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2026 Hyundai Elantra

Hybrid Gas

Midsize Cars
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

68 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.

Recalls1 critical 4

Complaints1 fire · 1 injured reported 4

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 54 mpg

Starting MSRP14 trims · manufacturer $22,825

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2026 Hyundai Elantra is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize sedan with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Elantra Hybrid Blue, is EPA-rated at 54 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 4 complaints, most often about the wheels. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall. Manufacturer pricing runs from $22,825 to $40,950 across 14 trims.

Hyundai Elantra N — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Hyundai Elantra N · Photo: OWS Photography · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitWhich trim should I buy? → Compare a trim →

Trim	Powertrain	Drive	MSRP	HP	Torque	Seats	Cargo (2nd row)	Wheels
SE	Gas	FWD	$22,825	147 hp	132 lb-ft	5	14.2 cu-ft	15 in
SEL Sport	Gas	FWD	$23,950	147 hp	132 lb-ft	5	14.2 cu-ft	17 in
SEL Sport Plus	Gas	FWD	$24,450	147 hp	132 lb-ft	5	14.2 cu-ft	17 in
SEL Sport Premium	Gas	FWD	$25,275	147 hp	132 lb-ft	5	14.2 cu-ft	17 in
Limited	Gas	FWD	$27,375	147 hp	132 lb-ft	5	14.2 cu-ft	17 in
N Line	Gas	FWD	$29,600	201 hp	195 lb-ft	5	14.2 cu-ft	18 in
HEV Blue	Hybrid	FWD	$25,650	139 hp	195 lb-ft	5	14.2 cu-ft	16 in
HEV SEL Sport	Hybrid	FWD	$27,625	139 hp	195 lb-ft	5	14.2 cu-ft	17 in
HEV SEL Sport Plus	Hybrid	FWD	$27,300	139 hp	195 lb-ft	5	14.2 cu-ft	17 in
HEV Limited	Hybrid	FWD	$30,000	139 hp	195 lb-ft	5	14.2 cu-ft	17 in
N MT	Gas	FWD	$35,300	276 hp	289 lb-ft	5	14.2 cu-ft	19 in
N DCT	Gas	FWD	$36,800	276 hp	289 lb-ft	5	14.2 cu-ft	19 in
N TCR MT	Gas	FWD	$39,450	276 hp	289 lb-ft	5	14.2 cu-ft	19 in
N TCR DCT	Gas	FWD	$40,950	276 hp	289 lb-ft	5	14.2 cu-ft	19 in

MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Elantra Hybrid Blue	Hybrid	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl	51	58	54	$1,250
Elantra Hybrid	Hybrid	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl	49	52	50	$1,350
Elantra w/Stop-Start	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	31	40	35	$1,900
Elantra non-ISG	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	30	40	34	$1,950
Elantra	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	28	35	31	$2,150
Elantra N	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	21	29	24	$3,400
Elantra N	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	20	27	23	$3,550

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 49817, 49816, 49814, 49813, 49815, 49819, 49818.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Wheels

310

17 vehicles built Aug 13, 2026 – Aug 13, 2026

Problem Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Venue, Elantra N, Elantra Hybrid, and Elantra vehicles. The wheel lug nuts may loosen and allow the wheel to detach. Risk Wheel detachment can cause a loss of vehicle control or create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Fix Dealers will inspect and tighten the wheel assembly lug nuts, and replace the hub bearing assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 19, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 310. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 23, 2026.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V693000 reported Oct 20, 2026 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Suspension

309

24 vehicles built Dec 30, 2025 – Jul 6, 2026

Problem Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Tucson Hybrid and Elantra vehicles. The front strut assembly fasteners may not be tightened properly, which can result in a loss of vehicle steering control. Risk A loss of vehicle steering control increases the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect and replace the front strut assembly fasteners and perform a wheel alignment, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 19, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 309. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 23, 2026.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V692000 reported Oct 20, 2026 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

!critical

Electrical System

301

54,337 vehicles Hybrid only

Problem Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Elantra Hybrid vehicles. The hybrid power control unit (HPCU) assembly may overheat. Risk Overheating in the HPCU increases the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will update the HPCU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 301. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 16, 2026.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF Dealer notice PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V308000 reported May 14, 2026 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Air Bags

299

2,931 vehicles 48% reported repaired built Sep 2, 2025 – Oct 15, 2025

Problem Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Elantra N, 2026 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), and Elantra vehicles. The B-pillar impact sensors may have been misassembled, which can delay air bag deployment. Risk Air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect and replace the impact sensor(s), as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 11, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 299. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 22, 2026.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF Dealer notice PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V254000 reported Apr 20, 2026 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Elantra

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2026 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Hyundai publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Hyundai’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2026 Hyundai Elantra, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

4complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported

0.4 per 10,000 built · Hyundai reported 94,601 Elantra built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2026: 4

Most-cited components

Wheels 1

Air Bags 1

Unspecified 1

Fuel/Propulsion System 1

Engine 1

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

I bought the car about 2 days ago and while driving the car caught fire and I had to call my local fire department. I never hit anyone or did anything it just caught fire randomly

Fuel/Propulsion System Sep 5, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11762360

my car was t-boned on the passenger side at the b pillar and airbags did not deploy. yes the body shop confirmed the airbags did not deploy. no warnings or messages

Air Bags Aug 26, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11759642

To Whom It May Concern: I am submitting this formal complaint to request review of a potentially serious vehicle-safety failure involving a rental automobile provided to me by Hertz at its location.

Wheels Aug 10, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11756046

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Hyundai itself: 1 death-or-injury claim on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 1.1 per 100,000 built. Every Elantra model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	10%
4DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	10%
4DR FWD	not rated	not rated	not rated	★★★★★	10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 15

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-08

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 9 service bulletins, 6 others

Most often about: Air Bags, Engine, Forward Collision Avoidance, Lane Departure, Exterior Lighting.

26-EM-016H TSB Service bulletin
2026-10-08 · Engine
Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. All internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operation, depending on driving conditions and mileage, and this procedure should only be performed when dee
26-EM-015H TSB Service bulletin
2026-10-07 · Engine
Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. All internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operation. Oil consumption rates may vary based on mileage, operating conditions, driving habits, and mainte
26-AT-004H TSB Service bulletin
2026-06-05 · Power Train
This bulletin provides information related to a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software update for some vehicles equipped with an 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT). The software update revises the touch point learning variation, improving drivability and judder symptoms. Certain 8WDCTs (indicated by a new part number) received an updated clutch spring. The correct TCU software update m
11032523 Other
2026-04-10 · Air Bags
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehicle manufacturers and have primarily been found in vehicles that previously experienced a crash and
11032522 Other
2026-04-10 · Air Bags
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been identified in U.S. vehicles following prior crashes, theft, or non‑certified airbag replacements. These inflators are not approved for use, may
26-AD-001H TSB Service bulletin
2026-02-25 · Exterior Lighting
Some 2019MY and newer vehicles equipped with a front view camera may illuminate certain warning lights and trigger DTC C272246 fault code for the front camera. In the following cases, the front camera auto-calibration range may be exceeded while driving: • If the front camera is not properly installed and is completely or partially detached. • In case of excessive changes affecting the vehicle's b

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Compare the 2026 Elantra with

Any vehicle, your weights →

Head-to-head	Verdict
2026 Toyota Crown · Midsize Sedan · grade A	Elantra +7.7
2026 Toyota Camry · Midsize Sedan · grade C	Elantra +5.4
2026 Nissan Sentra · Midsize Sedan · grade A	Elantra +9.3
2026 Honda Civic · Midsize Sedan · grade A	Elantra +2.9
2026 Nissan Altima · Midsize Sedan · grade A	Toss-up
2026 Tesla Model 3 · Midsize Sedan · grade A	Elantra +8.1

Elantra by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 this page D 4 4 54 mpg 2025 C 2 34 54 mpg 2024 C 2 62 54 mpg 2023 D 4 170 Park outside 2022 F 8 159 54 mpg 2021 F 7 162 54 mpg 2020 C 3 262 36 mpg 2019 B 1 266 35 mpg 2018 A 1 335 35 mpg 2017 C 4 795 35 mpg 2016 C 2 300 31 mpg

Common questions about the 2026 Elantra

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

How much does the 2026 Hyundai Elantra cost?

Manufacturer pricing runs from $22,825 for the SE FWD to $40,950 for the N TCR DCT FWD, across 14 trims. Those are MSRPs from the manufacturer's own press material; they exclude destination, options, taxes and whatever the dealer adds. Every trim and price is listed above.

Does the 2026 Hyundai Elantra have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2026 Hyundai Elantra, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 26V308000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?

NHTSA gave the 2026 Hyundai Elantra 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (68/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?

Across the 7 EPA-rated configurations of the 2026 Hyundai Elantra, the best EPA combined figure is 54 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Hyundai Elantra, most often about wheels, air bags, unspecified. Of those, 1 a fire, 1 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

Are there service bulletins for the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?

The manufacturer has filed 15 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2026 Hyundai Elantra, most often covering air bags, engine, forward collision avoidance. The most recent is dated 2026-10-08. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

Which 2026 Hyundai Elantra trim is the best value?

$18,125 separates the cheapest of the 14 trims from the most expensive, so the answer depends on which of the differences you would actually use. Every trim has its own page here with the manufacturer's full specification and equipment list, plus a short summary of exactly what it adds over the base trim — worth reading before a dealer frames the walk-up for you. The trim-by-trim ladder shows what every step up costs and what it makes standard.

Is the 2026 Hyundai Elantra better than the 2026 Toyota Crown?

The Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 92.8 to 85.1, on price, fuel & range. The Toyota Crown is ahead on safety and performance. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2026 Hyundai Elantra against the 2026 Toyota Crown — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	7 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	none	EPA emission certificates	The EPA published no certificate we could match to a configuration on this page.
Recalls	4	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	4	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	3 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	15	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	none	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment	14 trims	Manufacturer press kit	Transcribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.

JSON for this page · API

2026 Hyundai Elantra

Trims & pricing

Specs & fuel economy

The cheapest ownership win

Recalls (4)

Wheels

Suspension

Electrical System

Air Bags

Whether any of this applies to one specific Elantra

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2026 Hyundai Elantra

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Compare the 2026 Elantra with

Elantra by model year

Common questions about the 2026 Elantra

How much does the 2026 Hyundai Elantra cost?

Does the 2026 Hyundai Elantra have any recalls?

How safe is the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?

What is the fuel economy of the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?

What do owners complain about on the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?

Are there service bulletins for the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?

Which 2026 Hyundai Elantra trim is the best value?

Is the 2026 Hyundai Elantra better than the 2026 Toyota Crown?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method