Model research hub
Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra is a compact car made since 1990, and the 2017 is its worst year in federal data at 764 complaints and 4 recalls, with CarGurus calling it below average for reliability. The 2021 has the most recalls (6), the 2018 and 2025 have none, and the 2026 Elantra starts at $23,870 and is rated 23 to 54 mpg combined.
What the Hyundai Elantra is and who buys it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the Elantra, also known as the Avante, as a series of compact cars produced by Hyundai since 1990, front-wheel drive, sold in some markets as the Lantra and, from 2020 in Australia, as the i30 Sedan. CarGurus (opens in a new tab) says the 2026 lineup consists of the SE, SEL Sport, SEL Sport Premium, Limited and N Line, an entry-level Blue trim for the Elantra Hybrid, and the standalone Elantra N. The 2026 Elantra is rated 23 to 54 mpg combined by the EPA, about $1,150 to $3,350 a year in fuel, and Kelley Blue Book base prices are $23,870 for the SE, $28,420 for the Limited and $30,645 for the N Line.
Best and worst Elantra model years
Federal counts make the 2017 the outlier: 764 complaints and 4 recalls for air bags, steering and brakes, against 261 for the 2015, 292 for the 2016 and 281 for the 2018, which has no recalls. The 2019 has 1 recall and 248 complaints, the 2020 has 3 recalls covering the engine, wheels and suspension, the 2021 has 6 recalls and 129 complaints, the 2022 has 5, and the 2023 to 2025 years have 2, 1 and none. Open the 2017 Elantra, 2021 Elantra and 2019 pages.
CarGurus (opens in a new tab) says 2017 models have a below-average reliability record according to CarComplaints and Consumer Reports, though not as bad as two earlier years, and that used buyers do not get the full 10-year powertrain warranty. Car Smite (opens in a new tab) says the 2019 year had exceptional reliability and owner satisfaction scores from Consumer Reports.
Choosing a year
The 2018 and 2019 are the pick on complaint and recall counts among the middle years, and the 2021 and 2022 are the ones to check for seat belt and backup camera campaigns.
Questions buyers ask
Which Hyundai Elantra year should I avoid?
CarGurus says 2017 models have a below-average reliability record, and federal data shows the 2017 with 764 complaints, far above other years.
Does the Elantra come as a hybrid?
Yes. The 2026 lineup includes an Elantra Hybrid with an entry-level Blue trim, rated up to 54 mpg combined.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2025 Hyundai Elantra is built around 2.0L gas, 1.6L turbo, hybrid or N performance turbo, rated at 139–276 horsepower across its compact sedan body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2025 U.S. lineup has 9 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2025 Elantra seats 5 and is a Compact sedan.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 22 owner complaints for the 2025 Elantra.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2025 Hyundai Elantra
The 2025 Elantra family spans economy, hybrid, N Line and full N performance branches. Output, transmission and suspension differ substantially across those names.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
5 indexed Hyundai Elantra model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Hyundai Elantra | 1 | 2026 record → |
| 2025 Hyundai Elantra | 2025 record → | |
| 2023 Hyundai Elantra | 2023 record → | |
| 2021 Hyundai Elantra | 2021 record → | |
| 2018 Hyundai Elantra | 2018 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Hyundai Elantra.
The Hyundai Elantra, also known as the Hyundai Avante, is a series of compact cars produced by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai since 1990. In South Korea, the first-generation model was initially sold under the "Elantra" nameplate, but starting from the second-generation, Korean models were sold under the "Avante" nameplate, with the "Elantra" name continue to be used on export models.
- Powertrain
- The 2026 Hyundai Elantra was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. It received Good ratings in small overlap front, updated moderate overlap front, updated side, headlights and pedestrian front crash prevention evaluations, while seat belt reminders and LATCH ease of use were rated Acceptable.
- Safety
- The fifth-generation Avante debuted at the 2010 Busan International Motor Show in April 2010. It was codenamed "MD" for the sedan, "UD" for sedans manufactured in the US, and "JK" for the coupe. For the U.S. and Canadian market, it featured a new 1.8-L petrol engine.
- Motorsport
- Also called the Avante N1 Cup in South Korea, the N1 Cup is an improved Elantra N model for Hyundai's one-make series, Hyundai N Festival. The N1 Cup features 35 more hp, a wider body kit, six piston front brake calipers, one-way adjustable suspension and a swan-neck style rear wing spoiler compared to the Elantra N version.
Source: Hyundai Elantra (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Hyundai Elantra at a glance
- Production
- 1990–present
- Class
- Compact car (C)
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
- Predecessor
- Hyundai Stellar (South Korea)
- Also called
- Hyundai Avante, Hyundai Lantra (1990–2000, Australia and Europe), Hyundai i30 Sedan (2020–present, Australia)
NHTSA rated the 2025 Hyundai Elantra overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 4 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 5 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (2 campaigns across the latest model years)
- April 2026, Air Bags:Sensor:Side Impact. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Elantra N, 2026 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), and Elantra vehicles. The B-pillar impact sensors may have been misassembled, which can delay air bag deployment. Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- May 2024, Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve). Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Elantra, Venue, and Kona vehicles. An electrical short circuit may occur in the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve assembly, which can result in a loss of drive power. Consequence: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Owners filed 22 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Hyundai Elantra, most often about unknown or other (5), lane departure (5), forward collision avoidance (4).
Year by year
The Hyundai Elantra across 12 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Hyundai Elantra | 23–54 | $1,200–$3,450 | 7 | 1 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Hyundai Elantra | 23–54 | $1,150–$3,350 | 7 | 21 | 5 stars | |
| 2024 Hyundai Elantra | 23–54 | $1,150–$3,350 | 7 | 1 | 52 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Hyundai Elantra | 23–54 | $1,150–$3,350 | 7 | 2 | 97 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Hyundai Elantra | 23–54 | $1,150–$3,350 | 8 | 5 | 100 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Hyundai Elantra | 28–54 | $1,150–$2,250 | 6 | 6 | 129 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Hyundai Elantra | 26–36 | $1,750–$2,400 | 8 | 3 | 247 | 4 stars |
| 2019 Hyundai Elantra | 25–35 | $1,800–$2,500 | 9 | 1 | 248 | 4 stars |
| 2018 Hyundai Elantra | 25–35 | $1,800–$2,500 | 10 | 281 | 4 stars | |
| 2017 Hyundai Elantra | 25–35 | $1,800–$2,500 | 8 | 4 | 764 | 4 stars |
| 2016 Hyundai Elantra | 27–31 | $2,000–$2,300 | 7 | 2 | 292 | 5 stars |
| 2015 Hyundai Elantra | 27–31 | $2,000–$2,300 | 9 | 3 | 261 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Hyundai Elantra, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | Labels: Elantra non-ISG, Elantra w/Stop-Start | Engines: 2L 4-cyl with Stop-Start | ||
| 2024 to 2025 | Engines: 2L 4-cyl with Stop-Start | |||
| 2023 to 2024 | Engines: 2L 4-cyl Stop-Start | |||
| 2022 to 2023 | 8 to 7 | |||
| 2021 to 2022 | 6 to 8 | 41.0 to 38.5 | Labels: Elantra N; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S8); Fuels: Premium | |
| 2020 to 2021 | 8 to 6 | 31.0 to 41.0 | Labels: Elantra Hybrid, Elantra Hybrid Blue; Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; Hybrid, 2L 4-cyl Stop-Start; Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S6), Automatic (AV-S1) | Labels: Elantra GT, Elantra SE; Engines: 1.4L 4-cyl SIDI, 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic (AM7), Automatic (S6), Automatic (variable gear ratios); Size classes: Large Cars |
| 2019 to 2020 | 9 to 8 | 30.0 to 31.0 | Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S7), Automatic (variable gear ratios) | |
| 2018 to 2019 | 10 to 9 | |||
| 2017 to 2018 | 8 to 10 | Size classes: Large Cars | ||
| 2016 to 2017 | 7 to 8 | 29.0 to 30.0 | Labels: Elantra SE; Engines: 1.4L 4-cyl SIDI, 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI, 2L 4-cyl; Transmissions: Automatic (AM7) | Labels: Elantra Limited; Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl |
| 2015 to 2016 | 9 to 7 | Labels: Elantra Coupe |
Buying used
What the Hyundai Elantra recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2024 | 1 | engine and engine cooling (exhaust system) | None |
| 2023 | 2 | air bags (frontal); power train (automatic transmission) | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2022 | 5 | seat belts (front); air bags (frontal); back over prevention (sensing system) | None |
| 2021 | 6 | seats (front assembly); seat belts (front); visibility (windshield); 1 more | None |
| 2020 | 3 | wheels (lugs/nuts/bolts/studs); suspension (front); engine | None |
| 2019 | 1 | engine | None |
| 2017 | 4 | air bags (frontal); service brakes, hydraulic (power assist); steering (electric power assist system) | None |
| 2016 | 2 | latches/locks/linkages (trunk lid); air bags (frontal) | None |
| 2015 | 3 | service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip); latches/locks/linkages (trunk lid); air bags (frontal) | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
Recalls that told owners to stop driving or park outside
- 2015, campaign 23V-651 (Sep 2023): service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip). An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- 2023, campaign 23V-526 (Jul 2023): power train (automatic transmission). An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 922 | 37% | 2017 (290) |
| unknown or other | 431 | 17% | 2017 (131) |
| electrical system | 350 | 14% | 2017 (111) |
| power train | 217 | 9% | 2017 (62) |
| service brakes | 166 | 7% | 2015 (55) |
| steering | 152 | 6% | 2017 (71) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Hyundai Elantra trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE | FWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 147 | 132 | 2,868 | – | 35 | $23,870 |
| SEL Sport | FWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 147 | 132 | 2,868 | – | 34 | $24,995 |
| SEL Sport Premium | FWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 147 | 132 | 2,868 | – | 34 | $26,320 |
| Limited | FWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 147 | 132 | 2,868 | – | 34 | $28,420 |
| N Line | FWD | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 201 | 195 | 3,020 | – | 31 | $30,645 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Hyundai Elantra model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 147–201 | 2,868–3,020 | – | 12.4 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 147–201 | 2,868–3,020 | – | 12.4 |
| 2024 | 4 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 147–201 | 2,868–3,020 | – | 12.4 |
| 2023 | 4 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 147–201 | 2,868–3,020 | – | 12.4 |
| 2022 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid, GDI) / 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 139–201 | 2,868–3,069 | – | 11–12.4 |
| 2021 | 7 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid, GDI) / 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 139–201 | 2,868–3,031 | – | 11–12.4 |
| 2020 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 1.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) / 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 128–201 | 2,844–3,131 | – | 14 |
| 2019 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 1.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) / 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 128–201 | 2,844–2,857 | – | 14 |
| 2018 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 1.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) / 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 128–201 | 2,811–3,109 | – | 14 |
| 2017 | 5 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 4-Cyl, Turbo, GDI, 1.4L / 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 128–201 | 2,811–3,109 | – | 14 |
| 2016 | 4 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 145–173 | 2,818–2,923 | – | 12.8–13.2 |
| 2015 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 1.8-liter 4-cylinder | 145–173 | 2,818–2,923 | – | 12.8–13.2 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Hyundai Elantra.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | – | DOT 4 | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2024 | – | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2022 | – | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2021 | – | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Hyundai Elantra: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2022 Hyundai Elantra : 5 recalls on file, most commonly affecting seat belts and airbags.
- 2021 Hyundai Elantra : 6 recalls on file, most commonly affecting seat belts and visibility/wipers.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | not available | airbags |
| 2025 | 21 | ||
| 2024 | 1 | 52 | engine cooling |
| 2023 | 2 | 97 | airbags, powertrain |
| 2022 | 5 | 100 | seat belts, airbags, backup camera |
| 2021 | 6 | 129 | seat belts, visibility/wipers, seats, backup camera |
| 2020 | 3 | 247 | engine, wheels, suspension |
| 2019 | 1 | 248 | engine |
| 2018 | 281 | ||
| 2017 | 4 | 764 | airbags, steering, brakes |
| 2016 | 2 | 292 | door latches, airbags |
| 2015 | 3 | 261 | brakes, door latches, airbags |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Hyundai Elantra model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Hyundai Elantra?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2022, 2021 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Hyundai Elantra model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2022 Hyundai Elantra has 5 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting seat belts, airbags, backup camera; The 2021 Hyundai Elantra has 6 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting seat belts, visibility/wipers, seats. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03What are common recall-related problems on the Hyundai Elantra by model year?
2026: airbags. 2024: engine cooling. 2023: airbags, powertrain. 2022: seat belts, airbags, backup camera. 2021: seat belts, visibility/wipers, seats, backup camera. 2020: engine, wheels, suspension.
Q04Why do some Hyundai Elantra model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Hyundai Elantra model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Brakes, tires and steering, Buying, records and recalls, Engine and cooling, Climate and electrical, Transmission and drivetrain.
2022 Hyundai Elantra owners specifically: see Buying, records and recalls and Climate and electrical.
2021 Hyundai Elantra owners specifically: see Buying, records and recalls and Climate and electrical.
Trim ladder
1 Hyundai Elantra trim, each with its own page.
Compared with
Models this Hyundai Elantra is most often compared with.
Nearest Hyundai models
Other Hyundai models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2025 Elantra come in?
The 2025 Hyundai Elantra (compact sedan) comes in 9 trims: SE, SEL Sport, SEL Convenience, Limited, N Line, N, Hybrid Blue, Hybrid SEL Sport, Hybrid Limited.
Q02What are the 2025 Elantra trims?
The 2025 Hyundai Elantra trims are SE, SEL Sport, SEL Convenience, Limited, N Line, N, Hybrid Blue, Hybrid SEL Sport, Hybrid Limited, listed from the entry SE up to the top Hybrid Limited.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2025 Elantra use?
The 2025 Hyundai Elantra is built around 2.0L gas, 1.6L turbo, hybrid or N performance turbo, rated at 139–276 horsepower across its compact sedan body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2025 Elantra have?
The 2025 Hyundai Elantra is rated at 139–276 horsepower (2.0L gas, 1.6L turbo, hybrid or N performance turbo).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2025 Elantra?
The 2025 Hyundai Elantra is offered with FWD.