Is the Honda Civic more reliable than the Hyundai Elantra?

Based on our data, the Hyundai Elantra is more reliable with an average score of 78/100 compared to 76/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Honda Civic or the Hyundai Elantra?

The Honda Civic has more recalls (37) compared to the Hyundai Elantra (33). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Honda Civic or the Hyundai Elantra?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Hyundai Elantra has a lower complaint rate at 3.7 per 10,000 sold versus 4.8 for the Honda Civic. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Honda Civic or the Hyundai Elantra?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda Civic is cheaper to maintain at $368/year versus $452/year for the Hyundai Elantra.

Is the Honda Civic or Hyundai Elantra safer?

Both the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

Last updated: 2026-03-04

Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra: Reliability Compared

Honda Civic

Good

More Reliable

Hyundai Elantra

Good

Choosing between the Honda Civic and the Hyundai Elantra? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two compact sedans.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Hyundai Elantra currently leads with an average score of 78/100 compared to 76/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra Generations Compare?

The Honda Civic is currently in its eleventh generation, having been redesigned in 2022. This places it early in its generation cycle, which can sometimes mean first-year issues as the platform matures. The previous tenth generation ran from 2016 to 2021, offering a well-sorted and reliable experience. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Elantra is in its seventh generation, introduced in 2021, with a facelift expected in 2024. This suggests the Elantra is mid-cycle, where reliability tends to improve as initial issues are addressed. If immediate reliability is a priority, the mature platforms of both models' previous generations may offer more peace of mind.

Verdict

The Hyundai Elantra is more reliable than the Honda Civic, scoring 78/100 vs 76/100.

Both the Honda Civic and the Hyundai Elantra score an impressive 90 out of 100 for reliability, but they diverge in other critical aspects. The Elantra has a lower owner complaint rate at 3.7 per 10,000 sold compared to the Civic's 4.8, suggesting slightly better customer satisfaction. However, the Civic offers a lower estimated annual repair cost of $368, compared to the Elantra's $452. While both vehicles have a similar recall history, the Civic's lower repair expenses might make it the more cost-effective choice over time, despite its higher complaint rate.

Key Differences

1Honda Civic costs $84 less per year to repair
2Hyundai Elantra has 4 fewer total recalls
3Hyundai Elantra scores 2 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

2Honda Civic

—

4Hyundai Elantra

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra: Which Is More Reliable?

Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Honda Civic	Hyundai Elantra
Reliability Score	76/100	78/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	37	33
Complaints per 10k Sold	4.8	3.7
Annual Repair Cost	$368/yr	$452/yr
Repair Frequency	0.2/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	10%	9%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	2	6

What Are the Common Problems With the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra?

The Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra exhibit distinct problem profiles, with the Civic showing a significant concentration of issues in steering, accounting for over half of its total complaints, and 58 of these are crash-linked. In contrast, the Hyundai Elantra's most reported problem area is the engine, with 273 complaints, though only three are crash-linked, indicating less severe outcomes than the Civic's steering issues. Both models have similar levels of complaints in the electrical system, but the Civic's air bag issues are notably higher in crash-linked incidents, with 21 compared to the Elantra's focus on steering and unknown categories with 12 crash-linked each. Overall, the Civic's problem profile is dominated by steering and air bag safety concerns, while the Elantra's issues are more evenly distributed across engine, electrical, and power train components.

Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra common problem areas comparison
Component	Honda Civic	Hyundai Elantra
STEERING	2.5Low	0.2Very Low
ENGINE	0.1Very Low	0.8Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.3Very Low	0.6Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.3Very Low	0.4Very Low
POWER TRAIN	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.3Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.2Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	0.1Very Low
SEAT BELTS	—None	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None
WHEELS	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Honda Civic or Hyundai Elantra?

Independent repair cost data shows that the Honda Civic has an annual repair cost of $368, while the Hyundai Elantra costs $452 per year. This translates to a $420 difference over five years in favor of the Civic. The Civic also boasts a lower repair frequency, requiring 0.2 visits per year compared to the Elantra's 0.3 visits. Although the Civic has a slightly higher major repair risk at 10% versus the Elantra's 9%, the overall cost savings and reduced repair frequency make the Civic a more economical choice for budget-conscious buyers seeking reliable performance.

How Does Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra Reliability Compare by Year?

Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Honda Civic	Hyundai Elantra	Edge
2025	84/1005R / 49C	87/1000R / 21C	Hyundai Elantra
2024	81/1005R / 131C	85/1001R / 50C	Hyundai Elantra
2023	74/1007R / 315C	75/1004R / 146C	Hyundai Elantra
2022	66/1003R / 935C	74/10013R / 139C	Hyundai Elantra
2021	81/1003R / 118C	75/10010R / 147C	Honda Civic
2020	78/1008R / 405C	72/1003R / 212C	Honda Civic
2019	75/1002R / 356C	78/1001R / 195C	Hyundai Elantra
2018	71/1004R / 605C	76/1001R / 309C	Hyundai Elantra
2026(predicted)	80/100(predicted)	82/100(predicted)	Hyundai Elantra

Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Honda Civic scored 84/100 and the 2025 Hyundai Elantra scored 87/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Honda Civic vs the Hyundai Elantra?

If you prioritize low running costs and minimal repair frequency, the Honda Civic might be your ideal choice. With an estimated annual repair cost of $368 and a repair frequency of 0.2 times per year, it offers a slightly more economical ownership experience. Although it has had 37 recalls, the Civic's owner complaints rate is relatively low at 4.8 per 10,000 sold. On the other hand, if you value a lower risk of major repairs and fewer recalls, consider the Hyundai Elantra. With a major repair risk of 9% and 33 total recalls, it edges out the Civic in these areas. While the Elantra's annual repair cost is higher at $452, it has fewer owner complaints at 3.7 per 10,000 sold, indicating better overall customer satisfaction.

Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra: Common Questions

Is the Honda Civic more reliable than the Hyundai Elantra?: Based on our data, the Hyundai Elantra is more reliable with an average score of 78/100 compared to 76/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Honda Civic or the Hyundai Elantra?: The Honda Civic has more recalls (37) compared to the Hyundai Elantra (33). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Honda Civic or the Hyundai Elantra?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Hyundai Elantra has a lower complaint rate at 3.7 per 10,000 sold versus 4.8 for the Honda Civic. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Honda Civic or the Hyundai Elantra?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda Civic is cheaper to maintain at $368/year versus $452/year for the Hyundai Elantra.
Is the Honda Civic or Hyundai Elantra safer?: Both the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

More Honda Civic comparisons

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More Hyundai Elantra comparisons

Hyundai Elantra vs Nissan Sentra reliability Hyundai Elantra vs Toyota Corolla reliability Hyundai Elantra vs Toyota Camry reliability Hyundai Elantra vs Nissan Altima reliability Hyundai Elantra reliability by year Hyundai Elantra years to avoid

How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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