Most common 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid problems
Share of the 29 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid complaints by model year
Best Elantra Hybrid years: 2024, 2025. Years to avoid: 2023. Compare all years →
2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid recalls (4)
Back over prevention › Sensing system › Camera
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.
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.
Vehicle speed control
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.
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.
Seat belts › Front
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.
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.
Seat belts › Pretensioner
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid:
Seat Belt Pretensioners May Rupture
On August 8, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ) based on 3 incidents alleging front seat belt pretensioners that may rupture during deployment, on model year (MY) 2020-2022 of various Hyundai and Kia Models, resulting in 3 injuries (note: one incident occurred outside the U.S.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid owners say
Electrical system
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 contact believed that the failure was related to the Hybrid battery. The vehicle was driven to the residence, where it remained parked and was not driven since. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 44,900.
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 the horn with a rubber hammer until it worked! Well, one mile or so down the road, it didn't work. I checked the internet and there are MULTIPLE instances listed of ongoing issues with the horns on Hyundai vehicles. In the end, I am driving with some hesitance as the horn isn't working. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN A CAR 1.5 years in my opinion. …
Speed control & acceleration
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 mechanic was unable to find a cause for the failure. The dealer informed the contact that they were aware of other vehicle owners experiencing the same failure with similar vehicles. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 3,300.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while the vehicle was idling, right before releasing the brake pedal, the vehicle did not immediately accelerate forward while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. After stopping and turning off and restarting the vehicle the failure was self-corrected. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure or detect the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 2,000.
Engine & cooling
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 vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact informed the dealer that the failure was intermittent and within an hour the dealer stated had replicated the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.
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 was feeding power to the wheels. there was no engine light illumination from this. I restarted the car and it seemed ok. Honestly, this was scary - trying to move from one lane to the next to an exit to safely exit the morning rush hour freeway. I had to keep my foot HEAVY on the break to make it slow / stop. …
2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl hybrid | 6-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 49 / 52 / 50 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the Elantra Hybrid to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid?
The electrical system — 11 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition › coil. Next are the speed control & acceleration (10) and engine & cooling (8).
How many recalls does the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, the most recent from November 21, 2024 (camera). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2024 and 2025. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2023. See the full Hyundai Elantra Hybrid years comparison.
At what mileage do 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 20,000 miles; 83% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.