Hyundai Elantra Visibility Problems
Owners have filed 186 complaints with NHTSA about visibility problems on the Hyundai Elantra across 26 model years. The 2013 model year has the most (27). The words owners use most often: “side sun” (7% of reports).
- 186visibility complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $290typical repair cost reported by owners
- 54%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Side sun: mentioned in 13 of 186 complaints (7%)
- Windshield wiper: mentioned in 11 of 186 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical visibility repair on the Hyundai Elantra at $290, and half of them between $230 and $1,550.
Based on 13 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2006–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do visibility problems happen?
Based on 103 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 186 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 6 an injury.
Hyundai Elantra visibility complaints by model year
| Model year | Visibility complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Elantra | 2 | 4% | 5,500 |
| 2023 Elantra | 2 | 2% | 3 |
| 2022 Elantra | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2021 Elantra | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2018 Elantra | 2 | 1% | 57,928 |
| 2017 Elantra | 2 | 0% | 8,000 |
| 2016 Elantra | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2014 Elantra | 2 | 1% | 39,000 |
| 2013 Elantra | 27 | 2% | 10,000 |
| 2012 Elantra | 7 | 1% | 4,500 |
| 2010 Elantra | 3 | 1% | 55,040 |
| 2009 Elantra | 2 | 1% | 72,127 |
| 2008 Elantra | 5 | 2% | 65,800 |
| 2007 Elantra | 19 | 7% | 67,250 |
| 2006 Elantra | 7 | 5% | 37,000 |
| 2005 Elantra | 4 | 3% | 8,772 |
| 2004 Elantra | 1 | 1% | 4,500 |
| 2003 Elantra | 3 | 1% | 66,001 |
| 2002 Elantra | 7 | 2% | 74,250 |
| 2001 Elantra | 17 | 5% | 68,099 |
| 2000 Elantra | 26 | 13% | 32,000 |
| 1999 Elantra | 7 | 5% | 11,000 |
| 1998 Elantra | 2 | 4% | — |
| 1997 Elantra | 13 | 11% | 143,000 |
| 1996 Elantra | 13 | 13% | 98,500 |
| 1995 Elantra | 8 | 7% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Visibility:windshield
Model years: 2021
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.
Risk: A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor
Model years: 1996, 1997
Problem: The windshield wiper motor circuit breaker electrical contacts were contaminated during assembly.
Risk: This contamination interferes with the electrical circuit continuity and prevents the windshield wiper motor from operating. Inoperative windshield wipers can contribute to reduced visibility during inclement weather increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will remove the contaminants from the windshield wiper motor circuit breaker contacts.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated to 20 MPH with a message was displayed "School Zone, 20 MPH", however the contact was not driving in a School Zone during the failure. The contact stated that occasionally while…
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware of a crack on the driver's side front windshield. The contact stated that the crack was in the line of sight while driving. In addition, the contact noticed a smaller crack on the…
So far since owning this vehicle. I have gone through 7 OEM windshields. I had a 2010 Ford Focus, replaced it with the 2023 Elantra. In 13 years driving the same roads, and only replaced 5 windshields. The windshield thickness needs to be looked into, or what they are made of. Very small rocks are…
The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the reflection from the dashboard caused a glare on the front windshield, obstructing her vision while driving. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no…
Exploding sun/moonroof
Frequently asked questions
Do all Hyundai Elantras have visibility problems?
No. NHTSA has 186 owner complaints about visibility for the Hyundai Elantra. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Hyundai Elantra visibility?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list visibility. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix visibility problems on the Hyundai Elantra?
Owners report a typical cost of $290 (half paid between $230 and $1,550), from 13 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about visibility problems on the Hyundai Elantra?
The most frequent phrase is “side sun”, in 13 of 186 complaints, followed by “windshield wiper” (11).
Other Hyundai Elantra problems
- Engine problems (1,651)
- Air Bags problems (1,303)
- Steering problems (1,142)
- Electrical System problems (1,034)
- Power Train problems (649)
- Suspension problems (592)
- Service Brakes problems (585)
- Structure problems (486)
See all Hyundai Elantra problems.