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EnginePart report

2009 Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems

Complaints
13about this part
Share
5%of 254 total for the year
Median mileage
86,500miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the engine of the 2009 Hyundai Elantra, 5% of the 254 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 86,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 5 a fire, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Was driving home on interstate and all of sudden all my dash lights came on without warning, car died. Pulled over and parked it . Didn't overheat or anything. I'm confused why now my car won't start . Or attempt to turn over . Help!!”

NHTSA complaint #11172352, filed 2019-01, 26,500 miles

“I hit a deer on highway 890 in rotterdam ny, spun out of control and hit the guardrail, car had damage all around, the most damage was in the front resulting in a totaled vehicle, my whole front end is gone, and no airbags deployed, we were traveling doing about 60 miles per hour”

NHTSA complaint #10820497, filed 2016-01, 113,000 miles

“On 09/17/2018 I woke up around 5 am to find the Elantra fully engulfed in flames in the front end. It wasn't running, nothing left on, it had not been run for 4 hours so the engine should have been cold. No drivability problems before. Police and fire department responded, put the fire out and stated that they saw nothing suspicious about the fire and that I should check on problems with Hyundai. This car only had 70000 miles on it with a 10 year 100000 mile warrantee .I went to the dealer, they told me it was not covered without even looking at it. …”

NHTSA complaint #11140848, filed 2018-10, 70,000 miles

“Receive service campaign notification to apply rust-proofing materials to underbody to arrest the corrosion process. Took car to local Hyundai dealer for rust-proofing and was informed that the oil pan is rusted and needs replaced at a cost to me over $600 - I have written estimate from Hyundai dealer. Informed that oil pan needs replaced because if it fails that oil will leak out and damage\ruin engine. Told Hyundai would not cover oil pan replacement under warranty as I am not the original owner even though mileage was under 100,000 at time of service. …”

NHTSA complaint #10824195, filed 2016-02, 99,000 miles

“My vehicle the Elantra ( aprox sp 40mph) rear ended a chevy tahoe( aprx sp 30mph) my Elantra was a total loss and my lower back was injured as well as my right hand. I had to be taken from the vehicle from ems and transported to the hospital. The occupant of the tahoe didn't receive any injury. This is the second accident in this vehicle that the air bags did not deploy . In 2011 my vehicle moving aprox 55mph struck 3 deer at once on the passenger front of the vehicle, my son experience a shoulder injury who was my passenger.”

NHTSA complaint #10592926, filed 2014-05, 170,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2025314%
2024814%
20232020%
20221111%
20211310%
202010943%
201913453%
201814250%
201729138%
201611138%
20159235%
201416643%
201323318%
201213921%
20119221%
2010154%
2009135%
2008248%
2007124%
200621%
200543%
200453%
200310%
200221%
200141%
200063%
199922%
199711%

Other parts of the 2009 Hyundai Elantra

Steering
133 complaints
Air bags
42 complaints
Brakes
27 complaints
Electrical system
24 complaints
Vehicle speed control
18 complaints
Other or unknown
11 complaints
Body and structure
11 complaints
Electronic stability control
10 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
8 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaints
Equipment
3 complaints
Exterior lighting
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology