Body Problems of Hyundai Elantra - part 1

Both passenger-side doors won't open without tugging on the handle when unlocking them. The front seat passenger door opens from the inside but has trouble opening from the outside. The backseat passenger does not open from the inside at all and has a hard time opening from the outside. Once we get the door open and the car remains unlocked, the doors open fine (except for the back seat door). But once we lock and unlock the car, we get the same issue. I'm also experiencing paint chippng and rust on the roof of my car and the creases of the trunk.

See all problems of the 2017 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

The vehicle's security system malfunctioned immediately after service at parks Hyundai of gainesville on 05/27/26 for recall 256 & campaign p33. The alarm blares & emergency lights flash while I am driving on public roads. This defect first presented in the dealership parking lot upon pickup. This creates a severe safety risk: the high-decibel alarm is a major distraction, the flashing lights confuse other motorists, & the malfunction prevents me from using turn signals, violating safety protocols. I demonstrated this to the service manager on 06/10/26. While the technician acknowledged the defect during a road test & performed a 'cap reset' (documented on the repair order), this attempt failed to resolve the issue. Despite this, the service manager refuses to acknowledge the defect, claiming it is an 'intended feature' of a 2023 recall at a different facility (993). This contradicts the technician's findings & my years of incident-free driving until the work on 05/27/26. The dealership initially omitted my return visit from their records, only acknowledging it after I confronted them in writing. An independent shop confirmed this electrical failure likely stems from p33, but requires proprietary dealer tools to diagnose. Attached video proves the vehicle runs while the alarm blares, confirming no relation to old campaign 993 logic. Attached repair order proves the technician acknowledged the defect & attempted a repair. Despite this, the service manager ignores the documentation, his own technician's findings, & my demonstrations, blaming my locking habits while refusing a deep diagnostic. After 16 days in their possession, neither the dealer nor manufacturer has provided a remedy. If this malfunction were an intended feature, it would be an ongoing hazard; it creates a distraction, causes a panic response, & prevents the adequate use of turn signals while in operation. The vehicle is unsafe, & the dealership & manufacturer have failed to provide a valid repair.

See all problems of the 2016 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

I am submitting this complaint regarding a possible airbag/srs system failure involving a Hyundai vehicle. On may 26, 2026, the vehicle was involved in a severe front-end collision resulting in major structural damage to the front end, including the hood, bumper reinforcement, radiator support, and engine compartment. Despite the significant impact damage, none of the airbags deployed, including the driver or passenger frontal airbags. The collision was serious enough that the occupants could have suffered severe injury or death. Based on the extent of the damage, I believe the airbag system, crash sensors, or airbag control module may have malfunctioned or failed to operate properly. Photos documenting the damage are available. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this incident for potential safety defects involving: * airbag non-deployment * crash sensor failure * srs system malfunction * airbag control module defects I am also requesting review of whether similar complaints or investigations exist involving this Hyundai model or related vehicles.

See all problems of the 2010 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

A few weeks ago, I was driving home on a 3-lane local state route here in NJ from a family outing on a rainy dark evening when a large portion of the body paint from the hood flaked / peeled off and somehow got stuck under the drivers side windshield wiper as they were on during the rain at highway speed. It was a large enough piece (at least 3" wide) , to not only get stuck under the wiper, but create a serious issue for me to see out the windshield where the wiper wouldn't clear my vision out of the windshield. I managed somehow to safely pull to the side of the road and get out to inspect what it was. . I was able to remove the large piece of peeling paint from under the wiper but it did ruin the edge of the wiper blade which made for a treacherous drive home and I had to replace the wiper at a later date. The paint is peeling from all over my car (hood, pillars, roof) and I've done my best to get all the loose pieces off but I'm afraid to drive it anywhere with the thought more paint will peel off with the wind & get carried to someone else driving behind me. My Hyundai Elantra is a 2020 and has only 48,526 miles currently. I contacted my local Hyundai dealer who advised me I am "out of warranty for paint coverage" and suggested I further open a case with Hyundai corporate, which I did, and was assigned a case manager who requested I take it back to my local Hyundai dealer in avenel, NJ (sansone) and have a service advisor/technician take pictures and submit them to warranty services for a "goodwill repair". Hyundai came back with a "declined" status from it being "out of warranty caused by the time in service and mileage of the vehicle" and "no goodwill assistance is being offered at this time". The estimate from Hyundai claimed it would cost approx $6,500 to have the car repainted according to the service printout. The dealership and Hyundai are both aware of many, many vehicles that entire pieces of paint are just peeling / falling off several colored cars.

See all problems of the 2020 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

Front (engine) subframe rusted out in 2026 after recall work was completed in 2023 for the known issue. Here is the service campaign information: "service campaign 984 2011-2016my Elantra (MD/ud) underbody corrosion preventative service".

See all problems of the 2013 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

I am submitting a vehicle safety complaint regarding a vehicle purchased on March 5, 2026. Within days of purchase, the vehicle exhibited multiple safety-related issues despite reportedly passing a virginia safety inspection on February 27, 2026. The safety concerns identified include: - driver-side headlight partially inoperable, which resulted in a traffic stop on March 15, 2026 - front hood not properly secured/latching, creating a risk of opening while driving - no engine oil present upon inspection shortly after purchase - coolant reservoir completely empty - check engine light illuminated shortly after purchase diagnostic testing following the check engine light revealed code p0420 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold). A mechanic advised that this condition is not a new issue and would have developed over time, indicating that it likely existed prior to the sale of the vehicle. At the time of purchase, the vehicle had an outstanding manufacturer safety recall identified as NHTSA recall no. 23v651000 (recall #251), dated April 3, 2024. This recall had not been completed prior to sale and was only addressed on March 24, 2026, after I took the vehicle to a Hyundai dealership. Additionally, the vehicle was subject to a manufacturer campaign identified as campaign #p33, dated December 15, 2025. This further indicates that the vehicle required manufacturer-related service that had not been fully addressed prior to sale. An independent inspection conducted on March 16, 2026 confirmed conditions inconsistent with a vehicle that had recently passed a safety inspection. These issues raise serious concerns about the safety, inspection integrity, and roadworthiness of the vehicle at the time it was sold. I am requesting that this matter be reviewed for potential safety-related concerns and any related violations. I am available to provide supporting documentation, including inspection reports, diagnostic results, service records, and photographic evidence.

See all problems of the 2015 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

Testung.

Paint delamination has exposed bare metal on hood/roof/trunk. Corrosion is spreading, which can compromise crashworthiness and latch integrity. Additional peeling near the window trim near the roof is beginning to corrode. This part of the vehicle is structural and could compromise roof strength. This issue is a world wide(yes canada too) has understood this issue and has consistently been on the news.

The horn on my 2024 Elantra has stopped working. It was intermittent at first, but it doesn't work at all now. I will need to return the vehicle to the dealer for diagnosis. The vehicle has just over 13k miles on the odometer. The horn is an important safety feature, and based on the experiences of other owners of this model, it appears that this is a chronic issue. There are no messages displayed, and I will need to schedule with the dealer for warranty repairs.

See all problems of the 2024 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

Back door on driver's side will not open from inside or outside when door is unlocked. I have checked and the child safety feature is not on. I have not had it checked into yet. No one rides in the back currently but this is a definite safety hazard. No messages/warning lamps of any problems. I wanted to place a few grocery bags back there and it would not open. Have repeatedly tried over a couple of months and nothing changes. Even though I can hear it unlock.

Identical problem also reported under NHTSA 11632482 to an individual on other side of us and other report numbers for this 2017 Hyundai Elantra. This is a re-occurring hazard. Rear door while unlocked will not open from either inside or outside of vehicle. Very dangerous for passengers. I assume it is the door actuator.

Paint is peeling off vehicle.

Rapid loss of power failure of ignition coil. Happened for all four. Suddenly unable to open front or rear doors on passenger side. Actuator failures. Both of these conditions reported to Hyundai, my complaint is that Hyundai is well aware of these pproblems dealer confirmed they are common across models. They are expensive repairs. Why are they not recalls. Coils happened about 2023 with 55000 miles (out of warranty). Doors are current and I cant afford $2000 for repair.

The door locks are faulty and do not allow the door to open. This is the second time the vehicle has had issues with the doors not unlocking. The first time it was my front passenger side a few years ago and I paid an auto shop to repair it as this was an immediate safety concern in case of a car accident or fire. A few months later Hyundai issues a recall and sent me an email about the faulty door locks and that they could be repaired at a Hyundai. I called to ask for reimbursement since I paid out of pocket and they refused. Now another door lock is broken, this time the rear driver side, and I have the same safety concerns as before since the door does not open from the inside or outside. In both cases, the issue was sudden and no other damage occurred to the vehicle. It's unsafe to have to drive with doors that cannot unlock from either inside or outside.

I need my car information pdf.

See all problems of the 2019 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

Front doors won't open from outside.

The rear door no longer open and the front doors need to be tugged several times before opening. This is a huge safety problem and I’ve seen many others with my type of vehicle and year with the same problem. The actual door problem is unknown. I just know they will not open and it all happened at once. I haven’t gotten into an accident or no force to prevent the door from opening has not happened. So I’m not sure of the actual problem.

Doors are locking up for what reason I don't know. This is a safety problem and the dealership wants to charge me for their problems with the car. The maker of this know what the is , but charging 1500 dollars to correct their problem with these doors.

I previously brought my car in for a recall in 2014 for underbody corrosion and it was repaired; however, now there has been severe corrosion of the underbody, not just the components listed in the recall but nearly the whole underbody is severly rusted and corroded (see pictures below). My mother was driving my car in July 2024 when the rear subframe completely snapped near the control arm while she was driving. Luckily she did not get injured or hurt, but it could have been potentially fatal especially with this happening. I reported this to Hyundai motor America and towed my car to the dealership. The dealership has submitted a goodwill request to cover the repairs of the recall not the other ones; however, I raised a potential oversight for the previous recall whereby the corrosion of other components not explicitly named in the campaign such as the sway bars and backing plates which could also directly impact the vehicle’s structural integrity and safety if corroded. The omission of all of the components that would be subject to corrosion in the recall campaign could have been an oversight and the recall should have covered all critical underbody components prone to corrosion, not just the ones explicitly listed in the recall. Other parts corrosion are a direct consequence of the same environmental factors that led to the corrosion of the subframe and control arms. Since these components are interconnected, and since Hyundai has acknowledged the issue with the crossmember corrosion through the recall, it stands to reason that the other components’ damage should also be addressed as part of the overall remedy. These additional parts would have been exposed to the same environmental factors (e. G. , road salt, moisture) that caused the other components to corrode. Since Hyundai acknowledges that these environmental factors led to corrosion in the subframe and control arms, it stands that the other components would also be affected too.

See all problems of the 2009 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

The car antenna cover flew off while I was driving. I was not speeding. Car has never been in an accident. Car has not gone through a car wash. This could have hit the car behind me had they been closer.

I took my car into Hyundai due to the recall sent out to car owners. I had my abs and brake light that went on randomly around September. I scheduled an appointment and took it in to get it checked. Hyundai sent me away stating there were no parts to fix the issue and told me to pay for a diagnostic if I needed it looked at and to wait until the recall is remedied. Two months later my car exploded and caught fire while parked on my property putting my life and home at risk. As well as my neighbors lives who came in to help me put out the fire.

See attached document for complaint.

Passenger front door wont open as of2-15-25 and rear door won't open as of 3-14-2024.

Right rear door (right rear passenger) will not open. All other three doors open and close. Right rear door will not unlock to open. This is a safety concern.

To whoever it is that can help, I am reaching out to submit a formal complaint regarding my 2017 Hyundai Elantra due to ongoing mechanical and structural issues that began very shortly after I purchased the vehicle, which have progressively worsened. I made the purchase in January 2024 for approximately $13,000 with 60,000 miles. The vehicle now currently has approximately 108,000 miles. Since purchasing the car, I have experienced consistent time consuming and serious issues that I believe indicate defects in manufacturing or design. First, the thermostat had failed during the first winter season I owned the Elantra, despite replacement the vehicle’s heating system still does not function properly. I’m not a fan of the cold. Also, the engine burns oil at an extreme rate. I am required to add oil literally every 2–3 days to prevent the engine from running dry, which presents a serious risk of engine failure and potential safety hazards while driving. And is also costly as oil is not cheap. In addition, the vehicle’s headlights developed spiderweb pattern cracking and shattered from the inside after approximately nine months of use, without any external damage. The paint has chipped across the vehicle, including in door jambs and other protected areas, suggesting poor paint quality. And recently, the lower engine underbody cover has completely broken down and disintegrated over time due to clips constantly falling out. Given the age of the vehicle and the normal use, the amount and severity of these issues are unacceptable. These defects have caused significant financial burden and raise serious concerns on vehicle safety and manufacturing quality. I am requesting that this complaint be reviewed for potential defects or recalls. I would also like Hyundai to be held accountable, either through compensation for the repairs required or replacement. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Sincerely, owner of the 2017 Hyundai Elantra.

I was driving and would hear a squeaking sound when turning right. Then I started to hear rattling I pulled in my driveway that has a curb and noticed an object sticking out that looks like it should have been screwed into something. It ended up being the front right passenger strutt it exploded through its casing. Not only damaging the casing but the hood of the car. If I would have continued to drive on it I could have loss control of the vehicle and put me and others in danger on the road. I was unaware this was a reoccurring issue with this model until I did some digging on the internet it sounds like a manufacturer defect. Now I was going to take it to Hyundai dealership but they are stating they have to do a diagnostic for 170. 00 which you can visibly see the strutt sticking out the hood. Everyone keeps saying the tire can come off this happened with no warning I am unsure of what to do.

My 2013 Hyundai starter would not stop trying to start the car even when the ignition was off and the key was not in the ignition. Then it got so hot it caught fire and destroyed the alternator as well as the starter. It was so hot it melted the alternator. Also the plastic that is used to hold the headlamps and other engine parts has disintegrated. I barely touch what's left and the plastic crumbles apart. My car no longer has the plastic under the hood. I use tape to hold up the lights. Car was stopped and in a parking lot when this happened.

Multiple safety recalls issued for many models of Hyundai cars. Most recent that affects the 2014 Hyundai Elantra and other models is faulty abs system which could result in engine compartment fire while parked or driving. There is no available repair for this problem. I received notice in the mail on 01/03/2024. I noticed that the safety recall was issued in September of 2023. How is it acceptable that I was informed of a serious safety issue 4 months after it was found out? as I stated previously, there is not an available repair for this serious safety issue and fire risk. They are not offering free services to determine if this issue is affecting my car. Seriously negligent of Hyundai.

See all problems of the 2014 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

The car was involved in an accident. It was going 5-10 mph and hit a light post. There was minor body damage and about 10-15 seconds after initial impact the airbags deployed and cracked my windshield. The car was considered a total loss.

See all problems of the 2023 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

The driver's side door handle does not open on the first attempt. I have to pull between two and six times to get the door to open. This occurs attempting to enter the vehicle. I have not had issues attempting to leave the vehicle yet. It occurs after the doors have been locked. It does not matter if the door was locked using the fob or the button on the door handle. It also does not matter if the doors were unlocked using the fob or the button on the door handle.

The doors will randomly stop working intermittently causing passengers to be stuck in the vehicle and in the event of an emergency making it difficult to safely exit the vehicle. The vehicle while in motion the engine would not function probably and would be flashing different engine light but never a code and the engine would stop.

I have contacted the dealer. I am almost ready to get a lawyer. This is the 4th lemon I’ve been sold. Seat belt is installed wrong. Software updates are available and screaming at me but the dealership will not call me back. Two days now. Hyundai finance has treated me disrespectfully. I have error messages when I enter the car. The hood looks aftermarket and about to pop up. The NHTSA website says this car has recalls but not mine?? what ?? it smells like something is burning from the console. The brake collision is calibrated off. I would have a wreck. It’s not safe. Period.

Live in indiana where the weather is super salty in the winters and all of the salt in indiana has really really affected the whole underside of my car. The whole subframe is falling apart and the rust has gotten to everything under the car. I have spent about 4 thousand dollars into this car doing all the work myself to make this car run in pristine conditions. I am very very worried that my whole back end will just fall apart going down the road due to the rust.

See all problems of the 2003 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

The body of our car has been losing paint in big strips. As we drive, large paint chunks will fly off parts of our vehicle. Hyundai is aware that their 2017 "white pearl" Elantras are having this issue; however, they refuse to do anything to help with the cost of repainting the car. They claim that an extended paint warranty was issued until Dec. 10, 2022; however, the paint issue on our vehicle just began happening on October 11, 2023. On oct. 11, we had another motorist stop us at a light to tell us that paint came off the roof of our car onto their windshield as we were driving down a state road. Paint is now bubbling and beginning to peel from different places on the vehicle (the roof, the hood, and the passenger side door). It is dangerous to other motorists on the road as the large strips of paint flying off can be distracting and/or can obstruct their view if/when it lands on their windshield.

Check engine light on transmission sensor is wack car slugs and knocks. This car also has the white paint defect! this is my first and last Hyundai, go to accelerate onto interstate but can barely get the car to go past 30mph.