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KLUNK
KLUNK

2014 Hyundai Elantra

The Verdict

37 Check Engine

The 2014 Hyundai Elantra has 371 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (176 complaints) and body (81 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 37/100, it earns a "Check Engine" rating. If you're shopping for a Hyundai Elantra, consider the 2025 model year which has 94% fewer complaints.

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The 2025 has 94% fewer complaints

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37

Klunk Score: Check Engine

More complaints than most vehicles. Known issues exist — budget for potential repairs.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2000626615519
2001122251283517
200216233934316
20031072555389
2004308118197
2005311079116
200626318287
20071363070228
200810246618224
20091702563188
201025843922931
20111934210110517
20122147519315330
201350921926225834
201481594417611
20157743271009
2016102104112117
2017316399029623
2018739311599
2019325731354
20205494210933
202168831164
202255717126
202340724224
20242421781
2025141240

By Category

Engine
176
Body
81
Brakes
59
Electrical
44
Transmission
11

By Severity

1
176
2
144
3
2
4
48
5
1

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2014 Hyundai Elantra stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Engine 4

I woke up to my neighbor banging on my door that my car was on fire. My car was in flames. The fire department had already been called. The entire front of my car as well as the interior was completely destroyed.

14d ago
Brakes 1

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard, and the brakes made abnormal grinding sounds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the front brakes, but the rear brakes were leaking brake fluid. The dealer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle back to the independent mechanic for the repair. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who replaced the rear brake calipers. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.

1mo ago
Engine 1

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)

1mo ago
Engine 2

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)

3mo ago
Engine 4

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.

4mo ago
Engine 1

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.

4mo ago
Engine 1

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.

4mo ago
Engine 2

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.

5mo ago
Brakes 2

The constant-velocity joint on the driver's side tends to vibrate, and at certain speeds there is play in the steering. Sometimes the handbrake doesn't work properly, and the right-side brake light doesn't work even after replacing the bulbs.

8mo ago
Engine 2

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.

9mo ago
Electrical 2

Vehicle Information: 2014 Hyundai Elantra SE Sedan, 4-Cylinder, 6-Speed Automatic, FWD Build Location: USA-Built Version (Montgomery, AL - VIN '5NP') Ownership: Second owner, purchased Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) from the Hyundai of New Port Richey dealer (Florida) in March 2016. Vehicle is owned outright. Mileage: 128,638 Approximate Date Incident Noticed: October 1, 2025 DESCRIPTION OF CRITICAL SAFETY DEFECT & WARRANTY REJECTION I am reporting a failure of the clock spring assembly, which compromises critical safety features and poses an unreasonable risk, especially since this vehicle regularly transports passengers, including children. My VIN was rejected by the Hyundai TXXA Clock Spring Extended Warranty validator despite exhibiting the exact failures covered by the campaign. Safety Failures: Airbag (SRS): Warning light is constantly illuminated; driver-side airbag is disabled and will not deploy, endangering the driver and front passenger. Horn: Completely inoperable, eliminating a vital safety communication feature required to warn other drivers. Cruise Control: Buttons on the steering wheel are non-functional. These failures are caused by a broken electrical connection within the clock spring (which typically runs the Airbag, Horn, and Cruise Control circuits). I believe the denial is related to my vehicle being the USA-Built version (VIN '5NP'). I request that NHTSA investigate why this safety campaign arbitrarily excludes USA-built Elantras (but not Korean-built) experiencing the identical failure, thereby placing an unreasonable repair cost burden on owners for a critical safety component.

9mo ago
Engine 4

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.

10mo ago
Engine 1

While driving at approximately 70MPH on the highway, my 2014 Hyundai Tucson Limited suddenly locked up with no warning lights, no noise and no prior symptoms. The engine completely seized, causing immediate loss of power. I was barely able to coast off the highway exit to a final stop on the feeder shoulder, in a desolate area. The vehicle has always been properly maintained and is in excellent condition. Upon research, I learned that Hyundai has known of internal engine defects caused by metallic debris left from manufacturing since 2010, which can cause bearing failure and engine seizure. My Tucson's failure matches the same pattern described in Hyundai's Theta II engine recall and warranty extension campaigns. This sudden failure created an extremely dangerous situation at highway speed and possibility of injury while being stranded on an open road. Many owners, myself included, were never properly notified of the risks. I am filing this report because this incident represents a serious safety defect and potential recurrence among similar vehicles that may not yet be covered by recall. I respectfully request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigate this issue and ensure Hyundai expands its recall and warranty coverage to include affected 2014 Hyundai Tucson Limited vehicles exhibiting this defect that was well-known to the Hyundai Corporation. Date of Incident: October 23,2025 in Houston Texas. Vehicle towed to Hyundai dealer which diagnosed Engine Seized and currently awaiting Warranty Extension Approval (TXXC/TXXI)

10mo ago
Body 1

This dealership refuses to work on recalls on weekends, even though they are open for repairs on Saturdays. They are prioritizing paying customers. This is the second recall I've had this issue with them. Tasca Central Ave Hyundai 111 south central avenue, Hartsdale NY 10530

13mo ago
Body 2

The traction contril indicator is always light is always showing up on the dashboard at the night time till morning since a couple of months so far.

14mo ago
Electrical 1

There is a light is always on and it says passenger airbag off

14mo ago
Engine 1

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.

14mo ago
Engine 1

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.

15mo ago
Brakes 4

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that her daughter was driving the vehicle when the failure occurred. While driving on a city road at 25 MPH, a tractor-trailer crossed in front of the contact's lane. The contact stated that her daughter immediately reacted by taking a sharp left turn in order to avoid a collision. However, upon attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brakes failed to engage, therefore causing the contact to crash into a utility pole. The front passenger side of the contact's vehicle was crashed upon impact with the utility pole, and the vehicle came to a stop upon impact. No property damage was reported. The airbags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a local body shop. The Traction Control Warning light was illuminated. A police report was filed. No injuries were reported. No one outside of the vehicle was injured. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 77,300.

15mo ago
Engine 2

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.

16mo ago

371 total

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