2013 Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems

My vehicle has a piston slap ticking issue and Hyundai will not help me fix this because it’s a common issue by Hyundai.

While driving on an interstate on March 12, 2026, the engine stopped working requiring that the car be pulled over to the side of the road. There were no indications of issues as oil had been regularly changed, and the battery and tires were replaced in fall of 2025. The check engine and oil lights all flashed at the time of the incident, not before. Fortunately, we were able to pull over to the side of the highway, and a tow truck brought the car to a service center. The initial diagnosis was that the seal on the crankcase failed. The service center, and now the Hyundai dealer, do not know the cause of this catastrophic damage that may result in the need for a full engine replacement.

A system in the Engine that allows for oil to sit and burn. UNKOWN A Mechanic shop that I go to regularly stated that this has been a known issue that has been going on for the past 12 years. Along side when I bought the car I was told that the engine is usually louder then most cars, this has been the general consensus. Personally with my car no, having done research outside of just my car: UNKNOWN there were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem. I was first told about this issue during the 2nd week of February of 2026, With the oil change paperwork of when I found out about the issue

The vehicle has developed a pronounced knocking noise that was diagnosed by your authorized dealership as “piston slap.” I was informed by dealership staff that this is a known issue with this vehicle. However, because the vehicle is outside of warranty by time and mileage, I was told no repair assistance would be provided. My primary concern is safety. While there are currently no warning lamps illuminated, the engine is producing a consistent knocking noise. If this condition progresses to piston or engine failure while the vehicle is in operation, it could cause sudden loss of power or engine seizure. Such a failure at highway speeds or in traffic could create a serious accident risk to myself and others. Additionally, I was charged one hour of diagnostic labor, despite the dealership immediately recognizing the noise as piston slap without needing further testing. This raises concern that: The issue is well-known, The condition was identifiable without extensive diagnosis, Yet I was still billed for a full diagnostic hour. Given that this is acknowledged as a known issue, I am requesting: A formal review of this case by your product safety and quality department. Clarification on whether this condition has been the subject of technical service bulletins, extended coverage programs, or internal advisories. Consideration of goodwill repair assistance due to the potential safety implications. Reimbursement of the diagnostic charge, as no true diagnostic procedure appears to have been required. Written confirmation that continued operation of the vehicle in its current condition does not present a safety risk. I am prepared to provide service records, invoices, and any additional documentation needed. Given the potential safety implications, I respectfully request a response within 48 hours. I am hopeful the manufacturer will stand behind the safety and reliability of its product and address this matter promptly.

My engine has a piston slap. I have the 1.8l 4cy nu engine. It causes the car to stall unexpectedly creating a potential for serious accidents.

On August 9, 2025, my 2013 Hyundai Elantra suffered catastrophic engine failure while driving. The engine seized, creating immediate danger on the road. This vehicle is under NHTSA Recall 23V651000 (Hyundai Recall 251), which warns of fire/engine compartment risks both while parked and driving. Hyundai denied my claim, citing a vendor report that found “no thermal damage” to the ABS wiring. However, the dealer’s inspection confirmed internal engine failure with thermal damage, and I directly witnessed flames. The recall does not require ABS wiring itself to burn , it covers the broader safety hazard of fire and failure, which is exactly what occurred. In addition, Hyundai tried to shift blame onto owner maintenance. Their own recall language acknowledges failures occur due to the defect, not neglect. Furthermore, the handling by Hyundai’s case managers was unacceptable: my case was transferred without notice, calls were ignored, and I was left without clear instructions or remedy while my vehicle was disabled. I have attached the denial letter, the dealer report, the recall notice, and proof of maintenance. I request NHTSA review Hyundai’s mishandling of this recall obligation and require them to provide remedy and compensation

I was driving and my car just shut down. Thank goodness I was only in a drive thru because my car was still in gear. I got it restarted and it was making a terrible noise. I took it to hyandai where they told me that I had a piston slap. Hyandai corporate knows that this is a problem. I am lucky to have not been on the highway it could have caused serious injury or death to me or anyone around me. Hyandai corporate should replace the engine that they know is bad or if someone has had it replaced they should be reimbursing. Them. It's dangerous the 1.8l 4-cylinder nu engine.

My 2013 Hyundai Elantra with the 1.8L Nu engine suffered catastrophic engine failure. A mechanic found metal shavings in the oil and diagnosed a failed connecting rod bearing. The Hyundai dealership quoted $10,000 for a new engine and refused warranty coverage because I am over 120,000 miles, even though this is a well-documented defect. Hyundai issued TSB 22-EM-007H covering rod bearing wear in this engine, and there have been class actions and warranty extensions for similar failures. This failure creates a safety hazard, as the engine can seize or stall suddenly while driving, increasing risk of an accident. I request NHTSA investigate this known defect in the 1.8L Nu engine, as it poses a safety risk to myself and others.

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with piston failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

I was driving down a busy highway when my car decided to die I pulled into the turning lane cause that was the closest thing to me I turned my car off and went to turn it back on in hopes that it would just fire back up and smoke went rolling from my engine. I ended up having to contact a tow truck along with an officer to block the road come to find out my engine was completely blown, I contacted the service department along with warranty services and everything and nobody is willing to assist with this issue. Apparently This is an ongoing issue with Hyundai cars.

The engine of my 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT failed due to a known piston-slap issue, and it is available for inspection for a limited time before being sold to a junkyard. This failure occurred suddenly while I was on the highway, putting my safety and the safety of others at risk as I had to maneuver the car to the side of the road amidst heavy traffic. The problem has been confirmed by both the Hyundai dealership and an independent service center, who diagnosed the piston-slap issue and found the engine filled with sludge, a known issue with these engines. Despite having 28 documented service records and regular oil changes, Hyundai denied the warranty claim, citing engine neglect. Hyundai representatives have inspected the vehicle and provided a technical bulletin documenting this defect. Prior to the failure, there were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms indicating a problem with the engine.

Engine has "piston" slap or knocking, a precursor to catastrophic engine seizure, diagnosed at Joe Machen's Hyundai at 132k miles on [XXX]. Engine could seize causing rapid deceleration at any moment, while pulling out into traffic or travelling at high speeds on the highway. First noticed a clicking or ticking noise the engine made when it was cold around 130k mi, which goes away as engine warms up. Sound has gotten louder and more persistent and has turned into a knocking. Dealer told me that the entire engine needs replaced, which is prohibitively expensive. So I'm driving it now until I can get a new car or engine replacement. I've submitted a claim to the dealer and Hyundai corporate, but was denied. I don't believe that Hyundai is taking responsibility for the safe operation and reliability of their cars. I have also not found the dealer to be a support and advocate. There was a limited class action lawsuit where Hyundai settled for some faulty engines where there were metal burrs leftover in the oil passageways during manufacturing that causes engines to fail even when oil changes were done regularly [XXX] ). However, I don't think anything close to the number of engines with actual problems have been addressed. Mine wasn't in the recall but has the piston slap. I got regular oil changes with average 4,405 mi interval through today, while 7,500 mi interval is recommended in manual. I have another friend with a 2017 Elantra that failed at 95k miles, and another with a Kia that failed. Since Hyundai/Kia are very common cars, and owners often don't have the ability to replace the entire engine, and sometimes get no warning, the engine manufacturing defect needs to be looked into further by the NHTSA and Hyundai/Kia as a grave safety concern. Hyundai/Kia need to act promptly to prevent death and injury to their customers due to catastrophic engine failure. We don't feel safe. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

After taking my 2013 Hyundai Elantra in for service at a local mechanic due to hearing a new engine sound but no check engine light, I was informed that there was a much bigger problem involving a misfiring cylinder requiring a brand new engine replacement. My mechanic directed me to take in my car to a local Hyundai dealer where I was made aware that this was a known issue with Hyundai Elantras but was never made a recall leaving owners to hope that their vehicles fell under an arbitrary warranty extension that was put out by Hyundai [XXX] ) If undiagnosed or not replaced this can cause an engine seizure which could in turn lead to collisions, accidents, injury or death. I have entered my VIN into the website provided which tells me that my vehicle qualifies, however after taking my car into the dealership I was informed that my vehicle will not be covered since I bought the car pre-owned and it has been over 8 years since the manufacture of my vehicle. So because I fall out of that range I'm unable to have a known issue fixed that should be a recall? How does that make sense? My car has now been at a local Hyundai dealer for over two weeks with Hyundai Corporate kicking the tires on getting back to the service department on if they will cover any portion of the new engine. This has caused major issues and impediments in my daily work and personal life as I've had to rearrange and work around transportation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Complaint: Failure to notify or reave owned the car since October 2013 and have been notified of other defects through recalls from HMA. Which were serviced and completed on [XXX], 2023. 1.Recall 170: BRAKE PEDAL STpair while under service at a Hyundai dealer of a potentially hazardous defect. Foremost, Hyundai Motors America (HMA) never notified us of the potentially hazardous defect with motor. We hOPPER REPLACEMENT, [XXX], 2023 2.Service Campaign 933Service2011-13 ELANTRA, (UD), A/T SHIFT LEVER CLIP INSTALLATION, [XXX], 2023 3.Service Campaign 993ServiceIBU/BCM ANTI-THEFT SOFTWARE UPGRADE AND DECAL APPLICATION, [XXX], 2023 In conclusion, while driving in Bellevue, NE on [XXX], 2024, the motor developed piston slap, rod knock, and loss of power. Had this occurrence happened on a wet, snow or hail covered road whether on an incline, decline or level surface, physical injury would have been likely. Realizing that the vehicle would not make the return trip to Kansas City. MO, the vehicle was traded in at loss for a Chevrolet Bolt. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shook and then lost motive power. The contact stated that failure had occurred four times. The contact stated that the failure had previously occurred while her daughter was driving, stopped at a stop light, and in the middle of the street. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure because the check engine warning light was not illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

1. Coolant hose leaked into the engine causing the engine to smoke and head gasket to be blown. Available for inspection upon request until I sell the vehicle since I need a vehicle for work. 2. The engine failure could have occurred on a roadway, and the coolant in the engine could have combusted further. When the engine is on, you can smell smoke. 3. The problem was confirmed by an auto shop and they recommended that the Hyundai dealership perform a repair. 4. The component has not been inspected by anyone other than two auto shops at this time, who both confirmed that either the head gasket could be replaced as an attempted fix, but that the issue could remain/become worse if the entire engine is not replaced. 5. Check engine light came on, checked codes at a shop within 10 minutes - only code present was an engine thermometer. Drove 20 minutes home. Drove to shop in AM. Shop described issue and recommended taking it to dealership for repair. Drove home and engine was riding rough, and began to smoke. I have done research online and communities online refer to this as "sudden engine death" and an issue that occurs often with this make and year of vehicle.

The engine shut down while driving, it turns on again if I go neutral and turn it on but very dangerous since it already happens me on the freeway also when you’re on a stop or light with the brakes on the car start to try to move even whit the brakes all the way down, engine make some noise when you start it when is cold. car has been well maintained

Car randomly shuts off while idling . Will restart , but will not go past 10 mph leaving me either stranded in the middle of the road or causing me to pull over in unsafe areas . When restarting , engine is very hesitant. Car will be very shaky so I have to keep the car off for about 5 minutes before I restart the car . At that time the check engine light will turn on , as well as the wheel alignment and the battery .

Catastrophic engine failure at 75k miles due to metal shavings in oil. Had a recent oil change, had no engine light come on or any issues beforehand. I was driving on the highway when my 2013 Hyundai Elantra started to not accelerate until stalling. I couldn’t pull over at the time of it starting due to construction blocking off any pull off side lane. Luckily was able to have it roll until a safer area to pull off highway, but if it had stalled completely when it started I would of been stranded on a highway with limited room for cars to go around due to construction. When it did stall out I had to put it in neutral and physically push it into a parking lot after it gave up at a busy 4 way stop light. Towed to shop where they reported issues with the bearings and piston causing metal shavings in oil. Engine replacement required. Called dealership, denied warranty to replace engine.

The engine in my 2013 Elantra started making noises and the car stopped while my son was driving. He was able to get it to a nearby parking lot. We ended up driving it 1 mile to the mechanic who said “it might be time to get rid of this car”. It needs a new engine. Mechanic talked to the local Hyundai dealership, gave them the VIN and dealer said I would likely be eligible for an engine replacement under a recall or a factory warranty. I towed it to the dealer to do their own “diagnosis” before they could give me the official word that my engine would be replaced. Dealer kept my car for five weeks. They ultimately provided an estimate of $3K worth of repairs that have little to do with the engine failing. I'm not sure they even looked at the engine. They told me the car has too many miles and would no longer be eligible for an engine replacement. I ultimately had the car towed back to my mechanic. The mechanic is estimating about $8K-$10K worth of parts and labor to replace the engine. The mechanic does not suggest using a used engine. My car is displaying the same issues as the other engine recalls, but my particular model is not covered (yet). The 2014 Elantra is part of the engine recall. My 2013 Elantra is not covered but is still displaying the same symptoms, and the engine knocking noise and engine failure are the same. The "Check Engine" light is on. I have this car parked in a parking garage, unable to be driven, while I pay off the remaining balance to Carmax. My mechanic says it could "blow up" if I drive it, and at a minimum, the engine can fail while driving causing a safety risk to the driver and passengers and any surrounding vehicles or pedestrians. I can provide mechanic's contact information if needed.