Hyundai Elantra engine problems, 2016–2026
955 of the 2,530 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Hyundai Elantra 2016–2026 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2017 (315), 2018 (173), 2019 (147). Filed under the same heading across these years: 5 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recall campaigns, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Hyundai Elantra engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 33% | — | — | the year → |
| 2025 | 5 | 15% | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 10 | 16% | — | 7 TSBs · 1 recall | the year → |
| 2023 | 24 | 14% | — | 12 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 | 21 | 13% | — | 14 TSBs | the year → |
| 2021 | 24 | 15% | — | 15 TSBs · 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2020 in depth | 115 | 44% | 29k | 40 TSBs · 1 recall | the record → |
| 2019 in depth | 147 | 55% | 89k | 45 TSBs · 1 recall | the record → |
| 2018 in depth | 173 | 52% | 40k | 53 TSBs | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 315 | 40% | 55k | 45 TSBs · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 120 | 40% | 77k | 72 TSBs | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2015: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 7 · 2018: 28 · 2019: 43 · 2020: 58 · 2021: 121 · 2022: 144 · 2023: 149 · 2024: 144 · 2025: 133 · 2026: 124
Across the model years, half of the 289 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 25,000 and 89,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I am the second owner of a 2017 Hyundai Elantra GT hatchback. I have not had any issues with the car until last week. I was driving in town to pick something up and the engine started knocking and losing power. The rpms would go up but I could not go anywhere. Eventually I had to park the car and have it towed to my house.
I was driving down the freeway and moved over to pass a slower vehicle when the engine lost acceleration. I pulled over to the side oft the road and had the vehicle towed to the nearest garage. They told me the engine lost all its oil and the engine needed to be replaced. I find this hard to believe in a 4 year old car.
On July 11, 2022 I was driving home when the MIL warning started flashing on my dashboard, and then my car began to stall. I was able to drive the car home and then have it towed to a local shop, who said that my oil was nearly gone and refilled it.
Engine seized and turned off unexpectedly and would not restart for hours. When it did start up a few seconds later it turned off again without driving this time. The battery, gas and oil were fine. It is now very very noisy and undrivable. There was a light ticking prior, but nothing concerning or I haven't heard most cars do.
The oil consumption appears similar to issues reported in recalls and investigations involving Hyundai engines; Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation II. However, when the VIN was checked, it was reported as not included in any recall. No external oil leaks have been identified.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 24V308000 HighMay 1, 2024 · 13,511 vehicles
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Elantra, Venue, and Kona vehicles. An electrical short circuit may occur in the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve assembly, which can result in a loss of drive power.
- 21V301000 CriticalApr 28, 2021 · 158,493 vehicles
- 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.
NHTSA investigation
- DP22003 Loss of Motive Poweropened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints i…
5 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Sep 11, 2026
- Hyundai has become aware that your Hyundai Elantra equipped with a 2.0 ATK engine may have been incorrectly updated with Cylinder Noise Detection System (CNDS) software intended only for Korean-built Elantra vehicles and may not meet specifications.
- Mar 26, 2026
- This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H-2 (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine Replacement) or the latest version.
- Mar 26, 2026
- This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine Replacement) or the latest version.
- Mar 6, 2026
- Some Elantra (CN7) vehicles equipped with the 2.0L AKS NU PE engine may exhibit an illuminated Check Engine light for diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P218100 or P013300 which are related to the Integrated Thermal Management Module (ITM) and Oxygen Sensor monitoring. This bulletin provides instructions to update the Engine Control Module (ECM) logic to resolve the condition.
- Dec 18, 2025
- Some Elantra (CN7, CN7A), Kona (OS, SX2), and Sonata Hybrid (DN8 HEV) vehicles equipped with 2.0L engines may illuminate a warning lamp for DTC P218100 (Cooling System Performance) related to the Integrated Thermal-Management Module (ITM). Follow the service procedure in this bulletin to install a spring onto the thermostat within the ITM, in order to prevent premature opening, and perform an ECU
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Hyundai Elantra
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Hyundai Elantra problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Hyundai Elantra years have the most engine complaints?
2017, 315; 2018, 173; 2019, 147. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2019 (55%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Hyundai Elantra?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 24V308000 (2024), 21V301000 (2020). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the Hyundai Elantra?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 56,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 25,000 and 89,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.