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Hyundai Elantra vs Volkswagen Jetta: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 319 complaints per model year about the Hyundai Elantra and 291 about the Volkswagen Jetta.

Side by side

Hyundai ElantraVolkswagen Jetta
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints6,7006,119
Complaints per model year319291
Recalls3843
Years to avoid2012201320172006200920102011
Best years200620212022201720202021
Most common problemEngineElectrical
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy23-54 mpg combined (2026)33-34 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 Volkswagen Jetta: 58020062007 Hyundai Elantra: 2672007 Volkswagen Jetta: 2012008 Hyundai Elantra: 3152008 Volkswagen Jetta: 18820082009 Hyundai Elantra: 2552009 Volkswagen Jetta: 8892010 Hyundai Elantra: 3802010 Volkswagen Jetta: 85220102011 Hyundai Elantra: 4332011 Volkswagen Jetta: 6072012 Hyundai Elantra: 6542012 Volkswagen Jetta: 50020122013 Hyundai Elantra: 1,3172013 Volkswagen Jetta: 5182014 Hyundai Elantra: 3862014 Volkswagen Jetta: 38820142015 Hyundai Elantra: 2622015 Volkswagen Jetta: 1942016 Hyundai Elantra: 2932016 Volkswagen Jetta: 16220162017 Hyundai Elantra: 7712017 Volkswagen Jetta: 1602018 Hyundai Elantra: 2842018 Volkswagen Jetta: 3220182019 Hyundai Elantra: 2532019 Volkswagen Jetta: 5532020 Hyundai Elantra: 2552020 Volkswagen Jetta: 5420202021 Hyundai Elantra: 1322021 Volkswagen Jetta: 712022 Hyundai Elantra: 1022022 Volkswagen Jetta: 4320222023 Hyundai Elantra: 1042023 Volkswagen Jetta: 432024 Hyundai Elantra: 572024 Volkswagen Jetta: 4620242025 Hyundai Elantra: 222025 Volkswagen Jetta: 322026 Hyundai Elantra: 32026 Volkswagen Jetta: 62026
Hyundai ElantraVolkswagen Jetta

Problems compared

ElantraJetta
Engine1,6971,268
Steering1,063245
Electrical8891,442
Brakes886621
Airbags747403
Transmission4481,152
Fuel system2491,147

Questions about the Hyundai Elantra vs Volkswagen Jetta

Which is more reliable, the Hyundai Elantra or the Volkswagen Jetta?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Hyundai Elantra has 3 years to avoid and the Volkswagen Jetta 4. The Hyundai Elantra has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Volkswagen Jetta drew fewer complaints per model year (291 vs 319), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Hyundai Elantra or the Volkswagen Jetta?

From 2006 to 2026, the Hyundai Elantra was covered by 38 recalls and the Volkswagen Jetta by 43.

What years of the Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Jetta should you avoid?

Hyundai Elantra: 2012, 2013 and 2017. Volkswagen Jetta: 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

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