NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 267 owner complaints for the 2019 Hyundai Elantra.
Recalled components: engine. Most-described problem: stalling or shutting off (61 complaints, 23%). Most-reported area: engine (145 complaints, 54%; median mileage when it happened: 82,500).
One of the best Elantra years by owner complaints
The 2019 drew 59 owner complaints in its first three years, against 101 for a typical Elantra year since 2016. No open NHTSA investigation names it, and it has no recall telling owners not to drive or to park outside.
Years to avoid: 2013; best years: 2016 and 2019. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
Risk: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines.
NHTSA listing: ELANTRA. Hyundai campaign 203.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2019 Hyundai Elantra.
What owners report
Owners have filed 267 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Elantra. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Stalling or shutting off61 · 23%
Median 82,500 miles at failure, from 16 reports with mileage
Median 82,500 miles at failure, from 26 reports with mileage
Exterior lighting66 · 25%
Most named: headlights (6) · Median 40,000 miles at failure, from 15 reports with mileage
Electrical system37 · 14%
Powertrain12 · 4%
Steering9 · 3%
Forward collision avoidance8 · 3%
Most named: warnings (7)
Brakes7 · 3%
Unknown or other26 · 10%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Hyundai Elantra recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2019 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2013 Elantra drew the most (347) and the 2019 drew 59.
Owner complaints
2019: 267 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Hyundai Elantra
Model year
Complaints
2010
455
2011
462
2012
676
2013
1,348
2014
396
2015
263
2016
300
2017
797
2018
335
2019
267
2020
263
2021
162
2022
159
2023
173
2024
64
2025
36
2026
4
Safety recalls
2019: 1 recallTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Hyundai Elantra
Model year
Recalls
2010
4
2011
8
2012
5
2013
4
2014
2
2015
3
2016
2
2017
4
2018
1
2019
1
2020
3
2021
7
2022
8
2023
4
2024
2
2025
2
2026
4
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 267 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Hyundai Elantra, the problems described most are stalling or shutting off (61), engine failure or replacement (46), and the check engine light coming on (35). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2019 Hyundai Elantra safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2019 Hyundai Elantra earns 4 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2019 Hyundai Elantra?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2019 Hyundai Elantra.
How do I check if my Elantra has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Hyundai dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: ELANTRA, ELANTRA GT.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.