2019 Hyundai Elantra Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
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Engine burning oil
My car started stalling on speed bumps and turning. Then one day it stopped accelerating and died. There is No COMPRESSION. I am told I now probably need a new engine. I saw that other Elantras from 2019 were recalled for this issue and why wasn’t mine? I could have gotten hurt
2019 Elantra has been experiencing oil loss. The last oil change on 14 Feb 2026 at 57400 miles. Checked the oil today 16 Feb 2026 after 266 miles and it was a quart low. It appears that oil consumption is a know issue with Hyundai year and model.
The contact's mother owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while his mother was driving approximately 20 MPH, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from the engine compartment before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the road to safety. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with piston damages and a punctured hole in the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while stopped in traffic with the vehicle idling, the vehicle vibrated, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that for the rest of the drive, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. While the contact was entering a driveway, the vehicle stalled. The contact waited for several minutes before being able to restart the vehicle. The contact then drove to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the engine was making an abnormal rattling sound and the piston oil ring had failed. The vehicle was not repaired; however, an oil change was performed. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that there were no recalls associated with the VIN. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact was frequently checking the engine oil level after noticing that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil between oil changes. The contact was frequently topping off the engine oil. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine, and the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact then stated that the oil warning light started flashing on the instrument panel, and the contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to the residence. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact later discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (ENGINE); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was provided an estimate for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The engine in my 2019 Hyundai Elantra failed at approximately 66,000 miles. The vehicle began to idle roughly, lose power, and eventually stalled and would not restart. It was first inspected by an independent mechanic, who suggested a possible electrical issue. I then took it to a Hyundai dealership, where they later confirmed the engine was blown due to internal failure. I had a new warranty after refinancing, which required the car to be driven a minimum number of miles before coverage could be used. The engine failed when I was only a few miles short of that requirement. The warranty representative from the refinancing company confirmed in a voicemail that while they could cover work already completed (fuel pump), they could not cover the engine. The Hyundai technician also recommended returning the vehicle to the dealership for a new engine. The dealership had previously noted the vehicle was only a few miles outside warranty coverage and even suggested they could “drive the car a few miles” to make it appear within warranty , they said after they put the part in , it drove 3 miles and the engine gave out . They charged approximately $2,000 for a repair that failed, and the vehicle was never drivable again. Because the vehicle did not operate and I could not continue payments, it was repossessed. The loan balance I now owe is a direct result of the premature engine failure and unsuccessful repair. I later learned that 2019 Elantras with 2.0L Nu MPI engines have recalls and complaints regarding improperly heat-treated piston rings causing engine damage. My VIN did not initially show under recall, but this failure matches known defect patterns. There were no warning lights prior to failure; the engine failed suddenly. I believe this vehicle should qualify for recall or warranty coverage.
Yes, it put people at risk by breaking the engine and throwing oil on the highway. The engine simply opened a hole in the block. There was no light and yes the car is currently in inspection at Hyundai focus on these cars because Hyundai complicates a lot to try to get out of warranty.
My 2019 Hyundai Elantra sel had catastrophic engine failure at 95k. I was riding at 40mph on the highway when the engine failed. It had zero warnings lights whatsoever before it happened. I was barely even able to make it off the road. I had it towed to the dealer. They said it was a rod bearing. My catalytic converter also failed. They said I was burning oil which again had no idea I was since I didn’t smell it nor did I have an engine light. However the dealer said my vin wasn’t part of the recall.
In or about December/2022, I had made numerous attempts to fix my vehicle's engine. It kept stalling on the roadway and finally Hyundai agreed the motor was the problem and they ended up installing a new motor. The vehicle was then out not warranty and they said they were not responsible for the vehicle any longer. The vehicle's check engine light kept coming on and off at times. I did minor work to the vehicle and kept up with maintenance. Now my vehicle's motor is blown again without notice. It stalls on the highway and leaves me stranded. I believe that this type of vehicles were flawed from the beginning. I really convinced these vehicles should be recalled and taken off the highways since, in my opinion, they are not safe to be on the road.
Large amount of oil consumption. Told by dealership that engine replacement is needed.
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 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
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.
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
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
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)
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)
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The vehicle lost power in the middle of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The low oil pressure and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine had thrown a piston rod. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 140,000.
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The 2019 Hyundai Elantra has 78 Engine complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.