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.

Hyundai Elantra N38 complaints · 6 recalls Fewer issues per year
Toyota Camry2,132 complaints · 31 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Hyundai Elantra N averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. Hyundai Elantra N has 38 complaints and 6 recalls on record; Toyota Camry has 2,132 complaints and 31 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryHyundai Elantra NToyota Camry
Total complaintsAll model years combined38 Better2,132
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns6 Better31
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints3 Better181
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years7.6 Better213.2
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints0 Better163
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better1

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

  1. 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
  2. 02ENGINE8
  3. 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
  4. 04POWER TRAIN6
  5. 05STEERING4
In owners' words — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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…

To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration I am submitting this formal safety complaint regarding a persistent and dangerous pattern of mechanical and electronic failures in my 2025 Hyundai Elantra N. These issues have rendered the vehicle unsafe f…

Toyota Camry

  1. 01POWER TRAIN392
  2. 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER340
  3. 03ENGINE314
  4. 04SERVICE BRAKES290
  5. 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM242
In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

The vehicle allows the engine to be turned off, key removed, while the vehicle is still in drive with no warning lights or sounds. I have tested and the vehicle can roll away. Complained to the toyota dealership and they said the service tech consulted with t…

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…

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

Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump — Control/Drive Module
#24V528000Dec 2024

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…

Air Bags — Sensor — Side Impact
#26V254000

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…

Air Bags — Frontal
#22V632000

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.

Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump — Control/Drive Module
#24V528000Dec 2024

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

Seats
#24V128000

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…

Wheels — Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
#23V432000

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…

Seats
#24V128000

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…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification
#23V865000

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…

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.

YearHyundai Elantra NToyota Camry
20260116
20257152
2024147
20231462
20221658
Years to scrutinize: the 2022 Hyundai Elantra N drew the most complaints (16); the 2018 Toyota Camry drew the most (734). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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

Hyundai Elantra N vs Toyota Camry — comparison facts
Comparison
Hyundai Elantra N vs Toyota Camry
Hyundai Elantra N total complaints
38
Toyota Camry total complaints
2,132
Hyundai Elantra N total recalls
6
Toyota Camry total recalls
31
Hyundai Elantra N avg complaints/year
7.6
Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
213.2
More reliable overall
Hyundai Elantra N
Hyundai Elantra N top complaint area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Toyota Camry top complaint area
POWER TRAIN