The Lemon Index

All cars · Hyundai Elantra · 2021

2021 Hyundai Elantra. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index105100 = average car
Complaints126NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold124,422U.S. model year
Per 100K sold101complaints
Year rank#16 of 21#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 4

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
1.6L 4-cyl hybridAuto (AM-S6)FWD49 / 52 / 50Regular$1,250
1.6L 4-cyl turboAuto (AM-S7)FWD28 / 36 / 31Regular$2,000
1.6L 4-cyl turboManual 6-spdFWD25 / 34 / 28Regular$2,200
2.0L 4-cylAuto (AV-S1)FWD31 / 41 / 35Regular$1,800

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 2,100 and 51,400 miles. Median 17,600, from 18 complaints with a mileage.

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Automatic emergency braking41%
Electrical22%
Seat belts19%
Speed control14%
Brakes10%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
161813111

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 6

  • 24V879000 Nov 2024 Back Over Prevention / Sensing System / Camera

    Defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV and 2022 Elantra N and Santa Fe PHEV vehicles. Due to a damaged printed circuit board, the rearview camera image may fail to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk. A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 271.

  • 22V354000 May 2022 Seat Belts / Front

    Defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Accent, 2021-2022 Elantra, and 2021-2022 Elantra HEV vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.

    Risk. An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.

    Remedy. Dealers will secure the seat belt pretensioner(s) with a cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 28, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 229. This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall numbers 21V-796, 22V-069, 22V-218, and 22V-123 for Accent, Elantra, and Elantra HEV vehicles. All Accent, Elant

  • 22V218000 Apr 2022 Seat Belts / Front

    Defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Elantra and 2020 Accent vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver and passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.

    Risk. Exploding seat belt pretensioners can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.

    Remedy. Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 31, 2022. A second notice will be sent once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 223. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall number 22V-354. Vehicles

  • 21V00M000 Dec 2021 Visibility / Windshield

    Defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.

    Risk. A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy. Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.

  • 21V796000 Oct 2021 Seat Belts / Front

    Defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Elantra, Elantra HEV, Venue, Genesis GV80 and 2022 Genesis GV70 vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment.

    Risk. An exploding seat belt pretensioner could project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury.

    Remedy. Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 211 and 009G. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall numbers 22V-354 for Elantra and Elantra HEV vehicles, 22V-458 for Venue vehicles, and 23V-094 for Genesis vehicles. E

  • 21V302000 Apr 2021 Seats / Front Assembly / Recliner

    Defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Elantra vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat back recliners may have been improperly welded.

    Risk. An improperly welded seat back recliner could separate from the seat back frame during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy. Dealers will inspect and if necessary, replace the seat back frame assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 21, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-888-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 204.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
ClosedLoss of motive power20222023
ClosedSeat belt pretensioners may rupture20222023

Manufacturer communications 98

Hyundai filed 98 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Certain Hyundai vehicles may not be equipped with an immobilizer

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Hyundai Elantra 4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid 4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardNoStandard

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
201855111200,415Engine
20195297175,094Engine
2020119136105,475Engine
2021105126124,422Automatic emergency braking
202295137117,177Electrical
2023106169134,149Automatic emergency braking
20245362136,698Electrical

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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