Diagsheet

Compact cars · model years 2014 to 2022

Toyota Corolla vs Hyundai Elantra: problems and reliability

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Corolla and the Elantra split evenly (3 each, the rest too close to call).

Toyota Corolla

Toyota Corolla

1,765 complaints · 10 recalls

Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai Elantra

2,696 complaints · 19 recalls

Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026

Counts are not adjusted for sales. The more cars of a model there are on the road, the more complaints it draws, so the raw totals above say a lot about sales. Everything below compares shares of each model's own complaints, the mileage problems start at, recalls per model year and each model's years against its own median.

Scorecard

Measure, 2014 to 2022CorollaElantra
Complaints that report a crash18%6.6%
Complaints that report a fire0.8%1.9%
Complaints that report an injury12%3.7%
Median miles when problems are reported33,00052,000
Recall campaigns per model year1.12.1
Do-not-drive recalls00
NHTSA investigations23

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 Corolla owners complain about most is airbags; for the Elantra it is engine. Complaints citing airbags make up 22% of all Corolla complaints, against 5.1% on the Elantra. The Elantra leans the other way on engine: 39% of its complaints, against 15% for the Corolla.

Toyota CorollaHyundai Elantra

Engine15%39%
Airbags22%5.1%
Electrical11%13%
Transmission and drivetrain13%8.5%
Brakes8.6%6.5%
Structure6.3%7.6%
Steering5.4%7.1%
Speed control7.2%4.4%
Fuel and propulsion5.7%4.1%
Exterior Lighting3.5%6.0%

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 Corolla is airbag problems (22% of its complaints). On the Elantra it is stalling (19% of its complaints), against 5.6% on the Corolla.

ProblemCorollaElantra
Airbag warning light or recall22% 388most in 2014 · 36k mi4.8% 130most in 2014 · 35k mi
Engine stalls or loses power while driving5.6% 99most in 2019 · 30k mi19% 515most in 2017 · 67k mi
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early9.0% 159most in 2016 · 19k mi9.3% 251most in 2014 · 48k mi
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing0.3% 514% 371most in 2017 · 80k mi
Check engine light or misfire2.7% 4851k mi11% 305most in 2017 · 70k mi
Seat belt or seat problems6.4% 113most in 2016 · 30k mi2.9% 78most in 2021 · 32k mi
Engine overheats or leaks coolant8.3% 146most in 2020 · 51k mi0.7% 1929k mi
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails4.5% 80most in 2014 · 47k mi1.9% 5244k 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

Corolla owners report problems earlier. Half the Corolla complaints that give a mileage come before 33,000 miles; for the Elantra the halfway point is 52,000. 66% of Corolla 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.

Toyota CorollaHyundai Elantra

Under 25k40%27%
25k to 50k26%20%
50k to 75k18%22%
75k to 100k7.7%13%
100k to 150k6.4%15%
Over 150k1.8%3.1%

Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 847 for the Corolla and 1,180 for the Elantra.

Worst and best years

The 2020 Corolla draws 2.2 times the complaints of a typical Corolla year for its age. The 2017 Elantra draws 2.9 times the complaints of a typical Elantra year for its age.

Toyota Corolla

Every Corolla model year

Hyundai Elantra

  • Years to avoid: 2017
  • Best years: none since 2016 is clearly better

Every Elantra model year

Toyota CorollaHyundai Elantra

Each model year against its own model's median. Corolla: 2014 0.9, 2015 0.9, 2016 1.0, 2017 0.9, 2018 0.8, 2019 1.3, 2020 2.2, 2021 1.6, 2022 1.0. Elantra: 2014 1.1, 2015 0.8, 2016 1.0, 2017 2.9, 2018 1.2, 2019 1.2, 2020 1.3, 2021 0.8, 2022 0.8.2014 Corolla: 0.9 times its median2014 Elantra: 1.1 times its median'142015 Corolla: 0.9 times its median2015 Elantra: 0.8 times its median'152016 Corolla: 1.0 times its median2016 Elantra: 1.0 times its median'162017 Corolla: 0.9 times its median2017 Elantra: 2.9 times its median'172018 Corolla: 0.8 times its median2018 Elantra: 1.2 times its median'182019 Corolla: 1.3 times its median2019 Elantra: 1.2 times its median'192020 Corolla: 2.2 times its median2020 Elantra: 1.3 times its median'202021 Corolla: 1.6 times its median2021 Elantra: 0.8 times its median'212022 Corolla: 1.0 times its median2022 Elantra: 0.8 times its median'221x

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 Elantra draws more recalls: 2.1 campaigns per model year against 1.1 for the Corolla. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.

Toyota Corolla

10 recall campaigns and 2 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: airbags (2), equipment (2) and fuel system (2).

  • 20V-024 (airbags) covers 6 model years
  • 19V-503 (equipment) covers 3 model years

Investigations

  • EA21002: Desiccated air bag inflator rupture (open)
  • EA19001: Electrical overstress (closed, led to a recall)

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 Corolla complaints report a crash: 18%, against 6.6% for the Elantra. Fire reports: 14 for the Corolla and 52 for the Elantra. Complaints on file report 4 deaths in the Corolla and 7 in the Elantra for these model years.

Toyota CorollaHyundai Elantra

Report a crash18%6.6%
Report a fire0.8%1.9%
Report someone hurt12%3.7%

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 Toyota Corolla or the Hyundai Elantra more reliable?

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Corolla and the Elantra split evenly (3 each, the rest too close to call). NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Corolla has 1,765 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 Corolla or the Elantra?

The Corolla has 10 recall campaigns and the Elantra 19 across model years 2014 to 2022. The Elantra draws more recalls: 2.1 campaigns per model year against 1.1 for the Corolla.

What are the most common problems on the Corolla and the Elantra?

The most reported problem on the Corolla is airbag problems (22% of its complaints). On the Elantra it is stalling (19% of its complaints), against 5.6% on the Corolla.

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