Hyundai ELANTRA — Years to Avoid
Which model years have the most problems and which are safe to buy.
Avoid These Years
2013 Hyundai ELANTRA
1858 complaints (481% of segment average)
Main issue: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS RUST ON THE ROTORS AND THE RATTLE CLIPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHIC
2017 Hyundai ELANTRA
1065 complaints (276% of segment average)
Main issue: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG CHEMICAL ODOR INSIDE AND NEAR THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR CAUSED HEADACHES, BURNING EYES, EXCESSIVE COUGHING, BURNING NOSTRILS, A BURNING THROAT, AND SEVERE FATIGUE. THE CONTACT
2012 Hyundai ELANTRA
917 complaints (238% of segment average)
Main issue: THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED THE NIGHT I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY BUCK/JOLT/JERK AS IF HITTING A SPEED BUMP IN A VERY JARRING MANNER. THIS ALSO HAPPENED DURING A TEST DRIVE OF A VEHICLE OF THE SAME TYPE AND COLOR (I'M NOT SURE IF THEY SOLD ME THE ONE DURING THE TEST DRIVE.). I WAS IN
2011 Hyundai ELANTRA
588 complaints (152% of segment average)
Main issue: THE 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 1.8LITER ENGINE MAKES A GRINDING THEN WHINING NOISE IN THE FIRST FEW SECONDS OF THE FIRST COLD ENGINE START OF THE DAY. ON THE DAY OF SALES DELIVERY THE VEHICLE MADE THIS NOISE FOR AT LEAST TWO MINUTES WHICH PROMPTED ME TO ALERT THE SALESMAN AND LIFT THE HOOD FOR CLOSER
2014 Hyundai ELANTRA
548 complaints (142% of segment average)
Main issue: I WAS ON A HIGHWAY DRIVING THE VEHICLE (A 2014 HYUNDAI ELANTRA) AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN IT INEXPLICABLY "STALLED" FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM. I QUICKLY LOST SPEED AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE DESPITE THE FACT THAT I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AT ONE POINT. THE VEHICLE SIMPLY DID
2010 Hyundai ELANTRA
501 complaints (130% of segment average)
Main issue: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE IN ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE OF WHAT THE WIND SPEEDS WERE THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, BUT THE VEHICLE STARTED ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH. THIS HAD ALSO HAPPENED
2018 Hyundai ELANTRA
396 complaints (103% of segment average)
Main issue: CAR HAS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. WILL GO INTO A FAIL SAFE MODE, WONT ACCELERATE PAST 40-60 MPH. I HAVE HAD VERY CLOSE CALL ON MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE FACT I AM UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. MY CAR LOST POWER AND COULD NOT PICK UP SPEED AT ALL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND THE
Safe to Buy
2025 Hyundai ELANTRA
25 complaints — well below segment average
2024 Hyundai ELANTRA
93 complaints — well below segment average
2022 Hyundai ELANTRA
132 complaints — well below segment average
2023 Hyundai ELANTRA
146 complaints — well below segment average
2021 Hyundai ELANTRA
212 complaints — well below segment average