2021 Hyundai Elantra: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
130 NHTSA owner complaints · 6 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The fifth-generation Elantra (2011–2016) carries complaints about the engine's piston-slap ticking, premature brake wear, and — with the highest counts — steering that pulls and wanders, which Hyundai addressed with a software update to the electric power steering. The 2011–2013 years are the worst of it; 2014–2016 score above 78. Read the full note on the model page. 2021 specifically: a year the record favours — 130 complaints, score 76/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Hyundai Tucson, Santa Fe and Elantra: beyond the engine recall, including 2021 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 130 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 26.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Vehicle was serviced to remediate Recall 271- backup camera replacement in January, 2025. In June 2026, vehicle is exhibiting the same issue. Rear camera is non functional in the following ways: 1. Vehicle is shifted to reverse, backup camera does not function; 2. Vehicle is in park backup camera button is pressed, backup camera does not function.
Door Lock Actuator, the door latch is stuck on unlock and it won’t close or lock when the lock button is pressed on key fob.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was…
Recalls: 6 campaigns (3 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 22V218000 | Seat Belts:Front | 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. |
| 21V796000 | Seat Belts:Front | 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. |
| 22V354000 | Seat Belts:Front | 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. |
| 24V879000 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | 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. |
| 21V302000 | Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Elantra vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat back recliners may have been improperly welded. |
| 21V00M000 | Visibility:Windshield | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 31 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,100
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Forward Collision Avoidance32 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Electrical System30 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other29 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Seat Belts27 complaints · typical job: Pretensioner or retractor replacement (1.5 h labour + parts)$360–$800
- Engine13 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Vehicle Speed Control10 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
Other Hyundai Elantra years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Hyundai Elantra?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Forward Collision Avoidance (32 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2021 Hyundai Elantra a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 76/100, computed from 130 NHTSA complaints and 6 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2021 Hyundai Elantra's most common problem?
32 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2021 Hyundai Elantra sit in the Forward Collision Avoidance group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is radar or camera module replacement and calibration: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $780–$2,160 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2021 Hyundai Elantra cost to run per year?
About $3,964 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $19,820 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2021 Hyundai Elantra have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra, 3 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 01/04/2022. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compacts of about the same age.
What will a 2021 Hyundai Elantra really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 130 complaints, 6 recalls on record
- 130 NHTSA complaints on record (26.0/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (32.7/yr)
- 6 recall campaigns, 3 touching safety-critical systems