Hyundai Elantra problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 1,404 owner complaints and 19 safety recalls for the Hyundai Elantra. That averages 32.0 complaints per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (index 0.76 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Compact cars segment it ranks #8 of 9 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 23.0.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Over eight model years from 2018 to 2025, the Hyundai Elantra has recorded 1,404 owner complaints and 19 safety recalls, averaging 32.0 complaints per year which is fewer than typical at an index of 0.76. While the trend is worsening with 2023 and 2024 models running 128% above earlier years, the most common problem area is Engine accounting for 36.0% of complaints, a rate 1.6 times as common as across all tracked vehicles. Owners report 58 injuries and 5 deaths with 101 complaints describing a crash or fire, while recurring terms include "oil", "engine", "horn", "belts recall" and "notification seat". Recent activity shows 290 complaints filed in the last 12 months versus 232 previously, with half of all incidents occurring within 34 months of the model year's start.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 128% above the 2018 and 2019 models (76 early complaints per model year versus 37).
The 2023 model year has the highest rate (44.9 complaints per year) and the 2025 model year the lowest (19.7).
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (36.0% of complaints), followed by Electrical (13.5%) and Interior & equipment (8.8%). Engine complaints are 1.6 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “oil”, “engine”, “horn”, “belts recall” and “notification seat”. 101 complaints (7.2%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 58 injuries and 5 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 290 complaints versus 232 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace. The 2020 model year generated the most recent reports (59). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 34 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 19 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2022 (5), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 3 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model; the latest is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Mazda Mazda3, Toyota Prius, Subaru Impreza and Kia Forte; Honda Civic have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 330 | 38.0 | 0.9 | 58 | 0.65 | 45 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2019 | 251 | 32.7 | 0.78 | 16 | 0.2 | 50 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 254 | 38.1 | 0.91 | 82 | 1.44 | 59 | 3 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 | 158 | 27.9 | 0.66 | 63 | 1.03 | 20 | 6 | Electrical | View › |
| 2022 | 155 | 33.2 | 0.79 | 74 | 1.0 | 27 | 7 | Airbags & seat belts | View › |
| 2023 | 165 | 44.9 | 1.07 | 105 | 1.26 | 38 | 4 ⚠ | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 | 58 | 21.7 | 0.52 | 48 | 0.68 | 23 | 1 | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 Fewest complaints | 33 | 19.7 | 0.47 | — | — | 28 | 2 | Driver-assist systems | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 290 · Previous 12 months: 232 Steady
Problem areas
Driver-assist systems ›
99 · 7.1% · 1.23 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- forward46
- collision35
- safety system16
- consider break9
Airbags & seat belts ›
88 · 6.3% · 1.64 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- belts recall37
- notification seat36
- seat belts42
- distribution disconnect36
Transmission / powertrain ›
84 · 6.0% · 0.51 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- transmission45
- gears16
- ivt5
- dct5
Body & structure ›
48 · 3.4% · 0.37 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- paint15
- peeling9
- windshield19
- hood12
Steering ›
43 · 3.1% · 0.47 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- wheel24
- steering26
- column7
- speeds13
Wheels, tires & suspension
33 · 2.4% · 0.94 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tire20
- sidewall7
- blowout6
- hankook5
Other
26 · 1.9% · 1.02 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- cruise10
- speed13
- control11
- pedal8
Fuel system
24 · 1.7% · 0.4 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- fuel12
- gas8
- pump6
- reading3
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- oil227
- engine458
- horn66
- belts recall38
- notification seat37
- headlights66
- beams43
- high beam40
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 34 months
What owners report
Braking system failed to brake properly. It feels like even though the brakes were pressed all the way down, the car did not brake as it should. Also, the automatic collision avoidance system did not respond.
The vehicle experienced a catastrophic engine compartment fire while safely parked inside an employment parking garage in [XXX] on XXX, at approximately 3:04 PM.
Car sudden stopped then would not turn on Currently being looked at but for suspected timing chain, VVT, and related parts Others have reported these same issues and other model with same engines have been recalled
The paint is peeling off of my hood and on the sides of my car I have noticed other Hyundais with the same problem I tried to go through warranty and Hyundai wouldn't help me I've noticed in the past that they have had recalls on their vehicles for paint and…
Transmission TCM/IVT had a service campaign recall #963 for TCM relearn / IVT replacement for premature transmission failure. Hyundai USA and dealership Big Star Hyundai of Friendswood, TX have made claims of the repair being done.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Compact cars
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazda Mazda3 | 318 | 6.6 | 0.16 | Improving | Falling | 15 | Electrical |
| 2 | Toyota Prius | 250 | 7.0 | 0.17 | Stable | Rising | 11 | Electrical |
| 3 | Subaru Impreza | 494 | 9.5 | 0.23 | Improving | Steady | 13 | Body & structure |
| 4 | Kia Forte | 534 | 12.7 | 0.3 | Improving | Rising | 10 | Engine |
| 5 | Volkswagen Jetta | 843 | 18.0 | 0.43 | Improving | Steady | 22 | Engine |
| 6 | Nissan Sentra | 904 | 19.5 | 0.46 | Improving | Steady | 14 | Electrical |
| 7 | Toyota Corolla | 1,128 | 27.0 | 0.64 | Stable | Steady | 15 | Engine |
| 8 | Hyundai Elantra | 1,404 | 32.0 | 0.76 | Worsening | Steady | 19 | Engine |
| 9 | Honda Civic | 2,937 | 73.3 | 1.74 | Worsening | Falling | 14 | Steering |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 19
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 1
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (1) · 2019 (1) · 2020 (3) · 2021 (6) · 2022 (7) · 2023 (4) · 2024 (1) · 2025 (2)
Investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
- Loss of Motive Power Closed
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints i…
- Seat Belt Pretensioners May Rupture Closed
On August 8, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ) based on 3 incidents alleging front seat belt pretensioners that may rupture during deployment, on model year (MY) 2020-2022 of various Hyundai and Kia Models, resulting in 3 injuries (note: one incident occurred outside the U.S. and its territories).Between October 2021 and March 2023, Hyundai and Kia have …
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Elantra model year has the most complaints?
The 2023 model year has the highest rate (44.9 complaints per year) and the 2025 model year the lowest (19.7).
Is the Hyundai Elantra getting better or worse?
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 128% above the 2018 and 2019 models (76 early complaints per model year versus 37). In the last 12 months owners filed 290 complaints versus 232 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
What are the most common Hyundai Elantra problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (36.0% of complaints), followed by Electrical (13.5%) and Interior & equipment (8.8%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “oil”, “engine”, “horn”, “belts recall” and “notification seat”.
How does the Hyundai Elantra compare with other Compact cars?
Within the Compact cars segment it ranks #8 of 9 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 23.0. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Mazda Mazda3, Toyota Prius, Subaru Impreza and Kia Forte; Honda Civic have more.
Does the Hyundai Elantra have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 19 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2022 (5), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 3 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model; the latest is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).