Are Hyundai Elantras Good Cars?
Hyundai Elantra by Kevauto - CC-BY-SA-4.0
Asking, “Are Hyundai Elantras good cars?” is a far-reaching question with many possible answers. Check out the different vehicle review sites like Consumer Reports and J.D. Power, and you may even come across conflicting results for the same model year.
We’ll sort through the confusion by taking a somewhat different approach to determining if Hyundai Elantras are good cars. We’ll analyze the traditional sources (including Consumer Reports, J.D. Power, and carcomplaints.com) and examine data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That’s not unusual.
However, we’re going to skip the three most recent model years (2021-2023). Why? Because newer vehicles tend not to be as troublesome as older ones. Plus, more recent cars are typically covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. So, owners tend to be more forgiving if they’re not picking up the repair bill (and may not be as likely to file a complaint).
Instead, we’ll assess the previous ten model years of the Hyundai Elantra. These are cars that more accurately represent the model’s reliability because these have been in owners’ hands for several years. We’ll conduct a year-by-year breakdown of the 2011-2020 Hyundai Elantras, including a pass/fail reliability recommendation. Then, we’ll provide an overall verdict based on these ten model years that answers the “Are Hyundai Elantras good cars?” question.
Importantly, our focus is on reliability, particularly the engine and transmission. Factors like equipment preferences and drivability are more subjective and not part of this analysis. Let’s get started.
2011 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability Ruling: Fail
The first year of an all-new model (2011 marks the debut of the fifth-generation Elantra) always carries some risk due to design “kinks” that usually get fixed later. That makes us cautious about the 2011 Elantra from the outset. J.D. Power gives this Hyundai an average reliability rating of 77 (out of 100), and Consumer Reports is equally middling (3 out of 5). But what’s really troubling is the frequency of engine- or powertrain-related complaints on file with NHTSA—issues that represent more than 25% of these reports (more than any other trouble areas). There are also a significant number of problems involving the electrical system.
2012 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability Ruling: Fail
Normally, the second year of a new design is marked by fewer troubles in key systems. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with the 2012 Elantra. While J.D. Power and Consumer Reports offer ratings that repeat the previous year, NHTSA tells an entirely different story. Overall complaints about this car increased by 25%. What’s even worse is that reports about issues with the engine, powertrain, and electric system also jump. That’s enough reason to give the 2012 Elantra a thumbs down.
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2013 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability Ruling: Fail
Carcomplaints.com calls the 2013 Elantra a “clunker,” and we couldn’t agree more. Consumer Reports drops reliability to a 2 (out of 5), and the number of reports filed with NHTSA doubles over the previous year. As in the past, these issues still include engine, powertrain, and electrical troubles. Regrettably, this Elantra isn’t better; it’s worse.
2014 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability Ruling: Pass
Finally, things are looking better for the Elantra with the 2014 model year. Overall, complaints filed with NHTSA decreased dramatically (down 75% from the previous year). Engine issues haven’t gone away, but the picture is brighter. Consumer Reports gives the car a respectable 4 rating for reliability. Regardless, we always recommend getting a pre-purchase inspection done on any used car under consideration; this includes the 2014 Elantra.
2015 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability Ruling: Pass
The numbers show an even more improved Elantra for the 2015 model year. NHTSA complaints continue to plunge, and J.D. Power gives the car a decent reliability score of 80 (out of 100). Engine issues haven’t completely disappeared but are at the lowest level for any fifth-generation Elantra.
2016 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability Ruling: Pass
The 2016 Elantra is a winner in many reliability rankings. J.D. Power calls this car “great” with a score of 85, and Consumer Reports bestows a rare 5 out of 5. NHTSA has its share of reports about engine and electrical system issues, but there are much fewer than in some of the earlier years.
2017 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability Ruling: Fail
Average reliability scores from the usual sources mask the potential problem lying under the hood of the 2017 Elantra. NHTSA data reveals that this model year has more engine-related complaints than any other Elantra model year we cover in this article. If that doesn’t lead to a failing grade, consider 2017 marks the introduction of the sixth-generation Elantra. Remember what we said about all-new cars?
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2018 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability Ruling: Pass
Oh, the difference a year makes. NHTSA-filed complaints dropped significantly, especially for critical components like the engine and electrical system. The 2018 Elantra also gets a reliability thumbs up from J.D. Power.
2019 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability Ruling: Pass
If the 2018 Elantra was great, the 2019 edition is great-er, to coin a phrase. There are fewer negatives on file with NHTSA and carcomplaints.com. And Consumer Reports give the 2019 Elantra a perfect 5 for reliability, while J.D. Power issues a “great” reliability rating of 86.
2020 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability Ruling: Pass
Reliability for the 2020 Elantra drops to 3, according to Consumer Reports. Meanwhile, J.D. Power gives the car a strong 87 out of 100. To resolve the conflicting advice, we’ll turn to NHTSA. The agency’s records don’t show many troubling complaints, even with an engine-related recall. We’ll just add that if you’re considering a 2020 Elantra, be certain it’s not subject to the recall or has already been repaired.
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So you’re in the market for a used vehicle? We’ve gone ahead and prepped some essential questions to ask when buying a used car.
Are Hyundai Elantras Good Cars? Final Words
Let’s look at the reliability pass/fail rankings for the 2011-2020 Hyundai Elantras.
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In simple terms, 60% of the analyzed Elantra model years get passing marks for reliability. That’s an “F” if we’re talking about school grades. However, by sheer numbers, more Elantra model years are reliable than not.
You pick how you want to judge things. We’ll finish by saying that the Hyundai Elantra is a good car IF you choose the right model year.
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