2021 Hyundai Elantra · symptom sheet
Seat belt or seat problems
- 29owner reports
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Feb 20, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
29 of the 131 complaints on this car describe seat belt, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2021 Elantra.
Tick what matches of 29 reports
Seat belt on other Elantra years
No other Elantra model year has enough reports of seat belt for a sheet of its own. See every Elantra year.
What this problem usually is
This group covers the belt and the seat it's bolted to: buckles that won't latch or won't let go, belts that lock up and won't pull out, and seats that shift or rock in their tracks. It's a wide bucket, with over 9,000 complaints across the vehicles on this site, and a quarter of them mention a recall.
What got replaced
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
4 recalls on the seat belts cover the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
In the event of a crash, the front driver and passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment.
The driver and front passenger seat back recliners may have been improperly welded.
All 6 recalls on the 2021 Hyundai Elantra, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the seat belts on the Elantra
Seat belt pretensioners may rupture. Closed may 26, 2023, led to recall 23V-094.
When it happens
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
What owners wrote
“The horn is not working when I press the horn or on the key fob. I had it checked and the fuses were fine. The seat belt chime also does not work out of nowhere, same time the horn stopped working.”
Filed Dec 5, 2025
“NHTSA Recall Number 22V354000 has been active since May 18, 2022. The dealership says no dealers in the area have received the part to fix it. The recall itself carries serious safety concerns as the seatbelt will explode metal fragments in an accident. The dealer has also told me that 35 other people are waiting for the recall to be fixed as well. This is ridiculous, Hyundai needs to get these parts to the dealers.”
Filed Dec 14, 2022
“Frt seat belt pretensioner could explode causing metal fragments to penetrate the occupant. I have owned many veh, this recall is unbelievable, I could be seriously hurt or dead. Them parts could take a month to get. No loaners are available. campaign 229 Hyundai. vin [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”
Filed Jul 29, 2022
“Child became entrapped in car seat in rear center seat. Unbuckled seat belt to get child out. Belt snagged on underside of car seat. Belt would not retract from the retractor mechanism. With child's movement belt only tightened around his upper chest and neck. Two adults could not get belt to release. To release child and prevent strangulation, the belt was cut.”
Filed Jul 3, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 29 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works