2014 Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems

On XXX the vehicle stalled on a busy road, with no warning/ messages appearing until the car died. It was left at Dakota K Auto Repair in Buffalo Grove, IL the same day. They replicated the stalling issue four times, but were unable to diagnose the issue. The vehicle was then brought to Hyundai Auto Nation O'Hare in Des Plaines, IL on XXX. The vehicle stalled twice while they drove it. On XXX their diagnosis stated the timing chain system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to Arlington Performance Center in Arlington Heights, IL and on XXX they added there was also engine failure which needed replacement. The vehicle was purchased from Patrick Hyundai in [XXX] on XXX and has 101,876 miles on it. It is available for inspection. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11752043

Incident

Jul 5, 2026

I am writing to formally log a safety defect complaint regarding a severe mechanical failure in my 2014 Hyundai Elantra, equipped with the Nu 1.8L engine. The vehicle has been professionally diagnosed with severe internal engine knocking stemming from catastrophic piston slap, a manufacturing defect inherent to this engine family block that causes premature cylinder wall scuffing, piston ring degradation, and unmetered oil loss. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has previously acknowledged that manufacturing issues in Hyundai engine blocks can cause rotating internal components to fail, leading directly to sudden, un-alerted engine stalling at highway speeds, a severe and immediate safety hazard to drivers, passengers, and surrounding traffic. Despite this being a well-documented mechanical defect (originally addressed under the [XXX] , et al. v. Hyundai Motor America Class Action Settlement / Service Campaign TXXK), Hyundai Motor America is currently refusing to remedy this hazardous component. The manufacturer has repeatedly denied corporate assistance based strictly on an arbitrary calendar timeline (stating the vehicle has passed the 10-year settlement window). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11739387

Incident

Apr 29, 2026

Vehicle was parked and turned off in a residential driveway when a fire spontaneously ignited in the engine compartment. There were no warning lights, unusual sounds, or symptoms prior to the incident. The fire department responded and extinguished the fire using dry chemical suppressant and water. The vehicle was a total loss. The fire appears to have originated in the front engine compartment area. The vehicle was not involved in a collision. The vehicle has a 1.8L Nu DOHC engine and 4-wheel ABS system. This vehicle falls under known NHTSA recalls and class action litigation related to spontaneous engine fires in Hyundai Elantra vehicles, including issues related to defective ABS/HECU modules and engine defects associated with the Nu engine series.

NHTSA ID

11737763

Incident

May 13, 2026

The 2.0L Nu GDI engine in this vehicle is experiencing terminal internal failure. Following a P1326 KSDS warning event, a borescope inspection at an authorized dealership documented severe cylinder wall scoring in all four cylinders. Despite this documented internal block destruction, the manufacturer has denied the mandated settlement warranty repair based on a software-based proxy test (BCT). The vehicle was returned in an unsafe condition and is currently stalling and vibrating violently while in traffic, posing an immediate risk of loss of power and traffic collision. The manufacturer is ignoring the documented physical failure of a core engine component.

NHTSA ID

11734628

Incident

Mar 24, 2026

the car only has 76000 miles on it. there are no check engine lights and the oil has always been perfect and changed on time. There is a known issue apparently with Piston slap that will lead to engine failure. Hyundai refuses to replace the engine, knowing the issue. Driving it puts my safety and others at risk. the Hyundai dealership in Merriam KS has confirmed the issue.

NHTSA ID

11731683

Incident

Mar 31, 2026

Noticed symptoms about a week before I had it towed to a garage for what I thought was a timing chain tensioner, Tech scoped it and found out it was much worse.

NHTSA ID

11729621

Incident

Mar 7, 2026

Engine is burning too hot its burning though oil. Oil change sept 3rd 2025 and by nov 7 2025 car had NO OIL. this is an oil burn off issue with the sport engine in this model Elantra. i cannot get an oil change every month. that is ridiculous. this time it caused my car to have flashing engine light due to insanely low oil after just TWO MONTHS. i only drive 60 miles a day. shop told me in april15 20205 i had an oil leak and they fixed it, resealed again in july cuz the oil was still going low. now they told me nov 11th they did a test and the engine is running too hot and is burning off the oil.

NHTSA ID

11700179

Incident

Nov 11, 2025

The vehicle caught fire while it was in motion; there were loud bangs and a lot of noise, and smoke started coming out of the front, and the engine and the undercarriage caught fire.I managed to turn it off, but when they were towing it, the mechanics did the diagnostic and found wires were faulty and damaged the engine.

NHTSA ID

11698790

Incident

Nov 4, 2025

I started to see the oil light on the dashboard and i heard a hard sound from the engine so that i changed the oil then after a couple days i saw the light again on with a little bit high temperature, so stooped by a gas station and i added some more oil after i shut the car off and waited to cool the engine down and i started the car, the oil light was gone and the engine sound was smoother then i started to get the same issue every couple days and i used to fix it the same way and I've had the same experience with my previous car which was the same brand but different year band model which i found a recall on the engine after it blown and the agency or the manufacturer changed the engine for free for that car and the current car has the same issues and it's included in the year range for that recall which from 2012 to 2019, that scares me because i drive everyday for rideshare and that can be dangerous for me and my clients who ride with me, also some of them stopped calling me for rides once they knew about that issue. And today i noticed the car beep which i used to hear when i lock the car with the remote has stopped too.

NHTSA ID

11672635

Incident

Jun 21, 2025

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle was started, and the engine revved abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated while stopped at a stopped sign, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle jerked forward before accelerating. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice; however, the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 94,512.

NHTSA ID

11664789

Incident

Nov 4, 2024

Mileage

94,512 mi

A significant class action settlement, known as the Hyundai Engine II Class Action Settlement, was established to address allegations of engine defects in various Hyundai models. This settlement includes vehicles equipped with the Nu 2.0-liter GDI engine, such as the 2014–2020 Elantra GT. The lawsuit claimed that these engines could suffer from issues like engine seizure, stalling, and potential engine fires. My vehicles engine is the engine listed above and has been experiencing those exact problems. My engine has been stalling and making a knocking noise. A professional mechanic evaluated my vehicle and diagnosed it with first stage engine failure. Engine failure of any kind while driving is extremely dangerous and could lead to sudden stopping on a highway, collision, and result in the loss of life of both the driver and other drivers sharing the road. In addition to the Engine II settlement, there was a separate class action settlement related to the Theta II engines, which are also found in some Hyundai vehicles. This settlement addressed allegations of engine defects that could lead to engine failure. Hyundai Motors is refusing to honor their warranty coverage for my vehicle. They claim their refusal is due to my vehicle having a rebuilt title, however, nowhere on their website or per any other guidelines do they explicitly deny coverage for rebuilt title vehicles. They clearly state that only salvage titles and 'total loss' vehicles will not receive any warranty assistance, which my vehicle was never considered a total loss. Additionally, when speaking to a Bob Howard Hyundai representative, they informed me that they have previously honored warranties for people in my exact situation. The engine in my 2014 Hyundai Elantra GT is the original engine with a matching VIN number and the engine failure is strictly due to the malfunction of said part produced by Hyundai Motors. I have maintained and preformed regular maintenance on this vehicle with receipts.

NHTSA ID

11660767

Incident

Apr 5, 2025

The engine in my car (Hyundai Elantra gt 2014) basically did everything I read about all the other Hyundai engines doing that are under engine recalls. Years ago it started having misfires, had the catalytic converter or parts of it replaced, sensors, over consuming oil, loud noises when it's lower on oil and eventually it just recently died. Unfortunately it's only 11,000 miles over the extended warranty period to get it replaced. The bad engine stuff basically broke the current catalytic converter and the dealership wants over 10,000 dollars to fix it and replace the engine... not including tax. The worse part is sometime like a year ago I went to a dealership because I had an apt for an oil change. The day before my check engine light turned on. So at the apt while checking in my car I mentioned to the guy taking photos of my car that the check engine light was on and please check it out. I waited two hours for them to give me my keys back and say I didn't make the appointment for the check engine light so they couldn't see what was wrong with it that day. And that had never happened before. At the time I had only been to dealerships to fix my car and The dealerships always agreed to check out the engine light when it was on except for this one time. Felt like I was getting pushed out the door. So I've spent the last year going to other mechanics attempting to fix the check engine light and it always just came back on when I got my car back. Tune ups, spark plugs, cylinder misfires. Elantra GT's are not represented in any of the recall articles I read about online so I felt the need to share my story because I think my car had the same engine as some of the other cars. RIP Elantra GT

NHTSA ID

11637325

Incident

Jan 21, 2025

Engine failure related to piston slapping in upper motor. 3 months out of warranty and 115,000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11635836

Incident

Nov 1, 2024

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that she was able to stop. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,556.

NHTSA ID

11618021

Incident

May 3, 2024

Mileage

100,556 mi

Ticking or knocking in the engine, as many other have described. Engine does not accelerator properly due to this issue, causing safety issues with accelerating to merge or enter traffic. Known defect that should be covered by Hyundai as regular scheduled maintenance has been completed.

NHTSA ID

11607194

Incident

Aug 5, 2024

The contact owned a 2014 Hyundai Elantra.  The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the parking lot, the vehicle caught on fire.  The contact stated that the vehicle had not been driven in four days. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire.  The vehicle was towed to the local tow yard.  The contact stated that the vehicle was condemned total lost by the insurance company.  The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

NHTSA ID

11604221

Incident

Jul 17, 2024

Mileage

93,000 mi

When I accelerate the gears grind and the car does not want to go any faster than 25 miles an hour.

NHTSA ID

11596015

Incident

Jun 17, 2024

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and the vehicle was taken to the local dealer for recall repair; however, the dealer informed the contact that they could not perform the recall repair unless the manufacturer confirmed that the vehicle was covered under factory warranty. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11592355

Incident

Jun 4, 2023

Mileage

91,000 mi

The car has little ticks..buzzy sounds,rough idle,decease power,loss in the fuel economy, had regular tune up, but the car stillnot right and could possibly be the computer

NHTSA ID

11584047

Incident

Mar 21, 2024

roughly 5 months ago i started to hear a ticking/knocking sound. since then it has gotten louder and the car is having issues accelerating. Hyundai refuses to fix it even thought they’ve had a class action for this exact issue.

NHTSA ID

11580739

Incident

Dec 5, 2023

Dear National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, I'm writing out of deep concern and frustration regarding the unrepaired safety recall on my 2014 Hyundai Elantra. Recall #23V651000 warns of an alarming risk of engine compartment fires, yet there's still no fix available from Hyundai. This isn't just a theoretical risk for me. I have no choice but to park my car in a public garage, making the fire hazard much worse. Hyundai's advice to park outside is impossible to follow, leaving me feeling trapped and unsafe. I find it difficult to understand why Hyundai can source parts for new vehicles, yet struggles to prioritize a fix for a potentially life-threatening safety issue affecting existing cars. I urge the NHTSA to take the following actions: * Investigate why this fix is taking so long. People's safety is on the line. * Push Hyundai to find a solution immediately. Each day of delay is unacceptable. * Keep me and other affected owners informed. The lack of updates is adding to the stress. This isn't just about my car. An engine fire in a garage could be devastating. Please act quickly.

NHTSA ID

11580568

Incident

Sep 22, 2023

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at 40 MPH  the brakes became hard and the steering wheel was inoperable. The vehicle caught fire. The ABS warning light was illuminated. There were no reported injuries. The driver was able to extinguish the fire. The driver continued to drive the vehicle. There was no police report filed. The air bags did not deploy. The ABS and battery unit were disconnected by the driver. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

NHTSA ID

11577552

Incident

Mar 13, 2024

Mileage

117,000 mi

I believe there was an electrical issue. While driving the car started smoking and my daughter pulled over and the there was fire coming from the engine and after that it just engulfed in flames. Fire was also coming from underneath when 1st started.

NHTSA ID

11576600

Incident

Mar 3, 2024

Mileage

120,000 mi

So theirs issues with window ,shaking while in red light, tick sound, was a banging under the hood sound like metal, also an electric sound not sure how to describe it

NHTSA ID

11576252

Incident

Feb 19, 2024

My car is only at 46000 miles.SinceI'm purchase from dealer it has given me the same issues of RPMs shooting up &speedometer going out of control the car wont go past 20mph & jerks back & forth, tyrning off while driving & has had a b"bad" drive since purchase. I dont know the issue and its never been fixed by dealer even though i took it in a few times for these issues. it now foing it again. my life is in danger with this care since purchase & hyundai shouldve replaced my car or engine but they do not care. this car is a lemon. and now the car can go on fire parked or driving? what can be done..on the nextvpart of complaint im putting down ladt week sice this is the newest incident of the desc.

NHTSA ID

11568443

Incident

Jan 18, 2024