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Direct rivals · Direct rivals in the compact sedan segment

2007 Honda Civic vs 2007 Hyundai Elantra

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-06-14 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2007 Hyundai Elantra clearly comes out ahead on reliability data

Two trucks built for the same buyer, and the data tells a clear story. The 2007 Hyundai Elantra edges the 2007 Honda Civic on reliability scoring (3.7 versus 3.1) with meaningful gaps in complaint volume and severity. Real differences, not noise.

2007 Honda Civic

3.1/5
Reliability score
1,203 complaints
3 recalls (0 critical)
$15,050 repair exposure
vs
More reliable

2007 Hyundai Elantra

3.7/5
Reliability score
266 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$13,500 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

If I'm picking between these two head-to-head, I'm taking the 2007 Hyundai Elantra. Reliability score's a solid 3.7 versus 3.1 on the 2007 Honda Civic, and the complaint counts back it up — 266 versus 1,203. That's not noise, that's a real gap between rivals built for the same buyer.

If you lean 2007 Honda Civic, know what you're getting into on suspension and visibility. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2007 Hyundai Elantra sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2007 Hyundai Elantra? Watch the steering and brakes. The 2007 Honda Civic has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2007 Honda Civic
2007 Hyundai Elantra
suspension
240 reports
moderate · ~$900
25 reports
moderate · ~$900
visibility
200 reports
moderate · ~$350
55 reports
moderate · ~$350
engine
224 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
No reports
airbags
144 reports
severe · ~$1,100
37 reports
severe · ~$1,100
powertrain
89 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
No reports
electrical
50 reports
moderate · ~$850
27 reports
severe · ~$850
body
55 reports
severe · ~$1,500
12 reports
moderate · ~$1,500
tires
34 reports
severe · ~$150
No reports
steering
No reports
33 reports
severe · ~$700
brakes
No reports
22 reports
severe · ~$450

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2007 Honda Civic or the 2007 Hyundai Elantra?

Based on the NHTSA data we track, the 2007 Hyundai Elantra comes out ahead with a reliability score of 3.7 versus 3.1. The margin is clear, so the verdict could shift if you weight specific categories differently or factor in your own use case.

What goes wrong more often on the 2007 Honda Civic?

Compared to the 2007 Hyundai Elantra, the 2007 Honda Civic sees more reported issues in suspension and visibility. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2007 Hyundai Elantra?

Compared to the 2007 Honda Civic, the 2007 Hyundai Elantra has more complaints in steering and brakes. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

The 2007 Honda Civic has more active recalls (3 vs 0). Total count is less important than severity, though — a vehicle with one critical recall and zero moderate ones is generally riskier than one with five moderate recalls.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $15,050 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. Verify each vehicle's federal record: 2007 Honda Civic on NHTSA · 2007 Hyundai Elantra on NHTSA. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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