Hyundai Elantra years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 31 model years of the Hyundai Elantra by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2013, 2017, 2012 stand out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 0 | Too new to judge |
| 2025 | 22 | 11 | 0.6 | 0 | 4 | Typical |
| 2024 | 56 | 19 | 1.0 | 1 | 5 | Typical |
| 2023 | 101 | 25 | 1.4 | 2 | 8 | Typical |
| 2022 | 102 | 20 | 1.1 | 5 | 7 | Typical |
| 2021 | 132 | 22 | 1.2 | 6 | 8 | Typical |
| 2020 | 254 | 36 | 1.9 | 3 | 21 | Typical |
| 2019 | 252 | 32 | 1.7 | 1 | 12 | Typical |
| 2018 | 284 | 32 | 1.7 | 0 | 12 | Typical |
| 2017 | 770 | 77 | 4.1 | 4 | 37 | Most complaints |
| 2016 | 293 | 27 | 1.4 | 2 | 22 | Typical |
| 2015 | 262 | 22 | 1.2 | 3 | 27 | Typical |
| 2014 | 387 | 30 | 1.6 | 2 | 35 | Typical |
| 2013 | 1,330 | 95 | 5.1 | 4 | 95 | Most complaints |
| 2012 | 676 | 45 | 2.4 | 4 | 49 | Most complaints |
| 2011 | 461 | 29 | 1.5 | 5 | 21 | Typical |
| 2010 | 455 | 27 | 1.4 | 3 | 49 | Typical |
| 2009 | 287 | 16 | 0.9 | 4 | 28 | Typical |
| 2008 | 316 | 17 | 0.9 | 7 | 38 | Typical |
| 2007 | 267 | 13 | 0.7 | 6 | 21 | Typical |
| 2006 | 155 | 7 | 0.4 | 1 | 28 | Fewest complaints |
| 2005 | 137 | 6 | 0.3 | 4 | 30 | Fewest complaints |
| 2004 | 182 | 8 | 0.4 | 5 | 24 | Fewest complaints |
| 2003 | 234 | 10 | 0.5 | 5 | 42 | Typical |
| 2002 | 348 | 14 | 0.7 | 6 | 58 | Typical |
| 2001 | 329 | 13 | 0.7 | 6 | 72 | Typical |
| 2000 | 200 | 7 | 0.4 | 1 | 37 | Fewest complaints |
| 1999 | 133 | 5 | 0.3 | 2 | 23 | Fewest complaints |
| 1998 | 56 | 2 | 0.1 | 0 | 9 | Fewest complaints |
| 1997 | 118 | 4 | 0.2 | 3 | 21 | Fewest complaints |
| 1996 | 101 | 3 | 0.2 | 3 | 11 | Fewest complaints |
- 20263 complaints · 3 recallsToo new to judge
- 202522 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 202456 complaints · 1 recallTypical
- 2023101 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 2022102 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 2021132 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 2020254 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 2019252 complaints · 1 recallTypical
- 2018284 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 2017770 complaints · 4 recallsMost complaints
- 2016293 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 2015262 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 2014387 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 20131,330 complaints · 4 recallsMost complaints
- 2012676 complaints · 4 recallsMost complaints
- 2011461 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 2010455 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 2009287 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2008316 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 2007267 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 2006155 complaints · 1 recallFewest complaints
- 2005137 complaints · 4 recallsFewest complaints
- 2004182 complaints · 5 recallsFewest complaints
- 2003234 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 2002348 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 2001329 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 2000200 complaints · 1 recallFewest complaints
- 1999133 complaints · 2 recallsFewest complaints
- 199856 complaints · 0 recallsFewest complaints
- 1997118 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
- 1996101 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
Fewest complaints for their age: 1998, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2000, 2004.
About this comparison
What Hyundai Elantra years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 2013, 2017, 2012 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 31 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.