Check a VIN

Hyundai Elantra vs Nissan Sentra: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 319 complaints per model year about the Hyundai Elantra and 180 about the Nissan Sentra.

Side by side

Hyundai ElantraNissan Sentra
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints6,7003,773
Complaints per model year319180
Recalls3836
Years to avoid20122013201720132014
Best years200620212022200620092022
Most common problemEngineTransmission
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy23-54 mpg combined (2026)32-33 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 Hyundai Elantra: 1552006 Nissan Sentra: 11620062007 Hyundai Elantra: 2672007 Nissan Sentra: 1542008 Hyundai Elantra: 3152008 Nissan Sentra: 16720082009 Hyundai Elantra: 2552009 Nissan Sentra: 552010 Hyundai Elantra: 3802010 Nissan Sentra: 14420102011 Hyundai Elantra: 4332011 Nissan Sentra: 1422012 Hyundai Elantra: 6542012 Nissan Sentra: 18020122013 Hyundai Elantra: 1,3172013 Nissan Sentra: 6382014 Hyundai Elantra: 3862014 Nissan Sentra: 38120142015 Hyundai Elantra: 2622015 Nissan Sentra: 3522016 Hyundai Elantra: 2932016 Nissan Sentra: 27020162017 Hyundai Elantra: 7712017 Nissan Sentra: 2312018 Hyundai Elantra: 2842018 Nissan Sentra: 18520182019 Hyundai Elantra: 2532019 Nissan Sentra: 2232020 Hyundai Elantra: 2552020 Nissan Sentra: 20820202021 Hyundai Elantra: 1322021 Nissan Sentra: 1332022 Hyundai Elantra: 1022022 Nissan Sentra: 8120222023 Hyundai Elantra: 1042023 Nissan Sentra: 202024 Hyundai Elantra: 572024 Nissan Sentra: 4120242025 Hyundai Elantra: 222025 Nissan Sentra: 322026 Hyundai Elantra: 32026 Nissan Sentra: 202026
Hyundai ElantraNissan Sentra

Problems compared

ElantraSentra
Engine1,697604
Steering1,063286
Electrical889541
Brakes886415
Airbags747481
Transmission4481,157
Driver assistance361318

Questions about the Hyundai Elantra vs Nissan Sentra

Which is more reliable, the Hyundai Elantra or the Nissan Sentra?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Hyundai Elantra has 3 years to avoid and the Nissan Sentra 2. The Nissan Sentra has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Nissan Sentra drew fewer complaints per model year (180 vs 319), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Hyundai Elantra or the Nissan Sentra?

From 2006 to 2026, the Hyundai Elantra was covered by 38 recalls and the Nissan Sentra by 36.

What years of the Hyundai Elantra and Nissan Sentra should you avoid?

Hyundai Elantra: 2012, 2013 and 2017. Nissan Sentra: 2013 and 2014.

More compact cars comparisons

Honda Civic vs Toyota CorollaHonda Civic vs Hyundai ElantraHonda Civic vs Nissan SentraHonda Civic vs Mazda MAZDA3Honda Civic vs Kia ForteHonda Civic vs Volkswagen JettaHonda Civic vs Subaru ImprezaChevrolet Cruze vs Honda CivicFord Focus vs Honda CivicHyundai Elantra vs Toyota CorollaNissan Sentra vs Toyota CorollaMazda MAZDA3 vs Toyota CorollaKia Forte vs Toyota CorollaToyota Corolla vs Volkswagen JettaSubaru Impreza vs Toyota CorollaChevrolet Cruze vs Toyota CorollaFord Focus vs Toyota CorollaHyundai Elantra vs Mazda MAZDA3Hyundai Elantra vs Kia ForteHyundai Elantra vs Volkswagen JettaHyundai Elantra vs Subaru ImprezaChevrolet Cruze vs Hyundai ElantraFord Focus vs Hyundai ElantraMazda MAZDA3 vs Nissan Sentra

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car