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An individual in California who owns a 2022 Hyundai Elantra N is facing difficulties as a law enforcement officer has halted the car’s registration due to its excessive noise level. Remarkably, the car is completely unmodified and in its factory-delivered state.
Update: 10/03/22 9:37 p.m. ET: This article has been revised to include a statement from the vehicle owner.
Update: 10/04/22 6:58 p.m. ET: Hyundai’s response has been integrated into the article.
According to YourTestDriver report, the incident unfolded when Reddit user OkCandidate103 was pulled over by the authorities. He was operating his Elantra N in N mode, which enhances the exhaust noise, generating crackles and pops during deceleration. The officer immediately inquired why the car was emitting “backfires,” questioned if it was in “track mode,” and asserted that the vehicle was not suitable for road use in such a condition. As shown in a dashcam footage shared by ENtense on Youtube, the officer insisted that the owner must incur substantial costs to deactivate the “track mode” before re-registering the car.
To resolve the registration issue, the owner brought the car to the California State Referee for examination. The vehicle passed the emissions test smoothly. Subsequently, the inspector inquired about the loudest drive mode, and upon mentioning “Sport,” a noise evaluation was conducted in Sport mode. California mandates vehicles to adhere to a 95 dB noise level or less. Unfortunately, the Elantra N failed the test, averaging 98 dB in Sport mode and peaking at 102 dB due to exhaust pops.
The issue seems to stem from the fact that the test was not conducted as per specifications. According to the relevant standard, SAE J1492, the noise measurement should be carried out in “any mode that persists through a power on/off cycle,” which Sport mode does not meet. The Elantra N reverts to Normal mode through a power cycle.
The test results have placed the owner in a challenging position. While allowed to retest the vehicle, proof must illustrate that the car has been “rectified” to meet noise regulations. However, since the vehicle is unaltered, there is technically nothing to fix. The owner sought assistance from the dealership, which provided a confirmation letter stating the car’s original condition. The dealership suggested temporarily attaching a muffler silencer to aid in passing inspection.
Waiting for feedback from Hyundai corporate, the owner is concerned that legal action may be necessary. Following the dealership’s inability to assist, the owner requested a buyback from Hyundai due to being unable to register the vehicle for which payments were being made. Initially, Hyundai stated that a buyback was not an option. However, a day later, a new case manager contacted him to acknowledge the error and reassess the possibility of a buyback approval.
The Drive has reached out to Hyundai for input on the situation. An automaker representative confirmed they are aware of the issue and are collaborating with the owner to address it.
In reality, if executed correctly, a stock Elantra N should pass California’s noise assessments. Consequently, the owner should have encountered minimal obstacles in getting the vehicle re-registered post-inspection. There’s also an argument for educating owners on the potential noise statute violations with certain drive modes within specific jurisdictions.
Presently, the owner faces a conundrum with a car that cannot be driven, seemingly with limited options at hand. This is not the anticipated scenario when owning a new vehicle. The situation appears to be a mix of stringent law enforcement and administrative inefficiencies that have left the owner in a vexing predicament.
Have a lead? Reach out to the author at: lewin@thedrive.com
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