Head-to-head reliability
Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra
How the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra: The Civic has 3705 complaints over 10 years, with steering issues dominating, while the Elantra has 1917 complaints, with engine problems being most common. The Civic averages 370.5 complaints per year, the Elantra 191.7. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Civic or Hyundai Elantra more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic, over the past decade, has been a popular compact car, but its reliability picture is mixed. Owners report a high volume of complaints, averaging over 370 per year, with a significant focus on steering issues. The steering problems, described as stiffening, sticking, or suddenly releasing, can be alarming and affect control. Other notable issues include electrical glitches, false forward collision warnings, and fuel system problems, which together suggest a car that may require frequent attention.
Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra, while having fewer complaints per year (about 192), still shows a concerning pattern, particularly with engine-related problems. Owners report stalling, loss of power, and even a case where the vehicle failed to respond to the brake pedal. Electrical issues, such as a malfunctioning horn and infotainment glitches, are also common. These problems, along with powertrain and structural concerns, indicate that the Elantra may have serious reliability and safety issues that buyers should investigate.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Civic | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,705 | 1,917 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 20 Better | 26 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 203 | 110 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 370.5 | 191.7 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 140 | 70 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 Better | 5 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Honda Civic
- 01STEERING1,907
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER494
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM324
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE255
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM215
Owners report the steering wheel becoming stiff or sticky, requiring extra effort, and sometimes suddenly releasing, which can be dangerous on the highway. This issue often appears after driving for a while and may be intermittent.
Complaints include air conditioning failures due to refrigerant leaks, and a faulty body control module that can cause the car to turn on its ignition by itself. These electrical gremlins can be costly to diagnose and repair.
The collision mitigation braking system can falsely detect objects and apply the brakes unexpectedly, even on empty roads. This can be startling and increase the risk of being rear-ended.
Recalls related to fuel pumps suggest potential fuel delivery issues, which could lead to stalling or difficulty starting. Owners may experience performance problems or unexpected shutdowns.
“My steering gradually stiffens then suddenly releases while traveling the highway. It cycled this way during the entire trip. It acted this way for the first time Oct 22, 2025 on the outgoing part of my hour long trip. It acted this way the second time Oct 25…”
“The steering wheel becomes "sticky" and requires more force than usual to move it to the right or left. This is particularly noticeable when driving in a straight line, and the issue becomes apparent after driving for roughly 10 minutes. This causes an overco…”
Hyundai Elantra
- 01ENGINE704
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER324
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM301
- 04POWER TRAIN169
- 05STRUCTURE165
Engine complaints are the most frequent, with reports of stalling at low speeds, loss of power, and even a case where the vehicle failed to respond to the brake pedal, leading to a crash. These are serious safety concerns.
Common electrical issues include a horn that stops working, and infotainment screens that black out or glitch, sometimes accompanied by a burning smell. These can be frustrating and may indicate deeper wiring problems.
Owners report unstable driving behavior, such as the car not steering straight and being unable to coast smoothly, which could be related to transmission or drivetrain issues. This affects overall drivability and safety.
There are complaints about fragile VIN stickers on body panels, which can be damaged easily, leading to potential issues with registration and resale. While not a safety issue, it's a quality concern.
“The control panel /radio panel has had a glitch or blacked out screen where it wouldn't come back on for a few hours and I could smell electrical or plastic burning after it did come back on after that the radio started changing channel on its own while scree…”
“The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while his wife was pulling into a customer's driveway at 5 MPH, the vehicle stalled and rolled back and crashed into a parked Ford F-150. The brake pedal was applied, but the vehicle failed to r…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Honda Civic — 20 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeli…
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, w…
The risk: Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall ar…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Hyundai Elantra — 26 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Elantra N, 2026 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), and Elantra vehicles. The B-pillar impact sensors may have been misassembled, which can delay air bag deployment.
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the impact sensor(s), as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 11, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 2…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Elantra N, 2026 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), and Elantra vehicles. The B-pillar impact sensors may have been misassembled, which can delay air bag deployment.
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the impact sensor(s), as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 11, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 2…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Elantra Hybrid vehicles. The hybrid power control unit (HPCU) assembly may overheat.
The risk: Overheating in the HPCU increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will update the HPCU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 301. Vehicle Identification Numb…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Elantra, Venue, and Kona vehicles. An electrical short circuit may occur in the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve assembly, which can result in a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 28, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 260.
Buyer analysis
Honda Civic or Hyundai Elantra: which should you buy?
The Honda Civic has nearly double the complaints per year compared to the Hyundai Elantra, but the nature of the issues differs. The Civic's steering problems are more frequent, while the Elantra's engine issues are more severe. In practice, the Civic may require more frequent repairs, but the Elantra's engine problems could be more dangerous.
Key differences
- The Civic has a much higher rate of steering complaints, with owners describing stiff or sticky steering that can suddenly release, which is a unique and concerning issue.
- The Elantra has a higher proportion of engine-related complaints, including stalling and loss of power, which can be more dangerous than the Civic's steering issues.
- The Civic has more complaints about false forward collision warnings, while the Elantra has more issues with the horn and infotainment system.
- The Elantra has more recalls (26 vs 20) but fewer complaints overall, suggesting that Hyundai may be addressing issues through recalls, while Honda's problems are more chronic.
- Test the steering at various speeds and after driving for at least 10 minutes to check for stiffness or sticking.
- Check for any warning lights related to the forward collision avoidance system and test it in a safe area to see if it brakes unexpectedly.
- Listen for any unusual engine noises and test the car at low speeds to see if it stalls or hesitates.
- Check the horn and infotainment system thoroughly, as these are common failure points.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the steering system on the Civic, including the electric power steering motor and torque sensor.
- For the Elantra, ask for a diagnostic check on the engine control module and fuel system to rule out stalling issues.
- Check the vehicle's recall status and ensure all outstanding recalls have been performed.
- Take both cars for an extended test drive, including highway speeds, to feel for any steering or engine anomalies.
- Review the vehicle's service history for any repeated repairs related to the common issues mentioned.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Honda Civic | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 24 | 0 |
| 2025 | 89 | 21 |
| 2024 | 257 | 52 |
| 2023 | 577 | 91 |
| 2022 | 877 | 97 |
| 2021 | 139 | 128 |
| 2020 | 218 | 241 |
| 2019 | 348 | 246 |
| 2018 | 598 | 280 |
| 2017 | 578 | 761 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Honda Civic or Hyundai Elantra in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra
- Honda Civic total complaints
- 3,705
- Hyundai Elantra total complaints
- 1,917
- Honda Civic total recalls
- 20
- Hyundai Elantra total recalls
- 26
- Honda Civic avg complaints/year
- 370.5
- Hyundai Elantra avg complaints/year
- 191.7
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai Elantra
- Honda Civic top complaint area
- STEERING
- Hyundai Elantra top complaint area
- ENGINE