Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2021 Hyundai Elantra
NHTSA data on file today
The 2021 Hyundai Elantra has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 132 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #24V879000 Rearview Image May Not Display/ FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V354000 Seat Belt Pretensioners May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V218000 Seat Belt Pretensioners May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V00M000 Inadequate Windshield Bonding NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V796000 Seat Belt Pretensioner May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V302000 Seat Back Recliners Improperly Welded NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Forward Collision Avoidance 32 complaints
- Electrical System 31 complaints
- Unknown or Other 29 complaints
- Seat Belts 27 complaints
- Engine 13 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).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2021 Hyundai Elantra has been subject to several recalls, particularly concerning seat belt safety and rear visibility. While the number of owner complaints is moderate, the concentration on critical components like the electrical system and forward collision avoidance suggests areas of improvement are needed.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| forward collision | 10,000–30,000 miles | $200–$600 | common |
| electrical system | 20,000–40,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| seat belts | 15,000–35,000 miles | $150–$350 | occasional |
| engine | 40,000–60,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | occasional |
| windshield bonding | 10,000–30,000 miles | $200–$400 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- oil and filter changes every 5,000 miles
- tire rotation every 7,000 miles
- brake inspection annually
- cabin filter replacement every 15,000 miles
- coolant flush every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- unresponsive forward collision
- frequent electrical glitches
- unusual seat belt issues
- loose windshield
- sudden engine performance drops
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.