Every 2021 Hyundai Elantra recall
Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.
Back Over Prevention · NHTSA 24V879000
Nov 21, 2024Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
- Problem
- 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.
Full recall details for 24V879000 →Electrical System · NHTSA 23V589000
Aug 18, 2023Electrical System
- Problem
- 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.
Full recall details for 23V589000 →Seat Belts · NHTSA 22V354000
May 19, 2022Seat Belts:Front
- Problem
- 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 remedy completed.
Full recall details for 22V354000 →Seat Belts · NHTSA 22V218000
Jan 4, 2022Seat Belts:Front
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Elantra and 2020 Accent vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver and passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
- Risk
- Exploding seat belt pretensioners can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 31, 2022. A second notice will be sent once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 223. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall number 22V-354. Vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedy completed.
Full recall details for 22V218000 →Visibility · NHTSA 21V00M000
Dec 28, 2021Visibility:Windshield
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.
- Risk
- A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.
Full recall details for 21V00M000 →Seat Belts · NHTSA 21V796000
Oct 13, 2021Seat Belts:Front
- Problem
- 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 have the new remedies completed.
Full recall details for 21V796000 →Seats · NHTSA 21V302000
Apr 28, 2021Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Elantra vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat back recliners may have been improperly welded.
- Risk
- An improperly welded seat back recliner could separate from the seat back frame during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and if necessary, replace the seat back frame assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 21, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-888-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 204.
Full recall details for 21V302000 →
2021 Hyundai Elantra complaints and service bulletins
Owners filed 160 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Elantra, reporting 8 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, 1 deaths. Hyundai has issued at least 79 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.
Most-reported components
- Forward Collision Avoidance57
- Electrical System41
- Unknown Or Other33
- Seat Belts27
- Engine21
- Vehicle Speed Control20
Service bulletins by component
- Electrical System (61)
- Unknown Or Other (15)
- Equipment (14)
- Engine and Engine Cooling (13)
- Power Train (12)
- Exterior Lighting (5)
Read Hyundai Elantra owner complaints and bulletins, every year
What people reported
Owners have filed 160 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Elantra. A few in their own words, shortened. Complaints are unverified and are not proof of a defect or of any recall.
Injury reportedCrash
“Description of the Safety Problem: In the early morning hours of January 8, while driving my Hyundai vehicle, I ran off the road into a ditch. I was extremely disoriented and activated the vehicle's built-in Blue Link SOS emergency assistance system for help.”
2021 HYUNDAI ELANTRAJan 11, 2026
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11710172
“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.”
2021 HYUNDAI ELANTRA HYBRIDJan 2, 2026
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11708400
“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.”
2021 HYUNDAI ELANTRA HYBRIDJul 9, 2025
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11672296
Fire
“The contact owned a 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked unattended. Approximately thirteen hours later, he was notified by the fire department that the vehicle had caught fire. A police report was filed. There were no reported injuries.”
2021 HYUNDAI ELANTRAFeb 6, 2024
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11570259
“Check Hybrid System alarmed in heavy traffic and derated my car and put me in a very dangerous situation.”
2021 HYUNDAI ELANTRA HYBRIDJul 3, 2025
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11671060
Check your Elantra by VIN
Not every 2021 Hyundai Elantra is in every recall. Enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact vehicle, then confirm which are still open at NHTSA.gov or with any Hyundai dealer.
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