Last updated: 2026-04-20

RELIABILITY SCORE: 82/100 (EXCELLENT)

2026 Hyundai Elantra Reliability Report

Name: 2026 Hyundai Elantra
Brand: Hyundai

The 2026 Hyundai Elantra has a predicted reliability score of 82/100 based on prior model year data. Early data shows 0 recalls and 0 owner complaints.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

N/A

Est. Repair Cost

$452

Annual Fuel Cost

$1,700–$3,000

The Verdict

Buy

Based on historical reliability patterns, predicted to score 82/100 — a strong pick.

Should You Buy the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?

The 2026 Hyundai Elantra has a predicted reliability score of 82/100 ("Excellent") based on prior model year performance.

So far: 0 recalls, 0 owner complaints. No owner-reported issues on file yet.

Prior model years suggest dependable ownership. Confirm all recall repairs are completed, and consider a pre-purchase inspection for used examples.

See also the 2025 Hyundai Elantra for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Strong predicted reliability based on prior model years
+$74 cheaper to maintain than avg compact cars
+Infrequent unscheduled repairs
+Low major repair risk (9%)
+No recalls issued

Cons

−Score is a prediction — real-world data still developing

Compare 2026 Hyundai Elantra With

2026 Toyota Corolla

Predicted: 79/100

Predicted

2026 Honda Civic

Predicted: 80/100

Predicted

2026 Nissan Sentra

Predicted: 79/100

Predicted

2026 Volkswagen Golf

Predicted: 76/100

Predicted

2026 Subaru WRX

Predicted: 77/100

Predicted

Recall Overview

recalls on record

No recalls are on record for the 2026 Hyundai Elantra — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

complaints

LowAvgHigh

Very Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2026 Hyundai Elantra? Check its history first

Every 2026 Hyundai Elantra has a different past. A VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2026 Hyundai Elantra NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 4/5

Rollover risk: 10.1%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Knee (Not Available)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (No)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Driver Monitoring System (No)Automatic High Beams (Standard)

Gas / HEV Powertrain

Rollover risk: 10.1%

Safety Technologies

HEV Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 4/5

Rollover risk: 10.1%

Safety Technologies

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Hyundai ElantraRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

4.5

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$452

vs $526 avg for compact cars

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.3

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

Elantra

$452

Category Avg

$526

All Vehicles

$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

23–35 MPG

Running cost: $2,150–$3,450/yr

Fuel + repair

20–31 city / 27–40 hwy MPG

Hybrid

50–54 MPG

Running cost: $1,550–$1,650/yr

Fuel + repair

49–51 city / 52–58 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2026 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Elantra w/Stop-Start 2.0L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AV-S1)	31	40	35	$1,700
Elantra non-ISG 2.0L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AV-S1)	30	40	34	$1,750
Elantra 1.6L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AM-S7)	28	35	31	$1,950
Elantra N 2.0L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Manual 6-spd	21	29	24	$2,900
Elantra N 2.0L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AM-S8)	20	27	23	$3,000

Hybrid trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Elantra Hybrid Blue 1.6L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AM-S6)	51	58	54	$1,100
Elantra Hybrid 1.6L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AM-S6)	49	52	50	$1,200

Best & Worst Hyundai Elantra Years

Comprehensive reliability analysis based on NHTSA data, owner complaints, and historical performance.

Best Hyundai Elantra Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

The best Hyundai Elantra year is 2025 with a reliability score of 87/100, rated excellent. Other strong picks include 2024 (85/100) and 2019 (78/100).

Top Pick

Excellent

Hyundai Elantra Years to Avoid

The worst Hyundai Elantra year is 2020 with a score of 72/100, primarily due to engine (65) issues.

Good

2020

3Recalls

212Complaints

See full Hyundai Elantra years-to-avoid analysis

Hyundai Elantra Reliability Score Trend

Hyundai Elantra reliability has remained consistent across model years, averaging 78/100.

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Hyundai Elantra reliability scores by year
Year	Score	Rating
2018	76/100	Good
2019	78/100	Good
2020	72/100	Good
2021	75/100	Good
2022	74/100	Good
2023	75/100	Good
2024	85/100	Excellent
2025	87/100	Excellent

Hyundai Elantra Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026(selected)	82/100 (predicted)	—	Predicted	0	0
2025	87/100	+2	Excellent	0	21
2024	85/100	+10	Excellent	1	50
2023	75/100	+1	Good	4	146
2022	74/100	-1	Good	13	139
2021	75/100	+3	Good	10	147
2020	72/100	-6	Good	3	212
2019	78/100	+2	Good	1	195
2018	76/100	—	Good	1	309

2026 Hyundai Elantra Reliability by Powertrain

The 2026 Hyundai Elantra is available with 3powertrain options. Here's how they compare on reliability.

Reliability comparison across powertrain options
Powertrain	Complaints	Recalls	Incidents*	Crash Rating
Gas	0	0	0	5 out of 5
Gas / HEV	0	0	0	N/T
HEV	0	0	0	5 out of 5
Total	0	0	0

NHTSA tracks complaints separately for each powertrain configuration. Totals reflect the sum across all variants. N/T = Not tested by NHTSA.

* Incidents = crash + fire reports. A single complaint can include multiple incident types.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2026 Hyundai Elantra reliable?

The 2026 Hyundai Elantra has a predicted reliability score of 82/100 ("Excellent") based on prior model year data. So far there are 0 recalls and 0 owner complaints on file. This is a prediction — the actual score will be available once more real-world data accumulates.

What are the most common problems with the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?

There aren't enough owner complaints to establish common problem patterns yet for the 2026 Hyundai Elantra. Based on prior model years, review known issues from previous years to understand potential problem areas.

How many recalls does the 2026 Hyundai Elantra have?

The 2026 Hyundai Elantra has no recalls on record, which is a positive indicator.

How is the predicted score calculated?

The predicted score of 82/100 is calculated by averaging reliability scores from prior model years of the same generation. When generation data is unavailable, the average of the most recent model years is used. The prediction updates automatically as new data becomes available.

Don’t buy a 2026 Hyundai Elantra without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Look Up a VIN →

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.

Get notified when new recalls or reliability data is added for the Hyundai Elantra.

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