Complaint volume
243 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2019 Hyundai Elantra Complaints
243 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2019 Hyundai Elantra, grouped by component category.
243 Total complaints
12 Crash reports
3 Fire reports
3 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are engine, exterior lighting, unknown or other. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 12 crash reports, 3 fire reports, 3 injury reports, and 1 fatality report. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 56 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 60,433 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to engine, exterior lighting, unknown or other?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2019 Hyundai Elantra?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2019 Hyundai Elantra
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2019 Hyundai Elantra complaints?
12 Crash
3 Fire
3 Injury
1 Fatality
20 Towed
3 Medical attention
What are the most common 2019 Hyundai Elantra complaint categories?
ENGINE 91
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 45
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING 9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 5
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 4
SEAT BELTS 3
STEERING 3
243 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2022 | ENGINE | 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. My boyfriend got there got it started and drove the remaining 2 miles home. He changed the oil which was low and had just been changed 2 months ago. The car still repeated the same behavior. My VIN is not included in the engine recall. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2022 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Dim headlights and faulty high beam lights that do not work at all; while the sensor remains lit up on the dash board. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2022 | ENGINE | The check engine light went on in my Elantra a couple of weeks ago. I immediately take it to my local Jiffy Lube and they tell me it’s a camshaft protector sensor and that I need to take it to the dealership. After multiple failed attempts at contacting the dealership, I’m finally able to make an appointment to drop it off a few days later. However, my car doesn’t make it that far. Within those 3 days, the car breaks down on me three times. It happens when I am either at a red light at a complete stop, or as I am slowing down, waiting to make a turn. The engine shutting down put me at extreme risk as I was driving in a busy area. Luckily, I was able to change my appointment to that very day (November 16th) and I make it to the dealership for drop off. They take one week to get back to me and tell me that there is oil sludge causing the engine to fail, and they want me to pay for the engine replacement because it is due to lack of maintenance. I find this hard to believe because I just had my oil changed and my engine checked due to an open recall in July of this year. It has been 4 months (and I don’t drive that far on a daily basis) since my car was serviced and Hyundai is trying to place the blame on me for their faulty engine. The attached photo is the maintenance that I received in July. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2022 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | the high beam actuator has failed which has resulted in loss of high beam usage. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2022 | AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE | I hit a small center divider in a parking structure going about 1 MPH which hit under the car. The three front airbags deployed. There is no body damage to the front of the car so I don’t think that the airbags should have deployed. My local dealership can’t fix it and I have reached out to Hyundai USA and they are not responding. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2022 | ENGINE | Car stop while I’m drying for no reason no warning | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH at night, the high-beam headlights failed to work as needed. The contact was able to drive to her destination; however, the contact stated that the vehicle became undrivable at night. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,900. | Crash: No Fire: No | 95,900 |
| Oct 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I was driving down a main highway, approaching a busy intersection preparing to turn left... I had a green light without a green arrow and had quite a bit of distance/time between myself and any approaching vehicle so I went ahead and proceeded. Just as I entered the intersection, all of the sudden my car stopped responding to my pressing on the gas pedal. The motor was very loud and dry sounding, and the RPM gauge was running abnormally high but the car itself, was barely moving. I continued trying to give it gas, even checked to see if something had knocked it out of gear (that was NOT the case)! Cross-traffic began to approach the intersection so I really started to work on the gas pedal, pumping it and when that failed, I mashed the gas all the way to the floor and finally just before I was about to be hit the car down the pedal and finally the car began to move!! It has been doing some hesitating for a while now but it barely made it out of the intersection this time and that was terrifying!! I have it in the shop now waiting to see what the problem is but this needs reporting. I do everything I'm supposed to with maintaining my car... oil changes, spark plugs, fluid checks and it has less than 50,000 miles so that shouldn't have happened! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing rough idles at the red light. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that there was a burning oil odor coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number:21v301000 (Engine) as the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 39,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 39,000 |
| Sep 2022 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The headlight high beams do not function, leaving me unable to see. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2022 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under an unknown recall for the headlamps; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the headlights occasionally would not illuminate after the vehicle was started or while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that when the headlights failed to illuminate, the warning messages for daytime running lights and headlight and taillight out warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the driver’s headlight needed replacement because it did not illuminate. The contact then stated that the passenger’s side headlight needed replacement; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the repair for the headlights would be out of pocket. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and also informed the contact that the repairs would not be covered for the headlights. The contact stated that the manufacturer referred him to the NHTSA Hotline and informed him that he may seek legal advice. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 40,000 |
| Sep 2022 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 60-70 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle hesitated to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that they could not duplicate the failure. However, the independent mechanic informed the contact that the failure could be associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 63,000 |
| Sep 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | My car stalled for no apparent reason… The warning lidhts weren’t on the dash and the oil indicator didn’t show low. I restarted it and drove home. It stalled a couple more times. The idiot lights didn’t come on again nor did it show me low oil. When I got home my son checked the oil and it was dangerously low. We added more oil and drove it again it appeared to be fine. He changed the oil just to be on the safe side. And when he restarted it all hell broke lose. He then ran a diagnostic test on it to see what was wrong. The engine was blown. I had it towed to a shop for confirmation. Yep a rod blew through the block. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Vehicle high beams have been inoperable, even after replacing bulbs multiple time. Hyundai indicates it is a known issue that requires costly replacement of headlight assembly. When will the NHTSA order Hyundai to recall this safety issue. I drive nightly on a two lane highway that is dark and has lots of donkeys. Speed limit is 65 if I slow down to compensate for visibility I’m bound to get rear ended by a semi truck. If I follow the posted speed limits I won’t have enough time to stop for a donkey. Both are life threatening situations that should prompt this agency to order Hyundai to recall | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2022 | STEERING,ENGINE | My car was stolen. I'm waiting to hear how much repairs will cost. The steering wheel ignition lock is easy bypassed by using only a small screwdriver or USB cord. This makes the car easily stolen and therefore violates the requirements of 571.114 which requires a "starting system which, whenever the key is removed from the starting system prevents.. the normal activation of the vehicles engine or motor". This affects all Kia / Hyundai vehicles with a normal keyed ignition and without a vehicle immobilizer produced from approximately 2009-2022. Since the technology required to comply with the regulation (i.e. a vehicle immobilizer) is readily available and available on other cars from this maker, the vehicle manufacturer knowingly violated this regulation. I request a NHTSA inquiry into this clear safety defect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2022 | ENGINE | Vehicle stalled at red light, towed to dealer with Seized Motor according to dealer. According to recall this may happen. Car is 2019, purchased new, still under warranty. Denying warranty work due to missing 1 oil change. Will not make good on recall. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2022 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The High beams will not engage lights stay on dim mode | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2022 | STEERING | When steering, the steering wheel makes a rubbing noise. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2022 | ENGINE | 35K miles; they are replacing the motor (2.0L Atkinson Cycle (G4NH)). They did a compression test and it failed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2022 | POWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE | Trouble code:P0011 Mechanic replaced timing soliend. On driving car home, the engine began shutting down. Took back to mechanic who stated he could not get the engine to repeat trouble. Continue to drive and see what happens. Continued to drive but engine shut down got continuously worse and there is a sound like a fan blade is knocking against something (best way I can describe the noise)which is intermittent. Headlights are very dim. This was noticed late last year. It got so bad that I started to Google it and found there are other companies about this online including that the high beams don't work at all . | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I have gotten notice for a recall three times from the manufacturer and/or dealership and everytime I take it in, something is wrong and there's an excuse as to why the recall isn't being done. As a matter of fact your site shows that there is no active recall but there is or I wouldn't keep getting notifications to bring my car in. I need someone to look into what is going on before something bad happens to me or my family while I'm driving. Thank you | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2022 | ENGINE | Vehicle engine light came on and vehicle started driving rough at times stalling while driving it. Took it to a certified mechanic and he advised that it showed coils were bad. After replacing al coils plus spark plugs vehicle still showed engine light on. It also diagnosed sensors and cam shafts, solenoids. After all work performed vehicle engine light was still on and was driving rough at times still stalling on the road. I found that Hyundai had a recall on the same vehicle and make, model, engine type. When I took it to the dealership, they told me my VIN was not included in the recall even though it matched the exactly matched the recall. I have spent over two months without my vehicle, and it is still at the dealership. I have also incurred a lot of mechanical and rental fees so I could get back and forth to work. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2022 | ENGINE | Have had this problem on and off for a solid year, at one point I found the recall referenced in the other complaints stating my car was affected however when I search now it says “no unrepaired recalls” for reference, I’ve made 3 calls regarding this scary issue and have been told the same dealership doesn’t do loaners and on another day doesn’t have loaners & have also been given a 6 week wait period to see if they can get around to it. it doesn’t matter if I’m on the highway or at a stop sign the car will just out of no where shut off. This has caused an accident between myself and the guard rail on the highway a few months back. All the lights will come on and the car will just stop. This is usually paired with a rattling noise as well. It happens multiple times a day or week sometimes it will happen 4 times in a 10 minute drive. It is so scary & Hyundai hasn’t seemed to care. Sometimes it will go on for weeks and then have a few weeks where it stops. I also feel like I oil changes an abnormal amount, it’s like everytime I go they tell me I’m way over due yet the mileage doesn’t add up. Worst car I’ve ever owned. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2022 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The headlamp actuator inside the headlight assembly that flips to reveal high beams or low beams is made of a cheap, flimsy plastic that wears down quickly. When it is worn down, the rod can no longer control whether high beams or low beams are shown. Because of this, this car is stuck with either high beams or no headlights at all. This is extremely unsafe for nighttime driving as you are stuck being invisible and likely to be hit by another car or alternatively, blinding the other occupants of the road at night. A full headlight assembly replacement is required which numbers to nearly $3000 for both sides. However, the replacement is going to have the same issue down the line due to the non-durable material of the shutter. There have been many complaints on Youtube and Hyundai forums about this exact issue, but there has yet to be a recall of any sort despite the safety hazard this presents. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2022 | ENGINE | The manufacture looked at the vehicle and stated the car engine has siezed. Safety was put at risk because i was driving down my street home when the engine made a noise and it stopped all together. I was going about 10 miles per hour, so no actual injuries. The issue has been confirmed by the Hyundai Dealership. There were no warning lights or anything prior to the engine being siezed. The vehicle has been serviced regularly. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |