Compact cars · model years 2014 to 2021
Nissan Sentra vs Hyundai Elantra: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Elantra looks better on 2 and the Sentra on 1, with 4 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2014 to 2021 | Sentra | Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 7.7% | 6.6% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.1% | 2.0% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 4.6% | 3.7% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 57,000 | 53,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 1.9 | 2.1 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 3 | 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 Sentra owners complain about most is transmission and drivetrain; for the Elantra it is engine. Complaints citing transmission and drivetrain make up 34% of all Sentra complaints, against 8.5% on the Elantra. The Elantra leans the other way on engine: 40% of its complaints, against 14% for the Sentra.
Nissan SentraHyundai 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 Sentra is transmission shudder (12% of its complaints). On the Elantra it is stalling (20% of its complaints), against 11% on the Sentra.
| Problem | Sentra | Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 11% 212most in 2015 · 65k mi | 20% 507most in 2017 · 67k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 11% 214most in 2018 · 28k mi | 9.4% 244most in 2014 · 48k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 2.9% 5682k mi | 12% 299most in 2017 · 71k mi |
| Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing | 0 | 14% 371most in 2017 · 80k mi |
| Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard | 12% 242most in 2014 · 84k mi | 1.4% 3761k mi |
| Airbag warning light or recall | 8.4% 164most in 2014 · 34k mi | 5.0% 130most in 2014 · 35k mi |
| Transmission fails or needs replacement | 6.9% 135most in 2015 · 82k mi | 0.9% 2343k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 4.6% 90most in 2019 · 24k mi | 1.5% 4044k 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 Sentra complaints that give a mileage come before 57,000 miles, and half the Elantra complaints before 53,000. 44% of Sentra 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.
Nissan SentraHyundai Elantra
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 1,016 for the Sentra and 1,165 for the Elantra.
Worst and best years
No Sentra model year stands out from the rest. 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
Nissan SentraHyundai 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: 1.9 campaigns per model year for the Sentra 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.
Nissan Sentra
15 recall campaigns and 3 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: airbags (5), electrical (3) and exterior lighting (2).
- 21V-135 (exterior lighting) covers 4 model years
- 16V-242 (airbags) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- EA15004: Occupant classification system failure (closed, led to a recall)
- RQ15001: Occupant classification system failure (closed)
- PE14014: Excessive brake pedal travel (closed)
Hyundai Elantra
17 recall campaigns and 3 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: service brakes, hydraulic (3), airbags (3) and seat belts (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
Crashes turn up in about the same share of complaints on both (7.7% and 6.6%). Fire reports: 22 for the Sentra and 51 for the Elantra. Complaints on file report 1 death in the Sentra and 7 in the Elantra for these model years.
Nissan SentraHyundai 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 Nissan Sentra or the Hyundai Elantra more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Elantra looks better on 2 and the Sentra on 1, with 4 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Sentra has 1,955 complaints and the Elantra 2,595 for model years 2014 to 2021, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Sentra or the Elantra?
The Sentra has 15 recall campaigns and the Elantra 17 across model years 2014 to 2021. The two draw recalls at about the same rate: 1.9 campaigns per model year for the Sentra and 2.1 for the Elantra.
What are the most common problems on the Sentra and the Elantra?
The most reported problem on the Sentra is transmission shudder (12% of its complaints). On the Elantra it is stalling (20% of its complaints), against 11% on the Sentra.
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