2021 Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 25 engine-area complaints for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra, 19% of its 130 total complaints. Owners report sudden stalling with a 'put car in neutral' warning, oil leaks, overheating, and forward collision system failures. No related recall is listed for this issue.
- Engine complaints
- 25
- 19% of 130
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 39,573 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Vehicle displays a 'Put Car In Neutral And Restart Engine' message and shuts off unexpectedly, sometimes while merging onto a highway.
- Engine seizes suddenly while driving with no warning until the message cluster lights up.
- Owners report oil leaking from the engine and smoke from the exhaust, in one case shortly after a dealer oil change and recall service.
- Some describe a loud bang followed by oil pouring out from underneath the car, leaving the vehicle disabled on the road.
- A radiator crack led to engine overheating in at least one case.
- The forward collision warning and smart cruise control system repeatedly disable themselves, sometimes logged under the engine component, and recur after dealer resets.
When 2021 Hyundai Elantra engine complaints were filed
First complaint Feb 20, 2022, latest Jun 25, 2026.
Engine recalls for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine complaints by Elantra model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the engine a common complaint area for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra?
- Yes. NHTSA records 25 engine-area complaints for the 2021 Elantra, which is 19% of the 130 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra engine?
- No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint category.
- At what mileage do engine problems typically show up on the 2021 Elantra?
- The median mileage at failure among reported cases is 39,573 miles.
- Did any 2021 Elantra engine complaints involve a crash or fire?
- NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires linked to complaints in this area for the 2021 Elantra.
- How does the 2021 Elantra's engine complaint rate compare to other years?
- At 19% of total complaints, the 2021 Elantra's engine-area share is lower than years like 2018 (53%) and 2019 (54%), based on NHTSA data.