Hyundai

Elantra

Midsize Cars · model years 1993 to 2026

Includes Elantra, Elantra Coupe, Elantra Hatchback and 4 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 131 Elantra trims All Hyundai cars

The verdict

Best year: 2026. complaints: 2, below this model's typical 171; recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3.

Worst year: 2001. complaints: 315, about 2.8x this model's typical 114; recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Hyundai Elantra
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
1993	3Gas	22	no data	$2,850	0	24	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 17%, POWER TRAIN 17%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 17%
complaints: 24, below this model's typical 171 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 87 of 100, where higher is better.
1994	3Gas	22	no data	$2,850	2	76	0	no data	AIR BAGS 32%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, POWER TRAIN 9%
complaints: 76, below this model's typical 171 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 16 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 66 of 100, where higher is better.
1995	3Gas	22	no data	$2,850	1	112	0	no data	AIR BAGS 23%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 13%, POWER TRAIN 13%
complaints: 112, below this model's typical 171 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 23 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 67 of 100, where higher is better.
1996	4Gas	23.5	no data	$2,650	3	100	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 16%, POWER TRAIN 16%, AIR BAGS 11%
complaints: 100, below this model's typical 227 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 41 of 100, where higher is better.
1997	4Gas	23.5	no data	$2,650	3	115	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 19%, AIR BAGS 13%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 12%
complaints: 115, below this model's typical 227 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 15 Score: 52 of 100, where higher is better.
1998	4Gas	23	no data	$2,725	0	55	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 19%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 18%, AIR BAGS 10%
complaints: 55, below this model's typical 227 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 Score: 85 of 100, where higher is better.
1999	4Gas	23	no data	$2,725	2	128	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 25%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 13%, AIR BAGS 12%
complaints: 128, below this model's typical 227 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 24 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 65 of 100, where higher is better.
2000	4Gas	23	no data	$2,725	1	197	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 18%, AIR BAGS 16%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%
complaints: 197, below this model's typical 227 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 31 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 64 of 100, where higher is better.
2001	2Gas	25	no data	$2,500	6	315	0	no data	AIR BAGS 28%, SUSPENSION 19%, STRUCTURE 7%
complaints: 315, about 2.8x this model's typical 114 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 59 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2002	2Gas	25	no data	$2,500	6	342	0	no data	SUSPENSION 23%, AIR BAGS 17%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 8%
complaints: 342, about 3x this model's typical 114 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 40 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2003	3Gas	25	no data	$2,500	5	234	0	no data	SUSPENSION 20%, AIR BAGS 16%, STRUCTURE 11%
complaints: 234, above this model's typical 171 recalls: 5, about 1.7x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 33 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 31 of 100, where higher is better.
2004	3Gas	26	no data	$2,400	5	182	0	no data	AIR BAGS 56%, SEAT BELTS 6%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 5%
complaints: 182, above this model's typical 171 recalls: 5, about 1.7x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 26 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 40 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	2Gas	25	no data	$2,500	4	137	0	no data	AIR BAGS 40%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 8%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6%
complaints: 137, above this model's typical 114 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 26 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 42 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	3Gas	24	no data	$2,600	1	155	0	no data	AIR BAGS 28%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 19%, SERVICE BRAKES 11%
complaints: 155, below this model's typical 171 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 23 Score: 68 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	2Gas	27.5	no data	$2,250	6	267	0	no data	AIR BAGS 13%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 12%, STEERING 9%
complaints: 267, about 2.3x this model's typical 114 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 17 complaints reporting a fire: 13 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	2Gas	27.5	no data	$2,250	7	315	0	no data	STEERING 13%, AIR BAGS 9%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 9%
complaints: 315, about 2.8x this model's typical 114 recalls: 7, about 2.3x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 41 complaints reporting a fire: 23 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	4Gas	26.5	no data	$2,350	4	286	0	no data	STEERING 39%, AIR BAGS 14%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%
complaints: 286, above this model's typical 227 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 24 complaints reporting a fire: 11 Score: 39 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	4Gas	27.5	138	$2,275	4	454	2	45	STEERING 39%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%, AIR BAGS 9%
complaints: 454, about 2x this model's typical 227 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 53 complaints reporting a fire: 13 Score: 2 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.3 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	4Gas	29	142	$2,175	8	462	4 (1 open)	122	ENGINE 15%, AIR BAGS 13%, STEERING 12%
complaints: 462, about 2x this model's typical 227 recalls: 8, about 2.7x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 complaints reporting a fire: 9 NHTSA advised parking the 2011 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.2 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	4Gas	29	142	$2,175	5	675	5 (1 open)	111	ENGINE 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, AIR BAGS 14%
complaints: 675, about 3x this model's typical 227 recalls: 5, about 1.7x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 47 complaints reporting a fire: 12 NHTSA advised parking the 2012 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.7 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	4Gas	32	147	$1,950	4	1,345	4 (1 open)	137	STEERING 14%, ENGINE 13%, AIR BAGS 9%
complaints: 1345, about 5.9x this model's typical 227 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 68 complaints reporting a fire: 31 NHTSA advised parking the 2013 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.1 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	5Gas	28	173	$2,200	2	395	2 (1 open)	127	ENGINE 30%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 9%
complaints: 395, above this model's typical 284 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 29 complaints reporting a fire: 15 NHTSA advised parking the 2014 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.4 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	6Gas	28	173	$2,200	3	263	2 (1 open)	121	ENGINE 26%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%, SERVICE BRAKES 8%
complaints: 263, below this model's typical 341 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 25 complaints reporting a fire: 8 NHTSA advised parking the 2015 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 25 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	4Gas	29	173	$2,150	2	300	1	115	ENGINE 28%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%, POWER TRAIN 8%
complaints: 300, above this model's typical 227 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 17 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 48 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	5Gas	29	147	$2,150	4	792	1	162	ENGINE 28%, STRUCTURE 12%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 792, about 2.8x this model's typical 284 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 24 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 8 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	5Gas	29	147	$2,150	1	334	0	132	ENGINE 36%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 334, above this model's typical 284 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 complaints reporting a fire: 8 Score: 45 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	5Gas	29	147	$2,150	1	265	0	111	ENGINE 41%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 19%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 265, below this model's typical 284 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 54 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	4Gas	32	147	$1,975	3	260	0	95	ENGINE 32%, POWER TRAIN 14%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 8%
complaints: 260, above this model's typical 227 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 16 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 21 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	6Gas, Hybrid	36	147	$1,750	7	160	2	79	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 15%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%
complaints: 160, below this model's typical 341 recalls: 7, about 2.3x this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 28 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	6Gas, Hybrid	36	147	$1,750	6	142	1	73	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, SEAT BELTS 13%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%
complaints: 142, below this model's typical 341 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 44 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	5Gas, Hybrid	37	147	$1,700	3	153	0	59	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 14%
complaints: 153, below this model's typical 284 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 NHTSA advised parking the 2023 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 43 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	4Gas, Hybrid	42	147	$1,550	2	60	0	27	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 19%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19%, ENGINE 10%
complaints: 60, below this model's typical 227 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 77 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	5Gas, Hybrid	36	147	$1,850	1	27	0	23	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 12%, LANE DEPARTURE 12%
complaints: 27, below this model's typical 284 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 78 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	3Gas, Hybrid	50	no data	$1,350	2	2	0	no data	AIR BAGS 50%, WHEELS 50%
complaints: 2, below this model's typical 171 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 87 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1993: 22 to 2026: 50

Owner complaints1993: 24 to 2026: 2

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Hyundai Elantra to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.