Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Hyundai Elantra - part 1

I was wondering if you can help me. I have a Hyundai Elantra that had a recall for my engine to get fixed by the dealership. I’ve never got it fixed because I was unaware of a Hyundai letter that I just found on the internet that was issued by them but I never received it. I went to a mechanic the other day and he informed me that they had a recall for my engine. The problem is now that Hyundai gave a date that expired on the recall. I was wondering if you can send them a demand letter or something because I was never contacted about this. I also had a brain tumor operation and Hyundai should grant me with a medical exemption. Here’s the Hyundai notice that they never gave me,.

See all problems of the 2013 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

My daughter was in a parking lot and put her car in park, removed her keys and exited the vehicle. She walked around the vehicle and was removing her school bag and the car came out of park and rolled into another vehicle.

See all problems of the 2018 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

The engine in my 2018 Hyundai Elantra suffered a sudden internal failure at 118,444 miles. The vehicle began knocking, losing power, and running roughly. A dealership inspection confirmed heavy scoring on cylinders 1, 3, and 4, oil intrusion into the cylinders, and piston top slapping. The engine is not repairable and requires full replacement. This failure matches the known defect pattern of Hyundai’s nu 2. 0l mpi engine, which has widespread issues with piston ring wear, oil consumption, cylinder scoring, and internal mechanical failure. The failure occurred without warning/messages and created a safety hazard due to loss of power while driving. My VIN is not included in any recall, but the defect is identical to other Hyundai engine failures that have resulted in recalls and investigations. I am reporting this because the engine failure appears to be part of a larger safety?related defect affecting this engine family.

This complaint documents a recurring automatic transmission failure resulting in three complete vehicle shutdowns during active operation — two at highway speed and one in an active turning lane. The most recent failure occurred within 15 minutes of the vehicle being released from an authorized Hyundai dealership in college park, maryland, whose general manager admitted in a recorded call that the vehicle was released knowing the transmission was unrepaired and unsafe. The first failure occurred in 2025 on a highway with no prior warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, where the transmission was confirmed defective and repaired under warranty. The second failure occurred in January 2026, again on a highway with no warning. The dealership held the vehicle from January through may 2026 — four months — with no updates despite multiple owner inquiries. In April 2026 the dealership confirmed the transmission had failed again and was seeking Hyundai corporate authorization for the warranty repair. On may 21, 2026 I was told the vehicle was ready and the transmission had been fully repaired under warranty. This was false. On [xxx], within 15 minutes of leaving the dealership, the transmission failed a third time, completely shutting the vehicle down in an active turning lane with no warning. The general manager at Hyundai college park later admitted in a recorded call that the transmission was never repaired and the vehicle was released only to recover the dealership's rental car, with full knowledge it was unsafe. All three failures were confirmed by the authorized dealer. Component is available for inspection. Nhtsa investigation and recall consideration requested. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2020 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

Engine failure. Car quit while driving down main highway. Taken to garage and they reported that many of the same engine for Hyundai have been recalled. When investigating, my car did the exact same thing being reported, but is not included in the recall. I have maintenance records for all oil changes as required as well. No lights came on to indicate failure.

See all problems of the 2019 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

The engine failed on a 2015 Hyundai Elantra with approximately 71,000 miles. The vehicle has an open, unresolved safety recall (recall 251, NHTSA #23v651000) for an abs module brake fluid leak that Hyundai has acknowledged but has not provided a remedy for. The vehicle is currently at an independent repair facility and is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle repeatedly shut off without warning while in motion and restarted mid-drive, causing sudden loss of power steering and power brakes while driving. This occurred on multiple occasions and was documented by an independent service center in February 2026. This presents a serious risk of accident, injury, or death to the driver and others on the road. The check engine light was illuminated. The vehicle experienced recurring brake issues requiring multiple repairs over several years, including brake replacement before 2026 and rear rotor, brake pad, and brake line repairs in February 2026. These brake symptoms are consistent with the known abs module defect covered under open recall 251. The engine shutoff symptom was first documented in February 2026 and continued until engine failure in may 2026.

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Vehicle was parked and turned off in a residential driveway when a fire spontaneously ignited in the engine compartment. There were no warning lights, unusual sounds, or symptoms prior to the incident. The fire department responded and extinguished the fire using dry chemical suppressant and water. The vehicle was a total loss. The fire appears to have originated in the front engine compartment area. The vehicle was not involved in a collision. The vehicle has a 1. 8l nu dohc engine and 4-wheel abs system. This vehicle falls under known NHTSA recalls and class action litigation related to spontaneous engine fires in Hyundai Elantra vehicles, including issues related to defective abs/hecu modules and engine defects associated with the nu engine series.

See all problems of the 2014 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

Timing gears/camshaft issues. Dealer mechanic stated that the pin on camshaft broke and timing jumping. Dealership stated this is a known issue with Elantra's but Hyundai has done nothing to address this issue. This repair costs over 4000 dollars for a known issue.

1. The engine architecture suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure. Specifically, severe, systemic internal oil consumption/vaporization starved the hydraulic timing chain tensioner of critical hydrostatic pressure. This caused the tensioner to collapse, creating slack in the steel timing chain, which then "jumped time" (skipped a tooth on the camshaft sprockets), causing the engine to instantly seize and lose all motive power. The vehicle and engine are fully intact and available for inspection at pohanka Hyundai of fredericksburg. 2. The vehicle suffered a sudden, complete loss of motive power and engine seizure while being driven at night on an unlit, dark secondary roadway. The driver (my daughter) was left suddenly stranded without power in a highly vulnerable, pitch-black location with passing traffic, presenting an immediate collision hazard and a severe personal safety risk before emergency assistance could arrive. 3. Yes. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Hyundai dealership (pohanka Hyundai of fredericksburg), where service technicians officially diagnosed that the engine had "jumped timing" and suffered a complete failure of the timing system, alongside a noted lack of engine oil volume due to vaporization. 4. The vehicle has been formally inspected and diagnosed by the authorized Hyundai dealership service department under Hyundai motor America corporate case #[xxx]. No police or insurance inspections were required as no collision occurred. 5. No dash lights or warnings before failure. However, for a year prior, the engine exhibited severe internal oil vaporization, requiring constant top-offs between scheduled oil changes to maintain safe levels. There were zero external fluid leaks on the engine or ground; oil burned entirely internally. This chronic volumetric oil loss directly caused the sudden drop in pressure, hydraulic tensioner collapse, and catastrophic engine seizure. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2017 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

Unknown.

See all problems of the 2016 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled. The vehicle was able to restart. The check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic camshaft sensor failure. The camshaft sensors were replaced; however, the issue persisted. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact associated the issue with NHTSA campaign number 21v301000 (engine). The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.

I am writing to formally log a safety defect complaint regarding a severe mechanical failure in my 2014 Hyundai Elantra, equipped with the nu 1. 8l engine. The vehicle has been professionally diagnosed with severe internal engine knocking stemming from catastrophic piston slap, a manufacturing defect inherent to this engine family block that causes premature cylinder wall scuffing, piston ring degradation, and unmetered oil loss. The national highway traffic safety administration has previously acknowledged that manufacturing issues in Hyundai engine blocks can cause rotating internal components to fail, leading directly to sudden, un-alerted engine stalling at highway speeds, a severe and immediate safety hazard to drivers, passengers, and surrounding traffic. Despite this being a well-documented mechanical defect (originally addressed under the [xxx] , et al. V. Hyundai motor America class action settlement / service campaign txxk), Hyundai motor America is currently refusing to remedy this hazardous component. The manufacturer has repeatedly denied corporate assistance based strictly on an arbitrary calendar timeline (stating the vehicle has passed the 10-year settlement window). Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owned a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that around 4:00 o'clock in the morning, she was awoken by the sound of her dogs barking; she then discovered that her vehicle had caught fire and had burned to the ground. The fire spread, which caught fire to a nearby mobile home and a 4-wheeler. The authorities were called to the scene, and the fire department managed to extinguish all three fires. No injuries were reported, and a police report was not filed. A neighbor's ring doorbell camera captured the footage of the fire, which showed that the fire had started from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The vehicle was a total loss and remained in the contact's possession. The failure mileage was unknown.

See all problems of the 2012 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

I own a Hyundai Elantra with approximately 103,000 miles. The vehicle has developed an intermittent issue where the engine will suddenly stall while driving. This most often occurs when I am decelerating and turning, such as when entering or navigating roundabouts. At the time of the stall, multiple warning indicators appear simultaneously, including the check engine light, battery warning light, and a “no key detected” message. There are no prior warning signs before the failure occurs—no unusual noises, no loss of power leading up to the event, and no dashboard warnings in advance. The stall is sudden and unexpected. When the vehicle stalls, I must quickly shift into park and restart the engine. The car restarts immediately without hesitation, and all warning lights disappear. The vehicle then operates normally again until the issue randomly reoccurs. This has happened multiple times. This issue creates a safety risk because the vehicle loses power unexpectedly while in motion, particularly during low-speed turns and in roundabouts, which could increase the risk of a collision due to sudden loss of propulsion and reduced control. The problem has not yet been formally diagnosed by a dealer or independent repair shop, but based on research and similar reported cases, it may be related to an intermittent engine or electrical signal failure. The issue has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Unknown as to the exact failed component, but the failure appears to involve a sudden loss of engine operation without warning, followed by immediate recovery upon restart.

I am filing a safety complaint regarding a complete engine failure on my Hyundai vehicle. My vehicle experienced sudden engine failure and is now completely inoperable. There were no prior warning lights that indicated an imminent failure (include warning details if you had them). The vehicle shut down and cannot be restarted or driven. There are no open recalls associated with my VIN; however, I am reporting this because the failure appears to be sudden and severe, and I am concerned it may indicate a potential manufacturing defect or broader engine issue. The vehicle is still under financial obligation, and the engine failure has rendered it unusable. I am requesting that this incident be documented for safety tracking and investigation purposes.

Car is burning oil. Replaced timing chain and it continues to burn oil.

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed and at a stop, the vehicle lunged forward. The rpm increased and decreased without applying the accelerator pedal. The check engine light was illuminated. A mobile mechanic reset the codes but was unable to determine the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred him to the local dealer. The local dealer was contacted, who stated there was a transmission pressure sensor issue. Which prevents the service from being performed under Hyundai service campaign 863 t5b bulletin: 20-01-028h. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

Unknown car is knocking and consuming oil quickly. Oil changes done as appropriate. Timing belt/chain changed almost 2 years ago. Garage now says we have an oil consumption issue and need a new engine! we are out of warranty and power train.

The check engine light came on at 101000 miles. I took it to the shop and the mechanic said there was no oil on the dipstick and he put in oil and said we need a new engine because it is knocking. We have noticed the vehicle has a rough idle now.

The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, there was an abnormally strong gasoline odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not formally diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was a crack in the engine, causing a leak. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, but it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 23,825.

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Engine has consumed an alarming rate of oil for years. I brought to a mechanic and they performed a $2,600 repair on engine. It ran fine for while and got much worse with oil consumption to the point that I needing to add oil monthly. It has been difficult to keep up on keeping enough oil in car and engine has now sustained damaged. There is no ticking or noise, but there is a loss of power and sometimes, the engine runs rough. I continue to drive it and add oil. But I have researched this is an apparent problem with the Elantra.

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power several times, with the check engine warning light and low oil warning lights blinking. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure persisted. There was an abnormal tapping sound coming from the vehicle. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

My mother's vehicle caught fire while in park and it’s listed under a fire-risk recall. Another car got damage with the fire. I want to open a claim.

The contact’s son owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while the contact’s son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled, and the rear of the vehicle caught fire. The contact’s son pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road, and the fire extinguished on its own. No fire or police report was filed. The contact was informed by local police that a trail of oil had leaked from the contact’s son’s vehicle while driving. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and refused to replace the engine under an unknown related engine recall. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

My vehicle has a piston slap ticking issue and Hyundai will not help me fix this because it’s a common issue by Hyundai.

Within a matter of a few days my car has been stopping by itself. The car was smoking and stopping in the middle of the highway, my dealership is proving me with a new engine but is trying to have me come out of pocket for an fuel injector, please help !.

My engine failed due to a known piston problem code p1327. The recall 203 was performed 7/1/22 which put in a sensor so the dealership said that Hyundai said they do not have to fix it because it is out of warranty at 141,000 miles and was manufactured in south korea so they say it doesn't qualify for the extended warranty recall 203 dealer best practice date: October 12, 2021 subject: hma recall 203 – nu 2. 0l atkinson engine inspection and replacement - (TSB #21-01-054h-1) - remedy available v3 updates to this document date • TSB# 21-01-054h-1 – the TSB supersedes TSB # 21-01-054h to revise the parts and warranty information sections, specifically related to add engine and service kit part numbers and op codes for engine replacement. 10/12/21. My car is available for inspection. The sensor light came on on the highway when the engine was already out of oil which caused the failure. The car could have caught fire or stalled on the highway which is the safety issue. The vehicle was inspected by tires plus and got the p1327 code and also the wallace Hyundai dealer in ft. Pierce, FL which got same code.

The car only has 76000 miles on it. There are no check engine lights and the oil has always been perfect and changed on time. There is a known issue apparently with piston slap that will lead to engine failure. Hyundai refuses to replace the engine, knowing the issue. Driving it puts my safety and others at risk. The Hyundai dealership in merriam KS has confirmed the issue.

See attached document for complaint.

See all problems of the 2021 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

My car was going uphill and would only go about 15 up hill and would not accelerate, no lights came one to indicate any issues, then it started driving properly. Then after about 4 min it just died, in the middle of a busy intersection during rush hour. The check oil, engine and battery lights came on. Then after turning off car it came back on and all the lights disappeared but happened exact same way after 3 more min. Both times the lights went off. Now it trys to turn on but stalls right away and the check engine light is one. After taking to the dealer they stated that there was no oil in the engine. There are also no visible leaks to explain no oil. And 3 timing codes came up as a result of this. They conducted my routine oil change and still the codes came up and the car failed to start. In addition to all of this there is a knocking noise. I have an engine like those that have been recalled in the past but my particular VIN was not part of that recall. I have always done my oil changes at Hyundai dealer and on a regular schedule. This sounds to me like the same issue the other same types of engines had.

My car was going uphill and would only go about 15 up hill and would not accelerate, then after aboit 4 min it just died, the check oil, engine and battery lights came on. Then after turning off car it came back on but happened exact same way after 3 more min. Both times the lights went off. Now it trys to turn on but stalls right away.

Said it needed a map sensor. I replaced it and it started acting g crazy. Dying at stop lights making weird noises. I finally threw cod p0011 so I bought the oil control valve before it arrived NY car died. It skipped 5 or 6 teeth. 3,900 left to pay on it. Im a single mom and need my car to provide [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving, check engine light illuminated, with a loss of power when accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with power train failure and received diagnostic code p040100. The vehicle was repaired; however, the issue persisted. The vehicle was returned to the dealer multiple times but still continued the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 43,000.

See all problems of the 2024 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

We purchased the car 4 or 5 months for my son who works for his god mom as her assistant at a nonprofit. The car ran great until without no warning lights from instrument panel just left him sit in the middle of a busy road. The mechanic found a camshaft pin stuck in the camshaft & the timing jump 2 teeth. Repairs= oxygen sensor, timing component & exhaust camshaft total $3,557. Some 2018 are being recalled for the same issue but not his VIN.

The 2. 0l nu gdi engine in this vehicle is experiencing terminal internal failure. Following a p1326 ksds warning event, a borescope inspection at an authorized dealership documented severe cylinder wall scoring in all four cylinders. Despite this documented internal block destruction, the manufacturer has denied the mandated settlement warranty repair based on a software-based proxy test (bct). The vehicle was returned in an unsafe condition and is currently stalling and vibrating violently while in traffic, posing an immediate risk of loss of power and traffic collision. The manufacturer is ignoring the documented physical failure of a core engine component.