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2019 Hyundai Elantra: engine and transmission complaints

VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
76%
143 of 189 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

76% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2019 Hyundai Elantra are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.

Worse than 96% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 64 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 57%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
143
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
253
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
12 crashes · 4 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE135 · 53%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING65 · 26%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM37 · 15%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER25 · 10%
POWER TRAIN11 · 4%
STEERING9 · 4%

The years either side

2010
15%
59 of 454
2011
32%
121 of 460
2012
34%
181 of 674
2013
26%
290 of 1,334
2014
55%
193 of 391
2015
47%
110 of 262
2016
54%
142 of 299
2017
47%
343 of 790
2018
64%
196 of 330
2019
76%
143 of 253
2020
66%
148 of 257
2021
20%
20 of 129
2022
29%
25 of 116
2023
30%
46 of 166

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other compact cars with no elevated signal in 2019

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

ENGINE08/29/20251 INJURED
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 …
ENGINE09/04/2026
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 35-40 MPH on a bridge, the engine made a loud banging and knocking sound, and the vehicle stalled. The driver shifted into neutral, coasted down the bridge with the engine off, and pulled over to the side of the road. The dri…
ENGINE09/03/2026
2019 Hyundai Elantra with 2.0L Nu MPI engine suffered catastrophic engine failure at approximately 118,530 miles. Vehicle is currently at the [XXX] Hyundai dealership. Vehicle appears to fall within the exact parameters of Hyundai Recall 203/NHTSA 21V-301. Have spoken to the dealership as well as Hyundai corporate and …

Three of 143 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (1)

ENGINE
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may …

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2019 Hyundai Elantra

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.