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Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 504 complaints per model year about the Honda Civic and 319 about the Hyundai Elantra.

Side by side

Honda CivicHyundai Elantra
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints10,5926,700
Complaints per model year504319
Recalls4138
Years to avoid2006200720082016201220132017
Best years201120202021200620212022
Most common problemSteeringEngine
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy24-49 mpg combined (2026)23-54 mpg combined (2026)

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 Honda Civic: 1,4042006 Hyundai Elantra: 15520062007 Honda Civic: 1,2042007 Hyundai Elantra: 2672008 Honda Civic: 9162008 Hyundai Elantra: 31520082009 Honda Civic: 3962009 Hyundai Elantra: 2552010 Honda Civic: 3982010 Hyundai Elantra: 38020102011 Honda Civic: 1692011 Hyundai Elantra: 4332012 Honda Civic: 4562012 Hyundai Elantra: 65420122013 Honda Civic: 3192013 Hyundai Elantra: 1,3172014 Honda Civic: 2932014 Hyundai Elantra: 38620142015 Honda Civic: 3812015 Hyundai Elantra: 2622016 Honda Civic: 1,0832016 Hyundai Elantra: 29320162017 Honda Civic: 6062017 Hyundai Elantra: 7712018 Honda Civic: 7502018 Hyundai Elantra: 28420182019 Honda Civic: 4442019 Hyundai Elantra: 2532020 Honda Civic: 2382020 Hyundai Elantra: 25520202021 Honda Civic: 1482021 Hyundai Elantra: 1322022 Honda Civic: 8862022 Hyundai Elantra: 10220222023 Honda Civic: 2602023 Hyundai Elantra: 1042024 Honda Civic: 1272024 Hyundai Elantra: 5720242025 Honda Civic: 822025 Hyundai Elantra: 222026 Honda Civic: 322026 Hyundai Elantra: 32026
Honda CivicHyundai Elantra

Problems compared

CivicElantra
Steering2,4571,063
Engine1,3361,697
Airbags1,285747
Electrical914889
Visibility895202
Transmission776448
Brakes718886

Questions about the Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra

Which is more reliable, the Honda Civic or the Hyundai Elantra?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Honda Civic has 4 years to avoid and the Hyundai Elantra 3. The Hyundai Elantra has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Hyundai Elantra drew fewer complaints per model year (319 vs 504), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Honda Civic or the Hyundai Elantra?

From 2006 to 2026, the Honda Civic was covered by 41 recalls and the Hyundai Elantra by 38.

What years of the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra should you avoid?

Honda Civic: 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2016. Hyundai Elantra: 2012, 2013 and 2017.

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