Hyundai Elantra: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
8,095 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Hyundai Elantra, model years 2000 to 2026. 11 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2017 (engine 18×); 2012 (engine 8.8×); 2011 (engine 6×); 2014 (engine 11×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2005, 2006, 2004. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Elantra | 196 | engine 2.8× | 1 | |
| 2001 Elantra | 312 | — | 6 | |
| 2002 Elantra | 341 | — | 6 | |
| 2003 Elantra | 234 | quiet: 5 of 20 | 5 | |
| 2004 Elantra | 182 | quiet: 3 of 20 | 5 | |
| 2005 ElantraFEW REPORTS | 137 | quiet: 1 of 20 | 4 | |
| 2006 Elantra | 155 | quiet: 2 of 20 | 1 | |
| 2007 Elantra | 267 | — | 6 | |
| 2008 Elantra | 315 | engine 2.5× | 7 | |
| 2009 Elantra | 255 | quiet: 7 of 20 | 4 | |
| 2010 Elantra | 379 | — | 3 | |
| 2011 Elantra | 433 | engine 6× | 5 | |
| 2012 Elantra | 654 | engine 8.8× | 4 | |
| 2013 Elantra | 1,316 | — | 4 | |
| 2014 Elantra | 386 | engine 11× | 2 | |
| 2015 Elantra | 262 | engine 5.9× | 3 | |
| 2016 Elantra | 293 | engine 7× | 2 | |
| 2017 Elantra | 770 | engine 18× | 4 | |
| 2018 Elantra | 284 | engine 9× | 0 | |
| 2019 Elantra | 252 | engine 8.6× | 1 | |
| 2020 Elantra | 255 | engine 6.9×, transmission 4.8× | 3 | |
| 2021 ElantraFEW REPORTS | 132 | — | 6 | |
| 2022 ElantraFEW REPORTS | 101 | — | 5 | |
| 2023 ElantraFEW REPORTS | 101 | — | 2 | |
| 2024 ElantraFEW REPORTS | 56 | — | 1 | |
| 2025 ElantraFEW REPORTS | 24 | — | 0 | |
| 2026 ElantraFEW REPORTS | 3 | — | 3 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Hyundai models
Hyundai Accent · Hyundai Azera · Hyundai Elantra Touring · Hyundai Entourage · Hyundai Genesis · Hyundai Genesis Coupe · Hyundai Ioniq 5 · Hyundai Kona · Hyundai Kona Electric · Hyundai Palisade · Hyundai Santa Cruz · Hyundai Santa Fe · Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid · Hyundai Santa Fe Sport · Hyundai Sonata · Hyundai Sonata Hybrid · Hyundai Tiburon · Hyundai Tucson · Hyundai Tucson Hybrid · Hyundai Veloster · Hyundai Veracruz · Hyundai XG350. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 20002001200220032004200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020