NHTSA vehicle safety data

2021 Hyundai Elantra Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 132 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Hyundai dealer.

NHTSA also files the 2021 Hyundai Elantra separately as Elantra Hybrid — 4 recall campaigns.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2021 Hyundai Elantra owner complaints

Owners have filed 132 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Elantra, describing incidents dated February 4, 2021 to October 12, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Forward Collision Avoidance 32 complaints
  • Electrical System 31 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 29 complaints
  • Seat Belts 27 complaints
  • Engine 16 complaints
  • Vehicle Speed Control 10 complaints

Of the 132 complaints on file, 8 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 132 complaints, owners report 3 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11771253 · Filed

    my car has 60,000 miles and the horns on the car have been replaced 3 times Hyundai issued an extended warranty for the horns on certain 2021-2025 model year ELANTRA, 2022-2025 model year ELANTRA N and 2021-2025 model year ELANTRA Hybrid vehicles' for the 10 years or 120,000 miles from the date of…

  • ODI #11767312 · Filed

    The passenger side headlight has significant condensation inside the housing. The car is slightly over five years old, with 40,000 miles It was rarely driven the first year due to the pandemic. I have seen there is a TSB regarding the headlights, but clearly this is a far more significant issue than…

  • ODI #11764129 · Filed

    Windshield wipers intermittently malfunction in the intermittent setting. The wipers stop at random locations in the middle of the windshield, pause, move a short distance, stop again, and behave erratically. This can obstruct the driver’s forward visibility. The problem occurs without snow, ice, or…

Read all 132 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2021 Hyundai Elantra in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Rearview Image May Not Display/ FMVSS 111

NHTSA #24V879000 · Back Over Prevention — Sensing System — Camera · NHTSA notice

Reported November 21, 2024 · Hyundai Motor America

Potentially affected: 226,118 vehicles

Repair completion: 70.38% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Hyundai campaign 271 · Owners notified January 14, 2025 · Vehicles built September 12, 2020 – May 16, 2022 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV and 2022 Elantra N and Santa Fe PHEV vehicles. Due to a damaged printed circuit board, the rearview camera image may fail to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Safety consequence

A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 271.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov.

Seat Belt Pretensioners May Explode

NHTSA #22V354000 · Seat Belts — Front · NHTSA notice

Reported May 19, 2022 · Hyundai Motor America

Potentially affected: 230,233 vehicles

Repair completion: 88.69% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Hyundai campaign 229 · Owners notified August 29, 2022

Defect description

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Accent, 2021-2022 Elantra, and 2021-2022 Elantra HEV vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.

Safety consequence

An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will secure the seat belt pretensioner(s) with a cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 28, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 229. This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall numbers 21V-796, 22V-069, 22V-218, and 22V-123 for Accent, Elantra, and Elantra HEV vehicles. All Accent, Elantra, and Elantra HEV vehicles already repaired under the previous recalls will need to have the new remedy completed.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Seat Belt Pretensioners May Explode

NHTSA #22V218000 · Seat Belts — Front · NHTSA notice

Reported April 1, 2022 · Hyundai Motor America

Potentially affected: 6,240 vehicles

Hyundai campaign 223 · Owners notified May 19, 2022

Defect description

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Elantra and 2020 Accent vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver and passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.

Safety consequence

Exploding seat belt pretensioners can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 31, 2022. A second notice will be sent once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 223. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall number 22V-354. Vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedy completed.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Inadequate Windshield Bonding

NHTSA #21V00M000 · Visibility — Windshield · NHTSA notice

Reported December 28, 2021 · Hyundai Motor America

Potentially affected: 26,413 vehicles

Repair completion: 79.02% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Hyundai campaign 216 · Owners notified June 20, 2022 · Vehicles built October 29, 2020 – January 8, 2021 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.

Safety consequence

A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Seat Belt Pretensioner May Explode

NHTSA #21V796000 · Seat Belts — Front · NHTSA notice

Reported October 13, 2021 · Hyundai Motor America

Potentially affected: 978 vehicles

Hyundai campaign 211/009G · Owners notified February 10, 2022

Defect description

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Elantra, Elantra HEV, Venue, Genesis GV80 and 2022 Genesis GV70 vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment.

Safety consequence

An exploding seat belt pretensioner could project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 211 and 009G. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall numbers 22V-354 for Elantra and Elantra HEV vehicles, 22V-458 for Venue vehicles, and 23V-094 for Genesis vehicles. Elantra, Elantra HEV, Venue, and Genesis vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedies completed.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Seat Back Recliners Improperly Welded

NHTSA #21V302000 · Seats — Front Assembly — Recliner · NHTSA notice

Reported April 28, 2021 · Hyundai Motor America

Potentially affected: 1,464 vehicles

Repair completion: 97.99% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Hyundai campaign 204 · Owners notified June 21, 2021

Defect description

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Elantra vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat back recliners may have been improperly welded.

Safety consequence

An improperly welded seat back recliner could separate from the seat back frame during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect and if necessary, replace the seat back frame assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 21, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-888-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 204.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Hyundai Elantra model years

Check your 2021 Hyundai Elantra VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Hyundai Elantra at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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