2015 Hyundai Elantra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 262 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 27 involved a crash and 8 involved a fire. 25 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleMay 15, 2026
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Elantra and 2016 Elantra GT vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.
An air bag inflator that ruptures may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or passengers, increasing the risk of injury or death.
Dealers will inspect and replace the air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 3, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated August, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 300. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 16, 2026.
Campaign 26V307000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, trunk lid, latchFeb 23, 2024
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Elantra vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the trunk latch base sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 256.
Campaign 24V146000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 22, 2023
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
Campaign 23V651000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
262 reports, newest first.
Steering, Aug 26, 2019
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC MY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.
Air bags, Jul 30, 2019, crash
I T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHO TURNED ACROSS MY LANE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 TO 35 MPH AND HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR WITH THE FRONT END OF MINE. NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I INJURED MY NECK DUE TO THAT CRASH. ALSO MY CHILD AND HUSBAND WERE INJURED AS WELL. I AM REPORTING A FAULTY 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA AIRBAG. IT DID NOT DEPLOY IN MY CRASH. WE WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT.
Service brakes, Jul 23, 2019
I WAS ON A CITY STREET AND A DRIVER BEHIND ME INFORMED ME THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. I CHECKED AT HOME AND THEY DID NOT LIGHT UP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE VEHICLE IS MALFUNCTIONING.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 22, 2019
CAR BURNS OIL WHICH HAS NOW DESTROYED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. DEALER REFUSES TO CORRECT
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 10, 2019
CAR USED TO RUN WELL , BUT LAST WEEK STARTED TO MAKE A VERY LOUSY NOISE FROM THE ENGINE , I DONT FEEL SAFE TO USE IT ANYMORE ,ALSO THE CAR DONT HAVE THE SAME PUSH TO MAKE IT RUN I HAVE TO PUSH THE PEDAL ALMOST COMPLETELY BUT STILL IT DONT .IT DONT WORK AS IT USED TO BE
Engine, Jun 15, 2019
ENGINE BEGAN KNOCKING AT VERY LOW MILEAGE. KNOCK WAS APPARENT WHILE STATIONARY, DRIVING, ACCELERATING. ENGINE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. IF ENGINE HAD FAILED DURING OPERATION IT WOULD HAVE CREATED A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION.
Engine, Jun 14, 2019
SEEKING TO ACCELERATE AS I MERGED ONTO A HIGHWAY, VEHICLE RPM EXCEEDED 6,000 WITHOUT ACCELERATION. DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR, TRIED AGAIN AND THE ENGINE BACKFIRED. RESULT: BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON VEHICLE WITH ONLY 62,000 KM. I CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 8,500 KM AND HYUNDAI IS DEBATING THE WARRANTY.
Engine, Jun 13, 2019
I WAS IN MOTION ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS AND THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE AN AWFUL TICKING AND GRINDING NOISE AND THEN STALL. I LOSE STEERING AND BRAKES AND HAVE BEEN IN TOO MANY CLOSE ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS. I HAVE KIDS AND THIS IS NOT SAFE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THERE ARE NO DASH INDICATORS ON NOR ANY CODES COMING UP WHEN SCANNED. I READ ABOUT THIS FROM OTHER PEOPLE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THE SCARIEST TIME WAS WHEN I WAS GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL, CARS IN FRONT AND BACK OF ME. MY CAR STALLED AND WITH NO POWER STEERING AND NO BRAKES I BARELY MANAGED TO SWERVE AROUND THE CAR IN FRONT, DODGE THE ONCOMING CAR IN OTHER LANE, I THEN HAD TO GO INTO AN INTERSECTION PRAYING TO GOD THAT NO OTHER CARS WERE COMING THRU AT THE SAME TIME AND THEN MANAGED TO PULL OVER. DID I MENTION MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR!!!! PLEASE RECALL THESE CARS FOR STALLING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! IT IS VERY DANGEROUS.
Engine, Jun 3, 2019
ITS A LOUD CRACKLING TICKING NOISE THAT COMES FROM MY 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRAS ENGINE. WHEN I DRIVE THE THE TICKING TURNS INTO KNOCKING AND THE CAR SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY IN MOTION. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE WHAT THIS ISSUE COULD BE. I'VE READ COUNTLESS STATEMENTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS A URGENT MANUFACTURING ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO FIXED IMMEDIATELY.
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 16, 2019
CAR IS STALLING AND ENGINE TURNS OFF WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS HEAVY TRAFFIC. HAVE TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND RESTART. ALL INDICATORS ON DASH TURN ON SUDDENLY AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS OCCURRED REPEATIDLY WHENEVER I AM IN TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY
Service brakes, Engine, May 14, 2019
I BOUGHT MY 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA FROM THE CARMAX IN OAK LAWN ILLINOIS IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018 AND SINCE THEN I'VE EXPERIENCED A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AND CARMAX IS ONLY TELLING ME THAT IT WAS A PLASTIC BAG ON THE EXHAUST PIPE AND THAT IT WILL BURN OFF ON ITS OWN. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THEM ON APRIL 17, 2019 AND TODAY IS MAY 14, 2019 AND I'M ALMOST POSITIVE THAT IT DOESN'T TAKE A WHOLE MONTH FOR A BAG TO BURN OFF AN EXHAUST PIPE. ALSO I HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY BRAKE SYSTEM, WHEN I BRAKE THE CAR ACTS LIKE IT'S STALLING AND IT MAKES A CLICKING NOISE AS IF THE CAR IS ON ICE AND THE EXTRA BRAKE IS HELPING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. I KNOW THIS ISN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN THIS WAY. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN THAT TRAVEL IN THIS VEHICLE EVERYDAY AND I CAN'T DRIVE A FAULTY VEHICLE AND SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THEM WHILE DRIVING IT.
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, May 11, 2019
I WAS ON THE WAY TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO HER SISTER'S HOUSE, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE WE WERE STOPPED BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY. SO, I HAD TO PUT IT IN PARK OR NEUTRAL, AND TURNOVER THE CAR ONCE I TURNED IT OFF FOR A MOMENT.
Power train, Engine, Apr 17, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY AND WOULD STALL. THE FAILURE LEFT THE CONTACT STRANDED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. WALSER HYUNDAI (8100 LAKELAND AVE N, BROOKLYN PARK, MN 55445, (651) 705-0151) WAS NOTIFIED AND REPLACED THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ASKED FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
Other or unspecified, Apr 16, 2019
THE ISSUE IS RELATED TO AIR VENTILATION IN THE CAR IF I SET THE OPTIONS CORRECTLY TO GET OUTSIDE FRESH AIR WITH NO A/C RUNNING, AFTER SOME TIME I FEEL LIKE I AM INHALING ENGINE EXHAUST. MADE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS BUT EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S WORKING AS DESIGNED. AIR VENTS HAVE SOME ISSUE WHICH LETS THE ENGINE EXHAUST GET INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN.
Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 15, 2019, crash
VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP WITH FOOT STILL DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDDLE. BRAKES RELEASED AND CAR SURGED FORWARD HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED BEFORE LUNGING FORWARD ON SOUTHBOUD EXIT 185 OF I95 IN BANGOR MAINE04401
Engine, Apr 1, 2019
VERY LOUD TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE. WOULD NOT STOP WHEN CAR WAS WARMED UP AS I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD BY THE DEALER IN THE FALL OR 2018. CONTINUALLY GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER AND I KNEW IT WAS NOT RIGHT. TOOK TO DEALER HAVE BEEN TOLD NEEDS A BRAND NEW ENGINE. FAULTY PISTONS.
Engine, Mar 29, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD ABNORMAL NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. BILLION AUTO HYUNDAI (3401 W 41ST ST, SIOUX FALLS, SD 57106) DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Engine, Mar 5, 2019
VEHICLE WAS MAKING A "TICKING" SOUND. GETS LOUDER AS YOU ACCELERATE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC - ADVISED PISTONS/ENGINE ARE CAUSING SOUND TO CONTACT HYUNDAI DEALER AS THERE HAS BEEN MANY ISSUES WITH THE CARS ENGINES. CAN DRIVE THE CAR AT THIS TIME, WAITING ON DEALER TO RESPOND AND HOPE ENGINE DOESN'T BLOW UP ON ME. CAR ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES.
Engine, Mar 1, 2019
MY ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A CLICKING NOISE IN JANUARY 2019. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND THE BATTERY LIGHT ALL WOULD START FLASHING WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND MY ENGINE WOULD DIE. I TOOK IT TO MY CAR DEALERSHIP, WHO SAID THEY COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT, BUT THAT IT WAS COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY SO THEY ARE REPLACING IT. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND NOTICED MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT CARS BUT I DO KNOW THAT AN ENGINE TOTALLY DYING AT 58,000 IS NOT GOOD. THEY DID MENTION THAT THEY WOULD CHECK THE OIL FOR METAL SHAVINGS. I LOOKED THAT UP ONLINE, WHICH HAPPENS WHEN AN ENGINE IS POORLY MADE AND THE MOTORS ARE SCRAPING AGAINST EACH OTHER, PRODUCING METAL SHAVINGS, WHICH THEN GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE ENGINE THROUGH THE OIL. EVERY TIME THE ENGINE DIED I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET, GOING ABOUT 30 MPH.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Feb 22, 2019
I WAS RETURNING HOME THIS AFTERNOON AND MY WIFE'S HYUNDAI ELANTRA WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS LIT. I FIGURED MY WIFE HAD LEFT HER LIGHTS ON AND LOOKED IN THE CAR TO SEE THEY WERE OFF. I STARTED THE CAR AND PRESSED THE BRAKE A FEW TIMES BUT THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON SO I THOUGHT THE SWITCH HAD GONE BAD. MY WIFE WATCHED AS I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH MANUALLY AND THE SWITCH WORKED BUT THE PEDAL DID NOT COME FAR ENOUGH BACK TO DEPRESS THE SWITCH AND I SAW ONLINE THAT A PAD WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PRESENT BUT WAS MISSING. I FOUND RECALLS FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS MENTIONING AN ISSUE WITH PAD DETERIORATION AND FIGURE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING TO THIS MODEL AS WELL.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 22, 2018
2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH 43,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR VIBRATES AND SHAKES WHILE IN THE DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN STOPPED WITH THE DRIVER'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE VIBRATION AND SHAKING VARY IN INTENSITY. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE CLEANED DUE TO ROUGH IDLE. I HAD THE SERVICE PERFORMED AND IT HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HYUNDIA NEEDS TO ADDRESS.
Service brakes, Oct 29, 2018
"TAKATA RECALL". NOTICE WHEN PRESSING THE BREAKS AND HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR MAN HOLE COVER THE BRAKES SEEM TO RELEASE AND SKIP FORWARD LOSING CONTROL TO SOME DEGREE. I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE FIX AFTER INSTALLING BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS BUT IT STILL CONTINUES. I'M CONCERNED WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN DURING THE WINTER IN ICEY ROAD OR SNOW COVERED ROAD CONDITIONS.
Steering, Oct 28, 2018
STEERING BINDS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS REQUIRING EXTRA EFFORT TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL. THIS ADDED EFFORT RESULTS IN OVER COMPENSATION ONCE BINDING IS OVERCOME. THIS IS EXPERIENCED WHILE ADJUSTING TO MAINTAIN FORWARD DIRECTION, AS WELL AS TURNING. IT IS NOT QUITE AS NOTICEABLE AT LOWER SPEEDS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 13, 2018
WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FOR YEARS NOW. 2 OF THE ISSUES THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT EVEN FIX THE PROBLEM. ON 11/15/2016 WITH 12185 MILES ON THE CAR, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY ON THE CAR. ON 05/22/2017 WITH 15516 MILES ON THE CAR, WE HAD TO REPLACE (2) TIRES ON THE CAR BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE BALD. ON 11/03/2017 WITH 18268 ON THE CAR, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE OTHER (2) TIRES ON THE CAR BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE BALD. WE HAD PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STALLING. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR.ON 01/18/2018 WITH 20747 MILES ON THE CAR. WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH A SOUND WHEN THE CAR STARTS. WHEN THE CAR STARTS IT SOUNDS LIKE METAL CLINKING. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE CAR IS COLD IN THE MORNING OR ANYTIME OF THE DAY. WHEN I START THE CAR, IT MAKES THIS SOUND. I HAD TO TAPE THE SOUND SO THE SERVICE ADVISOR COULD HEAR THE SOUND. THE TECH COULD NOT HEAR IT. 02/08/2018 WITH 20749 MILES ON THE CAR. WE STILL HAD THE PROBLEM WITH A SOUND WHEN THE CAR STARTED. WHEN THE CAR STARTS IT SOUNDS LIKE METAL CLINKING.THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE CAR OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT DAY THE TECH DID HEAR THE SOUND. THEY TESTED THE ALTERNATOR AND IT WAS BAD. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR ON THE CAR. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR I STILL HAD THE SAME SOUND AS BEFORE. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ALTERNATOR DID NOT STOP THE SOUND. 03/20/2018 WITH 20802 MILES ON THE CAR. WE ARE STILL HAVING THE SAME SOUND WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT TIME OF THE DAY THE CAR IS STARTED, THE SAME SOUND HAPPENS. IT SOUNDS LIKE A METAL CLINKING. I HAD A TAPE OF THE SOUND, THE TECH DID NOT HEAR A THING. WE ARE STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SOUND WHEN THE CAR STARTS. I AM SCARED TO START THE CAR BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. I AM SCARED IT MIGHT BLOW UP WHEN THE CAR STARTS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.
Air bags, Sep 27, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, AN ODOR OF FUEL ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ABC HYUNDAI (6825 REDWOOD ST, LAS VEGAS, NV 89118, (702) 475-8698) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT A FAILURE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO ABC HYUNDAI, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,900. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.