Used car safety, rank #176 of 188
Hyundai Elantra Safety Rating (2021-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2021-23 Hyundai Elantra, a small car, compared with its class and with the current model.
IIHS 2026 edition Β· 2021β2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits Β· Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2021-23 Hyundai Elantra has an IIHS driver death rate of 80 per million registered vehicle years against a small cars average of 79, which is 1% above the class average. That places it #176 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 10.6/100.
What the Hyundai Elantra death rate means
At 80 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Hyundai Elantra is 1% worse than the small cars average of 79. The 95% confidence interval is 52 to 107, which overlaps the class average, so some of the gap may be chance.
The other-driver death rate of 54 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Hyundai Elantra. Its 95% confidence interval is 32β75. It is no higher than the Hyundai Elantra's own driver death rate. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used cars
The safest small cars in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Hyundai Elantra highlighted. It ranks 8 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Honda Civic hatchback at a death rate of 28.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic hatchback | 2022-23 | 28 (3 to 52) | 36.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Mazda 3 2WD | 2020-23 | 46 (5 to 87) | 19.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Corolla hatchback | 2020-23 | 51 (9 to 93) | 17.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Subaru WRX | 2022-23 | 51 (25 to 76) | 17.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Corolla hybrid 2WD | 2020-23 | 51 (24 to 79) | 17.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Honda Civic | 2022-23 | 58 (33 to 83) | 14.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Corolla | 2020-23 | 71 (59 to 84) | 11.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Elantra (this page) | 2021-23 | 80 (52 to 107) | 10.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Nissan Sentra | 2020-23 | 81 (60 to 103) | 10.3 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for small cars: 79 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Hyundai Elantra
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Hyundai Elantra we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Hyundai Elantra | TSP | 94.1 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 10.6 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Hyundai Elantra
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
Park outside
1 campaign tells owners to park away from buildings and other vehicles, usually a fire risk. Check the VIN before driving it. On a car this age the repair may still be outstanding.
4 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering fuel system, gasoline, electrical system, power train, air bags.
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Fuel system, gasoline: delivery, fuel pump, control/drive module
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update engine control module software. In addition, dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge.
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Electrical system
Risk: Unintended vehicle acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the motor control unit software, free of charge.
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Power train: automatic transmission, fluid/lubricant, pump Park outside
Risk: An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge.
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Air bags: frontal
Risk: A detached air bag cover emblem may strike a vehicle occupant, which can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag, free of charge.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Hyundai Elantra: Common Questions
Is the Hyundai Elantra a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 80 per million registered vehicle years for the 2021-23 Hyundai Elantra, 1% above the class average (79 for small cars). That earns a used-car safety score of 10.6 out of 100 and rank #176 of 188 used vehicles.
What is the Hyundai Elantra driver death rate?
80 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 52 to 107. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Hyundai Elantra died at a rate of 54 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2021-23 models.
How does the Hyundai Elantra compare with other small cars?
The small cars class averages 79 driver deaths per million; the Hyundai Elantra sits at 80. Among the 9 small cars compared above it ranks 8 by safety score; the top of that group is the Honda Civic hatchback with a death rate of 28.