My Hyundai Elantra Lane Assist Slammed Me Into a Wall Going 80 MPH, I Thought It Was Supposed To Protect Me, I Want My Toyota Corolla Back

"My 2024 Hyundai Elantra lane assist malfunctioned, and it drove me straight into a wall going 80 mph. I thought the lane assist was supposed to protect me."

That's what Kristyn House (@kristyn.house) says in her TiKTok video after having an accident in her 2024 Hyundai Elantra that she recently purchased. The Hyundai Elantra is loaded with safety technology, and Kristyn says that her car's lane keep assist malfunctioned, causing her to slam into a concrete barrier on the highway.  

Picture yourself driving in the HOV lane on the highway, traveling 80 miles per hour; you see something in the road, steer your car to the right to avoid it, and then your vehicle quickly pulls you back to the left so quickly that your car slams into the concrete barrier on the left. 

The incident unfolded so rapidly that there was no time for a reaction. This is the exact scenario that Kristyn found herself in while driving her 2024 Hyundai Elantra. 

She says, 

"So, I was in the HOV lane because, at certain times of the day, you can be in it when you are alone in the car. I saw something in the road because if you live in Arizona, you know that there is always something in the middle of the road because they don't keep it clean."

"When I was driving once, I even saw a mattress in the middle of the road. Why is there a mattress on the road? I don't know, but back to the story."

"So, I was in the HOV lane and saw something in the road. I tried to go around it, but because I didn't turn on my blinker, the lane assist pulled me back into the lane. I know that the lane assist is off when you have your blinker on. Because I reacted so fast to miss the object, I wasn't thinking about my blinker."

"So, the Hyundai lane assist pulled me back into the lane."

"When it jerked me back into the lane, I hit what was in the road. When the car finally detected that it was there, the wheel pulled me to the left. I did not pull the wheel left." 

"Why would I turn the wheel to the left where there was a wall? The car actually did this on its own. This is why I'm saying that my Hyundai Elantra lane assist malfunctioned. I know that this car is not supposed to do that."

"So, then, I hit the concrete wall, and you can see the damage on the driver's side of the front of the car."  

"People in the comments say I should have overpowered the lane assist and kept the car from hitting the wall on my left. Yes, you can do that, but this happened so fast that I wasn't expecting the car to pull me to the left.” 

"It's never done anything like this before. It's done some crazy stuff in the past, but nothing like this. If I had known it was going to pull me left, I would have had a firmer grip on the wheel and would have anticipated what it was doing. By the time it happened, it was too late. I had already hit the wall." 

One comment says, "That's not what lane assist is for. Do you think it's a Tesla?"

Kristyn returns with, "I have never been in an accident before this. I know it's not a Tesla with a self-driving mode." 

What Is the Hyundai Elantra Lane Assist Feature?

Hyundai says, "The 2024 Hyundai Elantra comes equipped with Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), a standard car safety feature across all trims. This technology, part of the Hyundai SmartSense suite, helps prevent accidents caused by unintentional lane departures." 

"If the system detects that your vehicle is drifting out of its lane without signaling, it alerts you with both audio and visual cues. In certain situations, the system can also apply subtle steering adjustments to guide your vehicle back into its lane, enhancing driving safety and awareness."

Does the Hyundai Elantra have a problem with its Lane Assist safety technology?

Some Hyundai Elantra owners have reported issues with the Lane Keep Assist feature, such as being too aggressive, getting confused by faded lines or road conditions, and potentially pulling the car into other lanes. While LKA is generally a helpful safety feature, some users have found it frustrating or even dangerous in certain situations. 

Here's a more detailed look at the issues:

• Aggressiveness and Jerky Steering: Some owners report that LKA can be too aggressive in steering corrections, causing the car to jerk or feel unstable. 
• Confusion with Faded Lines and Road Conditions: LKA may struggle with poorly marked lanes, faded lines, or unusual road conditions, potentially leading to incorrect steering adjustments. 
• Pulling into Other Lanes: In some cases, LKA has been reported to pull the car into the wrong lane, such as a bike lane or oncoming traffic, according to a Reddit post. 
• Requirement for Manual Intervention: Some users find it annoying that LKA requires constant steering input, even when driving on straight roads, according to a video on YouTube. 
• Frustrations with the System: Some owners have expressed frustration with the technology, finding it more of a nuisance than a benefit, as discussed on Reddit. 

Can the Lane Keep Assist Be Turned Off?

One Reddit user, NinjaaMike, says yes.

"Lane Keep Assist (when your car gets close to crossing lane lines and you don't have your turn signal on, the car automatically steers you to the middle of the lane) can either be turned off in the instrument cluster settings or via the infotainment system if you have the widescreen display."

"Lane Follow Assist must be enabled manually every time you want to use it. It's the steering wheel within the lane lines button on the steering wheel. (This feature automatically follows the curvature of your lane and works in conjunction with the Lane Keep assist. The car is centered in the lane, and there is some assist around wide curves."

Who else doesn't care for this technology packed into new cars?

Reddit user r/whatcarshouldIbuy says, "When my wife bought her new car this year, the sales rep first turned off all the lane assist features. Why? Because they get more complaints about it than anything. It jerks, it's jarring, it feels like it would cause a wreck."

Countless sensors are jammed into a vehicle, increasing complexity, not to mention R&D dollars spent on these features, and ultimately, six months later, we aren't using any of them (i.e., dynamic cruise control).

Conclusion:

The Hyundai Elantra is not the only vehicle whose owner complains about the Lane Keep Assist safety technology. Many car owners do not like the new technology. However, the safety tech is here to stay. 

Some Hyundai car owners like Kristyn like having control over their vehicles and are not fond of the technology that can take control of their cars.  

Kristyn concludes, "I used to have a Toyota Corolla, and I want her back. "I'm never using my Hyundai Elantra lane assist again. I'm turning it off." 

How About You?

Do you own a Hyundai Elantra or another new car with the Lane Keep Assist safety technology? Do you like it? Have you had problems? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my Hyundai Palisade story: My 2021 Hyundai Palisade Needs A New Engine and Hyundai Says They Won’t Cover It Because I Was 2,000 Miles Over For an Oil Change

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Kristyn House