2019 Hyundai Elantra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 251 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.
Of the 2019 reports, 12 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 4 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
EngineApr 28, 2021
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Campaign 21V301000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
251 reports, newest first.
Engine, Sep 4, 2025
The Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software malfunctioned by failing to detect abnormal vibrations or knocking sounds. As a result, there was significant internal engine damage that caused the vehicle to seize unexpectedly in the middle of traffic on 4/10/25. The car started and abnormal noises were noted from the engine though not significant. week later, car stalled several times on interstate. Prior to the failure, the vehicle exhibited a progressive knocking noise in the engine. After seizing, the vehicle would struggle to start, idle briefly, then stall. It also randomly shut off while driving, creating a serious safety risk. The vehicle was taken to Precision Tune Auto Care, where technicians confirmed problems with the crankshaft, excessive oil consumption/leakage, and metal shavings in the oil, which they attributed to rod bearing and crankshaft wear consistent with Hyundai Campaign 203 (improperly heat-treated piston rings). Despite the KSDS being installed during the initial recall remedy, the system did not activate prior to engine failure. Additionally, no engine or oil warning lamps were illuminated. An oil change was performed at the time, but the vehicle had already burned through excessive amounts of oil since the prior change. Precision Tune Auto Care advised me to take the vehicle to Allen Turner Hyundai. At the dealership, staff confirmed issues with the engine but refused to acknowledge Recall Campaign 203, even when presented with documentation. They also failed to address the malfunctioning KSDS system or the lack of functioning engine/oil warning lamps. They were asked to perform inspection relating to piston ring and rod bearing, though refused. This situation raises major safety concerns, as my engine seized in the middle of traffic without warning. Other owners with a malfunctioning KSDS system could face the same risks, leading to sudden engine failure, potential engine fires, or serious traffic accidents.
Engine, Aug 29, 2025
The component that failed was the pistons in my engine on my 2019 Hyundai Elantra Se which I see is on recall. I understand that my VIN may have been missed or looked over during the recalling systems decision making. I was on my way to work when my engine just shut off in the middle of traffic! Since that happened my anxiety levels has been extremely high! I took my car to the dealership and they confirmed that it was my pistons and to keep checking the recall website because they have seen something like this before. Before the engine cut off there was abosulutly no warning! Date of incident [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Aug 28, 2025
Engine light is on. Noticed engine shaking and burning of engine oil. Checked by Hyundai dealership who states engine EXHAUST CVVT AND CAMSHAFT needs to be replaced which is the engine timing chains. The engine is burning oil quickly which could indicate damaged piston rings as well. It is an extreme safety risk as the engine smokes and can cause a fire! Car has been regularly maintained with oil changes being done twice a year at Cocoa Hyundai
Engine, Aug 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. While the contact’s daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. During the failure, the check engine and oil warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (ENGINE). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 130,000.
Engine, Aug 20, 2025
My vehicle is a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. It has the Hyundai Nu 2.0L engine, which has been the subject of recalls for engine failure, stalling, and sudden loss of power. The check engine light came on but not before the majority of the dangerous driving conditions surfaced, meaning I had almost no warning before the issue put my life in danger. My vehicle was not included in the recall even though other models with the same engine had been. I experienced unpredictable stalling, hesitation, and engine failure while driving. On several occasions, the car stalled unexpectedly in traffic, creating a serious safety risk; I nearly was rear-ended multiple times. The vehicle became increasingly unreliable, prompting me to take it to the dealership. The dealership confirmed that the engine failure was consistent with the known Nu 2.0L engine defect. There was metal debris in the oil even though I have kept up with maintaince and oil changes at the regular intervals suggested by Hyundai guidelines. Hyundai covered approximately 90% of the engine replacement under a “good faith” adjustment. Documentation of engine inspection and repair available upon request
Engine, Aug 14, 2025
The car turn off in the middle of the road and it ain’t wanna turn back on and I had cars behind me and almost hit the back of my car my emergency light were on too and I was in the city I had to get it towed
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 10, 2025
I am unable to use the high beams. Low beams are very hard to see with making risky when driving at night. No warning lights.
Engine, Aug 8, 2025
I purchased my 2019 Hyundai Elantra from a third-party dealer (Mike Carlson Motor Company in Haltom City, TX) on [XXX]. I have kept the oil changed on a regular basis since I purchased it. At the time I bought the vehicle, I purchased an extended service warranty that was through Assurant/First Extended Service Corporation. [XXX], while out of state (over 640 miles away from where I purchased the vehicle) my vehicle started making a rattling sound from the engine. The mileage on my vehicle was 85,320. I called the warranty company and opened a claim. I was told since I was not in the DFW area and more than 40 miles from the selling dealer or any sister properties, I could take it to any shop that will accept warranty work. July 18, 2025, the vehicle was finally picked up by a towing company and taken to the mechanic. An estimate was created on 07/23/25, stating test system oil is full, has code p0304 (which I looked up and is a misfire in cylinder 4), engine knocking from rod and/or piston, will need engine. Claim was sent to warranty company 07/31/25 and was finally denied today 08/08/25. First, they said lack of maintenance however, they had copies of all receipts. Then they said denied because covered under Hyundai powertrain warranty. However, after speaking with Hyundai Customer Care, it wasn't sold PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED. Had to send proof to warranty company showing no factory warranty (sent signed SelectCertified Form signed date of purchase). Now it was denied again stating OPEN RECALL on vehicle would have to contact Hyundai. The nearest Hyundai dealership is over 1 hour or more away. I'm hoping tomorrow when I reach out to Hyundai they can shed some light on the situation. I've been stranded in Illinois (I live in Texas) since 07/16/25 and have made no head way to get the vehicle back on the road. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Jul 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (ENGINE); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact was stationed in Guam when the vehicle was purchased. The vehicle was manufactured in South Korea. The contact then moved to the USA, and the vehicle was taken to Colorado however, the vehicle was registered in Florida. The dealer was contacted and refused to repair the vehicle, because the vehicle was considered a foreign vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Electrical system, Jul 16, 2025
Headlight housing mechanism for high beam and low beam lights do not allow headlights to stay on high beam. Will not pass Massachusetts motor vehicle safety inspection.
Engine, Jul 14, 2025
Car began to make clicking noise which turned into a louder “dying” sound. Car completely stopped, and had to get towed. I was told the engine failed due to parts from the recall.
Other or unspecified, Jul 6, 2025
Have a 2019 Hyuandi Elantra. Purchased in 2020 now only 6 years old the white paint on roof of car and around rear window the paint is chipping off. I have a softball size area in roof is all chipping off. I take very good care of my car and can’t believe the paint is all coming off! I’ve noticed a lot of other Hyuandi’s on the road are also peeling and chipping off the white paint on their cars also. Reported it to hyuandi dealership several times but, have gotten no response.
Engine, Jun 10, 2025
Large amount of oil consumption. Told by dealership that engine replacement is needed.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, May 30, 2025
My late mother’s 2019 Hyundai Elantra (VIN: [XXX] ) was brought to Johnson Hyundai of Apex on 4/14/2025 for a known paint defect recall affecting the roof and roof rails. I was handling this vehicle as part of her estate. While the car was in the custody of their body shop, Piperformance, the windshield was cracked and replaced without my knowledge or consent. I was not informed of the damage beforehand, was never asked to authorize the repair, and was not provided an estimate or invoice in any official format. When I requested documentation, the service advisor (Josh) only sent a photo of an invoice on a laptop screen. I later received an undated, unsigned letter from the body shop admitting that they had broken the windshield and kept the old one. Important inspection and registration stickers were removed during the process and not returned for weeks. Hyundai corporate acknowledged internal failures, including missing documentation, conflicting stories, and lack of accountability. However, they refused to accept responsibility or confirm what safety inspections, if any, were done after the unauthorized windshield replacement. I am concerned the windshield replacement may not meet OEM specifications and may compromise the vehicle’s crash safety or ADAS systems (lane keeping, forward collision alert, etc.). No documentation was provided to show the glass used was certified or that proper recalibrations were performed. I no longer trust the safety of this vehicle and plan to remove it from use. The emotional toll of dealing with this after my mother’s passing makes the experience even more distressing. Her car was defaced and mishandled in my effort to preserve it, and I now feel responsible for navigating safety concerns caused by others’ negligence. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Exterior lighting, Engine, May 9, 2025
Excessive oil consumption, shudder in motor while driving . Check engine light cam on. Visibility in headlights very low and high beams only working sometimes.
Engine, May 8, 2025
Vehicle: 2019 Hyundai Elantra VIN: [XXX] Mileage at failure:163,799 Issue: Complete premature engine failure due to a piston rod fracture through the engine block Hyundai’s Response: Dealership (Murdock Hyundai Lindon, 530 Lindon Park Drive, Lindon, Utah 84042) reviewed vehicle maintenance history, noted a single vehicle owner, and regular maintenance history, conducted a review of valvetrain assembly (clean), and diagnosed this engine failure matching previous Elantra catastrophic engine failure cases. Two independent Murdock Hyundai dealership service agents and an independent mechanic reviewed the preliminary findings and believed that my engine failure matched other similar Hyundai recalled engine failures. However, Hyundai Motor America declined to have the dealership perform the necessary tests (i.e. bearing clearing test/cylinder bore test) that would have verified the failure. The dealership also noted previous goodwill assistance for past customers, in similar situations, due to the known manufacturing and safety-related issue. However, in my situation, Hyundai Motor America denied goodwill assistance. This exclusion appears arbitrary and unfair, as the failure in my vehicle aligns with the documented recall defect covered in the Hyundai issued Recall # 21V301000 for 2019 Hyundai Elantras). Furthermore, Hyundai has extended warranties and provided goodwill repairs to other customers with similar failures and similar mileage, yet they refused to provide assistance in my case, citing “time in service and/or mileage of the vehicle.” However, this is not a typical wear-and-tear failure caused by mileage. Additionally, if all Hyundai Elantra consumers were made aware of potential engine issues (at the time of purchase and/or through other means), consumers could address the concern within warranty mileage. I was not afforded the opportunity to address the unknown potential engine issues prior to the engine failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Apr 29, 2025
Vehicle Issue Report Vehicle Information: •Make: Hyundai •Model: Elantra •Year: 2019 •VIN: [XXX] •Mileage: [Insert Current Mileage] •Engine Type: 2.0L Nu MPI ⸻ Summary of the Issue: The vehicle has experienced a complete engine failure due to a malfunction in cylinder 3. The issue began with noticeable performance problems including rough idling, knocking sounds, and a check engine light. After diagnostic evaluation, it was confirmed that the engine has failed, and a replacement is necessary. ⸻ Cause of Failure: The root cause of the failure has been traced to cylinder 3 misfiring and loss of compression, which led to severe engine damage. Based on known technical service bulletins and recalls issued by Hyundai, this failure aligns with existing recall campaigns related to improperly heat-treated piston oil rings in the Nu MPI engine. These rings can cause oil consumption, scoring of cylinder walls, and eventual engine failure. ⸻ Recall and Warranty Consideration: Given that Hyundai has issued multiple recalls and extended warranties for this exact problem in 2019–2020 Elantra models, we are requesting that this vehicle be covered under Hyundai’s engine replacement recall or extended Powertrain Warranty (up to 150,000 miles / 15years) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Apr 20, 2025
On 03/22/2025, I took my car into Riverside Hyundai because of engine shuttering. Riverside Hyundai discovered foreign fragments in my cylinder from the piston and stated they had never seen this issue before. Their diagnosis was engine replacement at an estimated cost of approximately $7,500 for the engine and $3,168 for labor for a total amount of $10,668. Searching for answers, I quickly came across the Hyundai Elantra Piston Defect Class Action Lawsuit (Brown v. Hyundai Motor America), which pertains to an engine piston defect not properly heat treated affecting the same year and make of my 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The class action lawsuit related to a defect found in certain Elantras equipped with Nu 1.8L engines. Although this defect is specifically tied to issues within the pistons, which are a critical component of the engine responsible for generating the force necessary to power the vehicle. The defect can ultimately result in “total and irreparable engine failure.” This failure leads to a loss of engine power, power steering, and brake assistance, all of which pose significant safety risks. While this class action suit has settled, and is an important step in addressing the engine defect that has already impacted many vehicle owners, I believe that the scope of the class action lawsuit was not broad enough, as it failed to include all vehicles that could potentially be affected by the same or similar defects, specifically Hyundai Elantras with different engine types, like the one in my 2019 Hyundai Elantra. Although my Elantra is equipped with a different engine, I believe that the defect that was present in the class action suit, is the same defect that caused this damage to my engine. I also came across images of the defect online which seem identical to damage caused to my engine. Please see attached files for your review. Riverside Hyundai has denied my request for a good faith replacement engine and are still waiting on a reply from Hyundai.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 11, 2025, crash
The driver and passenger headlight has been replaced and the bulbs but the headlights keep going out was told it is an electrical problem and contact manufacturer. Also emergency braking did not work in recent accident nor did forward collision warning.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Mar 27, 2025
My car started hesitating when shifting gears in smart and normal mode smelled like something was burning. Car only drives in sport mode, shifts hard, engine lags, and the check engine light has not come on. This is the second incident with this car. The first time I lost all power to the car and the entire electrical system shut down, when it was towed to the dealership they said nothing was wrong with it. I keep up on all the maintenance.
Exterior lighting, Mar 24, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated that the high-beam headlights became inoperable. The contact stated that the high-beam headlights failed to function properly. The contact stated that the bulbs for the high-beam headlights were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact engaged the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000.
Suspension, Mar 22, 2025
The suspension on this vehicle is out of control. The vehicle jumps, and It moves from one side to another over any road bump. The car only has 60,000 miles and it shouldn't be doing that, it's unsafe and it can cause an accident.
Exterior lighting, Engine, Mar 3, 2025
No warning light for oil consumption and it depletes rapidly. Also, High beam lights stopped working and you have to hold the signal in place and the high beam still doesn't turn on. Ive had so many issues with this car since purchasing it, it ridiculous and saddening how there hasn't been any recalls and the issue before this one was dangerous and life threatening. Also, since it's purchase it consumes oil at a rapid rate that has been documented and each time I've visited the repair shop they informed 'there's no oil' in the vehicle and no oil light or anything comes on to warn me. I find out about it because of an entirely different issue needing to be fixed.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Latches/locks/linkages, Feb 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle made an abnormal rubbing sound and hesitated to respond, causing the braking distance to be extended. The brake warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the internal trunk release lever was inoperable. The contact stated that the trunk required to be slammed manually to close securely. Additionally, the contact stated while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle was significantly sluggish. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact also stated that the vehicle was overheating while driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The Hyundai dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a fee would be charged for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was taken to a used car dealer, Sandy Sansing Automotive (6200 Pensacola Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32505), where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer determined that the catalytic converter and unknown parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.
Engine, Feb 6, 2025
My engine is burning oil at a rapid rate. I have always maintained the vehicle's engine on-time or early and now I am needing to top-off oil many times between frequent oil changes. I am now having to add a quart a week and am changing the oil every two thousand miles to ensure it is clean. This is not regular or okay and two mechanics/service technicians said that many Hyundais that come in are doing the same thing.