Hyundai Elantra
Every model year 2016–2026: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
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Every Hyundai Elantra model year
Source: NHTSA · EPA · one row per year| Year | Powertrains | Safety | Recalls | Complaints | Crash | Best efficiency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Hybrid Gas | D | 4 | 4 | ★★★★★ | 54 mpg | |
| 2025 | Hybrid Gas | C | 2 | 34 | ★★★★★ | 54 mpg | |
| 2024 | Hybrid Gas | C | 2 | 62 | ★★★★★ | 54 mpg | |
| 2023 | Hybrid Gas | D | 4 | 170 | ★★★★★ | 54 mpg | Park outside |
| 2022 | Hybrid Gas | F | 8 | 159 | ★★★★★ | 54 mpg | |
| 2021 | Hybrid Gas | F | 7 | 162 | ★★★★★ | 54 mpg | |
| 2020 | Gas | C | 3 | 262 | ★★★★☆ | 36 mpg | |
| 2019 | Gas | B | 1 | 266 | ★★★★☆ | 35 mpg | |
| 2018 | Gas | A | 1 | 335 | ★★★★☆ | 35 mpg | |
| 2017 | Gas | C | 4 | 795 | ★★★★★ | 35 mpg | |
| 2016 | Gas | C | 2 | 300 | ★★★★★ | 31 mpg |
Which model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2018 is the cleanest Elantra year we hold, and the 2023 the one to check hardest. The 2023 carries a standing park-outside or do-not-drive advisory, which outranks every other number on this page.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
Which Hyundai Elantra years reported which system early
Source: NHTSA complaints, odometer at reportEarliest on the record: 2020 power train complaints at 0.12× the mileage of same-age vehicles (median 5,000 miles). Latest: 2019 engine at 2.12× (89,000 miles).
Each cell is that model year’s median odometer when owners reported the system, divided by the median for the same system across every make’s complaints on the same model year. under 0.67× reported early; 1.5× or more late; a dash means too few readings. When problems get reported, not how often — complaint counts are in the table above. Across the whole fleet: which systems go first.
What owners filed about the Hyundai Elantra, by system
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsEvery system, every year →The systems the federal record is deep on for this nameplate: the complaints per model year, the mileage owners reported them at, and every recall, investigation and manufacturer bulletin filed under the heading — each one linked, none a failure rate.
What changed year to year
Source: computed from the filed record- 2023: 8 → 7 EPA configurations
- 2022: 6 → 8 EPA configurations
- 2021: added hybrid; best combined mpg 36 → 54; 8 → 6 EPA configurations
- 2020: best combined mpg 35 → 36; 9 → 8 EPA configurations
- 2019: 10 → 9 EPA configurations
- 2018: 8 → 10 EPA configurations
- 2017: best combined mpg 31 → 35; 7 → 8 EPA configurations
| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Elantra vs Toyota Crown · Midsize Sedan | Elantra +7.7 | |
| 2026 Elantra vs Toyota Camry · Midsize Sedan | Elantra +5.4 | |
| 2026 Elantra vs Nissan Sentra · Midsize Sedan | Elantra +9.3 | |
| 2026 Elantra vs Honda Civic · Midsize Sedan | Elantra +2.9 | |
| 2026 Elantra vs Nissan Altima · Midsize Sedan | Toss-up | |
| 2026 Elantra vs Tesla Model 3 · Midsize Sedan | Elantra +8.1 | |
| 2024 Elantra vs Toyota Prius Prime · Midsize Sedan | Prius Prime +4.2 | |
| 2024 Elantra vs Polestar 2 · Midsize Sedan | 2 +24.5 |
In the studies
Source: computed from the same record, method on each pageCommon questions about the Hyundai Elantra
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich Hyundai Elantra year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2018 Elantra comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade A (94/100), 1 recall and 335 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What Hyundai Elantra years should I avoid?
2021, 2022, 2023, 2026 have the weakest recall records in this range — one carries an active park-outside or do-not-drive advisory. The year pages list every campaign, its severity and whether a repair exists yet. Every Elantra model year ranked, with the reasons.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Elantra have?
Across model years 2016–2026, NHTSA has posted 38 recall campaigns for the Hyundai Elantra. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.