Hyundai Elantra Structure Problems
Owners have filed 486 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the Hyundai Elantra across 30 model years. The 2017 model year has the most (134). The words owners use most often: “door handle” (7% of reports).
- 486structure complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 47mention a crash
- 33mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,450typical repair cost reported by owners
- 33%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Door handle: mentioned in 35 of 486 complaints (7%)
- Paint peeling: mentioned in 34 of 486 complaints (7%)
- Inside outside: mentioned in 26 of 486 complaints (5%)
- Control arm: mentioned in 25 of 486 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical structure repair on the Hyundai Elantra at $1,450, and half of them between $390 and $3,050.
Based on 9 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2009–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do structure problems happen?
Based on 241 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 486 complaints, 47 mention a crash, 16 a fire, 33 an injury.
Hyundai Elantra structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Elantra | 2 | 4% | — |
| 2023 Elantra | 3 | 3% | — |
| 2022 Elantra | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2021 Elantra | 3 | 2% | 300 |
| 2020 Elantra | 7 | 3% | 3,000 |
| 2019 Elantra | 3 | 1% | — |
| 2018 Elantra | 15 | 5% | 40,000 |
| 2017 Elantra | 134 | 17% | 57,749 |
| 2016 Elantra | 18 | 6% | 60,000 |
| 2015 Elantra | 14 | 5% | 36,865 |
| 2014 Elantra | 9 | 2% | 40,000 |
| 2013 Elantra | 51 | 4% | 33,315 |
| 2012 Elantra | 16 | 2% | 52,000 |
| 2011 Elantra | 6 | 1% | 57,000 |
| 2010 Elantra | 22 | 6% | 58,830 |
| 2009 Elantra | 11 | 4% | 77,500 |
| 2008 Elantra | 10 | 3% | 120,000 |
| 2007 Elantra | 20 | 7% | 88,000 |
| 2006 Elantra | 8 | 5% | 82,000 |
| 2005 Elantra | 7 | 5% | 126,000 |
| 2004 Elantra | 3 | 2% | 84,799 |
| 2003 Elantra | 32 | 14% | 76,117 |
| 2002 Elantra | 27 | 8% | 72,000 |
| 2001 Elantra | 28 | 9% | 90,000 |
| 2000 Elantra | 7 | 4% | 119,709 |
| 1999 Elantra | 6 | 5% | 164,000 |
| 1998 Elantra | 1 | 2% | — |
| 1997 Elantra | 9 | 8% | 141,000 |
| 1996 Elantra | 5 | 5% | — |
| 1995 Elantra | 7 | 6% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Structure; air bags:side/window
Model years: 2011, 2012, 2013
Problem: Hyundai Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured from November 12, 2010, through March 5, 2013. A support bracket attached to the headliner may become displaced during a side curtain airbag deployment.
Risk: If the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration injury.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will apply adhesive strips to the headliner, free of charge. The safety recall began during April 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 109.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Car is separating from the hood and vehicle body and also separation in trunk and body. Thereâs a gap forming and itâs about 1â on one side and 1/4â on the other.
All four rear/side door latch mechanisms have exhibited intermittent failure to release the door from the interior and/or exterior handle. Repeated operation or increased force can sometimes cause the door to release. This creates a potential safety hazard because an occupant may be unable to exit…
The paint is peeling off of my hood and on the sides of my car I have noticed other Hyundais with the same problem I tried to go through warranty and Hyundai wouldn't help me I've noticed in the past that they have had recalls on their vehicles for paint and I believe that this needs to be a recall…
Doors are not unlocking on open from the outside both front doors from inside and out do not open unless you pull three or four times the rear doors the passenger side rear door does not open at all. Itâs like it doesnât unlock and the driver side rear door only opens if you pull a handle like…
The factory paint on the hood, roof, and front fenders is delaminating, with the largest defect being on the hood. These are available for inspection upon request. As this is progressing, structural pieces may begin to rust, but this also presents a critical visibility issue. During one drive on…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Hyundai Elantras have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 486 owner complaints about structure for the Hyundai Elantra. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Hyundai Elantra structure?
Yes: 1 safety recall list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix structure problems on the Hyundai Elantra?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,450 (half paid between $390 and $3,050), from 9 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about structure problems on the Hyundai Elantra?
The most frequent phrase is “door handle”, in 35 of 486 complaints, followed by “paint peeling” (34).
Other Hyundai Elantra problems
- Engine problems (1,650)
- Air Bags problems (1,303)
- Steering problems (1,142)
- Electrical System problems (1,033)
- Power Train problems (649)
- Suspension problems (592)
- Service Brakes problems (585)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (441)
See all Hyundai Elantra problems.