Hyundai Elantra — YEARS TO AVOID

Data updated 2026-08-02. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

Avoid: 2013, 2017, 2012 · Best bets: 2024, 1998, 1994, 2023, 2022, 1996

COMPLAINT HISTORY

Complaints per year, Hyundai Elantra Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2026 highlighted. 1990: 0 complaints 1990 1991: 0 complaints 1992: 29 complaints 1993: 24 complaints 1994: 76 complaints 1995: 112 complaints 1995 1996: 100 complaints 1997: 115 complaints 1998: 55 complaints 1999: 128 complaints 2000: 197 complaints 2000 2001: 315 complaints 2002: 342 complaints 2003: 234 complaints 2004: 182 complaints 2005: 137 complaints 2005 2006: 155 complaints 2007: 266 complaints 2008: 314 complaints 2009: 247 complaints 2010: 378 complaints 2010 2011: 431 complaints 2012: 649 complaints 2013: 1307 complaints 2014: 379 complaints 2015: 258 complaints 2015 2016: 286 complaints 2017: 759 complaints 2018: 274 complaints 2019: 242 complaints 2020: 240 complaints 2020 2021: 128 complaints 2022: 95 complaints 2023: 90 complaints 2024: 52 complaints 2025: 20 complaints 2025 2026: 0 complaints 2026
2026: 0 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19900
19910
199229
199324
199476
1995112
1996100
1997115
199855
1999128
2000197
2001315
2002342
2003234
2004182
2005137
2006155
2007266
2008314
2009247
2010378
2011431
2012649
20131307
2014379
2015258
2016286
2017759
2018274
2019242
2020240
2021128
202295
202390
202452
202520
20260

EVERY YEAR, RANKED

YearRankingComplaintsWhy
2026 Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2025 Not enough data 20 Only 20 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2024 Recommended 52 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2023 Recommended 90 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2022 Recommended 95 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2021 Recommended 128 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2020 Recommended 240 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2019 Recommended 242 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2018 Recommended 274 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2017 Avoid 759 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2016 Recommended 286 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2015 Recommended 258 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2014 Caution 379 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2013 Avoid 1307 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2012 Avoid 649 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2011 Caution 431 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2010 Caution 378 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2009 Recommended 247 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2008 Caution 314 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2007 Recommended 266 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2006 Recommended 155 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2005 Recommended 137 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2004 Recommended 182 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2003 Recommended 234 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2002 Caution 342 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2001 Caution 315 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2000 Recommended 197 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1999 Recommended 128 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1998 Recommended 55 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1997 Recommended 115 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1996 Recommended 100 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1995 Recommended 112 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1994 Recommended 76 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1993 Not enough data 24 Only 24 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1992 Not enough data 29 Only 29 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1991 Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1990 Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.