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Hyundai Elantra HybridModel year report

2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Problems

Compared with other Hyundai Elantra Hybrid years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

34/100 0.7× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
30filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
17,326miles, 6 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
54 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl · hybrid FWD · 53 city / 56 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 30 consumer complaints for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. The part named most often is electrical system, with 11 complaints (37% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (11) and engine (9). 6 of the complaints include a mileage, and 83% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 17,326 miles. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 47 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 20 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Vehicle speed control complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 34 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Electrical system: “I keep getting intermittent HEV warnings and 12-volt light. The engine then shuts down and I have no power. This has occurred several times while on the highway and this creates a safety hazard. I have been fortunate enough that this happened while I was close to the shoulder, otherwise, it could have been critical. …”

NHTSA complaint #11554043, filed 2023-11

Vehicle speed control: “I was driving on a 40mph speed road at 45 mph and the car stopped accelerating abruptly and remained stuck at 20 mph even thou my foot was on the gas pedal. I had to put the caution lights on and get to the side of the road. I had every car behind me honk and yell when passing by. This could have been a big crash. I have the video of this when I was driving. This happened various times, in December, Feb and last week.”

NHTSA complaint #11525448, filed 2023-06

Engine: “This is my second time contact and reporting this issue about the vehicle surging unexpectedly and you cannot get it to slow down except by keeping your foot on the brake and pulling off the road. This has happened multiple times since I have had this vehicle. Recently, I had the car in for service and they said they did a recall for the software to stop this condition from happening again. …”

NHTSA complaint #11551172, filed 2023-10

Brakes: “So the car will come to a dead stop. Then when I give gas, it will not go for 1-2 sec, then all of a sudden it go at high speed by itself. Even when I brake, it will feel like as if I have stepped onto gas. Very dangerous”

NHTSA complaint #11521781, filed 2023-05

Mileage when problems were reported

83% of the 6 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 3,300 and 44,900 miles.

33%0–1033%10–2517%25–5017%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (6 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 17,326 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

20212022202312202420252026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Elantra Hybrid · sedan FWD★★★★★5 / 4555 · 10.1% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2021 model year: forward collision warning not available, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2022: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Elantra Hybrid FWD1.6L 4-cyl · hybrid6-speed automatic495250$1,350
Elantra Hybrid Blue FWD1.6L 4-cyl · hybrid6-speed automatic535654$1,250

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 47 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 47 bulletins →

Other model years of the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20255—1554—Too new
2024614,0001—54—Too new
2023551,1251—5450 · TypicalToo new
2022407,600455452 · TypicalRising
20213017,326455434 · FewerRising

All Hyundai Elantra Hybrid model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid have?

NHTSA recorded 30 consumer complaints for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 11 complaints (37% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 11.

Has the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid get?

The EPA rates the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid (Elantra Hybrid Blue, 1.6L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 54 mpg combined, 53 city and 56 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,250 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid reported?

Among the 6 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 17,326 miles and the middle half falls between 3,300 and 44,900 miles; 83% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.