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2019 Hyundai Elantra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2019 Hyundai Elantra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 57 of 250 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 132 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports3 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

250 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2022
Engine

The check engine light went on in my Elantra a couple of weeks ago. I immediately take it to my local Jiffy Lube and they tell me it’s a camshaft protector sensor and that I need to take it to the dealership. After multiple failed attempts at contacting the dealership, I’m finally able to make an appointment to drop it off a few…

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The check engine light went on in my Elantra a couple of weeks ago. I immediately take it to my local Jiffy Lube and they tell me it’s a camshaft protector sensor and that I need to take it to the dealership. After multiple failed attempts at contacting the dealership, I’m finally able to make an appointment to drop it off a few days later. However, my car doesn’t make it that far. Within those 3 days, the car breaks down on me three times. It happens when I am either at a red light at a complete stop, or as I am slowing down, waiting to make a turn. The engine shutting down put me at extreme risk as I was driving in a busy area. Luckily, I was able to change my appointment to that very day (November 16th) and I make it to the dealership for drop off. They take one week to get back to me and tell me that there is oil sludge causing the engine to fail, and they want me to pay for the engine replacement because it is due to lack of maintenance. I find this hard to believe because I just had my oil changed and my engine checked due to an open recall in July of this year. It has been 4 months (and I don’t drive that far on a daily basis) since my car was serviced and Hyundai is trying to place the blame on me for their faulty engine. The attached photo is the maintenance that I received in July.

NHTSA ODI #11494785

Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 2022
Air BagsSeat BeltsStructure

I hit a small center divider in a parking structure going about 1 MPH which hit under the car. The three front airbags deployed. There is no body damage to the front of the car so I don’t think that the airbags should have deployed. My local dealership can’t fix it and I have reached out to Hyundai USA and they are not respondin…

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I hit a small center divider in a parking structure going about 1 MPH which hit under the car. The three front airbags deployed. There is no body damage to the front of the car so I don’t think that the airbags should have deployed. My local dealership can’t fix it and I have reached out to Hyundai USA and they are not responding.

NHTSA ODI #11493204

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2022
Engine

Car stop while I’m drying for no reason no warning

NHTSA ODI #11492463

95,900 miles · Oct 24, 2022
Exterior Lighting

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH at night, the high-beam headlights failed to work as needed. The contact was able to drive to her destination; however, the contact stated that the vehicle became undrivable at night. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified o…

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The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH at night, the high-beam headlights failed to work as needed. The contact was able to drive to her destination; however, the contact stated that the vehicle became undrivable at night. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,900.

NHTSA ODI #11490640

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2022
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

I was driving down a main highway, approaching a busy intersection preparing to turn left... I had a green light without a green arrow and had quite a bit of distance/time between myself and any approaching vehicle so I went ahead and proceeded. Just as I entered the intersection, all of the sudden my car stopped responding to …

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I was driving down a main highway, approaching a busy intersection preparing to turn left... I had a green light without a green arrow and had quite a bit of distance/time between myself and any approaching vehicle so I went ahead and proceeded. Just as I entered the intersection, all of the sudden my car stopped responding to my pressing on the gas pedal. The motor was very loud and dry sounding, and the RPM gauge was running abnormally high but the car itself, was barely moving. I continued trying to give it gas, even checked to see if something had knocked it out of gear (that was NOT the case)! Cross-traffic began to approach the intersection so I really started to work on the gas pedal, pumping it and when that failed, I mashed the gas all the way to the floor and finally just before I was about to be hit the car down the pedal and finally the car began to move!! It has been doing some hesitating for a while now but it barely made it out of the intersection this time and that was terrifying!! I have it in the shop now waiting to see what the problem is but this needs reporting. I do everything I'm supposed to with maintaining my car... oil changes, spark plugs, fluid checks and it has less than 50,000 miles so that shouldn't have happened!

NHTSA ODI #11489100

39,000 miles · Oct 12, 2022
Engine

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing rough idles at the red light. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that there was a burning oil odor coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact th…

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The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing rough idles at the red light. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that there was a burning oil odor coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number:21v301000 (Engine) as the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 39,000.

NHTSA ODI #11488940

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2022
Exterior Lighting

The headlight high beams do not function, leaving me unable to see.

NHTSA ODI #11485342

40,000 miles · Sep 19, 2022
Exterior Lighting

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under an unknown recall for the headlamps; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the headlights occasionally would not illuminate after the vehicle was started or while driving at various speeds. The contact st…

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The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under an unknown recall for the headlamps; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the headlights occasionally would not illuminate after the vehicle was started or while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that when the headlights failed to illuminate, the warning messages for daytime running lights and headlight and taillight out warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the driver’s headlight needed replacement because it did not illuminate. The contact then stated that the passenger’s side headlight needed replacement; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the repair for the headlights would be out of pocket. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and also informed the contact that the repairs would not be covered for the headlights. The contact stated that the manufacturer referred him to the NHTSA Hotline and informed him that he may seek legal advice. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #11485262

63,000 miles · Sep 15, 2022
EnginePower Train

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 60-70 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle hesitated to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact…

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The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 60-70 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle hesitated to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that they could not duplicate the failure. However, the independent mechanic informed the contact that the failure could be associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #11484720

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2022
Electrical SystemEngine

My car stalled for no apparent reason… The warning lidhts weren’t on the dash and the oil indicator didn’t show low. I restarted it and drove home. It stalled a couple more times. The idiot lights didn’t come on again nor did it show me low oil. When I got home my son checked the oil and it was dangerously low. We added m…

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My car stalled for no apparent reason… The warning lidhts weren’t on the dash and the oil indicator didn’t show low. I restarted it and drove home. It stalled a couple more times. The idiot lights didn’t come on again nor did it show me low oil. When I got home my son checked the oil and it was dangerously low. We added more oil and drove it again it appeared to be fine. He changed the oil just to be on the safe side. And when he restarted it all hell broke lose. He then ran a diagnostic test on it to see what was wrong. The engine was blown. I had it towed to a shop for confirmation. Yep a rod blew through the block.

NHTSA ODI #11482748

Official recalls

1

21V301000 · Engine

Apr 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Hyundai Elantra problems