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U.S. public vehicle records

2021 Hyundai ELANTRA HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

29 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

17,326 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 29 complaints (31.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1241.4%
Electrical and battery issues724.1%
Engine operation13.4%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
9
Vehicle Speed Control
9
Engine
8
Service Brakes
5
Unknown Or Other
4
Fuel/Propulsion System
3
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
2
Electrical System:Ignition:Coil
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System9
Vehicle Speed Control9
Engine8
Service Brakes5
Unknown Or Other4
Fuel/Propulsion System3
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings2
Electrical System:Ignition:Coil1

Electrical System: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Engine: 8; Service Brakes: 5; Unknown Or Other: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Coil: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 23 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2021
2
2022
5
2023
12
2024
6
2025
3
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20212
20225
202312
20246
20253
20261

2021: 2; 2022: 5; 2023: 12; 2024: 6; 2025: 3; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11424595 · 2021-07-13 (July 13, 2021)

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while pulling into the driveway, while slowing down, the vehicle inadvertently lunged forward. The vehicle seemed as though it was attempting to accelerate forward. The contact had to depress the brake pedal with excessive force to keep the vehicle from moving forward. The failure was independently remedied, and the vehicle started to perform as designed. The contact stated that failure occurred on three different occasions. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer however, the …

Owner-reported narrative. 3,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11424595 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11427566 · 2021-08-03 (August 3, 2021)

According to the dealership where I bought this car, the ignition coil failed. This has happened two times so far, resulting in two separate trips to the dealership to diagnosis and repair the issue. They were able to reproduce and confirm the problem; however, what caused the coil to go out is unknown. The component has not been inspected by any other sources outside of the Hyundai certified mechanics at the dealership. No warning lights or messages appeared at time of occurrence; however the engine would rev up when switching between hybrid …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11427566 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11457937 · 2022-03-23 (March 23, 2022)

On multiple drives the car has "lurched" or accelerated when foot was NOT on the accelerator pedal. These were minor issues, but unnerving when pulling up to park near a structure. Today 3-23-22 I was driving and after about 1 hour of normal operation the car began to accelerate while pressing the brake, and decelerate while pushing the gas. The engine was revving and then slowing down opposite of what would be expected. This is a hybrid vehicle - it felt as if the gas engine was supposed to be spooling up to charge the battery but instead …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11457937 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11466500 · 2022-05-28 (May 28, 2022)

Sometimes, for no reason my car will not accelerate (no amount of pedal to the metal will help) and then when it does accelerate, it surges forward at random points and tries to overpower the brakes. This has happened multiple times and the dealer claims they have never heard of this happening. It could cause a serious accident when it happens. I have to find a place to pull off and shut down the car and restart it. This started happening around the 5k mile marker...and now I am almost at 12k.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11466500 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11477182 · 2022-08-02 (August 2, 2022)

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that on several occasions while decelerating, the vehicle would lunge forward and the engine would rev. The contact stated that the vehicle would shut off while stopped. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was not determined. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer three times where the failure was not determined. The failure recurred for the fourth time. The contact was awaiting a tow to the dealer Fitzgerald Co…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,651 miles reported. Look up ODI 11477182 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11494714 · 2022-11-23 (November 23, 2022)

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while slowing down and making a left or right turn, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact also stated that while at a stop, he depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle accelerated at an abnormal speed. The contact stated that he applied extra pressure to the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but th…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11494714 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11497846 · 2022-12-17 (December 17, 2022)

I had reported that the horn wouldn't work..especially in cold weather last winter. The horn would work by the time I arrived at dealer. Told nothing they could do as it was working. It has happened 3 times in the last 2 months, finally totally nonfunctional the past 3 days. I called, stopped at dealer to have it checked. The car was returned to me with service person telling me that the horns diaphragm is stuck. When asked if working , he said for "right now." He told me a new horn(s) were ordered. I asked him what he did: he replied, I hit th…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11497846 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11499829 · 2023-01-02 (January 2, 2023)

Our problem started a few months ago. At first, we thought it was just a fluke, but this issue has happened too many times to be so. The issues are, the car does not accelerate when we depress the accelerator, we see the tachometer move, but the engine is not actually accelerating. Then at times it will accelerate on it's own, while sitting at a red light, the car tries to move forward despite having our foot on the brake, it acts like we are trying to push the accelerator and the brake at the same time. Even worse, while driving, the car will …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11499829 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

21V796000 · Seat Belts:Pretensioner | Seat Belts:Front

Reported: 2021-10-13 (October 13, 2021)

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
22V354000 · Seat Belts:Front | Seat Belts:Pretensioner

Reported: 2022-05-19 (May 19, 2022)

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
23V589000 · Vehicle Speed Control | Electrical System

Reported: 2023-08-18 (August 18, 2023)

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Elantra HEV vehicles. A software error in the motor control unit may cause unintended vehicle acceleration after the brake pedal is released.

Consequence: Unintended vehicle acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the motor control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 29, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 248.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
24V879000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Reported: 2024-11-21 (November 21, 2024)

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗