Car kept stalling. Then wouldn’t start. Mechanic found a ton of sludge in the engine. Engine is bad now. I kept up on routine maintenance. Lots of engines are being recalled except for my specific one with the same engine problems.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Elantra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
250 reportsThe vehicle has demonstrated a recurring and dangerous problem of stalling while in operation, without any warning indicators or lights. This fault has not only persisted but has also led to a near-collision incident, underlining its severity. The first occurrence of this issue was when my car stalled unexpectedly during regula…
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The vehicle has demonstrated a recurring and dangerous problem of stalling while in operation, without any warning indicators or lights. This fault has not only persisted but has also led to a near-collision incident, underlining its severity. The first occurrence of this issue was when my car stalled unexpectedly during regular driving, with no dashboard warning lights or indicators of a malfunction. After taking the vehicle to an authorized Hyundai dealership, I was informed that the car was burning oil, which had spread throughout the engine. This diagnosis led to costly repairs amounting to $2,500. However, merely two months post-repair, the same problem reoccurred. The car stalled abruptly as I was merging onto a highway, nearly causing a severe accident. This incident was particularly alarming as it happened without any prior warning or indication of engine trouble. I emphasize that I have diligently maintained the vehicle, adhering to the recommended 3,000-mile oil change intervals and ensuring all fluids are regularly checked and replaced as necessary. The recurrence of this issue despite proper maintenance raises significant concerns about the reliability and safety of the 2019 Hyundai Elantra model.
Vehicle turned off while turning into an intersection, low power when on the highway. Alternator was already replaced several months ago. Safety was definitely put at risk, no lights were on the dash
I was going 40MPH when my car started to produce loud noises and stalled. It immediately lost power and I had to pull over on the side of the road. It started back up after 30 minutes and I was able to drive it home, but it continued to make loud noises and I had to drive very slow. Battery is good with 70% charge and the altern…
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I was going 40MPH when my car started to produce loud noises and stalled. It immediately lost power and I had to pull over on the side of the road. It started back up after 30 minutes and I was able to drive it home, but it continued to make loud noises and I had to drive very slow. Battery is good with 70% charge and the alternator is good.
I think my transmission is messed up because my car stalls to go and my RPM jump up to 4/5 after I accelerate
The headlights on this vehicle have been repetitively malfunctioning, the lamps are not burnt out but the high and low beam lights malfunctioning regularly. I have had the system and computer checked, the computer reset. Nothing is appearing to be wrong but my high beam lights are completely non functional for the third time in …
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The headlights on this vehicle have been repetitively malfunctioning, the lamps are not burnt out but the high and low beam lights malfunctioning regularly. I have had the system and computer checked, the computer reset. Nothing is appearing to be wrong but my high beam lights are completely non functional for the third time in 3 months
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. The battery and low-oil warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent m…
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The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. The battery and low-oil warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 114,000.
The electrical plate for the right daytime running light must have fallen out of the engine compartment, according to the dealer service center, because it was no longer there. A warning light appeared on the dashboard system as a yellow triangle enclosing a yellow exclamation mark. It presented a safety issue by causing the w…
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The electrical plate for the right daytime running light must have fallen out of the engine compartment, according to the dealer service center, because it was no longer there. A warning light appeared on the dashboard system as a yellow triangle enclosing a yellow exclamation mark. It presented a safety issue by causing the warning light to appear on the dashboard panel while the vehicle was being driven. The dealer service center informed me of the cause of the dashboard warning light when I took it to them for diagnosis. There were no warnings prior to the failure.
When Daylight Savings time changed, I realized that my headlights were not aimed properly. While having them aimed, the tech noticed that the aiming rod had fallen off the track, and the light on the drivers side is shining only five feet from the car, onto the ground, whether on high beams or low beams.
The driver side seatbelt is pulled out and will not retract. Our safety is at risk every time we drive this vehicle as the seatbelt won't protect the driver from being flung into other passengers or prevent from being flung out of the vehicle. This issue has been confirmed by Walser Hyundai in Brooklyn Park, MN on 11/7/23. There…
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The driver side seatbelt is pulled out and will not retract. Our safety is at risk every time we drive this vehicle as the seatbelt won't protect the driver from being flung into other passengers or prevent from being flung out of the vehicle. This issue has been confirmed by Walser Hyundai in Brooklyn Park, MN on 11/7/23. There were no warning signs of the issue except for seat belt seeming to retract slow for the last5/1/ couple years.
Official recalls
121V301000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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