Hyundai Elantra Years to Avoid · Best Years · Problems · Recalls

Hyundai Elantra warranty extensions

We list four Hyundai warranty extensions on the Elantra model years, and each card says whether it still applies. Eligibility depends on the VIN, so ask a Hyundai dealer to check the car before you buy it.

• Engine connecting rod bearing wear Open

  15 years or 150,000 miles

  Years

  2014–2016 with the 2.0L

  Source

  22-EM-006H-2

  Hyundai covers original and later owners, and each car runs 15 years from its own delivery. The same cover applies to the 2014 Elantra Coupe and the 2014–2020 Elantra GT, which NHTSA lists under their own names.

  The knock sensor detection (KSDS) software update is a requirement for coverage, except on cars with recall 198 or 209, and every claim needs Hyundai’s prior approval.

• White paint peeling or bubbling Open for newer years

  10 years, unlimited miles

  Years

  2015–2018 in certain white colors

  Source

  Z05

  Hyundai raised the paint term from 3 years and 36,000 miles to 10 years with unlimited miles.

• Horn Open

  10 years or 120,000 miles

  Years

  2021–2025 built September 12, 2020 to August 30, 2024

  Source

  25-BE-005H

  Hyundai covers original and later owners.

• Power steering coupling Ended by age

  10 years or 100,000 miles

  Years

  2007–2015, and the 2009–2012 Elantra Touring

  Source

  17-ST-002

Sources: Hyundai warranty extension 22-EM-006H-2, November 3, 2022. Hyundai warranty extension Z05 (26-BD-002H), April 28, 2026. Hyundai warranty extension 25-BE-005H, March 19, 2025. Hyundai warranty extension 17-ST-002, February 27, 2017.

Hyundai Elantra crash tests and investigations

NHTSA gives the Hyundai Elantra an overall 5 of 5 for the 2013–2016 and 2021–2025 model years, an overall 4 of 5 for the 2017–2020 model years, and an overall 4 or 5 of 5 depending on the version for the 2012 model year. The frontal score is 4 for the 2013–2025 and 3 or 4 depending on the version for the 2012. The 2011 has no overall rating.

NHTSA started its current 5-star test system with the 2011 model year, so older ratings are not comparable and we do not show them. Separately, NHTSA’s defect office has had 9 probes on Elantra model years, and none of them is still open. NHTSA also handled petitions about throttle control system vulnerabilities (DP21003, denied Jun 20, 2023) and loss of motive power (DP22003, closed Dec 12, 2023).

Crash test ratings

NHTSA defect investigations

Source: NHTSA safety ratings, read Oct 31, 2026, and the NHTSA defect investigations file of Oct 30, 2026

Hyundai Elantra model years compared

Each score from 1 to 5 compares one Hyundai Elantra model year with the other Hyundai Elantra model years only. It is not a reliability rating, and it says nothing about how the Hyundai Elantra compares with another car. A 5 means that year scores highest among the Hyundai Elantra model years, a 1 means it scores lowest. The 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 are too new to judge and carry no score.

Best counts model years from 2011 on, so an older year can score 5 here and still not be listed in the Best years.

How the score is built: each year is compared with the typical Hyundai Elantra year over its first five years on the road, using complaints (40%), serious complaints that report a crash, fire, injury or death (40%), recalls (15%) and open NHTSA probes (5%). A 4 is better than most other years and sits in a Next best tier under the Best years when fewer than five years from 2011 on score 5. A year with a recall that tells owners not to drive it scores 1.

Years under five years old get no score. Source: NHTSA owner complaints, federal file of Aug 25, 2026, and NHTSA recall campaigns, read Oct 31, 2026. The open probes come from the NHTSA defect investigations file of Oct 30, 2026. The counts in the “Model years compared” table are for those first five years. The complaint and recall totals on each year card cover all years on file, so they are larger.

Hyundai Elantra recalls by year

The 2008 Hyundai Elantra leads with 7 recall campaigns, equally often for the airbag system and the fuel system, and the 2001, 2002, 2007 and 2021 follow with 6 each. Every other year has 0–5, most often for the airbag system (9 of the 19 other years with a recall).

By federal law a carmaker must repair a recalled car for free unless it was first bought more than 15 calendar years before the maker sent the recall notice or NHTSA ordered the recall, whichever came first. Many makers fix older cars anyway, so ask a Hyundai dealer with your VIN. Your VIN shows which campaigns are still open on a car.

Look up your own car by VIN before anything else on this page.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns by model year, read Oct 31, 2026

Hyundai Elantra complaints by year

The table lists every Elantra model year in NHTSA’s file, 2000–2025, with its complaint count and the system owners named most. The 2013 leads with 1,311 complaints, most about steering, and the 2017 follows with 763, most about the engine. The verdict for each year uses the same scores as the cards at the top of the page. This table counts every complaint on file for each year, while the Model years compared table scores each year on its first five years only.

One complaint can name more than one problem, so the counts can add up to more than the year’s total. Entries NHTSA marks as unknown or other are left out.