We have a short update on the Hyundai Elantra N exhaust story we wrote about a couple of months ago, and unfortunately, it seems the matter still hasn't been resolved.

If you didn't see our previous story, let's get you up to speed. A few months back, the owner of a completely stock 2022 Hyundai Elantra N sedan was pulled over by police in Riverside, California. The owner had been driving his vehicle in N mode which is meant for track use and thus increases the loudness and character of the exhaust. When the cop approaches the driver about the sound level, the driver informs the officer the vehicle is stock, but was being driven in track mode. This, apparently didn't sit too well with the officer.

The officer, seeming to have gone through this spiel quite a few times prior, quickly informs the driver of the long and expensive process he was now going to have to go through to get the car back on the road. We mean "back on the road," because the officer informs them that the vehicle will be deregistered, and tells the driver to "sue the dealership" to recoup his losses in the matter.

He went through the process the officer outlined but unfortunately was left with a car that still didn't pass the noise test and very few answers from anyone on how to resolve the matter outside of court.

Now, the driver shouldn't have been using the N mode on a public street and as such does incur some fault in the matter. At the same time, we can't help but think the reaction of the police may have been harsher than necessary.

Regardless, the owner, who goes by OkCandidate103 on Reddit where the interaction was posted, updated us on the ordeal. He says that a month after the incident, he was contacted by a Hyundai manager who wanted to set up a date to pick up the vehicle for testing at Hyundai America Technical Center Inc. In the meantime, he was given a hybrid loaner that he is still currently using.

The bad is he's still having to make all the payments on the vehicle even though it's not even in his possession, although Hyundai did give him $500 to help. Hyundai confirmed that the vehicle is indeed stock and there is nothing wrong with it but is going to continue to hold onto it for the time being. The owner has currently hired an attorney and has a court date set for February 23rd and will update us after.

It's a real shame that something as minor as a track mode can lead to all of these repercussions, but unfortunately, the law is the law. The Hyundai Elantra N is a truly fun car, and hopefully, the matter can be resolved in a timely matter to reunite the owner with his vehicle.