Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai Elantra N vs Toyota Camry
How the Hyundai Elantra N and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Hyundai Elantra N vs Toyota Camry: The Elantra N has 40 complaints over 5 years (8/year) and 6 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years (206/year) and 31 recalls. The Camry also has 158 injuries and 1 death reported, versus none for the Elantra N. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai Elantra N or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai Elantra N
The Hyundai Elantra N is a sporty compact sedan that, based on NHTSA data, has a relatively low complaint volume: 40 complaints over 5 years, averaging 8 per year. However, the complaints include serious issues like engine stalling, transmission failure, and electrical glitches, with some owners reporting breakdowns and loss of power. There are 6 recalls covering fuel pump, airbags, and transmission, and 3 crash-related complaints but no injuries or deaths reported. For a buyer, this means the car can be fun but may demand vigilance for sudden failures.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream midsize sedan with a much higher complaint count: 2,056 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 206 per year. The complaints span power train, engine, brakes, and electrical systems, with reports of hesitation, shuddering, key stuck, and brake noise. There are 31 recalls and 171 crash-related complaints, including 158 injuries and 1 death. While the Camry has a reputation for reliability, the data shows a wide range of issues that buyers should be aware of.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai Elantra N | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 40 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 8.0 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
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.
Hyundai Elantra N
- 01ENGINE9
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
- 04POWER TRAIN7
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4
Owners report stalling and breakdowns, sometimes on the highway, with one describing the car as a 'ticking time bomb.' Another mentions after a software update, steering wheel buttons reset and exhaust valve issues. These stalling events can leave you stranded and pose a safety risk.
Complaints include stalling and breakdowns linked to electrical faults, with one owner citing 'persistent and dangerous pattern of mechanical and electronic failures.' Such issues can cause sudden loss of power and require costly diagnostics.
Owners report transmission error messages, limp mode, and loss of gears (e.g., not going into 2nd or 4th). One complaint describes complete clutch and transmission failure at 517 miles. These failures can lead to expensive repairs and unsafe driving conditions.
Issues include inoperable horn and complete clutch failure shortly after purchase. A non-working horn can prevent you from warning others, and early transmission failure is a major reliability concern.
“The car is a ticking time bomb and dangerous to the public. My car has stalled and broke down in the highway several times. Had to wait for 3-6 hours tow trucks in between. The latest one, I reported to the service advisor that my car stalled all of a sudden…”
“After my recent software update Elantra N I have had issues with my n buttons on my stearing wheel will random default to factory setting and I have to go back into the settings to reset how I have it set. I also have been having my exhaust valve randomly ope…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report ignition key stuck in Park, requiring battery disconnect, and hesitation/shuddering with check engine light. These can leave you unable to secure the car or cause drivability problems.
Complaints include delayed throttle response and hesitation/shuddering with check engine light. This can make merging or accelerating unpredictable and may indicate underlying engine issues.
Owners report electronic parking brake not disengaging, requiring a tow, and clicking/vibrating noise from the brake pedal area. Brake problems are safety-critical and can lead to costly repairs.
Multiple systems malfunctioned at once, including stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping. Such widespread failures can compromise safety and are difficult to diagnose.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
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.
Hyundai Elantra N — 6 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Veloster N, 2019-2023 Genesis G70, 2022-2023 Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The fuel pump may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update engine control module software. In addition, dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning Septembe…
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 2022 Elantra N and 2022-2023 Elantra vehicles. The emblem on the cover of the driver's front air bag may not have been welded properly, which can result in the emblem detaching upon deployment.
The risk: A detached air bag cover emblem may strike a vehicle occupant, which can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 14, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 234.
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Veloster N, 2019-2023 Genesis G70, 2022-2023 Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The fuel pump may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update engine control module software. In addition, dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning Septembe…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Hyundai Elantra N or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Hyundai Elantra N has far fewer complaints per year (8 vs. 206 for the Camry), but its issues often involve severe failures like stalling and transmission breakdowns. The Camry's higher volume means more reported problems overall, though many may be less catastrophic. In practice, the Elantra N may have fewer but potentially more serious incidents, while the Camry has a broader range of issues.
Key differences
- The Elantra N has 40 complaints over 5 years, while the Camry has 2,056 over 10 years, showing a much higher complaint rate for the Camry.
- Elantra N complaints often involve stalling, transmission failure, and electrical glitches, whereas Camry complaints include key stuck, hesitation, brake noise, and multiple system malfunctions.
- The Camry has 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries, while the Elantra N has 3 crash-related complaints and no injuries reported.
- Both have recalls: Elantra N has 6 (fuel pump, airbags, transmission), Camry has 31 (wheels, seats, airbags).
- Check for any signs of engine stalling or transmission issues, such as error messages or limp mode, by test-driving and scanning for stored codes.
- Inspect the horn and electrical functions, as some owners reported inoperable horn and electrical glitches.
- Test the ignition key removal to ensure it doesn't stick in Park, and check for hesitation or shuddering during acceleration.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area and verify the electronic parking brake engages and disengages properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission and engine for the Elantra N, and the power train and brakes for the Camry.
- Test-drive extensively, including highway speeds, to detect stalling, hesitation, or unusual noises.
- Ask for service records to see if recurring issues like transmission errors or brake problems have been addressed.
- Verify that all safety systems (horn, brakes, stability control) function correctly before purchase.
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 | Hyundai Elantra N | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 7 | 163 |
| 2024 | 1 | 50 |
| 2023 | 14 | 64 |
| 2022 | 17 | 61 |
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 Hyundai Elantra N or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai Elantra N vs Toyota Camry
- Hyundai Elantra N total complaints
- 40
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Hyundai Elantra N total recalls
- 6
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Hyundai Elantra N avg complaints/year
- 8.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai Elantra N
- Hyundai Elantra N top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN