2021 Hyundai Elantra problems
What owners report to NHTSA, grouped by component, with the recalls that cover them.
NHTSA has 159 owner complaints on file for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra, filed between 2021-02-07 and 2026-09-14. The most common problem areas are the electrical system (41, 26%), forward collision avoidance (35, 22%) and seat belts (27, 17%). Owners reported 8 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries and 1 death in these complaints. NHTSA lists 6 recalls for this model year.
Last updated: · Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases
2021 Hyundai Elantra complaints by component
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 41 | 26% | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 35 | 22% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown or other | 33 | 21% | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 27 | 17% | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Engine | 21 | 13% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 20 | 13% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 13 | 8% | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Power train | 8 | 5% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 6 | 4% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Back over prevention | 3 | 2% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 2% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 2% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint can name several components, so shares can add up to more than 100%. Crashes, fires and injuries are as reported by owners.
The top problem areas, in plain English
Each summary is built from the complaint counts and NHTSA recall notices, not from individual owner stories.
Electrical system: 41 complaints
- 41 complaints of 159 (26%) name the electrical system — wiring, battery and charging, fuses, control modules and in-car electronics.
- 10 of them also name the unknown or other; owners reported 1 fire in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra covers this system.
Forward collision avoidance: 35 complaints
- 35 complaints of 159 (22%) name the forward collision avoidance — forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking.
- 7 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 1 crash in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra covers this system.
Seat belts: 27 complaints
- 27 complaints of 159 (17%) name the seat belts — belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
- 2 of them also name the visibility; owners reported 2 crashes, 1 injury and 1 death in these complaints.
- 3 NHTSA recalls cover this system on the 2021 Hyundai Elantra; the latest, campaign 22V354000, says: “In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.”
Engine: 21 complaints
- 21 complaints of 159 (13%) name the engine.
- 6 of them also name the unknown or other; none of these complaints reports a crash, fire or injury.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra covers this system.
Vehicle speed control: 20 complaints
- 20 complaints of 159 (13%) name the vehicle speed control — cruise control and accelerator/throttle control.
- 6 of them also name the forward collision avoidance; owners reported 1 crash in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra covers this system.
Service brakes: 13 complaints
- 13 complaints of 159 (8%) name the service brakes — the foot-brake system: pads, rotors, calipers, lines and ABS.
- 5 of them also name the vehicle speed control; owners reported 3 crashes and 1 injury in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra covers this system.
When the complaints were filed
| Year filed | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 50 |
| 2023 | 39 |
| 2024 | 24 |
| 2025 | 18 |
| 2026 | 15 |
What is counted
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the model names ELANTRA, ELANTRA HYBRID, ELANTRA N-LINE, model year 2021. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is NHTSA's confirmed safety defect. See the 2021 Hyundai Elantra recalls.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Hyundai Elantra?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra's most common problem areas are the electrical system (41 of 159 complaints), forward collision avoidance (35 of 159 complaints) and seat belts (27 of 159 complaints).
How many complaints does the 2021 Hyundai Elantra have?
NHTSA has 159 owner complaints on file for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra, including 8 reported crashes and 1 reported fire.
Is there a recall for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra's problems?
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra; 1 of the top 6 complaint areas have a matching recall. Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN for open recalls.