2019 Hyundai Elantra problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (105) · Exterior Lighting (47) · Power Train (10)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Elantra model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
57 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Engine 2021-04-28 · campaign 21V301000 · 158,493 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (117)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-10-08 · 26-EM-016H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. all internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operatio
Engine 2026-10-07 · 26-EM-015H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. all internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operatio
Engine 2026-09-11 · 9D3 OL · Service Campaign
hyundai has become aware that your hyundai elantra equipped with a 2.0 atk engine may have been incorrectly updated with cylinder noise detection system (cnds) software intended only for korean-built elantra vehicles and may not meet specifications.
Engine 2026-08-06 · 26-01-039H DN · Service Campaign
certain elantra (ada) vehicles may have been incorrectly updated with cylinder noise detection system (cnds) software that can set dtc p132700; this software was intended only for korean-built elantra (ad) vehicles. in addition, the california air resources board has determined that these vehicles m
Engine 2026-08-06 · 26-01-039H TSB · Service Campaign
certain elantra (ada) vehicles may have been incorrectly updated with cylinder noise detection system (cnds) software that can set dtc p132700; this software was intended only for korean-built elantra (ad) vehicles. this bulletin provides instructions to perform a software update for the engine cont
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DL · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn). these inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehi
Showing the 6 most recent of 117 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-17 · Engine“it was no incident. car died and mechanic says engine is locked. got oils changed everytime in a timely manner and this is a fairly new car. please help …”
2026-09-26 · Engine“i am reporting that there is not a recall but a factor warranty from the manufacture. stating that the o ring in the 2019 hyundai elantra was not properly tempered. which will cause the car to stall, rod bearing to break, and cause the car to set on fire. my report is that my 2019 hyundai elantra with 139,000 miles has did exactly that. o ring was…”
2026-09-04 · Engine · 120,286 mi“the contact owns a 2019 hyundai elantra. the contact stated that while her husband was driving 35-40 mph on a bridge, the engine made a loud banging and knocking sound, and the vehicle stalled. the driver shifted into neutral, coasted down the bridge with the engine off, and pulled over to the side of the road. the driver noticed an abnormal burnin…”
2026-09-03 · Engine“2019 hyundai elantra with 2.0l nu mpi engine suffered catastrophic engine failure at approximately 118,530 miles. vehicle is currently at the [xxx] hyundai dealership. vehicle appears to fall within the exact parameters of hyundai recall 203/nhtsa 21v-301. have spoken to the dealership as well as hyundai corporate and they have refused to either ho…”
2026-09-01 · Engine“car sudden stopped then would not turn on currently being looked at but for suspected timing chain, vvt, and related parts others have reported these same issues and other model with same engines have been recalled…”
2026-08-23 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings“on 6/12/26, the engine had a sudden, catastrophic failure that caused a life-threatening hazard on a 2-lane highway in a remote mountain grade with no shoulder. prior to this incident, the forward collision system had falsely gone off several times in dark or rainy conditions when there was no actual hazard or oncoming traffic on the road, which …”
2026-07-29 · Engine“about two months ago, i had to replace the camshaft on my vehicle. then about 3 weeks ago while driving down the road i began to hear a grinding slap near the front right of the vehicle. then the power died and the vehicle limped into a parking lot. after stopping for about 30 minutes, i was able to restart the vehicle and get it home. the same noi…”
2026-07-23 · Engine“the engine failed for my 2019 hyundai elantra. we bought it at atlantic hyundai dealership. they used a passing recall inspection to clear a defective engine, misdiagnosed the ensuing failure as an oil pan leak, and abandoned me with a vehicle that stalled dangerously in traffic. we brought car to atlantic hyundai told them that the car just stoppe…”
2026-07-18 · Engine“the car was driving on the highway and out of nowhere the car just stopped in the middle of the highway. i brought it to my mechanic who said the car was rapidly consuming oil and my cars engine was seizing. and he safely brought me and the car to atlantic hyundai where i had bought the car to have them diagnose and fix the issue. after several day…”
2026-07-12 · Engine“at 86,000 miles after replacing the camshaft and timing chain with a mechanic friend, we turned the engine over and heard the beginning of an engine knock, he said this engine is notorious for knocking and failing before 100000. kia recalled the exact same engine. however hyundai did not. i feel this is very unsafe.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.