Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 Hyundai Elantra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked outside his residence, it caught on fire. The contact stated the fire was emanating from the engine compartment. No one was injured during the fire. A volunteer fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. A fire department and police report were not filed. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the insurance; however, the contact stated the vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was not repaired and remains at the contact residence. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The contact stated that he was able to navigate the vehicle off the roadway. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not covered under recall or warranty. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the gear shifter only operated in second gear (D2) and the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the shifter locked Mr. Transmission where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact's daughter owns a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at various speeds, the vehicle was jerking and stalling. The air bag, check engine, and various other unknown warning lights were illuminated, and messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the failures could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred and that while her daughter was exiting the highway, the vehicle stalled, and she had to turn off and restart the vehicle to continue driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the crankshaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that the failure persisted and was recurring more frequently. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, she heard a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the noise was intermittent at first but had become almost constant and would occur at various speeds. The contact stated that she recently saw white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. Additionally, the engine was revving high when started in the morning. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V226000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.
Was driving 2/6/24 and oil light came on. Engine smelled bad then entire car stopped working, e.g. brake pedal locked and the dashboard lit up. Ran over a median to manually stop the car. Had car towed to Hyundai dealership, who stated that an oil change from Firestone in 12/2023 was the culprit. Upon inspection the oil filter had a bulging gasket which was presumed to allow the car to slowly leak oil, leading to impending catastrophic engine failure. I appealed to Firestone and they completed an inspection and provided a report that showed the Hyundai engine itself was faulty and warped the oil filter based on detailed caliper measurements. In light of the Hyundai/Kia engine troubles, I wanted to submit a report in case my year and make and model make a recall list for engine issues.
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the engine had misfired; however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The car was working fine. Then one day it wouldn't turn on while we were out. The engine wouldn't start and it smelt burnt and there was smoke. We had to jumpstart the car and it showed some codes. They were B1319 and B1111. We took it to an electrician and it showed there was was a fuse that's being overpowered. The car had been working again, but I did get a smell of something burnt a few times from inside the car. A few weeks passed by and three days ago the car again wouldn't turn on. Just yesterday I found out about the recall from September on the Hyundai Elantra 2015. Not sure if it has something to do with that, but I still haven't received a recall although that's the car model I have.
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle started to shudder and lost motive power before the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle also lost power steering functionality and stopped in the right lane on the highway. The contact stated that she restarted the vehicle and was able to exit the highway. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled repeatedly while driving to the residence. The contact stated that while driving to an independent mechanic, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 72,561.
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Elantra GT. The vehicle had previously been serviced under Manufacturer Campaign Number: 966 (Engine Monitoring Logic) however, after the repair, the vehicle lost motive power while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer and diagnosed with engine failure due to a rattling in the engine. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but declined the engine replacement. The failure mileage was 98,111.
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to restart. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with rod bearing failure and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but denied the engine replacement due to the vehicle having a Salvaged Title. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Engine complaints in other Elantra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2015 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA has 96 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2015 Hyundai Elantra, 37% of the model year's 263 complaints. The component named most often is engine › crank/camshaft position sensor (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2015 Hyundai Elantra engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2015 Hyundai Elantra engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.