2021 Hyundai Elantra problems and complaints

Owners have filed 130 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The most-reported areas: Forward Collision Avoidance (32), Electrical System (30), Unknown Or Other (29).

Key takeaways

  • 130 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 8 involve a crash, 1 a fire, 3 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Forward Collision Avoidance3225%
Electrical System3023%
Unknown Or Other2922%
Seat Belts2721%
Engine1310%
Vehicle Speed Control108%
Service Brakes86%
Power Train75%
Lane Departure65%
Steering54%
Visibility/Wiper43%
Exterior Lighting43%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2021 Hyundai Elantra 4 DR FWD5/54/55/55/5

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Visibility/Wiper - filed 2026-09-14

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 an obstruction on t...

Electrical System - filed 2026-08-12

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, ba...

Engine And Engine Cooling - filed 2026-06-25

See attached document for complaint.

Diagnose it yourself

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

More for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.