Owners have filed 4,863 complaints with NHTSA about the Hyundai Elantra from 2012 to 2024. Across every year, the most reported problem areas are the engine and cooling, the brakes and stability control and the electrical system. The years with the most complaints are 2013, 2017 and 2012.
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Start my car searchComplaints by year
Tap a year to see its most reported problems, its recalls and what to check before you buy. Newer years have had less time on the road, so they always look better here. Red marks the worst years, orange years worse than most, and green the better ones.
Every year at a glance
| Year | Vs. other years | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Elantra | Among the worst years | 654 | 4 |
| 2013 Elantra | Among the worst years | 1,316 | 4 |
| 2014 Elantra | Worse than most years | 386 | 2 |
| 2015 Elantra | About average | 262 | 3 |
| 2016 Elantra | About average | 293 | 2 |
| 2017 Elantra | Among the worst years | 770 | 4 |
| 2018 Elantra | About average | 284 | 0 |
| 2019 Elantra | About average | 252 | 1 |
| 2020 Elantra | About average | 255 | 3 |
| 2021 Elantra | One of the better years | 132 | 6 |
| 2022 Elantra | Too new to judge | 102 | 5 |
| 2023 Elantra | Too new to judge | 101 | 2 |
| 2024 Elantra | Too new to judge | 56 | 1 |
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Hyundai Elantra questions
What are the worst Hyundai Elantra years?
Compared with its other years, the Elantra years with the most owner complaints to NHTSA are 2012, 2013 and 2017. The most reported problem area across all years is the engine and cooling.
What are the best Hyundai Elantra years?
The Elantra years with clearly fewer complaints than a typical year are 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly, since complaints keep coming in as cars age.
What are the most common Hyundai Elantra problems?
Across 2012 to 2024, owners report problems with the engine and cooling, the brakes and stability control and the electrical system most often. Each model year has its own pattern, so check the year you are looking at.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Elantra have?
NHTSA lists 37 recalls across the 2012 to 2024 Elantra, counted per model year. A recall can cover several years.
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These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
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