Bought this car new in 2014 for my daughter twice this year 2017 car has shook and stalled driving between 30 to 40 MPH and then restarts upon turning key very very scary situation I have taken to local Hyundai dealership where I had purchased was told no codes show on cars computer nothing can be done again this happened twice both on clear nice weather days while accelerating on local street…
2014 Hyundai Elantra engine problems
severe 104 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
104
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
3crashes
5fires
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 104 engine complaints filed for the 2014 Hyundai Elantra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 104 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 19 model years of Hyundai Elantra in our records for engine problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2014 Hyundai Elantra has widespread, unrecalled engine defects: sudden stalling without warning (creating loss of power steering and brakes), internal bearing failures leading to seizure, and excessive oil burn. Owners report Hyundai denies warranty coverage for second owners and refuses recall despite the same failures being recalled in Canada and overseas.
Owners of the 2014 Hyundai Elantra consistently report engine stalling without warning—the engine cuts out while driving and no check engine light activates beforehand. The car restarts after turning the key, but stalls again, often within minutes or hours. These stalls occur at any speed and create genuine danger: owners lose power steering and power brakes simultaneously, making the vehicle nearly impossible to control. Some have fishtailed into guardrails or laid in traffic unable to steer.
Separately, many owners describe a knocking or ticking noise under the hood that dealers initially dismiss as normal. Mechanics and owners alike report metal shavings in the oil, indicating internal bearing wear. These engines eventually seize completely, and diagnosis points to connecting rod bearing failure or piston slap (a known defect in Hyundai's GDI design). Engine replacement costs $2,300 to over $10,000, with replacement engines frequently on back order for 1–2 years nationwide.
Oil consumption is another pattern: engines burn through a quart every thousand miles or faster, forcing constant top-offs. Oil lights flicker during driving, yet diagnostic scans return no codes—dealers shrug and say nothing is wrong.
Hyundai's response is consistent across cases: warranty denied for second owners, partial cost-sharing only for originals who maintained cars at dealerships, and no recall in the US despite identical recalls in Canada and overseas. Owners cite a class-action lawsuit and point to Service Campaign T6G rejecting 85% of claims outright.
Same Hyundai Elantra engine reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalling without warning
Engine shuts off completely while driving at various speeds with no check engine light or warning indicators. Vehicle typically restarts after cycling the ignition, but stalling recurs, especially at low speeds or traffic stops. Incidents occur on city streets, highways, and in heavy traffic, creating significant safety hazards.
When: Throughout vehicle ownership, from early years to higher mileage; often at 15-45 mph or during deceleration and stops
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine shutdown mid-drive; No check engine light before failure; No warning lights or beeping; Loss of power steering and brake assist during stalls; Engine restarts immediately after key cycling; Recurrent pattern within days or weeks
Repairs/costs cited: No repair found effective; dealers unable to duplicate or diagnose; owners report replacement engine sometimes required despite stalling being sole symptom
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai service centers claim no codes present; some owners mention TSB or 'alert' referrals but no recall issued in US; warranty denials for second owners or vehicles over mileage thresholds
Connecting rod bearing failure and internal engine damage
Internal bearing failure, typically connecting rod bearings, leading to catastrophic engine seizure or metal debris in oil. Owners report knocking or ticking noises under the hood, often dismissed initially as normal, followed by engine failure and metal particles found in oil during teardown.
When: Between 50,000 and 120,000 miles; some cases appear without obvious mileage threshold
Symptoms owners cite: Knocking or ticking noise from engine, especially at startup or under load; Loud rattling or grinding sounds before failure; Loss of power or sudden engine seizure; Metal shavings or metal flakes in oil pan discovered during inspection; Engine seizure requiring tow; vehicle will not restart; No warning lights or check engine light before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement required; estimates range $2,345 to $10,000+ depending on labor and parts sourcing; engines frequently on nationwide back order (wait times 1-2 years cited); used engines also unavailable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai denies warranty coverage for second owners; partial cost-sharing offered in some cases (~50% of labor for customer, $4,200 reported); extended warranty often expires before bearing failure occurs; no recall in US despite similar recalls in Canada and overseas
Excessive oil consumption and oil light warnings
Engine burns or leaks oil at rates far exceeding normal wear, causing the oil level to drop dangerously between services. Owners report adding quarts within days to weeks of oil changes. Oil light flickers or illuminates while driving, sometimes accompanied by engine performance degradation.
When: Can occur early in ownership (within 2-3 months of purchase at 30,000+ miles) or develop gradually over years; increasingly severe after 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil dipstick drops from full to empty in 2-3 months or less; Flashing or steady oil light during driving; Engine overheating due to low oil; Burned oil smell from exhaust; Oil consumption rates of 2.5 quarts per 1,373 miles cited; No visible oil leaks during inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers recommend monthly or frequent oil top-ups; one case required replacement of brake booster to address air in oil system; GDI engine design implicated by some mechanics; root cause often undetermined
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai service advises owners this is 'normal' for GDI engines; no systematic warranty replacement offered; Service Campaign T6G mentioned for other model years but not consistently applied to 2014 Elantra
Engine misfiring and ignition system failures
Engine misfires accompanied by check engine light, flashing engine light, or erratic idle RPM. Owners report rough idle, jerky acceleration, and difficulty starting. Problem recurs after dealer attempts to repair by resetting computer or replacing ignition components.
When: Can occur at 40,000 miles or later; often develops gradually and worsens over time
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; Flashing engine light during driving; Engine ticking or pinging noise; Rough or erratic idle; RPMs climbing abnormally while stopped; Jerky acceleration and hesitation; Difficulty starting in cold weather; Misfire codes eventually detected after multiple visits
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (no specific codes cited in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have replaced ignition coil packs, reset engine computer, and replaced catalytic converter; misfires often return after repair; no permanent fix identified
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Initial dealer response often 'nothing wrong' or computer reset; some cases denied warranty citing 'engine needs to acclimate to car'; no official TSB or recall for misfire pattern in 2014 Elantra
Piston slap and GDI engine design defect
Owners and mechanics report piston slap (loose piston-to-cylinder clearance) as root cause of ticking/knocking noise, excessive oil consumption, and eventual engine failure. This is attributed to Hyundai's GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) engine design. Lawsuits and recalls exist in other countries for the same issue but not in the US for 2014 Elantra.
When: Can manifest from startup or develop gradually; issues cited at 40,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud ticking or knocking at cold start or under acceleration; Noise initially dismissed as normal by dealer; Progressive worsening of noise over months or years; Metal shavings in oil indicating internal wear; Oil consumption increases over time
Repairs/costs cited: No repair short of engine replacement; some owners cite class-action lawsuit (Brown v. Hyundai) referencing known piston defect; TSB issued in Canada (not US) for similar models
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall in US for 2014 Elantra; overseas and Canadian recalls exist for similar engines; Hyundai Service Campaign T6G with 85% rejection rate for claims; extended warranty to unlimited mileage for first owner only if oil changes performed at dealership
Vehicle immobility and loss of control during stalls
When engine stalls while driving, owners lose power steering and power brakes, creating emergency situations. Vehicles become difficult or impossible to steer and brake, forcing drivers to exert extreme force or coast to safety. Occurs at speeds ranging from stop signs to highway speeds.
When: Concurrent with stalling events; can occur at any driving speed
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering (heavy steering feel); Loss of power brakes (hard brake pedal); Inability to control vehicle trajectory; Requires excessive force to steer and brake; Fishtailing and near-collisions reported
Repairs/costs cited: Not independently repaired; resolves only if stalling issue resolved
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific safety response documented; one owner reported field inspector sent but found no failure
Oil light illumination with insufficient diagnostic codes
Oil light comes on—often flashing—while driving, but diagnostic scan reveals no trouble codes. Owners are told nothing is wrong despite the warning. Light recurs after initial repair attempts, and root cause remains undiagnosed.
When: Variable; cited at 57,000+ miles and recurring after repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Oil light comes on or blinks during driving; Check engine light may also illuminate; No diagnostic trouble codes found on scan; Problem persists or recurs after component replacement (fuel pump, battery, spark plugs)
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump, battery, and spark plugs replaced in some cases without resolving issue; mechanics report frustration with lack of actionable codes
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers cite 'nothing wrong' or recommend continued monitoring; no systematic investigation or recall initiated
Synthesized from 104 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
My engine has a hole in the block and the starter completely blew up. Noone can explain how this has happened. The car shop wants $12,000 to repair this. The car never leaked any oil until the day it blew up on me. No check engine light ever came on, no oil light ever came on.
My 2014 elantra has the exact same rod bearing problem noted in the recent Hyundai recall that affects the sonata, sante fe and voloscter. Yet it is not identified. I have a friend with a 2012 elantra that was also affected and she said hers is covered.
The engine started making a clicking sound, and was running rough. Then shook violently and turned off while I was on the freeway, Then getting very hot. It is defective and the dealer took it in under the t6g campaign but it was denied due to the salvage title for unrelated issues. Now it smokes if I drive it for an hour or two and takes a while to stop smoking afterwards. This car only has…
Hyundai has had numerous engine failures and fires, due to piston slap. Multiple lawsuits and recalls in other countries. Hyundai has a T6G service campaign to replace these engines and they even extended it to unlimited mileage for the first owner. The problem is that they will not honor this unless you are the first owner and you did all of your oil changes at the dealership. They have an 85%…
The engine started making a ticking noise as early as 40k miles. It ran ok and I was lead to believe this was "normal" from the dealership. I maintained the vehicle as required until 88k while noticing more and more oil was being consumed. After slowing down and turning from a highway on to a county road, the automatic vehicle began to shift erratically and could not go faster than 40mph and…
Had engine trouble with your 2014 Hyundai Elantra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2014 Hyundai Elantra?
It's a meaningful issue. 104 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 59 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 61,000 and 112,000 miles, with the median around 84,009. A quarter of owners report trouble before 61,000; a quarter make it past 112,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Hyundai/Elantra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.