Diagsheet

2015 Hyundai Elantra · symptom sheet

Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing

  • 35owner reports
  • 75,000median miles
  • 1involved a crash

Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

95 of the 260 complaints on this car are about the engine. 35 of those describe engine failure.

No recall on this systemas of Oct 2, 2026
1 crashin 35 reports

Tick what matches of 35 reports

20
4
6
9
7
4

Engine failure on other Elantra years

Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2021, 2022.

What this problem usually is

These are the reports nobody wants to file. The engine started knocking or ticking, the oil light came on, and then it seized or had to be replaced. Some owners had the replacement covered under warranty or an extension, and plenty were told they'd pay. Several narrower sheets split this group into knocking, seized engines and rod bearing failure.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (34 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the engine covers the 2015 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Elantra

DP22-003opened Sep 12, 2022
Engine · model years 2017 to 2021

Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.

EA21-003opened Dec 22, 2021
Engine · model years 2013

Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.

None of these investigations covers the 2015 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 52,000 and 112,000 miles, from the 27 reports that gave a mileage.

Complaints by the year NHTSA received them: 2018: 7, 2019: 7, 2020: 2, 2021: 4, 2022: 2, 2023: 5, 2024: 3, 2025: 2, 2026: 37'187'192'204'212'225'233'242'253'26

Is this a known problem?

The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 11 service bulletins or notices for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra that deal with this problem. Newest first.

Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.

7 more on the 2015 Hyundai Elantra page.

What owners wrote

“Engine failure consistent with known Hyundai engine defect. Blue smoke, oil consumption, engine knock Mechanic autoscanned codes were P0300, PO301, PO302 Lost half quart of oil in 800 miles Fire risk acknowledged in recall documentation - undriveable car at Hyundai dealer in Salem NH, renting a car now as without any transportation Manufacturer denied repair based solely on VIN despite identical failure”

Filed Feb 6, 2026

“Complete engine failure at 129k miles, 3k miles after purchasing used off Hyundai car dealerships.”

Filed Jun 12, 2023 · 129,000 miles

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 35 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.

Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found

Other problems on this car