2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (10) · Engine (3) · Electrical System (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Elantra Hybrid model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2024-11-21 · campaign 24V879000 · 226,118 vehicles
Defect: 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."
Risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Vehicle Speed Control 2023-08-18 · campaign 23V589000 · 37,997 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Unintended vehicle acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Seat Belts:front 2022-05-19 · campaign 22V354000 · 230,233 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
Fix: 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 r
Seat Belts:pretensioner 2021-10-13 · campaign 21V796000 · 978 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An exploding seat belt pretensioner could project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury.
Fix: 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 hav
Service bulletins (47)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2026-10-27 · 26-GI-003H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information related to the navigation and head unit software changes introduced in the 2026 2nd navigation map and software update. the changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and navigation system. refer to the 2026 2nd navigation map and software update key improv
Engine 2026-10-08 · 26-EM-016H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. all internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operatio
Engine 2026-10-07 · 26-EM-015H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. all internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operatio
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DL · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn). these inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehi
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DCS · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn), that have been identified in u.s. vehicles following prior
Lane Departure: Warning 2026-02-25 · 26-AD-001H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2019my and newer vehicles equipped with a front view camera may illuminate certain warning lights and trigger dtc c272246 fault code for the front camera. in the following cases, the front camera auto-calibration range may be exceeded while driving: • if the front camera is not properly install
Showing the 6 most recent of 47 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-22 · Vehicle Speed Control“approximately once every 500 - 2000 miles (maybe more frequently this year), my car suddenly begins to accelerate hard. this happens even if my foot is completely off the gas pedal. usually, before the problem becomes severe, there are a few minutes in which i suspect the car is sometimes lurching forward, or losing some ability to accelerate. then…”
2026-01-02 · Electrical System:propulsion System:hybrid Management · 44,900 mi“ the contact owns a 2021 hyundai elantra hybrid. the contact stated that while driving 60 mph during ice and snow, the engine revved, and there was an abnormal sound coming from the hybrid battery. while turning, the contact stated that the vehicle had unintendedly accelerated. additionally, the tire pressure warning light was illuminated. the cont…”
2025-07-09 · Exterior Lighting“the headlights and back lights turn off at random times when the headlights are on the automatic setting. this problem happens very frequently at night, putting my family at risk when the lights go off and cannot see what is ahead of us. in addition to a cop pulling me over for not having my lights on and he asked me if i was playing with the ligh…”
2025-07-03 · Power Train“check hybrid system alarmed in heavy traffic and derated my car and put me in a very dangerous situation. …”
2025-05-18 · Unknown Or Other“i am writing to report a serious and ongoing safety issue with my 2021 hyundai elantra hybrid that remains unresolved despite multiple visits to hyundai service centers and independent repair shops. i’ve also found numerous consumer discussions online describing nearly identical issues with the same model and newer elantra hybrid models, suggesting…”
2024-12-27 · Unknown Or Other“i have a safety recall is with a rear view camera that hasn’t had a solution.…”
2024-11-11 · Electrical System“the hybrid charging system fails once the vehicle is above 75 mph. after about an hour or two, the vehicle will die on the highway. this is a reoccurring issue putting our safety at risk. the dealership cannot find what the problem is. online forums show similar issues with dealerships unable to solve the problem. …”
2024-10-24 · Suspension“at around 93k miles my hecu unit apparently malfunctioned at the same time as the left front tire speed indicator. all of my safety features abs, adaptive cruise control, lane departure, lane keeping etc do not work because of this.…”
2024-06-03 · Engine · 52,000 mi“the contact owns a 2021 hyundai elantra hev. the contact stated while driving 65 mph, the vehicle started to lose motive power with a battery warning light illuminated. the contact stated that on several occasions, the vehicle had to be turned off and restarted for the vehicle to recharge and restart. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the ve…”
2024-04-30 · Vehicle Speed Control“when gas is pressed (even to floor) in drive, vehicle stalls, does not accelerate. then vehicle jerks into propulsion after revving. other instances, at deceleration the car will jerk and shake to a stop. i have mentioned the problem at every scheduled maintenance …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.