The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 1 of 4 complaints (25%) mentions it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 35 in 2025 to 4 in 2026.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 4
- Recall campaigns
- 4
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,150–$3,350
- Combined MPG
- 23–54
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | vs. 2026 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,150–3,350 | 1,150–3,350 | 1,150–3,350 | |
| Combined MPG | 23–54 | 23–54 | 23–54 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 20–51 / 27–58 | 20–51 / 27–58 | 20–51 / 27–58 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 165–392 | 165–392 | 165–392 | |
| Complaints filed | 63 | 35 | 4 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 5 | 5 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 2 | 8 | 1 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2026 Hyundai Elantra have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What gas mileage does the 2026 Hyundai Elantra get?
EPA rates it 23–54 MPG combined across 7 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
EPA estimates $1,150–$3,350 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (7)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AV-S1) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 30 mpg | 40 mpg | 34 mpg | $1,850 | 263 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AV-S1) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 31 mpg | 40 mpg | 35 mpg | $1,800 | 254 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AM-S7) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 28 mpg | 35 mpg | 31 mpg | $2,000 | 288 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 49 mpg | 52 mpg | 50 mpg | $1,250 | 177 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 51 mpg (high) | 58 mpg (high) | 54 mpg (high) | $1,150 (low) | 165 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (AM-S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 20 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | $3,350 (high) | 392 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 7 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 21 mpg | 29 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,200 | 366 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Venue, Elantra N, Elantra Hybrid, and Elantra vehicles. The wheel lug nuts may loosen and allow the wheel to detach.
- Consequence
- Wheel detachment can cause a loss of vehicle control or create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the hub bearing assemblies and reinstall the wheels, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 19, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 310. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 23, 2026.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Tucson Hybrid and Elantra vehicles. The front strut assembly fasteners may not be tightened properly, which can result in a loss of vehicle steering control.
- Consequence
- A loss of vehicle steering control increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and tighten the front strut assembly fasteners and perform a wheel alignment, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 19, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 309. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 23, 2026.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:HYBRID MANAGEMENT:POWER CONTROL UNIT/MODULE (HPCU)
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Elantra Hybrid vehicles. The hybrid power control unit (HPCU) assembly may overheat.
- Consequence
- Overheating in the HPCU increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the HPCU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 301. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 16, 2026.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:SIDE IMPACT
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Elantra N, 2026 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), and Elantra vehicles. The B-pillar impact sensors may have been misassembled, which can delay air bag deployment.
- Consequence
- Air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the impact sensor(s), as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 11, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 299. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 22, 2026.