2022 Hyundai Elantra

Seat Belts

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra has generated 27 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “There is a recall on this vehicle, but Hyundai is prioritizing new, unsold cars over cars that are currently in use. It has been several months since …”

Electrical System

Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2022 Hyundai Elantra include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 11 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “My car horn stopped working and not sure why…”

Forward Collision System

Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2022 Hyundai Elantra has 11 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “I am reporting a safety-related defect involving the vehicle’s infotainment and forward safety systems. When this occurs, the vehicle also shows a “Check Forward Safety System” warning message. Diagnostic trouble code C162078 is triggered, indicating a front radar out of alignment. As a result, critical safety features such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Smart Cruise Control, and other radar-based driver assistance systems are disabled. This issue creates a significant safety risk because the driver is not alerted to potential forward collisions and cannot rely on active safety systems. The blank infotainment screen also prevents access to vehicle settings, warnings, and camera functions. In South Korea, this same defect has resulted in an official recall and free front radar replacement and calibration. However, in the United States, customers are not covered under a recall and are required to pay out of pocket for radar realignment or replacement, even though the issue is identical and a lot of time the issue came back 3 months later and customer have to pay out of pocket once again to fix the same issue. Many owners report receiving official recall notices in other markets, while U.S. owners must independently diagnose the issue. Dealers often state that the problem may be caused by radar misalignment after a software update or system fault. In some cases, cleaning or recalibration temporarily resolves the issue, but in other cases, full radar replacement is required. This inconsistent treatment places U.S. consumers at a financial disadvantage and allows a known safety defect to remain unresolved. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this defect and require the manufacturer to issue a U.S. recall with free repair, calibration, or replacement, consistent with actions already taken in other countries.” (NHTSA Complaint #11705871)

Other Systems

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra has generated 10 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “There is an issue with mice getting into the front of the car. It smells like urine and is unsafe to breathe. I have cleaned out air filters monthly and find nests every time and have even found a dead mice. My car has nothing that would attract the mice. I have tried everything and spent so much money to prevent this from happening. Apparently with this car it is a known issue, and has not been fixed.” (NHTSA Complaint #11709302)

Powertrain

Powertrain and transmission defects directly impair the vehicle’s core function and are generally considered substantial defects under California lemon law. Owners of the 2022 Hyundai Elantra have reported harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and transmission warning lights. 9 NHTSA complaints have been submitted for this defect category. Owner reports include: “Clutch failure at 28,000 miles. Was getting off from a hike and all of a sudden I couldn’t shift gears after shifting to 4th gear.…”

Active NHTSA Recalls — 2022 Hyundai Elantra

The following 5 recalls have been issued for the 2022 Hyundai Elantra by the NHTSA or Hyundai. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.

California Lemon Law — Song-Beverly Act

California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2022 Hyundai Elantra:

• 4+ repair attempts for the same non-safety defect without resolution
• 2+ repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury
• 30+ calendar days out of service for warranty repairs (cumulative, not consecutive)

Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Hyundai to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Hyundai must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.

What You Can Recover

If your 2022 Hyundai Elantra qualifies as a lemon under California law, Hyundai may be legally required to:

• Repurchase your vehicle — Full refund of your down payment, all monthly payments, registration fees, and incidental costs (towing, rentals), minus a mileage offset for miles driven before the first repair attempt
• Replace your vehicle — Provide a new, comparable vehicle at no cost to you
• Pay your attorney’s fees — Under § 1794(d), Hyundai pays all legal fees if you prevail
• Civil penalty up to 2x damages — If Hyundai willfully violated the Act, courts may award double the actual damages

Steps to Protect Your 2022 Hyundai Elantra Claim

Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.

Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Hyundai a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Hyundai dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.

Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Hyundai pays your fees if you win.

Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Hyundai a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.

2022 Hyundai Elantra Lemon Law Questions

How many repair attempts qualify my 2022 Hyundai Elantra as a lemon?

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.

Does Hyundai pay my attorney fees?

Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Hyundai is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.

Can I file a lemon law claim without an active recall?

Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.

What is the time limit to file a lemon law claim for my 2022 Hyundai Elantra?

California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.