Compact cars · model years 2014 to 2018
Chevrolet Cruze vs Hyundai Elantra: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Elantra looks better on 3 and the Cruze on 1, with 3 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2014 to 2018 | Cruze | Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 8.8% | 6.7% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 2.4% | 2.1% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 4.5% | 4.0% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 55,000 | 55,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 3.4 | 1.6 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 0 | 2 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Cruze owners complain about most is engine, and it is the same for the Elantra. Complaints citing electrical make up 23% of all Cruze complaints, against 12% on the Elantra. The Elantra leans the other way on structure: 9.6% of its complaints, against 3.0% for the Cruze.
Chevrolet CruzeHyundai Elantra
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Cruze is stalling (14% of its complaints), and the Elantra shares it (20%).
| Problem | Cruze | Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 14% 199most in 2014 · 57k mi | 20% 400most in 2017 · 70k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 13% 184most in 2014 · 69k mi | 12% 237most in 2017 · 71k mi |
| Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing | 4.7% 6883k mi | 14% 276most in 2017 · 80k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 6.7% 97most in 2014 · 40k mi | 11% 216most in 2014 · 48k mi |
| Airbag warning light or recall | 8.5% 123most in 2014 · 56k mi | 6.4% 125most in 2014 · 37k mi |
| Engine overheats or leaks coolant | 10% 149most in 2014 · 73k mi | 1.0% 1929k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 9.6% 140most in 2014 · 54k mi | 0.7% 1447k mi |
| Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on | 8.5% 124most in 2014 · 63k mi | 1.2% 2437k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Problems show up at about the same mileage on both. Half the Cruze complaints that give a mileage come before 55,000 miles, and half the Elantra complaints before 55,000. 44% of Cruze reports and 44% of Elantra reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Chevrolet CruzeHyundai Elantra
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 961 for the Cruze and 962 for the Elantra.
Worst and best years
The 2014 Cruze draws 2.4 times the complaints of a typical Cruze year for its age. The 2017 Elantra draws 2.9 times the complaints of a typical Elantra year for its age.
Hyundai Elantra
- Years to avoid: 2017
- Best years: none since 2016 is clearly better
Chevrolet CruzeHyundai Elantra
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Cruze draws more recalls: 3.4 campaigns per model year against 1.6 for the Elantra. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Chevrolet Cruze
17 recall campaigns and 0 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: transmission and drivetrain (4), airbags (4) and electrical (1).
- 16V-502 (electrical) covers 3 model years
- 18V-304 (fuel system) covers 3 model years
Hyundai Elantra
8 recall campaigns and 2 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: service brakes, hydraulic (3), airbags (3) and latches/locks/linkages (1).
- 23V-651 (service brakes, hydraulic) covers 2 model years
- 24V-146 (latches/locks/linkages) covers 2 model years
Investigations
- DP22003: Loss of motive power (closed)
- DP21003: Throttle control system vulnerabilities (closed)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Cruze complaints report a crash: 8.8%, against 6.7% for the Elantra. Fire reports: 35 for the Cruze and 41 for the Elantra. Complaints on file report 1 death in the Cruze and 3 in the Elantra for these model years.
Chevrolet CruzeHyundai Elantra
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Chevrolet Cruze or the Hyundai Elantra more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Elantra looks better on 3 and the Cruze on 1, with 3 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Cruze has 1,455 complaints and the Elantra 1,965 for model years 2014 to 2018, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Cruze or the Elantra?
The Cruze has 17 recall campaigns and the Elantra 8 across model years 2014 to 2018. The Cruze draws more recalls: 3.4 campaigns per model year against 1.6 for the Elantra.
What are the most common problems on the Cruze and the Elantra?
The most reported problem on the Cruze is stalling (14% of its complaints), and the Elantra shares it (20%).
More comparisons
- Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra2014 to 2022
- Toyota Corolla vs Hyundai Elantra2014 to 2022
- Nissan Sentra vs Hyundai Elantra2014 to 2021
- Chevrolet Cruze vs Toyota Corolla2014 to 2018
- Chevrolet Cruze vs Honda Civic2014 to 2018