Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai Elantra vs Honda Civic
How the Hyundai Elantra and Honda Civic 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 vs Honda Civic: The Elantra averages 196 complaints per year with 26 recalls, while the Civic averages 378 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Civic's top issue is steering (1,940 reports), while the Elantra's is engine (725 reports). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai Elantra or Honda Civic more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra is a compact car that has averaged about 196 complaints per year over the past decade, with 26 recalls. The most common complaint area is the engine, followed by electrical system and power train issues. Owners report stalling, electrical glitches like radio blackouts and burning smells, and acceleration problems. While the overall complaint rate is lower than some rivals, the engine and electrical issues can be concerning for a used-car buyer.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a compact car that has averaged about 378 complaints per year over the past decade, with 38 recalls. The dominant complaint area is steering, with nearly 2,000 reports, followed by electrical and forward collision avoidance issues. Owners describe steering that sticks or feels unstable, sudden dashboard warnings, and automatic braking that activates without cause. These problems can affect driving confidence and safety, so a thorough inspection is essential.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai Elantra | Honda Civic |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,962 Better | 3,783 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 113 Better | 205 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 196.2 Better | 378.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 79 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 5 | 1 Better |
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
- 01ENGINE725
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER330
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM306
- 04POWER TRAIN171
- 05STRUCTURE169
Owners report stalling at low speeds, such as while pulling into a driveway, and acceleration failure where the gas pedal goes to the floor without response. These issues can leave a driver stranded or cause a crash, so a pre-purchase inspection should check for stall history and pedal response.
Complaints include the radio/control panel blacking out, a burning plastic smell, and the radio changing channels on its own. Some drivers also report the tachometer, odometer, and power steering becoming inoperable while driving, which can be disorienting and dangerous.
Reports describe the car becoming unstable and bouncy, not steering straight, and being unable to coast smoothly. These symptoms suggest potential transmission or suspension issues that could worsen over time and lead to costly repairs.
Some complaints mention fragile VIN stickers on body panels, which can fall off or be damaged, causing registration or resale headaches. While not a mechanical failure, it's a quality issue that buyers should be aware of.
“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…”
Honda Civic
- 01STEERING1,940
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER511
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM341
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE259
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM216
Owners frequently report the steering wheel sticking or feeling like it catches while driving at highway speeds, and some experience sudden loss of power steering with multiple dashboard warnings. This can make the car hard to control and increases crash risk.
Complaints include multiple warning lights appearing at once, system malfunction messages, and the car stalling at stoplights. These electrical glitches can leave drivers stranded and may indicate deeper issues with the car's computer or wiring.
Drivers report the automatic braking system activating unexpectedly, even with no obstacles ahead, causing the car to brake hard or swerve. This malfunction can startle the driver and potentially cause a collision.
Some owners mention fuel pump failures that can cause the engine to stall or not start. This is a critical safety issue because a stalled car can be hit by other traffic.
“On September 17, 2026 at approximately 8:00 a.m. I was driving my 2021 Honda civic Lx with my children in the vehicle when multiple warning lights and system malfunction messages suddenly appeared on the dash board. The vehicle appeared to experience an elect…”
“Vehicle: 2021 Honda Civic Mileage: Approximately 58,000 miles Over the past couple of months, I have experienced a steering issue that appears to be worsening. While driving at highway speeds, the steering wheel intermittently feels as though it “sticks” or c…”
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 — 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 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.
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Elantra and Elantra HEV vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front passenger-side seat belt pretensioner may explode upon deployment.
The risk: An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 19, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 220. This recall is a…
Honda Civic — 38 recalls
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 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…
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 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…
Buyer analysis
Hyundai Elantra or Honda Civic: which should you buy?
The Hyundai Elantra has fewer complaints per year (about 196) compared to the Honda Civic (about 378), but both have serious issues. The Elantra's problems are more often tied to the engine and electrical system, while the Civic's are dominated by steering and forward collision avoidance. In practice, the Civic's higher complaint rate and steering issues may require more frequent attention, but the Elantra's engine stalls are also a major concern.
Key differences
- The Honda Civic has nearly double the annual complaint rate of the Hyundai Elantra (378 vs. 196), but the Elantra's complaints are more concentrated in engine failures.
- Steering problems dominate Civic complaints (1,940 reports), while the Elantra's top issue is engine (725 reports), indicating different reliability priorities.
- The Civic has more crash-related complaints (205 vs. 113) and injuries (144 vs. 79), but fewer deaths (1 vs. 5) over the same period.
- Both have electrical system complaints, but the Elantra's include burning smells and radio glitches, while the Civic's involve multiple warning lights and stalling.
- Check for any history of engine stalling, especially at low speeds, and test the gas pedal for responsiveness during a test drive.
- Inspect the electrical system: turn on the radio, check for screen blackouts, and look for any burning smells or signs of overheating in the dashboard area.
- Test the steering at highway speeds for any sticking or unusual resistance, and listen for power steering whine.
- Check the forward collision avoidance system by driving in conditions where it might activate; ensure it doesn't brake unexpectedly, and scan for any stored error codes.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls, especially for the Elantra's air bags and the Civic's fuel pump.
- Have a certified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the Elantra's engine and electrical system, and the Civic's steering and ADAS.
- During a test drive, simulate highway driving to check for steering stickiness in the Civic and acceleration response in the Elantra.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for oil changes and any transmission or electrical repairs.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been addressed by checking the NHTSA website with the VIN.
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 | Honda Civic |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 29 |
| 2025 | 22 | 95 |
| 2024 | 54 | 275 |
| 2023 | 98 | 591 |
| 2022 | 101 | 883 |
| 2021 | 131 | 145 |
| 2020 | 252 | 226 |
| 2019 | 251 | 346 |
| 2018 | 283 | 596 |
| 2017 | 767 | 597 |
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 or Honda Civic in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai Elantra vs Honda Civic
- Hyundai Elantra total complaints
- 1,962
- Honda Civic total complaints
- 3,783
- Hyundai Elantra total recalls
- 26
- Honda Civic total recalls
- 38
- Hyundai Elantra avg complaints/year
- 196.2
- Honda Civic avg complaints/year
- 378.3
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai Elantra
- Hyundai Elantra top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Civic top complaint area
- STEERING