Hyundai Motor America is recalling a bunch of small crossovers and compact sedans in the United States because certain lug nuts may not have been tightened properly. Identified under NHTSA campaign number 26V693, this recall covers the 2026 model year Elantra, Elantra Hybrid, Elantra N, and Venue.
Per the recall documentation, all subject vehicles were produced at the Ulsan complex in South Korea. The largest automobile manufacturing facility in the world employs more than 30,000 workers, produces more than 5,000 vehicles per day, and comprises no fewer than six distinct assembly plants as of 2026.
The lug nuts of these vehicles clamp their wheels to the hubs. If under-torqued, loose nuts can produce abnormal noises and vibration while driving. The worst-case scenario is wheel detachment at high speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. A detached wheel also becomes a rolling hazard for other motorists. The recall population comprises 17 vehicles, beginning with eight units of the Venue.
Produced for model year 2026 between August 11 and August 27, 2026, these crossovers are joined by a single Elantra N, four hybrids, and four gas-only sedans. The Elantra population is listed with assembly dates ranging from August 10 through August 24, 2026. Hyundai’s US subsidiary learned about the recall condition back on September 22, 2026.
A temporary manual torquing process at the Ulsan complex is to blame for the improperly fastened lug nuts. After a period of modifications to wheel tightening tooling, the manual tightening process ended on September 16, 2026. Said temporary process was intended to keep vehicle production moving while the tooling change was implemented.
Photo: Hyundai
The recall documentation lists part number 52950-14140 for the wheel hub nut assembly, supplied by Samjin Nut of Cheonan. The South Korean automaker says that it’s unaware of incidents that may involve the condition stateside. Of course, dealers are to inspect and thoroughly retighten the lug nuts. The repair is free of charge even if the car is no longer covered by the new vehicle limited warranty.
If dealers find something off, the hub bearing assembly will be replaced as well, also at no charge to affected customers. While that may sound excessive, bear in mind that an improperly clamped wheel moves under load. This movement hammers the bearing’s precision surfaces, introducing play into the mix. Given the aforementioned, a hub bearing assembly inspection is definitely a must.
Hyundai Motor America intends to notify owners by first-class mail no later than December 19, 2026. Vehicle identification numbers became searchable on the NHTSA’s portal back on October 23, 2026, meaning that said 17-character VINs are also searchable on the automaker’s website. All subject vehicles feature the letter K as the first character of the VIN due to South Korean production.
The Venue is the smallest crossover that Hyundai sells in North America, slotting below the Kona. It retails at $20,550 for model year 2026, and prospective customers are presented with a lot of standard kit for this money. The base SE is joined by two additional trim levels, namely the SEL and the SEL with the two-tone roof. All three use a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated I4 with 121 hp on tap.
$22,825 gets you the most affordable Elantra for model year 2026 in the US market, with $25,650 being the entry price of the hybrid. At the very top of the spectrum, the Elantra N currently starts at $35,300 before destination and other taxes. If equipped with the optional wet-clutch DCT, using N Grin Shift mode unlocks a further 10 horsepower for 20 seconds at a time.
