Certain vehicles equipped with the Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) may experience a check engine light or malfunction indicator light due to Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) listed below. This bulletin provides information on replacing the oil pressure sensor to remedy these DTCs, rather than replacing the entire IVT assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 Hyundai Elantra powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2021 Hyundai Elantra have filed 6 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Elantra | 61 |
| 2018 Elantra | 23 |
| 2019 Elantra | 11 |
| 2020 Elantra | 45 |
| 2021 Elantra (this page) | 6 |
| 2022 Elantra | 5 |
| 2023 Elantra | 9 |
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Hyundai has launched an anti-theft software upgrade and window decal campaign (Campaign 993), combined with an anti-theft steering wheel lock campaign (Campaign P32), in response to an increase in thefts of certain 2011-2022MY Hyundai vehicles not equipped with engine immobilizers targeted through social media. For certain vehicles that cannot be updated with the software (Campaign 993), Hyundai is offering customers steering wheel locks at the dealer (Campaign P32). This Dealer Best Practices Guide provides information to assist dealership personnel with customer questions relating to the immobilizer software upgrade, window decals and steering wheel lock ant-theft solutions available from
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain Elantra (CN7/CN7a) vehicles equipped with the 2.0L MPI and Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) need an update to the damper clutch logic to address a potential engine stall condition immediately following Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA) activation under specific operating conditions at low engine RPM and low vehicle speeds. In the event a low-speed stall does occur, the engine can immediately be restarted.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides the service procedure to update the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software for certain Elantra (CN7/CN7a) vehicles equipped with the 2.0L MPI and Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). This update to the damper clutch logic is to address a potential engine stall condition immediately following Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA) activation under specific operating conditions at low engine RPM and low vehicle speeds. In the event a low-speed stall does occur, the engine can immediately be restarted.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2021 ~ 2022MY Elantra (CN7, CN7a, CN7 HEV) vehicles may exhibit a condition with multiple warning lights displayed on the instrument cluster and various symptoms; multiple DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Code), reduction in power steering assist, and not able to shift out of Park. Possible DTCs set are: C181287 â CAN Time-out Gateway, C181208 â CAN Time-out Gateway, C180581 â LKAS CAN Signal Error, C181887 â CAN Time-out BCA, B109052 â TCU Missing Error This bulletin provides the service procedure to update the ICU (Integrated Central Control Unit) software to resolve the conditions stated above.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I picked up my Hyundai Elantra n-line today 12/1/22. My car was at the dealership for almost 3 weeks for transmission judder (shudder?) issues and they claim to have fixed the issue with a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) from Hyundai with some snap and cable and additional work that was not disclosed. After picking it up and driving only 3 blocks my car went berserk where all dummy lights went…
Ongoing issues whereby when accelerating the car jerks due to the transmission shuddering. There are many times when acceleration is very slow and the gears slowly shift. Brought this up to the dealership where I bought the car and they keep giving me the run around.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2021 Hyundai Elantra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2021 Hyundai Elantra?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 6 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2021/Hyundai/Elantra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.