Hyundai Elantra Years to Avoid — and the Years to Buy

Every Hyundai Elantra model year from 1992 to 2026, benchmarked against each other with 12,061 federal complaints, 57 recall campaigns, and the odometer readings owners put in their reports.

Avoid: 2013. These years top the Elantra's complaint rankings by volume and severity.
Safer bets: 1992–2000, 2004–2006, 2018–2022 — the quietest years with at least four years on the road.

The method in one line: every NHTSA complaint for this model is counted, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, and deaths, and each year is measured against the Elantra's own worst year — full methodology.

Under investigation. Federal regulators currently have 3 open defect investigations on the Hyundai Elantra.

Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires AQ23002 opened November 17, 2023 · still open

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units…

Model years named: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

FUEL CAP REPLACEMENT CAMPAIGN 36 SQ00003 opened February 2, 2000 · still open

Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

There is no summary currently available

Model years named: 1996, 1997

REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE SQ96017 opened November 22, 1996 · still open

Component: STRUCTURE

ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE NATURE AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CANADIAN RECALL.FURTHERMORE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS OPENED TO EVALUATE HYUNDAI'S RATIONAL FOR NOT CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN TO INCLUDE…

Model years named: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →

12,061Complaints on file
57Recall campaigns
35Model years

The trouble strip

One cell per model year. The whole answer in one glance — click any year for the full report.

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

The defining problem

Engine tops the Hyundai Elantra file with 1,895 complaints, concentrated in the 2013–2014, 2017 model years, most often reported around 69,400 miles. The year pages break down what fails and when.

Every year, ranked

YearVerdictComplaintsRecallsTop problemTrouble index
2026 Few reports 1 1 — 0
2025 Too early to call 31 0 Driver assistance 3
2024 Too early to call 93 1 Driver assistance 5
2023 Typical 152 2 Driver assistance 8
2022 Better year 141 5 Driver assistance 6
2021 Better year 214 6 Driver assistance 10
2020 Better year 331 3 Engine 19
2019 Better year 328 1 Engine 16
2018 Better year 405 0 Engine 19
2017 Below average 1,074 4 Engine 50
2016 Typical 395 2 Engine 21
2015 Typical 356 3 Engine 22
2014 Typical 550 2 Engine 34
2013 Avoid 1,861 4 Brakes & stability 100
2012 Below average 919 4 Electrical 49
2011 Typical 589 5 Engine 28
2010 Below average 504 3 Steering 35
2009 Typical 319 4 Steering 21
2008 Typical 424 7 Steering 31
2007 Typical 365 6 Visibility & wipers 21
2006 Better year 209 1 Airbags 15
2005 Better year 180 4 Airbags 15
2004 Better year 209 5 Airbags 14
2003 Typical 310 5 Suspension 22
2002 Typical 431 6 Suspension 30
2001 Below average 445 6 Airbags 36
2000 Better year 259 1 Engine 18
1999 Better year 183 2 Transmission & drivetrain 12
1998 Better year 75 0 Engine 4
1997 Better year 196 3 Transmission & drivetrain 12
1996 Better year 138 3 Engine 7
1995 Better year 179 1 Airbags 12
1994 Better year 110 2 Airbags 9
1993 Better year 39 0 — 2
1992 Better year 46 0 Electrical 3

Technical service bulletins

Beyond complaints and recalls, 2,465 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, service campaigns, warranty extensions — are on file for the Hyundai Elantra. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

Browse the Hyundai Elantra TSB list by year →

Questions buyers ask

What Hyundai Elantra years should I avoid?

Federal complaint records point to 2013 as the Hyundai Elantra years to avoid — they drew the highest volume of serious complaints relative to the model's other years.

What is the most common Hyundai Elantra problem?

Engine tops the Hyundai Elantra file with 1,895 complaints, concentrated in the 2013–2014, 2017 model years, most often reported around 69,400 miles.

What are the best Hyundai Elantra years to buy used?

The quietest Hyundai Elantra years in federal records are 1992–2000, 2004–2006, 2018–2022 — each with at least four years on the road and well-below-average complaint volume for this model.

Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Counts cover the Hyundai Elantra only, scored against this model's own worst year — not against other models. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.