Compact cars · model years 2014 to 2022
Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Civic looks better on 3 and the Elantra on 2, with 2 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2014 to 2022 | Civic | Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 4.9% | 6.6% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 0.6% | 1.9% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 2.4% | 3.7% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 36,000 | 52,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 2.0 | 2.1 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 4 | 3 |
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 Civic owners complain about most is steering; for the Elantra it is engine. Complaints citing steering make up 40% of all Civic complaints, against 7.1% on the Elantra. The Elantra leans the other way on engine: 39% of its complaints, against 7.0% for the Civic.
Honda CivicHyundai 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 Civic is sticky steering (30% of its complaints). On the Elantra it is stalling (19% of its complaints), against 5.1% on the Civic.
| Problem | Civic | Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks | 30% 1,418most in 2022 · 36k mi | 0.9% 2529k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 5.1% 241most in 2018 · 43k mi | 19% 515most in 2017 · 67k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 5.7% 269most in 2016 · 23k mi | 9.3% 251most in 2014 · 48k mi |
| Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing | 0.4% 18 | 14% 371most in 2017 · 80k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 1.5% 72most in 2018 · 46k mi | 11% 305most in 2017 · 70k mi |
| A/C blows warm or the compressor fails | 11% 508most in 2016 · 40k mi | 0 |
| Airbag warning light or recall | 5.2% 244most in 2015 · 42k mi | 4.8% 130most in 2014 · 35k mi |
| Power steering cuts out or goes heavy | 8.2% 386most in 2022 · 40k mi | 1.8% 49most in 2017 · 60k 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
Civic owners report problems earlier. Half the Civic complaints that give a mileage come before 36,000 miles; for the Elantra the halfway point is 52,000. 65% of Civic reports and 46% 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.
Honda CivicHyundai Elantra
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 1,815 for the Civic and 1,180 for the Elantra.
Worst and best years
The 2022 Civic draws 3.3 times the complaints of a typical Civic 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
Honda CivicHyundai 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 two draw recalls at about the same rate: 2.0 campaigns per model year for the Civic and 2.1 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.
Honda Civic
18 recall campaigns and 4 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: fuel system (3), airbags (3) and steering (3).
- 26V-332 (airbags) covers 7 model years
- 23V-858 (fuel system) covers 6 model years
Investigations
- EA23003: Momentary increased steering effort (closed, led to a recall)
- PE23005: Momentary increased steering effort (closed)
- EA21002: Desiccated air bag inflator rupture (open)
Hyundai Elantra
19 recall campaigns and 3 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: airbags (4), seat belts (4) and service brakes, hydraulic (3).
- 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)
- RQ22003: Seat belt pretensioners may rupture (closed, led to a recall)
- 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 Elantra complaints report a crash: 6.6%, against 4.9% for the Civic. Fire reports: 27 for the Civic and 52 for the Elantra. Complaints on file report 1 death in the Civic and 7 in the Elantra for these model years.
Honda CivicHyundai 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 Honda Civic or the Hyundai Elantra more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Civic looks better on 3 and the Elantra on 2, with 2 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Civic has 4,735 complaints and the Elantra 2,696 for model years 2014 to 2022, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Civic or the Elantra?
The Civic has 18 recall campaigns and the Elantra 19 across model years 2014 to 2022. The two draw recalls at about the same rate: 2.0 campaigns per model year for the Civic and 2.1 for the Elantra.
What are the most common problems on the Civic and the Elantra?
The most reported problem on the Civic is sticky steering (30% of its complaints). On the Elantra it is stalling (19% of its complaints), against 5.1% on the Civic.
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