Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Hyundai Elantra - part 1

The contact owned a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that they were informed by a family member that when the vehicle was turned on and moved into the driveway, smoke was coming from underneath the hood, where the engine was located. A while later, when returning to the vehicle, they noticed the vehicle had caught fire. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. There were no injuries or medical attention needed. The contact was unsure if a report was filed. The vehicle was towed and determined totaled. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

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The vehicle caught fire while it was in motion; there were loud bangs and a lot of noise, and smoke started coming out of the front, and the engine and the undercarriage caught fire. I managed to turn it off, but when they were towing it, the mechanics did the diagnostic and found wires were faulty and damaged the engine.

See all problems of the 2014 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

Check engine turn on , sent to shop for check up and they find out the engine is leaking.

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact also stated that the rear passenger’s side door failed to open when the unlock button was engaged. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not diagnosed regarding the door failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 134,541.

We were heading back to ohio at mile marker 8 75n kentucky when we heard a boom. Then we saw smoke as my husband was pulling over. We jump out to get our child out of the car seat and at the same time a pickup truck pulls up with two guys. They yell that our cars on fire and began putting the fire out with a fire extinguisher. We had an oil change before we left ohio by valvoline. This area of the hwy isn't really patrolled and only has a volunteer fire department. A constable just happened to pass by us on the way to indiana.

See all problems of the 2018 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

My engine has a piston slap. I have the 1. 8l 4cy nu engine. It causes the car to stall unexpectedly creating a potential for serious accidents.

See all problems of the 2013 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

The vehicle is burning the engine oil. I get regular oil changes on time. I was told by the service center I had low oil at an oil change. It was changed and then again it a few months later I burned through the oil again. I checked it and there was very little oil. There is no leak. It is just burning it.

See all problems of the 2020 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

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.

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I was on a delivery yesterday when this first occurred. I put my car into reverse and proceded to back up when my engine cut off suddenly and a loud warning came on , on my dash by the steering wheel it said . . . Engine off, shift to neutral and restart. That is what I did and it restarted and I continued on with my deliveries. Then the exact same thing happened again today so I called the dealership and they said there is a recall with the isg system that could be the issue but no resolution yet so there's nothing they can do. In the meantime time I can't use my vehicle for work as im a full time food delivery driver and I have to back up into roadways multiple times a day going in and out of driveways and I can't risk my safety or other drivers safety as my car may turn off in the roadway.

See all problems of the 2023 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

Excessive oil consumption. Engine completely dry after 3500 miles in between oil change with no check oil warning light.

Oil leaking from pistons in engine just like the recalled engines.

2020 Elantra built in alabama with 2. 0l engine has p0016 code and severe oil sludge at 73k miles - identical to recall 21v301 symptoms but excluded because manufactured in alabama not korea. This appears to be the same defect affecting a different production batch.

Vehicle routinely sputters and stalls at slow speeds. This happens once or twice during most times I use the car. This has happened in intersections and on highways at stop and go traffic. The car is not safe to drive. I haves brought the vehicle into the dealer at least three times for this and they have replaced a different valve (don't know what it was) on two of the occasions but the problem continues. I have an upcoming appointment with my authorized Hyundai dealer (the vehicle is still under warranty) and hope I have better luck next time. But a vehicle that stalls on every trip is not safety.

Engine blew up on the highway almost causing an accident. The car has had problems with rapid oil consumption since 20000 miles on the car. Always checked oil everyday and added oil when needed and regular oil changes every 3000 miles car was very well taken care of. No oil light or check engine light came on when the engine blew up.

I am writing to formally file a safety complaint regarding my 2020 Hyundai Elantra. I recently learned that Hyundai issued a recall related to a defect that poses a risk of engine fires in certain vehicles. However, my vehicle, which has exhibited the same dangerous symptoms, was not included in this recall campaign. Specifically, my vehicle has experienced a critical error relating to a defect included in NHTSA recall #21v-301, which I understand is directly related to the safety defect identified in Hyundai’s recall. Despite this, I have not received a recall notice, and Hyundai has declined to provide repair coverage under the recall. This raises serious concerns for my safety, the safety of my passengers, and the public. A defect that can cause an engine fire should not be limited to specific VIN ranges if the underlying issue is present in additional vehicles like mine. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate this matter and ensure Hyundai expands the recall to include affected vehicles such as mine. If Hyundai continues to exclude vehicles with the same defect, I believe this could warrant further legal and consumer protection actions, including potential class action litigation. Please find my vehicle information below: 2020 Hyundai Elantra VIN: 5npd74lf1lh538038 mileage: 51,000 thank you for your time and attention to this urgent safety concern. I look forward to your response and am willing to provide additional documentation, repair invoices, or photographs as needed. Sincerely, alexis beliveau.

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.

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).

My 2015 Hyundai Elantra fits the 'window' of Elantras where the engine transmission slips gears without notice. Hyundai dealers have been replacing transmissions at no cost, if the car is still under 100,000 miles, as part of a class action settlement. As the second owner, I have no warranty rights to get Hyundai to fix my car at no cost. This is despite the Hyundai dealer just today (Aug 20, 2025) here in las vegas was ready to replace my transmission at no cost until they found out I am the second owner. The car is still unsafe. The need is still relevant. The dealer was willing at first. Now I am faced with an unsafe vehicle forced to possibly pass in excess of $4,000 to fix an issue that has been know and litigated.

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After the recall at Hyundai, my car wouldn't run and there were many lights on the dashboard. It was later checked and the instability light problem persisted. They fixed on the same time, and say something problem with the update. They later informed me that I have a problem with the brake switch, and the brake lights don't work because of it. I replaced and doesn’t work, I went back to the store and they want me to pay a fee to have it analyzed again. Even though before the recall, the lights and the car were working perfectly.

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that after an oil change was performed at jiffy lube, the engine seized while driving. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the highway and parked. The vehicle was towed to the residence, and the tow truck driver informed the contact that an unknown engine part had detached on the road and there was no oil in the engine. Jiffy lube inspected the vehicle at the residence and informed the contact that they were not responsible for the engine failure, which was caused by a lack of oil changes after 10,000 miles. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,151.

Oil consumption, 1 quart a week with no known or visible leaks. 64,000 miles.

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.

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.

On August 9, 2025, my 2013 Hyundai Elantra suffered catastrophic engine failure while driving. The engine seized, creating immediate danger on the road. This vehicle is under NHTSA recall 23v651000 (Hyundai recall 251), which warns of fire/engine compartment risks both while parked and driving. Hyundai denied my claim, citing a vendor report that found “no thermal damage” to the abs wiring. However, the dealer’s inspection confirmed internal engine failure with thermal damage, and I directly witnessed flames. The recall does not require abs wiring itself to burn , it covers the broader safety hazard of fire and failure, which is exactly what occurred. In addition, Hyundai tried to shift blame onto owner maintenance. Their own recall language acknowledges failures occur due to the defect, not neglect. Furthermore, the handling by Hyundai’s case managers was unacceptable: my case was transferred without notice, calls were ignored, and I was left without clear instructions or remedy while my vehicle was disabled. I have attached the denial letter, the dealer report, the recall notice, and proof of maintenance. I request NHTSA review Hyundai’s mishandling of this recall obligation and require them to provide remedy and compensation.

Burning oil. Multiple misfires. Replacing spark plugs more often than should have to. Engine knocking.

Oil consumption will cut off while driving.

I own a 2016 Hyundai Elantra, and the engine makes a noticeable knocking or “tapping” noise when started cold. The sound resembles piston slap and usually lessens as the engine warms up, but it’s been gradually getting louder over time. It’s most noticeable for the first few minutes after startup, especially in cooler weather. I’m concerned this may indicate premature piston or cylinder wear. I’ve found many other 2016 Elantra owners reporting the same problem online, suggesting it may be a design or manufacturing issue. The vehicle has been properly maintained with the correct oil grade and regular service, so this shouldn’t be happening at this mileage. This could eventually lead to engine failure or costly repairs if the piston or cylinder surfaces deteriorate further. I’m reporting this so NHTSA can track the issue and determine if it poses a broader reliability or safety concern.

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My 2013 Hyundai Elantra with the 1. 8l nu engine suffered catastrophic engine failure. A mechanic found metal shavings in the oil and diagnosed a failed connecting rod bearing. The Hyundai dealership quoted $10,000 for a new engine and refused warranty coverage because I am over 120,000 miles, even though this is a well-documented defect. Hyundai issued TSB 22-em-007h covering rod bearing wear in this engine, and there have been class actions and warranty extensions for similar failures. This failure creates a safety hazard, as the engine can seize or stall suddenly while driving, increasing risk of an accident. I request NHTSA investigate this known defect in the 1. 8l nu engine, as it poses a safety risk to myself and others.

While driving down the road, the car lost complete power. No warning lights came on until after the car had lost power. Car struggled to start back up. I put flashers on in hopes that others would notice my disabled vehicle in the middle of the road, while it was also pouring down the rain. The vehicle was towed to my local dealership where it was confirmed that I would need a new engine. The engine had a high oil consumption issue that caused it to stale while driving. The dealership informed me either there was a rod bearing issue or a piston slap in the engine. They recommended to park the car until fixed.

When you accelerate & let off the gas pedal, the vehicle still accelerated for 2 seconds after you release the gas pedal. It is like there is a delay with drive by wire signal. This situation can cause rear end collisions & hard panic braking. Please recall this situation to prevent higher insurance cost & increased accidents!.

See all problems of the 2024 Hyundai Elantra 🔎.

My engine blew in September 2024. I had it replaced. When I replaced it I got a one year warranty and unlimited mile warranty. It now blew in July 2025. I have had it Hyundai of mankato which they didnt want to wait on Hyundai of America to do anything to fix it and told my mechanics to have my car get offline their lot. My mechanics towed my car to happy Hyundai of rochester. Hyundai of America will not accept my warranty now and just pay for the new motor, tear down, and the time they have in it. Hyundai of America told my mechanics if they took it from Hyundai of mankato and brought it to another dealership that they approve of that they would accept my warranty and pay for all parts and everything. Hyundai of America picked happy Hyundai of rochester. Where my car is.

I have taken my car in twice due to my car braking when there is not a vehicle and or object in front of me but there are vehicles right behind me that have to brake but crain denies that there are any issues. My engine light came on a couple of weeks ago and I took it to auto zone to have a diagnostic test done. The report states that it has something wrong with the transmission/transmission line and or fluid. When I looked it up online it stated that there are recalls on engine pistons that could cause the diagnostic test to read that it's the transmission. My car is a 2020 Hyundai Elantra value edition but according to your website, there are no recalls!?.

The dealership replaced my engine and spark plugs when the pistons were grinding metal causing a catastrophic failure in November of 2024. In July of 2025 I started experiencing the same issues and the dealership stated that Hyundais ignition coils have a high rate of failure because they changed the design and used my old ones from my engine replacement. It is now I brought my car into the dealership July 18th and they stated that was their best guess but they didn’t now forsure. I was never informed of the high rate of failure until I was experiencing it.

I purchased my 2019 Hyundai Elantra from a third-party dealer (mike carlson motor company in haltom city, TX) on may 30, 2024. 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. July 16, 2025, 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.

When driving at low speeds(20mph and under) vehicle stalls. It appears to happen at random. It makes driving pretty dangerous for other vehicles that would not be able to tell the vehicle has stalled and hit me at low speeds. All electrics stay on, there is no check engine light. The problem first appeared after ignition lock was broken, even before replaced it started stalls at low speeds, seems to possibly happen more after engine is warmed up.