Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, most recently filed November 2024. Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. In NHTSA crash tests it earned 5 stars overall.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Caution Fewer than 50 complaints filed. With this few reports, patterns may not be meaningful.
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Recalls (4)

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 24V879000 Filed Nov 21, 2024

Rearview Image May Not Display/ FMVSS 111

Back over prevention · sensing system · camera
Official NHTSA text
Summary
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.
67.8% repairedof 226,118 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 24V879000
Listed for 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 23V589000 Filed Aug 18, 2023

Software Error May Cause Unintended Acceleration

Electrical system
Official NHTSA text
Summary
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.
96.8% repairedof 37,997 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 23V589000
Listed for 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 22V354000 Filed May 19, 2022

Seat Belt Pretensioners May Explode

Seat belts · front
Official NHTSA text
Summary
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.
88.7% repairedof 230,233 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 22V354000
Listed for 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 21V796000 Filed Oct 13, 2021

Seat Belt Pretensioner May Explode

Seat belts · front
Official NHTSA text
Summary
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.
Repair progress not yet reported978 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 21V796000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (29)

29 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.

0involved a crash
0involved a fire
0injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 29.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2021 compares with other Elantra Hybrid years

Best and worst Elantra Hybrid years →
29 40 55 6 5
20212022202320242025
This year (2021)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Crash tests: 5 stars overall

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 4★★★★★☆
Side crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
RolloverRollover risk 10.1%★★★★★
Front seat of a modern car with the seat belt buckled across the passenger seat
Compare fairly. Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Ratings apply to the tested configuration.

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 50 mpg combined

50
mpg combined
49
city
52
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$1,350
CO₂ tailpipe
177 g/mi
EPA class
Midsize Cars

What it costs you to run

$1,306per year
$109per month
300gallons a year

Miles ÷ 50 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
1.6 L 4-cyl · AutomaticFront-Wheel Drive49 / 52 / 50$1,350177

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2021 Elantra Hybrid for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All Elantra Hybrid years

Where to next

2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid FAQ

How many recalls does the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid have?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 24V879000 (rear camera), 23V589000 (electrical), 22V354000 (seat belt), 21V796000 (seat belt). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid problems?

Owners filed 29 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (11), Vehicle speed control (10), Engine (8) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid get?

EPA rates the 1.6 L 4-cyl · Automatic version at 49 city, 52 highway and 50 combined mpg.

What safety rating did the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid get?

NHTSA rated the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 5 stars rollover (10.1% rollover risk).

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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