2021 Hyundai Elantra Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 5%of 132 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2021 Hyundai Elantra, 5% of the 132 complaints for this model year.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Cars DCT transmission constantly slips into neutral and is very dangerous when getting onto main roads.. every time I accelerate my vehicle it sits in neutral and revs to high rpms and slows down until it abruptly changes gears very hard and it repeats this for every gear after 2nd”
NHTSA complaint #11540929, filed 2023-08“Ongoing issues whereby when accelerating the car jerks due to the transmission shuddering. There are many times when acceleration is very slow and the gears slowly shift. Brought this up to the dealership where I bought the car and they keep giving me the run around.”
NHTSA complaint #11491323, filed 2022-10“I completed an oil change at Greggs oil express in Porterville California on 02-11-2023. I have the invoice. On 02-24-2023, I went out of town. At approximately, 5:00 pm, I heard a loud bang, large amount of oil pouring out of the bottom of the car, the car became disabled and I pulled over to the side of the road. I had it towed to the closest Hyundai dealership in Victorville Ca. They provided me with a report that stated when receiving my oil change stating due to the drain plug issue is a direct result of a third party and was not covered under warranty. …”
NHTSA complaint #11518666, filed 2023-04“I picked up my Hyundai Elantra n-line today 12/1/22. My car was at the dealership for almost 3 weeks for transmission judder (shudder?) issues and they claim to have fixed the issue with a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) from Hyundai with some snap and cable and additional work that was not disclosed. After picking it up and driving only 3 blocks my car went berserk where all dummy lights went on, the car's engine revved to redline, took off and suddenly the front wheels turned left (due to the avoidance features of the car perhaps) and I was able to pull the emergency break and stop the car. …”
NHTSA complaint #11495668, filed 2022-12“First of all suspension has a noise when going over speed bumps or bumps on the road have taking it to dealer they say they cant find nothing. And the transmission has a pop noise from time to time they say at the dealer that is due to the DCT transmission but it hasn’t stop doing it plus a loud noise when you stop and go. They say there is no recall. Very disappointed with this tranny.”
NHTSA complaint #11535156, filed 2023-07Related service bulletins
- 10241878Aug 23, 2023Certain vehicles equipped with the Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) may experience a check engine light or malfunction indicator light due to Diagnostic Trouble Codes…
- 10241874Aug 17, 2023Hyundai has launched an anti-theft software upgrade and window decal campaign (Campaign 993), combined with an anti-theft steering wheel lock campaign (Campaign P32), in response…
- 10233538Mar 13, 2023This bulletin provides the service procedure to update the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software for certain Elantra (CN7/CN7a) vehicles equipped with the 2.0L MPI and…
- 10233537Mar 13, 2023Certain Elantra (CN7/CN7a) vehicles equipped with the 2.0L MPI and Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) need an update to the damper clutch logic to address a potential engine…
- 10222083Sep 20, 2022Some 2021 ~ 2022MY Elantra (CN7, CN7a, CN7 HEV) vehicles may exhibit a condition with multiple warning lights displayed on the instrument cluster and various symptoms; multiple…
- 10207807Jan 12, 2022Certain vehicles equipped with 7-speed Double Clutch Transmissions (DCT) may exhibit abnormal shifting caused by an out of specification input shaft snap ring. This bulletin…
- 10189981Mar 5, 2021This bulletin provides the service procedure to update the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software for certain Elantra (CN7/CN7a) vehicles equipped with the 2.0L MPI and…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 5% |
| 2024 | 3 | 5% |
| 2023 | 9 | 9% |
| 2022 | 7 | 7% |
| 2021 | 7 | 5% |
| 2020 | 47 | 19% |
| 2019 | 11 | 4% |
| 2018 | 24 | 8% |
| 2017 | 62 | 8% |
| 2016 | 31 | 11% |
| 2015 | 18 | 7% |
| 2014 | 22 | 6% |
| 2013 | 57 | 4% |
| 2012 | 40 | 6% |
| 2011 | 21 | 5% |
| 2010 | 32 | 8% |
| 2009 | 8 | 3% |
| 2008 | 29 | 9% |
| 2007 | 10 | 4% |
| 2006 | 8 | 5% |
| 2005 | 7 | 5% |
| 2004 | 7 | 4% |
| 2003 | 9 | 4% |
| 2002 | 17 | 5% |
| 2001 | 16 | 5% |
| 2000 | 22 | 11% |
| 1999 | 41 | 32% |
| 1998 | 13 | 24% |
| 1997 | 31 | 27% |
| 1996 | 20 | 20% |
| 1995 | 19 | 17% |
| 1994 | 9 | 12% |
| 1993 | 5 | 21% |
| 1992 | 9 | 31% |
Other parts of the 2021 Hyundai Elantra
32 complaintsElectrical system
31 complaintsOther or unknown
30 complaintsSeat belts
27 complaintsEngine
13 complaintsVehicle speed control
10 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsLane departure
6 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
6 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology