Though 2013 was a low point for reliability, overall, the Hyundai Elantra’s average lifespan is between 200,000 and 300,000 miles. Examples built in 2011 are still on the road today with 250,000 miles and up, plus we spotted a 2018 model that already has almost 201,000 miles on the odometer.
Key Points
- Some early examples of the fifth-generation Hyundai Elantra–introduced in 2010 for the 2011 model year–have managed almost 300,000 miles, while some sixth-gen models have crossed the 200,000-mile mark.
- Though the Hyundai Elantra is generally reliable, the 2013 model year is the one to avoid, due to engine issues, premature tire wear, and grinding brakes.
- According to J.D. Power’s 100-point ratings for reliability, the Hyundai Elantra’s score falls between the high-70s to high-80s, depending on the model year.
- While the base Hyundai Elantra is suitable for basic transportation, the N Line and N add plenty of excitement.
Hyundai Elantra Gains Rock-solid Reliability in the New 2010s
In 2010, at the Busan International Motor Show in South Korea, the fifth-generation Elantra made its debut for the 2011 model year. Two trim levels were available: The entry-level GLS and the top-tier Premium. At that point in time, Hyundai’s reliability was finally reaching the same level as Toyota and Honda, after years on the come-up.
A decade and two more generations later, the same holds true: The Elantra is a rock-solid compact considered by the likes of J.D. Power and Repair Pal as a reliable grocery-getter.
For the former, the consumer intelligence agency’s 100-point score for reliability has ranged from 72/100 in 2011 to 80/100 in 2022, peaking in 2019 with a rating of 88/100.
Meanwhile, the latter gives the Elantra a 4.5/5.0 score, with average repair costs at $452 annually, placing it eighth out of 36 compact cars so rated.
Hyundai Elantra’s 2013 Model Year is the Low Point in a Decade of Growing Reliability
While the Hyundai Elantra is a good compact sedan overall, some model years are best avoided. The 2013 model, in particular, was hit the hardest with mechanical issues involving the engine that may need to be fixed via a full engine swap, which is a $4,000 repair.
Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says there are also 955 complaints, three recalls, and three investigations attached to the 2013 Elantra, the most of any model built between 2011 and 2022.
While earlier models aren’t affected by the Takata airbag disaster, a recall involving the headliner support bracket detaching during an airbag deployment in 2011, 2012, and 2013 models may cause injuries. The fix involves adhesive strips applied by dealership service techs free of charge.
Newer Hyundai Elantra Models are Affected by Recalls, Though Fewer Complaints Overall
The previous three model years (2019 through 2021) of the Hyundai Elantra include fewer complaints to the NHTSA overall, the 2021 model year with just 15. However, recalls do affect each model year as far as safety is concerned.
For example, the 2019 model boasts just one recall, but one that could cause catastrophic engine failure, leading to an accident. The piston oil rings in 2.0L four-cylinder engines were improperly heat-treated, presenting the opportunity for engine damage.
The 2021 model year, meanwhile, includes a recall for the seat belt pretensioners, which may explode in the event of a crash, reminiscent of Takata’s defective airbag inflators.
A Quarter-million Miles is Easily Achievable within 10 Years with a Hyundai Elantra
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (via Kelley Blue Book), an average driver will log 14,000 miles annually. Thus, in a decade, 140,000 miles will be logged on a given vehicle.
Whether that happens, though, depends on the driver at the time of ownership, and also how long the driver owns the vehicle before trading it in for a newer model.
Yet, many Hyundai Elantra models have surpassed the average expectation of 200,000 miles. On Car Gurus, among the 10,000-plus nationwide listings for 2011 through 2022 Elantras, there are more than a few with over 250,000 miles on the odometer. They include a 2011 GLS with 252,000 miles, and a 2013 GLS with almost 277,000 miles.
There’s even a 2018 SEL with almost 201,000 on the odometer, hammering home how sturdy Hyundai’s compact sedan truly is, and has become.
Whether anyone wants to try for a “Million-Mile Elantra,” though, may find the challenge too much on the wallet in the long run, as repairs begin to exceed the sedan’s value.
Hyundai Elantra’s Future is Bright as its Past, with 2011 Models Still on the Road Today with Anywhere from 250,000 to Almost 300,000 miles
At the start of the previous decade, Hyundai shook off its image as a lesser manufacturer by turning up the focus on reliability. At the start of the new ’20s, the automaker has done well for itself, especially with the Elantra. Examples built in 2011 are still on the road today with anywhere from 250,000 to almost 300,000 miles.
Not only that, but there are various models for everyone’s consideration, from the most basic to get around town, to the hottest of hot in the Elantra N Line and Elantra N (the latter competing in IMSA’s Touring Car category in the Michelin Pilot Challenge).
And while 2013 was a low point for the compact sedan, the Elantra bounced back to become one of the best values on the used lot today. We suspect models made today will last as long as those made in 2011, if not longer.
Photos: Hyundai
