Hyundai Elantra 2021 recalls, problems, complaints and safety
NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls issued for the Hyundai Elantra 2021 and 131 complaints filed by owners. It has 42% fewer complaints than the average Hyundai Elantra from 2016–2025 (225 per year).
These are recalls issued for this model and year, not for your specific car. A car may already be repaired or may not be included. Confirm with your VIN on NHTSA.
Own or buying a Hyundai Elantra 2021? Enter its VIN to see its exact trim and engine, and confirm on NHTSA whether its recalls were repaired.
Recalls issued for the Hyundai Elantra 2021
Backup camera and sensors
NHTSA campaign 24V879000 · 2024-11-21
What happens
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 requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence
A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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 for this recall is 271.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Seat belts
NHTSA campaign 22V354000 · 2022-05-19
What happens
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Accent, 2021-2022 Elantra, and 2021-2022 Elantra HEV vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
Consequence
An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
Remedy
Dealers will secure the seat belt pretensioner(s) with a cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 28, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 229. This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall numbers 21V-796, 22V-069, 22V-218, and 22V-123 for Accent, Elantra, and Elantra HEV vehicles. All Accent, Elantra, and Elantra HEV vehicles already repaired under the previous recalls will need to have the new remedy completed.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Seat belts
NHTSA campaign 22V218000 · 2022-04-01
What happens
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Elantra and 2020 Accent vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver and passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
Consequence
Exploding seat belt pretensioners can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 31, 2022. A second notice will be sent once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 223. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall number 22V-354. Vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedy completed.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Visibility (glass and mirrors)
NHTSA campaign 21V00M000 · 2021-12-28
What happens
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.
Consequence
A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Seat belts
NHTSA campaign 21V796000 · 2021-10-13
What happens
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Elantra, Elantra HEV, Venue, Genesis GV80 and 2022 Genesis GV70 vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment.
Consequence
An exploding seat belt pretensioner could project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 211 and 009G. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall numbers 22V-354 for Elantra and Elantra HEV vehicles, 22V-458 for Venue vehicles, and 23V-094 for Genesis vehicles. Elantra, Elantra HEV, Venue, and Genesis vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedies completed.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Seats
NHTSA campaign 21V302000 · 2021-04-28
What happens
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Elantra vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat back recliners may have been improperly welded.
Consequence
An improperly welded seat back recliner could separate from the seat back frame during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and if necessary, replace the seat back frame assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 21, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-888-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 204.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Complaints from other owners
131 complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of this model.
8 with a crash · 1 with a fire · 3 injuries · 1 deaths
Most reported problems on the Hyundai Elantra 2021
- Forward collision avoidance: 32 (24% of complaints)
- Electrical system: 30 (23% of complaints)
- Seat belts: 27 (21% of complaints)
- Engine: 13 (10% of complaints)
- Throttle and cruise control: 10 (8% of complaints)
Complaints are written by owners and NHTSA doesn't verify each one. They're useful to spot trends.
What to check before buying a Hyundai Elantra 2021
- Confirm by VIN on NHTSA that the recalls on this list were repaired.
- Ask whether the system braked on its own for no reason ("phantom braking") and whether software updates are pending.
- Test lights, windows, locks, the screen and dashboard warning lights; have trouble codes scanned.
- Check that every belt latches, retracts properly and is not frayed.
- Get an inspection from an independent mechanic before paying.
Safety rating (NCAP)
| Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Hyundai Elantra 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Hyundai Elantra recalls by year
- 2016 : 2 recalls · 293 complaints
- 2017 : 4 recalls · 767 complaints
- 2018 : 0 recalls · 283 complaints
- 2019 : 1 recalls · 251 complaints
- 2020 : 3 recalls · 253 complaints
- 2021 : 6 recalls · 131 complaints
- 2022 : 5 recalls · 102 complaints
- 2023 : 2 recalls · 98 complaints
- 2024 : 1 recalls · 54 complaints
- 2025 : 0 recalls · 22 complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Hyundai Elantra 2021 have?
NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls issued for the Hyundai Elantra 2021. That doesn't mean every car has them open: confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The repair is free at the dealer.
What is the most common problem with the Hyundai Elantra 2021?
In complaints filed with NHTSA, the most mentioned component is: forward collision avoidance (32 of 131 complaints). Complaints aren't verified one by one, but they show trends.
Model-level information from official NHTSA sources. Confirm by VIN on NHTSA. Not a substitute for a mechanical inspection.
Last updated: October 12, 2026. Sources: NHTSA vPIC (decoding), NHTSA Recalls, NHTSA Complaints and NHTSA NCAP (5-Star Safety Ratings).