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Direct rivals · Direct rivals in the compact sedan segment

2024 Hyundai Elantra vs 2024 Subaru Impreza

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-06-08 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2024 Hyundai Elantra and 2024 Subaru Impreza are nearly tied on reliability data

Two direct rivals running close on the data. Reliability scores are within rounding distance (4.0 versus 4.1), and both have similar complaint patterns. At this margin, choose based on what specifically matters to your use case rather than overall scoring.

2024 Hyundai Elantra

4.0/5
Reliability score
51 complaints
1 recalls (0 critical)
$5,250 repair exposure
vs

2024 Subaru Impreza

4.1/5
Reliability score
28 complaints
1 recalls (0 critical)
$2,050 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

Direct rivals running close enough that you'd be fine either way. Reliability scores within rounding distance (4.0 for the 2024 Hyundai Elantra, 4.1 for the 2024 Subaru Impreza). When two vehicles in the same segment land this close, the data alone won't pick a winner.

If you lean 2024 Hyundai Elantra, know what you're getting into on electrical and steering. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2024 Subaru Impreza sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2024 Subaru Impreza? Watch the visibility and tires. The 2024 Hyundai Elantra has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

On the dollars-and-cents side, total repair exposure across the top problem areas runs 2.6x higher on the 2024 Hyundai Elantra. That's the number to keep in mind when you're pricing the deal — a $2,000 difference in purchase price disappears the first time you're staring at a transmission rebuild.

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
2024 Hyundai Elantra
2024 Subaru Impreza
electrical
11 reports
moderate · ~$850
3 reports
severe · ~$850
steering
6 reports
severe · ~$700
4 reports
moderate · ~$700
visibility
No reports
7 reports
moderate · ~$350
engine
4 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
No reports
cruise control
3 reports
moderate · ~$600
No reports
tires
No reports
3 reports
moderate · ~$150

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2024 Hyundai Elantra or the 2024 Subaru Impreza?

It's close to a tie. Both vehicles score within 0.2 points on our reliability index (4.0 vs 4.1). At this margin, either choice is defensible — base your decision on the specific failure modes that matter to you.

What goes wrong more often on the 2024 Hyundai Elantra?

Compared to the 2024 Subaru Impreza, the 2024 Hyundai Elantra sees more reported issues in electrical and steering. 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 2024 Subaru Impreza?

Compared to the 2024 Hyundai Elantra, the 2024 Subaru Impreza has more complaints in visibility and tires. 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?

Both vehicles have 1 active recalls. Total recall count alone isn't a great signal — what matters is severity. See the recall counts by severity in the comparison table.

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 $5,250 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: 2024 Hyundai Elantra on NHTSA · 2024 Subaru Impreza 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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