2021 Hyundai Elantra vs 2021 Kia Forte
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2021 Hyundai Elantra | 2021 Kia Forte |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 130 | 67 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 79 | 72 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 8 | 10 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 28–50 | 28–33 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Hyundai Elantra | Kia Forte |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 30 | 8 |
| Engine | 13 | 22 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 32 | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 27 | 3 |
| Power Train | 7 | 7 |
| Steering | 5 | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 5 | 0 |
| Stalling | 0 | 7 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 5 |
2021 Hyundai Elantra
2021 Kia Forte
Compare all Hyundai Elantra vs Kia Forte years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.