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Ford Focus vs Hyundai Elantra: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2018, owners filed an average of 1,070 complaints per model year about the Ford Focus and 444 about the Hyundai Elantra.

Side by side

Ford FocusHyundai Elantra
Model years compared2006-20182006-2018
Owner complaints13,9115,772
Complaints per model year1,070444
Recalls2422
Years to avoid201220132014201220132017
Best years2006200820092006
Most common problemTransmissionEngine
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy22-34 mpg combined (2018)25-35 mpg combined (2018)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Ford Focus: 2052006 Hyundai Elantra: 15520062007 Ford Focus: 3912007 Hyundai Elantra: 2672008 Ford Focus: 2502008 Hyundai Elantra: 31520082009 Ford Focus: 2292009 Hyundai Elantra: 2552010 Ford Focus: 2872010 Hyundai Elantra: 38020102011 Ford Focus: 1132011 Hyundai Elantra: 4332012 Ford Focus: 3,7722012 Hyundai Elantra: 65420122013 Ford Focus: 2,1122013 Hyundai Elantra: 1,3172014 Ford Focus: 2,6062014 Hyundai Elantra: 38620142015 Ford Focus: 1,0222015 Hyundai Elantra: 2622016 Ford Focus: 1,1852016 Hyundai Elantra: 29320162017 Ford Focus: 9002017 Hyundai Elantra: 7712018 Ford Focus: 8392018 Hyundai Elantra: 2842018
Ford FocusHyundai Elantra

Problems compared

FocusElantra
Transmission6,317362
Engine2,5491,388
Fuel system1,827227
Steering1,6731,016
Electrical1,407730
Acceleration742274
Brakes245836
Airbags394722

Questions about the Ford Focus vs Hyundai Elantra

Which is more reliable, the Ford Focus or the Hyundai Elantra?

Between 2006 and 2018, the Ford Focus has 3 years to avoid and the Hyundai Elantra 3. Both are about equally consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Hyundai Elantra drew fewer complaints per model year (444 vs 1,070), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Ford Focus or the Hyundai Elantra?

From 2006 to 2018, the Ford Focus was covered by 24 recalls and the Hyundai Elantra by 22.

What years of the Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra should you avoid?

Ford Focus: 2012, 2013 and 2014. Hyundai Elantra: 2012, 2013 and 2017.

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