# Engine failure **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** hyundai, elantra\ **Created:** [July 22, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149 "2017-07-22T18:25:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![barbaracommers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@barbaracommers](https://community.cartalk.com/u/barbaracommers)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/1 "2017-07-22T18:25:43Z")
We have been told by mechanic that our car has a manufacturer defect resulting in metal pieces in the oil, and the engine will soon fail. This is the same problem as the 2011-12 Sonatas. The Sonatas have been recalled but Hyundai is doing nothing about the Elantras. Has anyone experienced a similar problem? ---
**Author:** ![kurtwm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kurtwm1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kurtwm1)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/2 "2017-07-22T19:01:11Z")
I am not aware of Elantra’s having these type of problems. There are other complaints, but nothing you describe. > **[2012 Hyundai Elantra problems](https://www.carcomplaints.com/Hyundai/Elantra/2012/)** > > The 2012 Hyundai Elantra has 475 problems & defects reported by Elantra owners. The worst complaints are electrical, engine, and fuel system. ---
**Author:** ![ledhed75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@ledhed75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ledhed75)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/3 "2017-07-22T19:20:50Z")
Take it to a dealer. They will have the most up to date information…and you can begin a paper trail there if there ever is actually a problem. ---
**Author:** ![barbaracommers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@barbaracommers](https://community.cartalk.com/u/barbaracommers)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 7:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/4 "2017-07-22T19:34:20Z")
Thank you, that’s a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/5 "2017-07-22T19:39:21Z")
What year is your car? How many miles on your car? ---
**Author:** ![kurtwm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kurtwm1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kurtwm1)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/6 "2017-07-22T19:46:17Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > The Toyota for $2200 more when new sounds good now naive analysis based on a posters question. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/7 "2017-07-22T19:54:53Z")
NHTSA has 6 documented complaints for the same issue for the 2011 Elantra. You can register your complaint there as well. [Safercar.gov](http://Safercar.gov) The Sonata issue is with some 2L and 2.4L engines on cars assembled in Alabama. You can read about the recall for the Sonata at the same web site. Enter ‘2011 Hyundai Sonata’ in the search box for recalls and you will get to the correct page. Just switch the model to Elantra and enter the right year to register your complaint. Hyundai may extend the recall to the Elantra if your car uses the 2L or 2.4L engine from the affected time frame. If you haven’t done so already, you might call Hyundai directly and follow up with a letter. It is always best to have a paper trail to make discussions with them easier in the future. ---
**Author:** ![barbaracommers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@barbaracommers](https://community.cartalk.com/u/barbaracommers)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/8 "2017-07-22T19:57:43Z")
2011 89,000 We bought it used from a dealer so didn’t get the 100,000 mile warranty. ---
**Author:** ![barbaracommers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@barbaracommers](https://community.cartalk.com/u/barbaracommers)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/9 "2017-07-22T20:02:12Z")
Thank you so much! We have researched the Sonata and found the info re: Alabama etc. but couldn’t find any complaints about the Elantra-or even where to register a complaint. Our car has the same 2 engine as the Sonata. I contacted the attorney’s who did the class action suit for the Sonatas but they haven’t responded to my question about the Elantra. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/10 "2017-07-22T20:24:22Z")
> [@barbaracommers](#): > > bought it used from a dealer so didn’t get the 100,000 mile warranty I was going to say that doesn’t matter…until I did a little research. I am shocked to find out that it DOES matter! The 100K powertrain warranty ONLY applies to the original owner OR the second owner if they are a close family member - wife or kids. Every other 2nd owner gets 5 years 60K powertrain warranty. THAT is just messed up! ---
**Author:** ![barbaracommers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@barbaracommers](https://community.cartalk.com/u/barbaracommers)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 8:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/11 "2017-07-22T20:53:48Z")
Exactly-☹ The info about filing a complaint with the NHTSA at [safercar.gov](http://safercar.gov) was so helpful! I’ve done that now and we’ll see if they are able to be of any assistance. I really appreciate the assistance from everyone here! Thanks so much! ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 9:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/12 "2017-07-22T21:04:25Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > Every other 2nd owner gets 5 years 60K powertrain warranty. THAT is just messed up! Yes, it is messed-up, but since that crucial detail…somehow… 😉 doesn’t make it into Hyundai’s advertising, most folks are unaware of it, and many–perhaps most–buyers of used Hyundais undoubtedly think that they are getting the remainder of a 100k warranty. Nope! ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 10:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/13 "2017-07-22T22:39:06Z")
It’s unreasonable to think that any engine problem is caused by a factory defect on a used car. If the original owner seldom changed the motor oil or never at all then whose fault is it… As for the NHTSA being of any help; you can forget that. Complaint lodged; that is the end of it. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/14 "2017-07-22T22:45:38Z")
> [@ok4450](#): > > As for the NHTSA being of any help; you can forget that. Complaint lodged; that is the end of it. +1 Lodging a complaint with NHTSA may **_eventually_** help to cause a mandated recall, but the filing of that complaint is not likely to lead to any help (in the near future) for the person filing that complaint. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/15 "2017-07-22T23:19:24Z")
Since you are maintaining duplicate posts, I’ll duplicate my last post over there. The engine in your Elantra is not the same as either of the engines that were recalled. You have a 1.8L engine, not the 2L or 2.4L engines in the Sonata. Your engine might have similar problems, but that does not automatically follow just because it is a Hyundai engine. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 12:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/16 "2017-07-23T00:27:04Z")
OP, are you the same poster from a few days ago who had a problem with a cat failure, and the variable valve timing engine function sucked some debris from the cat into the cylinders? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 4:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/17 "2017-07-23T16:09:19Z")
> [@GeorgeSanJose](#): > > are you the same poster from a few days ago who had a problem with a cat failure, and the variable valve timing engine function sucked some debris from the cat into the cylinders? I’m not positive, but I believe that it was a Nissan Sentra that had those problems. ---
**Author:** ![thegreendrag0n](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thegreendrag0n/32/9265_2.png) [@thegreendrag0n](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thegreendrag0n)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-failure/106149/18 "2017-07-23T16:45:59Z")
that problem was definitely present in Altimas in early 2000s, the series right after they redesigned into “rounded body”, AFAIK Sentra was not affected. tell-tell sign is cat sitting right on exhaust manifold coming from the engine