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The 2021 Hyundai Elantra has 129 NHTSA owner complaints and 6 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2021 Hyundai Elantra has 129 NHTSA owner complaints and 6 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). The most-reported system is electrical at 26 complaints (~$850 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 Elantra | 281 | 0 |
| 2019 Elantra | 250 | 1 |
| 2020 Elantra | 250 | 3 |
| 2021 Elantra (this page) | 129 | 6 |
| 2022 Elantra | 100 | 5 |
| 2023 Elantra | 98 | 2 |
| 2024 Elantra | 53 | 1 |
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: Standard
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2021 Hyundai Elantra 4 DR FWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: seatbelts is flagged critical on this model . Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 6 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 6.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
NHTSA Recall Number 22V354000 has been active since May 18, 2022. The dealership says no dealers in the area have received the part to fix it. The recall itself carries serious safety concerns as the seatbelt will explode metal fragments in an accident. The dealer has also told…
The horn is not working when I press the horn or on the key fob. I had it checked and the fuses were fine. The seat belt chime also does not work out of nowhere, same time the horn stopped working.
When driving at 55MPH with cruise control on, the car suddenly accelerated to 75MPH, this happened on the open road and was able to keep under control. Auto has less than 10,000 miles. I will be contacting Hyundai customer service for a case number on this incident. First…
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 51,192 and at the time of receiving the vehicle from the dealer…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.
An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
Exploding seat belt pretensioners can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.4 out of 10 based on 129 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
The 2021 Hyundai Elantra is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 6.4/10 — around the segment average; 6 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the electrical first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 26 owner complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 6.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 129 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is electrical. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is electrical, with 26 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop.
The seatbelts is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $500 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 129 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.