NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 83 complaints against the 2023 Hyundai Elantra. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2023 Hyundai Elantra complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2023 Hyundai Elantra has generated 147 NHTSA complaints and has 2 active recalls. If your 2023 Hyundai Elantra has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Hyundai pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
The 2023 Hyundai Elantra has generated 14 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: “Vehicle screen will shut off while driving and come back on randomly. This is not the first time I have reported it. I have reported it to my dealership, they looked at it and checked the vehicle. It happens so randomly but it’s been over 2 years now that this has been happening. Of course when vehicle is getting inspected, it does not happen. I have asked them to update my software on my vehicle, they stated it does not need it but I bought this vehicle on Sept 2023.” (NHTSA Complaint #11713501)
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 2023 Hyundai Elantra has 13 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “On 11/18/ 25 I was driving in highway traffic at 60MPH and car suddenly slowed down to 30MPH. My car would not accelerate no matter how hard I tried. With luck and prayer I moved over two lanes to shoulder…shut off the car for about 10 sec…restarted…and car ran normal again. I When deceleration occurred I saw a notice-symbol light up on the infotainment panel in a black space directly parallel to the total mileage odometer. On 11/21/25 I went to dealer, who checked car out and did not find any problem. I then went online and saw ISLA…Intelligent Speed Limit Assistance…a choice I did not have on my infotainment system. If I had it, I wanted to turn mine OFF. We’re scared it could happen again.” (NHTSA Complaint #11701412)
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 2023 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: “Horn is inoperable due to internal fault. Horn receives power when button is depressed, relay actuates, but horn does not sound. There is no warning system in place for this fault.” (NHTSA Complaint #11707148)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2023 Hyundai Elantra have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 11 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “I was on a delivery yesterday when this first occurred. I put my car into reverse and proceded to back up when my engine cut off suddenly and a loud warning came on , on my dash by the steering wheel it said … engine off, shift to neutral and restart. That is what I did and it restarted and I continued on with my deliveries. Then the exact same thing happened again today so I called the dealership and they said there is a recall with the isg system that could be the issue but no resolution yet so there’s nothing they can do. In the meantime time I can’t use my vehicle for work as im a full time food delivery driver and I have to back up into roadways multiple times a day going in and out of driveways and I can’t risk my safety or other drivers safety as my car may turn off in the roadway.” (NHTSA Complaint #11691213)
Brake defects affecting safety may qualify for California’s two-repair threshold under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, which applies to defects likely to cause death or serious bodily injury. The 2023 Hyundai Elantra has generated 6 NHTSA complaints related to braking, including ABS failures, grinding, reduced stopping power, and warning lights. Owner reports include: “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.” (NHTSA Complaint #11590624)
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2023 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.
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A detached air bag cover emblem may strike a vehicle occupant, which can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 14, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai’s number for this recall is 234.
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMP
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting September 7, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer
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 2023 Hyundai Elantra:
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.
If your 2023 Hyundai Elantra qualifies as a lemon under California law, Hyundai may be legally required to:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If your 2023 Hyundai Elantra has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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