Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 21% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 17% |
| Engine | 3 | 10% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Power train | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH during ice and snow, the engine revved, and there was an abnormal sound coming from the Hybrid battery. While turning, the cont
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The headlights and back lights turn off at random times when the headlights are on the automatic setting. This problem happens very frequently at night, putting my family at risk when the lights go off and cannot see wh
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Check Hybrid System alarmed in heavy traffic and derated my car and put me in a very dangerous situation.
NHTSA complaint: Power train
I am writing to report a serious and ongoing safety issue with my 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid that remains unresolved despite multiple visits to Hyundai service centers and independent repair shops. I’ve also found numer
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I have a safety recall is with a Rear view camera that hasn’t had a solution.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The Hybrid charging system fails once the vehicle is above 75 mph. After about an hour or two, the vehicle will die on the highway. This is a reoccurring issue putting our safety at risk. The dealership cannot find wha
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
At around 93k miles my HECU unit apparently malfunctioned at the same time as the left front tire speed indicator. All of my safety features ABS, adaptive cruise control, lane departure, lane keeping etc do not work beca
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Elantra HEV. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power with a battery warning light illuminated. The contact stated that on several occasions, the v
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirem
Risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number fo
| Reliability raw | 79 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 76 | good |
| Performance | 41 | below average |
| Efficiency | 69 | good |
| Safety | 100 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and vehicle speed control is the most reported area with 6 of them (21%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 79/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2021 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 77/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.