Vehicle 1

Hyundai Elantra

1,883 complaints · 26 recalls

VS

Vehicle 2

Honda Civic

3,670 complaints · 38 recalls

📊 Based on NHTSA owner complaint & recall data
Which Should I Buy?

Hyundai Elantra vs Honda Civic: The Elantra has 1883 complaints over 10 years (188.3/year) and 26 recalls, while the Civic has 3670 complaints (367/year) and 38 recalls. The Civic's steering issues dominate (1889 complaints), whereas the Elantra's top concern is engine (689). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

Category Wins

Lower numbers are better for complaints, recalls, and crashes.

4
Hyundai Elantra
wins all 4 categories
0
Honda Civic
no category wins
CategoryHyundai ElantraHonda Civic
Total Complaints
All years combined
1,883
✓ lower
3,670
Safety Recalls
Federal campaigns
26
✓ lower
38
Crash Reports
Crash-related complaints
107
✓ lower
198
Avg / Year
Complaints per model year
188.3
✓ lower
367.0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records. Lower is better.

Top Problem Areas

Most frequently reported components across all model years.

Hyundai Elantra

1. ENGINE689
2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER319
3. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM294
4. POWER TRAIN163
5. STRUCTURE163

Honda Civic

1. STEERING1,889
2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER484
3. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM324
4. FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE258
5. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM217
🤖
AI Buyer Analysis
DeepSeek interpretation of NHTSA data · cached result
The Verdict

The Honda Civic has nearly twice as many complaints per year (367.0) as the Hyundai Elantra (188.3), suggesting the Elantra may have fewer reported issues on average. However, the Civic's complaints are heavily concentrated in steering, which could be a specific concern for some buyers.

💡 Buyer Recommendation

If you prioritize lower overall complaint rates, the Hyundai Elantra is the better choice. If you are particularly concerned about steering issues, avoid the Honda Civic; if steering is not a major concern, the Civic's other complaint categories are less dominant.

Key Differences
  • Hyundai Elantra has 188.3 complaints per year vs Honda Civic's 367.0 per year.
  • Honda Civic has 1889 steering complaints, which is 51% of its total; Elantra's top issue (engine) is 37% of its total.
  • Honda Civic has 38 recalls vs Elantra's 26 recalls.
  • Honda Civic has 198 crash complaints vs Elantra's 107.
⚠ Watch on Hyundai Elantra
  • Watch for engine problems (689 complaints) and electrical system issues (294 complaints) on the Elantra.
  • Check for any unresolved recalls (26 total) before purchase.
⚠ Watch on Honda Civic
  • Be aware of steering complaints (1889) which dominate the Civic's issues.
  • Inspect forward collision avoidance system (258 complaints) and fuel/propulsion system (217 complaints).
✓ Before You Buy — Checklist
  • Check NHTSA recall status for both vehicles using the VIN.
  • Test drive to feel for steering issues on the Civic or engine roughness on the Elantra.
  • Review service history for engine or electrical repairs on the Elantra.
  • Ask about any steering column or power steering repairs on the Civic.
  • Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic.

Complaints by Model Year

Years available for both vehicles (lower is better).

Hyundai ElantraHonda Civic
2026
0
17
2025
17
80
2024
52
256
2023
90
572
2022
93
874
2021
126
130
2020
237
212
2019
239
355
2018
273
603
2017
756
571
Hyundai Elantra vs Honda Civic — comparison facts
Comparison
Hyundai Elantra vs Honda Civic
Hyundai Elantra total complaints
1,883
Honda Civic total complaints
3,670
Hyundai Elantra total recalls
26
Honda Civic total recalls
38
Hyundai Elantra avg complaints/year
188.3
Honda Civic avg complaints/year
367.0
More reliable overall
Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai Elantra top complaint area
ENGINE
Honda Civic top complaint area
STEERING
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Full Reliability Reports

Full Report →

Hyundai Elantra Reliability & Problems

1,883 complaints · All years · NHTSA data

Full Report →

Honda Civic Reliability & Problems

3,670 complaints · All years · NHTSA data

Buying a specific Hyundai Elantra or Honda Civic?

Run a free VIN check to see that exact car's accident history, open recalls, and title records.