What 242 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Hyundai Elantra N

A safety recall performed by Hyundai automotive company was completed on 10.4.2022 to remedy a known security flaw in Kia/Hyunai vehicles made between 2011 and 2022. This recall was performed successfully by a certified Hyundai dealer. Since this, the vehicle has been stolen not once, but twice. The security sytem that should be in place to prevent the ease of theft has not been effective. This has put us as owners at risk of financial harm by lack of access to a vehicle on multiple occasions. Additionally this has continued to be a public safety concern as this has put the lives and safety of others at risk when thieves are easily able to steal these vehciles and drive recklessly around a city. The problem has been reproduced by a dealership when they had to store the vehicle, locked, and were able to start the car with just a USB stick in March 2024. Additionally this issue has been reproduced by a thief again in September 2025 when a second theft occured. The vehicle has been assessed for damage at a certified Hyundai dealership and is awaiting further inspection.

NHTSA ODI 11698415

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 anxiety levels has been extremely high! I took my car to the dealership and they confirmed that it was my pistons and to keep checking the recall website because they have seen something like this before. Before the engine cut off there was abosulutly no warning! Date of incident [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11683822

The driver and passenger headlight has been replaced and the bulbs but the headlights keep going out was told it is an electrical problem and contact manufacturer. Also emergency braking did not work in recent accident nor did forward collision warning.

NHTSA ODI 11654195

Engine failure believed to be related to NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V-301. Vehicle had no warning lights on message. Vehicle turned off while driving and steering wheel became stuck and vehicle jerked off road, I turned vehicle back on and it sounded like a truck and would not move again.

NHTSA ODI 11634022

Vehicle caught on fire. There were not any warnings, and no alarms went off prior to this.

NHTSA ODI 11584623

My car was a total lost after car did not break, and instead the accelerator got stuck. My car went straight into a pole, causing the accident. Car was purchased 2 weeks prior, the dealer did not acknowledge it was a defect, and I lost my deposit of $7000.

NHTSA ODI 11577787

bought this car for my son's graduation the car had 59000 miles as a used car. The engine seized after one year and 18000 miles. No one is taking responsibility and I still owe 15000 on this car. Many articles have been written about the engines being defective. Hyundai will not help me because they say there is a Korean engine in this car. What the heck does this have to do with it I bought a Hyundai. I have been to the dealership, the car company, the car salesman at the car lot I bought it at. No one will help me. I sit with a dead car and in dept 15000. Where do I go from here.

NHTSA ODI 11573742

I am contacting you regarding Service Campaign 993 (Atni-theft software upgrade). My car was stolen on March 7th, 2023 due to a lack of the required safety system on anti-theft software and immobilizing. Although, the recall updates and adds the mentioned safety issues, However, my war was stolen due lack of these safety systems. The car was recovered by police, however, it is damaged (Window, ignition cylinder, body of the car, bumpers, etc) I did contact the Hyundai customer care center, and I was told that Hyundai is not going to reimburse the cost of the repair of the damages to my car (although the safety issue in their Elantra cars caused this accident). I believe they should be responsible for any theft damages to the car because of the safety issue in Recall 993. Please let them know that it is not the owner's responsibility to pay for the damages that occur due to the lack of the required safety issues in their product. I am requesting the issuance of another Recall which reimburses all repair costs due to theft damages to the cars related to the safety issues in Recall 993.

NHTSA ODI 11511983

February 2021 - I took my vehicle to Wilson Hyundai in Flowood, MS - was told there was a recall having to do with my headlights but no components were available to make the repair. I have called numerous times to ask about replacement parts and get the run around. My lights are not bright and switching to bright is not even worth the effort. I can barely see 30ft ahead at best after the sun goes down. When will parts be available or some type of resolution because this is dangerous. There were no warning lamps on until maybe 1 month ago (October 2021), it tells me that I need to have my daytime running lamps serviced. I can't wait til I can trade this vehicle off. November 2, 2021 - I hit a dog because I did not see it.

NHTSA ODI 11441493

The brake system of my vehicle failed completely when I was attempting to reduce my speed and exit the freeway. I exited through a red light and hit the light pole at freeway speed. Seconds later the cars to my right hit my car causing it to flip over. People involved in the collision got off to help me flip the car back over and by doing so my wrist broke. I also suffered from extreme whiplash.

NHTSA ODI 11423413

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEN STOLER HYUNDAI (11275 REISTERSTOWN RD, OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117) FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND SHE WAS INFORMED THAT AN UNKNOWN SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL SAFETY FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AN AUDIBLE CHIME WAS HEARD. THERE WAS ALSO AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF A HEADLIGHT RECALL FOR WHICH THE VIN WAS INCLUDED HOWEVER, PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000.

NHTSA ODI 11416543

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE SET DRIVING MY RPMS WENT TO 8 HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE ENDED UP CROSSING THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC HITTING THE SIDE OF THE ROAD GOING DOWN THE HILL INTO A DITCH.

NHTSA ODI 11390555

ON OCTOBER 28, 2020 I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO JOE HOLLAND CHEVROLET IN CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA BECAUSE MY HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A FAULTY HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THAT I WAS AT LEAST THE THIRD PERSON THAT DAY WITH THIS ISSUE. THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS ON BACK ORDER. SINCE THE TIME CHANGE IT IS NOW DARK BY 5:00 PM AND I DON'T GET OFF WORK UNTIL 5:30 PM. I HAVE HAD TWO DEER STRIKES SINCE NOVEMBER 1, 2020 TO NOVEMBER 17, 2020, BECAUSE I HAVE NO HIGH BEAMS MY VISUAL DISTANCE IS GREATLY REDUCED. THESE TWO DEER STRIKES HAVE COST AN ESTIMATED $8,000.00.

NHTSA ODI 11375130

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 53 MPH, A DEER COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE COASTING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE MEDIAN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT QUICKLY ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ODI 11280269

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE DRIVER OF A 2019 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO TREES AND A SMALL ABANDONED HOME. THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE DRIVER WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND BURNED TO DEATH. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE STATE TROOPER CONTACTED HYUNDAI OF DOTHAN (LOCATED AT 2329 ROSS CLARK CIR, DOTHAN, AL 36301, (334) 699-6416) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11197230