2019 Hyundai Elantra · symptom sheet

Headlights too dim or fail

54owner reports
51,000median miles
$3,000median quote
2involved a crash

Newest report Apr 15, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

65 of the 251 complaints on this car are about the exterior lighting. 54 of those describe headlights.

No recall on this systemas of Oct 2, 2026

2 crashesin 54 reports

2 people hurtin these reports

1 firein 54 reports

Tick what matches of 54 reports

too dim to see the road

a headlight went out

the beam is too short

the dealer said it is normal

Headlights on other Elantra years

No other Elantra model year has enough reports of headlights for a sheet of its own. See every Elantra year.

What this problem usually is

Headlight complaints fall into two camps. In one, a headlight goes out, often more than once, or fills with moisture behind the lens. In the other, the lights work exactly as built and the owner still can't see the road at night because the beam is too dim or too short. Owners in that second camp often report a dealer telling them it's normal.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the headlight assembly (37 reports) and the bulb (11 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the exterior lighting covers the 2019 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.

What owners paid

6 of the 54 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,000 to $5,333.

$1,000$3,000$5,333

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 40,000 and 60,000 miles, from the 14 reports that gave a mileage.

Is this a known problem?

The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices for the 2019 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.

Service bulletin20-BE-006HApr 7, 2020
Certain 2019-2020MY Santa Fe and 2018-2020MY Elantra equipped with front camera/multi-function camera may exhibit a series of Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Front Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA), High Beam Assist (HBA), Smart Cruise Control (SCC), and ...
Service bulletin20-BE-004HMar 23, 2020
Some 2019 & 2020 Elantra (ADa) vehicles equipped with halogen headlights may experience intermittent operation of the high beam. This bulletin provides the service procedure to replace the left and right headlamp assemblies and perform aiming adjustments.
Service bulletin20-01-011HMar 5, 2020
Some 2019 Elantra (AD/ADa) vehicles equipped with halogen headlights may experience intermittent operation of the high beam. This bulletin provides the service procedure to replace the left and right headlamp assemblies and perform aiming adjustments.

What owners wrote

“The high beam does not work even after bulb replacement on the 2019 Elantra(the low beams work just fine). A sound of an actuator trying to work is heard coming from the engine with a slight flicker of light but no successful high beam is shown after engaging the high beam actuator on the wheel. This is detrimental to the safety of drivers at night which could lead to a crash, injury, or fatality.”
Filed Jul 29, 2023

“The high beam headlights donât function properly. The low beam is all that works on both headlights. Something to do with the way the shield is not moving up to allow the high beams to function. On line looks like this is a common problem”
Filed Mar 27, 2023

“High beams are not working on both headlight assemblies. Car uses a bulb with 1 filament and actuator to simulate a high beam and both headlight assembly actuators failed on a car with 51k miles. Hyundai has a TSB for this issue, so they are aware of this issue and this needs to be a recall, not just a TSB as this is a major safety issue.”
Filed Feb 4, 2023 · 51,000 miles

“Dim headlights and faulty high beam lights that do not work at all; while the sensor remains lit up on the dash board.”
Filed Nov 25, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 2 of 54 reports involved a crash and 2 people were hurt. 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