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.
Steering, Jul 14, 2022
When steering, the steering wheel makes a rubbing noise.
Engine, Jul 13, 2022
35K miles; they are replacing the motor (2.0L Atkinson Cycle (G4NH)). They did a compression test and it failed.
Power train, Exterior lighting, Engine, Jul 11, 2022
Trouble code:P0011 Mechanic replaced timing soliend. On driving car home, the engine began shutting down. Took back to mechanic who stated he could not get the engine to repeat trouble. Continue to drive and see what happens. Continued to drive but engine shut down got continuously worse and there is a sound like a fan blade is knocking against something (best way I can describe the noise)which is intermittent. Headlights are very dim. This was noticed late last year. It got so bad that I started to Google it and found there are other companies about this online including that the high beams don't work at all .
Other or unspecified, Jul 11, 2022
I have gotten notice for a recall three times from the manufacturer and/or dealership and everytime I take it in, something is wrong and there's an excuse as to why the recall isn't being done. As a matter of fact your site shows that there is no active recall but there is or I wouldn't keep getting notifications to bring my car in. I need someone to look into what is going on before something bad happens to me or my family while I'm driving. Thank you
Engine, Jun 28, 2022
Vehicle engine light came on and vehicle started driving rough at times stalling while driving it. Took it to a certified mechanic and he advised that it showed coils were bad. After replacing al coils plus spark plugs vehicle still showed engine light on. It also diagnosed sensors and cam shafts, solenoids. After all work performed vehicle engine light was still on and was driving rough at times still stalling on the road. I found that Hyundai had a recall on the same vehicle and make, model, engine type. When I took it to the dealership, they told me my VIN was not included in the recall even though it matched the exactly matched the recall. I have spent over two months without my vehicle, and it is still at the dealership. I have also incurred a lot of mechanical and rental fees so I could get back and forth to work.
Engine, Jun 23, 2022
Have had this problem on and off for a solid year, at one point I found the recall referenced in the other complaints stating my car was affected however when I search now it says “no unrepaired recalls” for reference, I’ve made 3 calls regarding this scary issue and have been told the same dealership doesn’t do loaners and on another day doesn’t have loaners & have also been given a 6 week wait period to see if they can get around to it. it doesn’t matter if I’m on the highway or at a stop sign the car will just out of no where shut off. This has caused an accident between myself and the guard rail on the highway a few months back. All the lights will come on and the car will just stop. This is usually paired with a rattling noise as well. It happens multiple times a day or week sometimes it will happen 4 times in a 10 minute drive. It is so scary & Hyundai hasn’t seemed to care. Sometimes it will go on for weeks and then have a few weeks where it stops. I also feel like I oil changes an abnormal amount, it’s like everytime I go they tell me I’m way over due yet the mileage doesn’t add up. Worst car I’ve ever owned.
Exterior lighting, Jun 14, 2022
The headlamp actuator inside the headlight assembly that flips to reveal high beams or low beams is made of a cheap, flimsy plastic that wears down quickly. When it is worn down, the rod can no longer control whether high beams or low beams are shown. Because of this, this car is stuck with either high beams or no headlights at all. This is extremely unsafe for nighttime driving as you are stuck being invisible and likely to be hit by another car or alternatively, blinding the other occupants of the road at night. A full headlight assembly replacement is required which numbers to nearly $3000 for both sides. However, the replacement is going to have the same issue down the line due to the non-durable material of the shutter. There have been many complaints on Youtube and Hyundai forums about this exact issue, but there has yet to be a recall of any sort despite the safety hazard this presents.
Engine, Jun 7, 2022
The manufacture looked at the vehicle and stated the car engine has siezed. Safety was put at risk because i was driving down my street home when the engine made a noise and it stopped all together. I was going about 10 miles per hour, so no actual injuries. The issue has been confirmed by the Hyundai Dealership. There were no warning lights or anything prior to the engine being siezed. The vehicle has been serviced regularly.
Engine, Jun 3, 2022
Engine is burning oil between oil changes. Less than 60,000 miles. Worried engine is exhibiting symptoms of others involved in Hyundai recall.
Engine, May 27, 2022
My son and I were driving home in the dark yesterday. Then engine failed. It was driving then slowly powered down. The check engine light, the oil light, and battery light came on all at once. Needed a tow. It was the scariest thing in the world to be stranded in a disabled vehicle on the side of the road. It breaks my heart hearing my son from the back seat say something is wrong mommy, its not working. The dealership is crap. Stating that it's over some made up one year warranty, yes I've only had the car less than a year. They also won't look at my car for 3-4 days because of the holiday. Thank God my son and I have family and friends to save us. I am completed disgusted and feel for everyone in this situation.
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 26, 2022
Engine shut off while driving.
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 18, 2022
The engine on my 2019 Hyundai Elantra failed during high speed interstate travel. After being on the highway for several hours traveling at approximately 75 mph I heard an odd "pop" which sounded like a rock flying up into the undercarriage on I-40 near Morrilton, AR. About 10 minutes after this sound occurred, my vehicle started to smoke from under the hood and then emit a rattling sound. As I pulled the vehicle to the shoulder of the road it began to flash multiple warning lights across the dashboard and became very difficult to steer. I stopped the car, turned off the ignition, and popped the hood to inspect the smoke. When I attempted to restart the car, it indicated system failure and would not restart. The car was towed to Crain Hyundai in Conway, AR for repair however they have refused to honor the warranty stating that the vehicle was vandalized by someone removing the oil plug. My insurance company investigated this allegation and found that the failure was mechanical in nature and not the result of vandalism. Further, the dealership indicated in the insurance investigation that they have never even run diagnostics on the vehicle. They simply refused the warranty when they noticed the oil plug was missing. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. When my engine blew out at a high speed on interstate traffic, my safety and the safety of others was at risk because my vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly slowed down and then stopped on the roadside. The location where I pulled over was at the top of a blind hill and oncoming traffic could not see my vehicle as they approached it. As we sat on the roadside waiting for a tow we were nearly hit 4x, including once where the vehicle lost control and spun from the right lane, across the left lane and into the median before righting itself. There were NO warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. My vehicle had been parked on a concrete drive and no leaks were seen.
Engine, May 13, 2022
My Hyndai Elantra car has been in the shop for 1 month already and they told me that the engine has a hole in the block. My car stopped working while driving with my 3 year old in a highway as i was exiting a ramp. I was so scared because I wasn't able to move all the way to the side and cars were going 70-75 mph. I just felt how the car moved with every car that passed by. I just saw through the mirror that 4 cars were about to hit me from behind. I did call police, waited 1 hour but they never arrived. My husband had to push the car with his car to move us to safety. In Addition, there was a Hyndai Elantra recall for engines but I believe my car is not included and I think my car has a 2L Engine. I found the information below from a search engine. "Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling 158,493 2019-2021 Elantra cars, equipped with the 2.0L Nu MPI engine"
Engine, Mar 26, 2022
The engine completely cuts off and loses power while driving! Abruptly stalls with no warning!
Electrical system, Mar 20, 2022
Four times while driving this vehicle in the last 5 days, all of the warning lights on the cluster light up and the speedometer and temperature indication stop working. In addition the turn signals will not work. If using the cruise control, it turns off. In addition to being distinctive, it is unsafe. Hopefully you can help!
Exterior lighting, Mar 13, 2022
both headlights will not show brights is there a recall on this vehicle. I have seen youtube clips showing the autodialers with a recall fix. please advise [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Exterior lighting, Mar 7, 2022
Lights do not shine correctly on road, the dealership says that's how they were made and I even paid for them to put led lights bulbs in. It is dangerous at night driving.
Engine, Mar 1, 2022
My car has a problem with the Pistons and the Rod Bearings .. I literally have 80K miles on the dash It was a Recalled called on Some 2019-2020 Hyundai Elantra with 2.0l motors MINES IS EXACTLY THE MODEL AND MOTOR SIZE.. Nap- Hyundai is No HELP AT ALL My car is literally experiencing engine failure due to PISTON OIL RINGS and all because it doesn’t pop up with my VIN there is nothing they can do.. I really believe my car has a recall
Exterior lighting, Feb 22, 2022
Headlight stay in Dim mode will not switch to Bright Lights
Engine, Feb 21, 2022
my 17 year old son was driving the car to practice. It began to KNOCK and SMOKE. It STALLED in the middle of the road. We had the car towed home. a mechanic looked at it the next day and said that the engine was Dead. A rod was thrown. The oil drum had other things leaked into it like antifreeze. i called hyundai, because it is under warranty. (only 34,000 miles on it). AT that time they informed me of the RECALL. it is an engine recall where the EXACT thing happens. It sat at the dealership for a week and a half before they even would look at it. THEN they refuse to fix the recall. they submitted a "prior auth" for warranty repair. We had to submit oil change info (which we did). AFTER 5 WEEKS they told us VIA TEXT MESSAGE that hyundai denied to cover warranty due to neglect. THEY ARE BLAMING US WHEN THERE IS AN ENGINE RECALL ON THIS CAR!?!?! They won't even SPEAK about the recall, they are rude and told us to go to the BBB and get an attorney. I have attached our oil change receipts that we sent them.PLEASE HELP!
Other or unspecified, Feb 14, 2022
Hyundai and Kia vehicles are so easy to steal. No security system. Can break back window and peel back steering column/drive away in less than 90 seconds. Hyundai and Kia Motors aren’t doing anything to address to the issue and car theft to these vehicles is now considered an epidemic.
Other or unspecified, Nov 23, 2021
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine). The contact stated that the vehicle would not start while low on fuel. The contact had to keep refueling to a full tank to start the vehicle. The failure only occurred when the fuel level was at a quarter tank. The dealer was made aware of the failure but could not duplicate the failure since the vehicle had a full tank of gasoline. The dealer performed the recall repair; however, the failure recurred. Hyundai of Palatine (221 E Lake Cook Rd, Palatine, IL 60074) was also made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the recall was already repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.
Other or unspecified, Nov 23, 2021, crash
February 2021 - I took my vehicle to Wilson Hyundai in Flowood, MS - was told there was a recall having to do with my headlights but no components were available to make the repair. I have called numerous times to ask about replacement parts and get the run around. My lights are not bright and switching to bright is not even worth the effort. I can barely see 30ft ahead at best after the sun goes down. When will parts be available or some type of resolution because this is dangerous. There were no warning lamps on until maybe 1 month ago (October 2021), it tells me that I need to have my daytime running lamps serviced. I can't wait til I can trade this vehicle off. November 2, 2021 - I hit a dog because I did not see it.
Exterior lighting, Nov 18, 2021
Low beam headlights work fine. When engaging the high beam selector the high beams on both the left and right side do not work. There seems to be a lens that does not actuate to enable the high beams to shine.
Other or unspecified, Nov 2, 2021
It began in early 2020 my brakes shake when braking and sometimes don’t work at all. After having to change my brakes multiple times and get them flushed my mechanic suggested I contact Hyundai because this was not the norm. It happens spontaneously and now the car is dying when I brake . And won’t start without a jump. This happened now 2x once in my driveway and once in traffic.and I was almost hit by multiple cars since I had become disabled and couldn’t get out of traffic before my car came to a complete stop. This is unacceptable. It is a well maintained new car. The headlights are very low and don’t work well in dark areas. But the most concerning is the brakes and the car dying while driving. I need help asap.