2019 Hyundai Elantra Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year centre on the 2.0L engine, where owners describe stalling, loss of power, knocking noises and oil consumption, often with reference to recall 21V301000. A second, separate cluster concerns headlights, particularly high beams that stop working or give poor night-time illumination. Smaller groups of reports cover battery drain, steering noise and various one-off faults.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalling, knocking or loss of power

   • 89 complaints (35%)
   • median 89,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $8,300 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe the engine stalling or losing motive power while driving, sometimes with a knocking or banging noise from the engine bay and the check engine or oil warning light coming on. Several report that the vehicle would not restart or restarted only after a delay. According to the complaints, dealers sometimes replaced the engine or diagnosed scored cylinder walls, failed rod bearings or timing chain problems, while other owners were told the fault could not be reproduced or that their VIN was not covered by the recall. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 160,000 miles, with many examples between about 60,000 and 130,000 miles.

   Recall 21V3010003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the vehicle has had recall 21V301000 performed and whether an engine replacement has already been done; check oil level and look for a fuel or burning smell, and listen for knocking on a cold start.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Drove my car 12 miles from work to father’s house no issues. Started car back up and engine light came on. Called my boyfriend and said light came on and now car isn’t staying on. Tried to drive 4 miles home and every time I stopped at stop sign or light the car died. One time it died as I was going 35 mph. I pulled up to busy intersection and the car died and I could not get it to start. A guy was stuck behind me got out of truck and pushed me through the intersection and off to the side of the road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11498144, filed 2022-12

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11686309, filed 2025-09
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   High beams inoperable or headlights too dim

   • 50 complaints (20%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 2.5 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners report that the high-beam headlights stop working, sometimes both at once, or that the low beams give inadequate light at night. In several cases bulbs, fuses and relays were ruled out or replaced without curing the fault, and dealers diagnosed a faulty headlamp assembly or light switch. Some owners note the problem returned after an earlier headlamp repair. Mostly reported between roughly 11,000 and 96,000 miles, with several under 40,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test both high and low beams after dark before buying, and ask whether the headlamp assemblies or light switch have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driver's side headlight will not change from high beam to low beam. Oncoming traffic flash there high beams at me to warn me that my high beam is on making night travel impossible. I also can't drive through a city or I will get a citation for high beams on in city limits. The next issue I've noticed is the passenger side rear tire wears unusually fast.”

   NHTSA complaint #11415709, filed 2021-05, 47,000 miles

   “Since I bought the car I noticed a lack of considerable light output coming from the front headlights. Turning on the brights is just worst as it lowers the line of sight instead of increasing it. The overall lights are dim. Changing the bulbs does nothing. This is especially dangerous at night as you can't see very well.”

   NHTSA complaint #11394919, filed 2021-02, 35,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Excessive engine oil consumption

   • 30 complaints (12%)
   • median 114,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe oil needing frequent topping up between changes with no visible external leak, sometimes accompanied by a burning oil smell, rough idle or stalling. Some owners say dealers confirmed higher-than-expected consumption, while others report the vehicle was not repaired or the work was not covered. Typically reported between about 30,000 and 134,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and ask for service records showing oil added between changes; a service bulletin describes an inspection and cleaning procedure for high oil consumption.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle started making strange noises and not accelerating properly. On April 1, 2024 Took to dealership where purchase was made and it died upon arrival. Dealership couldn't identify issue but believed oil consumption was excessive and said to take it to a Hyundai dealer. On April 30, Hyundai tech said issue was a valve and would be fixed by May 3. It is now May 15 and my vehicle remains in the shop with no resolve. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11588824, filed 2024-05

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11560917, filed 2023-12, 114,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Steering noise or vibration at speed

   • 11 complaints (4%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 2.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   A small number of owners report grinding or rubbing noises from the steering column when turning, and one describes the wheel shaking at highway speeds. Repairs mentioned include steering column replacement, with the problem recurring in at least one case. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 63,000 miles.

   What to check: Turn the wheel lock to lock while stationary and listen for rubbing or grinding, and take a highway test drive to check for vibration through the wheel.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The steering wheel locked up while driving with cruise set driving my rpms went to 8 had no control over the vehicle ended up crossing three lanes of traffic hitting the side of the road going down the hill into a ditch.”

   NHTSA complaint #11390555, filed 2021-01, 40,000 miles

   “May 2019 vehicle went in had the steering column replaced due to a rubbing sound coming from inside the vehicle every time steering wheel was turned whether in town or highway or parked. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11397024, filed 2021-02, 11,622 miles

Buying note. Give this model year a careful mechanical check: confirm the status of recall 21V301000, look for engine noise or oil consumption, and test the headlights after dark. Service records showing regular oil checks and any completed software or recall work are worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.