2019 Hyundai Elantra: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 244 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 1 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
244
Complaints
1
Recalls
12
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
4
Injuries
56.6
Severity index
Severity index 56.6 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 123 2019 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2019 Hyundai Elantra ranks 52 of 123 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 58% of its model-year peers. See the full 2019 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 126 | 51.6% |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 65 | 26.6% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 37 | 15.2% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 25 | 10.2% |
| POWER TRAIN | 11 | 4.5% |
| STEERING | 9 | 3.7% |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 6 | 2.5% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 6 | 2.5% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 126 of 244 complaints (51.6%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 39 |
| 2022 | 38 |
| 2023 | 44 |
| 2024 | 34 |
| 2025 | 44 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 29 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 1.4x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V301000 | 28/04/2021 | 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 not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.