeway and on side streets, so from 20 mph to 65-70 mph. It is startling and I'm afraid will cause me to get rear ended as it's instinctive to step on brake when this happens. I mentioned this to the dealer I purchased it from at my 3500 and 11000 mile oil changes and they said they couldn't reproduce it and everything was fine. It's only happened 6 times in 11000 miles so it is unlikely the dealer will be able to reproduce. But especially going freeway speeds it is not safe to slam on breaks for no reason and I am afraid of getting rear ended. I was looking online to see if this problem had been reported and someone with the same issue was recommended to report it to this site, so I am doing the same. Thank you.

Have experienced at least half a dozen instances of unprompted initiation of the automatic emergency braking system within having the car for about 3 months. Would say that this system is malfunctioning. Automatic emergency braking occurred for seemingly no reason in all instances while travelling on the highway at approximately 70 miles per hour. There were no vehicles in front of the car and no vehicles switching lanes in front of the car. However, there were vehicles behind the car and in other lanes adjacent to the car but behind the car. The unprompted braking is dangerous for the cars behind and could cause a rear end collision where the car behind the drivers car would not register such excessive braking due to the lack of action prompting the automatic emergency braking. Additionally, this can cause driver loss of control due to the extreme response. Problem has not been able to be confirmed by dealer or independent service center. No messages prior just the indicator on the dash identifying the engagement of the automatic emergency braking.

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 mph, the forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking brake light illuminated, and the vehicle experienced phantom braking, causing the tires to skid and the speed to be abruptly reduced. Moments later, the forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking light turned off and the vehicle operated normally. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 750.

There are have been three significant safety issues with the car. 1. The forward collision alert system goes off without warning and with zero debris or cars in front of me. This has happened three times, putting my safety and those around me at risk. 2. The car has suddenly had what feels like the rear brakes locking up without warning midway through a turn. The car wheels were still spinning but the car stopped moving. This put me directly in harm's way. 3. While my foot was off the accelerator while I was approaching a stoplight, the car suddenly accelerated and lunged forward, nearly causing me to hit the car in front of me. I have taken the car in three times and called the dealership about this one more time and have had no resolution; they claim to be unable to replicate the issue. There were no warning messages prior to the failures.

On highway, no issues/no bad weather emergency brake came on for approximately 20 seconds for no reason while travelling 70 mph.

3 lanes going down to 2 (leftmost closed). I move over to far right lane out of middle lane. No cars ahead of me in right lane. Some cars in left lane. In lane for about 100 yards when. . . . Emergency collision warning appears and warning is made with sound and car pumps to brakes. Nobody was in my lane within 40 yards. Nobody moving into my lane. I have had it slow down and give collision warning when a car moves to right turn lane from right lane and I pass that car. But this time the alert went off and brakes were automatically strongly applied as if I was about to plow into another car without any obvious threat. Dealer checked alerts and no obvious system failures or codes appeared. Turned off automatic braking for now (and as a safety concern, it resets to the default safety braking each time in restart the car). 8:41 am 7/18/2023.

1. Emergency braking system - came on screen in car - and car took control and began to break 2. I was terrified on two separate occasions because I had no control over my car. . . . The first situation was when I was on the highway in the slow lane driving approximately 65-70 mph with no one in front of me - suddenly as the car behind me exited off the highway and merged into the off-ramp - my car suddenly began to brake on its own - for absolutely no reason - and then a few seconds later I had control of my car again. The second situation was when I was on a city street in the fast lane (a 4 lane road (2 lanes on each side of the street with a middle verge for people to turn left). I was going approximately 45 mph with no one in front me but there was a car to the right of me (in the slow lane). As I came up to a truck that was stopped in the middle verge lane (waiting to turn left) - my car once again suddenly began to brake - for absolutely no reason - and then a few seconds later I had control of my car again. 3. I took it to the dealership - they informed me there is nothing wrong with my car because they could not duplicate the problem. 4. I do not believe it has been inspected by the manufacturer - I told the dealership they can keep my car for as long as they need to and find out what is going on because the car is dangerous since it is taking on a life of its own. I am not pleased after reading through everything on the internet that apparently this is not an uncommon complaint, yet, nowhere have I seen any resolution to this complaint, so I am now furious that the dealership seems to think it is ok to tell me that there is nothing wrong with my car. 5. No there was no warning lamps prior to the car taking a life of its own.

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds, the forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking brake light illuminated, and the vehicle experienced phantom braking, causing the tires to skid and the speed to abruptly decelerate. Moments later the forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking light turned off, and the vehicle operated normally. The failure had occurred on several occasions. Additionally, the vehicle had experienced unintended acceleration, causing the vehicle to lurch forward. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of failure. The failure mileage was 1,500.

Driving approx 40 mph on city street with no cars in front of me. Car dash flashed red advising engaging emergency braking and then did. Brakes applied for a couple of seconds and then stopped and warning went away.

1. False emergency braking when car from back side passing. Today I was driving in the left lane (lane 1) at ~43mph. There was no vehicle in front of me and I saw a vehicle applying emergency brakes with a message pop up. At the same time there was a small truck passing me from behind in lane 2 at a higher speed than me. Looks like the system is falsely detecting there is a crash from back and applying brakes. Please also see the other users story on below links. . Read more...