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Hyundai Elantra: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Hyundai Elantra problems by model year, from 5,937 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2019 (76%, 145 drivetrain complaints), 2020 (66%, 150 drivetrain complaints) and 2018 (65%, 199 drivetrain complaints). 8 of the 14 Hyundai Elantra years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 3 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2010 (15%), 2021 (20%) and 2013 (26%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2020 (66%) to 2021 (20%), down 46 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2017 drew the most drivetrain complaints (345 of 2,030 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Hyundai Elantra year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Elantra | no elevated signal | 15% | 59 | 454 | 14/14 | 4 |
| 2011 Elantra | no elevated signal | 32% | 121 | 461 | 9/14 | 8 |
| 2012 Elantra | elevated | 34% | 181 | 675 | 8/14 | 5 |
| 2013 Elantra | no elevated signal | 26% | 290 | 1,335 | 12/14 | 4 |
| 2014 Elantra | high | 55% | 195 | 393 | 4/14 | 2 |
| 2015 Elantra | high | 47% | 111 | 263 | 7/14 | 3 |
| 2016 Elantra | high | 54% | 142 | 300 | 5/14 | 2 |
| 2017 Elantra | high | 47% | 345 | 792 | 6/14 | 4 |
| 2018 Elantra | very high | 65% | 199 | 334 | 3/14 | 1 |
| 2019 Elantra | very high | 76% | 145 | 255 | 1/14 | 1 |
| 2020 Elantra | very high | 66% | 150 | 259 | 2/14 | 3 |
| 2021 Elantra | no elevated signal | 20% | 20 | 131 | 13/14 | 6 |
| 2022 Elantra | no elevated signal | 30% | 26 | 118 | 11/14 | 7 |
| 2023 Elantra | no elevated signal | 30% | 46 | 167 | 10/14 | 4 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Hyundai Elantra years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Hyundai Elantra engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the Hyundai Elantra involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 33 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2021 | 21V301000 | engine | 2019–2020 |
| Oct 2022 | 22V746000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2022 |
| Jul 2023 | 23V526000 | power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: pump | 2023 |
| Jul 2024 | 24V528000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump: control/drive module | 2022–2023 |
29 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2013 | 13V113000 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2010–2011 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V115000 | air bags: side/window | 2011–2013 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V310000 | structure: frame and members | 2010–2012 |
| Feb 2015 | 15V100000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2010 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V629000 | suspension: front: springs: coil springs | 2011 |
| Dec 2015 | 15V871000 | electronic stability control (esc) | 2011–2012 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V232000 | air bags: frontal | 2017 |
| Aug 2016 | 16V574000 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2013 |
| Dec 2016 | 16V956000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2017 |
| Jan 2017 | 17V063000 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: hydraulic | 2017 |
| Mar 2017 | 17V213000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2017 |
| Nov 2017 | 17V769000 | service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages | 2013–2014 |
| Dec 2018 | 18V891000 | electrical system | 2018 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V720000 | wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs | 2020 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V721000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint | 2020 |
| Feb 2020 | 20V061000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2010–2011 |
| Jul 2020 | 20V393000 | equipment: electrical | 2011–2012 |
| Apr 2021 | 21V302000 | seats: front assembly: recliner | 2021 |
| Oct 2021 | 21V796000 | seat belts: front | 2021 |
| Dec 2021 | 21V00M000 | visibility: windshield | 2021 |
| Mar 2022 | 22V123000 | seat belts: front | 2022 |
| Apr 2022 | 22V218000 | seat belts: front | 2021–2022 |
| May 2022 | 22V354000 | seat belts: front | 2021–2022 |
| Aug 2022 | 22V632000 | air bags: frontal | 2022–2023 |
| Aug 2023 | 23V589000 | electrical system | 2023 |
| Sep 2023 | 23V651000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2011–2015 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V146000 | latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: latch | 2015–2016 |
| Nov 2024 | 24V879000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2021–2022 |
| May 2026 | 26V307000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2015–2016 |
What the free pages leave out on the Hyundai Elantra
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Hyundai Elantra
What are the worst years for the Hyundai Elantra?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Hyundai Elantra years are the 2019 (76% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2020 (66% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2018 (65% of relevant complaints, very high). 8 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Hyundai Elantra?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Hyundai Elantra years are the 2010 (15%), the 2021 (20%) and the 2013 (26%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Hyundai Elantra have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 2,030 of 5,117 relevant NHTSA complaints (40%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Is the Hyundai Elantra reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 8 of 14 Hyundai Elantra years we score have an elevated complaint share and 6 do not. Pooled across those years, 40% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Hyundai Elantra?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Hyundai Elantra years we track, out of 33 in total: 22V746000 (Oct 2022, 2022), 23V526000 (Jul 2023, 2023), 24V528000 (Jul 2024, 2022–2023), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.