2016 Hyundai Elantra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 292 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 22 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 17 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
Representative owner complaints: engine
113 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Jun 2, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. Twenty minutes later, there was a ticking sound coming from underneath the hood. The vehicle started sputtering. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the part to repair the vehicle was on backorder. the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.
Engine, Apr 30, 2021
OIL CONSUMPTION,IN THREE MONTHS OR 3K MILES, IT CONSUMES 3 LITTERS, I TOOK IT TO DEALER, THEY DID TEST AND THEY SAID YES THAT IS NORMAL, IT CANNOT BE NORMAL, IF I DRIVE ANOTHER 3K MILES WILL MOST LIKELY BURN THE ENGINE FOR SURE, I KEEP POURING OIL IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES
Engine, Apr 29, 2021
I WAS DRIVING TO NORWOOD ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD AND THE CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING SO I PULLED OVER, LET IT COOL DOWN, AND ADDED WATER TO THE RADIATOR. I DIDN'T KNOW WHY IT WOULD OVERHEAT, BUT ONCE IT COOLED, I DROVE BACK HOME. WE CHECKED THE OIL AND OTHER FLUIDS TO BE SURE IT WASN'T LOW. THE FLUIDS WERE FINE AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE THE RADIATOR. THE NEXT DAY, I WENT TO A LOCAL RESTAURANT IN EASTGATE OHIO. WHEN I PULLED INTO THE DRIVE THRU, IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WASN'T GETTING POWER AND THEN SHUT OFF. I WENT TO START IT, BUT IT WOULDN'T START. THE ENGINE WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO MY APARTMENT BY OUR MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND EXPLAINED THAT THE ENGINE IS LOCKED UP. I STILL OWE ON THE VEHICLE SO I PARKED IT AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SAVE MONEY TO GET AN ENGINE.
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 30, 2021
MY CAR IS A PUSH START N IT WILL NOT TURN OFF .. I OUT THE BOTTOM TO TURN IT OFF BUT THE ENGINE IS STILL CONSTANTLY RUNNING IT WON'T TURN OFF
Engine, Mar 15, 2021
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH I HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND, THERE WERE NOT ANY WARNING LIGHTS ON. I TURNED DOWN THE RADIO AND A/C SO I COULD HEAR IT BETTER, MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE AND SLOWED DOWN, A RED OIL LIGHT FLASHED ON BRIEFLY AND THE KNOCKING GOT VERY LOUD. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT EXIT APPROX. 1 1/2 MILES DOWN. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF, HAD IT TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN VENICE. 2 DAYS LATER THEY TOLD ME IT HAD NO OIL IN IT. 5 DAYS LATER THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW $8000 ENGINE! I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES. I WAS 2000 MILES OVER THIS TIME, BUT THAT SHOULD NOT LEAVE 0 OIL IN THE CAR. APPROX. 60,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. AND IF OIL WAS GETTING LOW WHY DIDN'T ANY LIGHTS COME ON.
Engine, Mar 3, 2021
ENGINE IS CONSUMING 1.2 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES I WAS TOLD BY HYUNDAI THAT IT IS NORMAL TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN. I DON'T THINK THAT IS NORMAL AT ALL. I DRIVE MOSTLY ON HIGHWAY.
Engine, Lane departure, Feb 24, 2021
I WAS DRIVING WHEN SUDDENLY I HEAR A KNOCK IN THE ENGINE AND A GRINDING SOUND INSIDE THE ENGINE AND A MECHANIC INSPECTED IT AND SAID THAT IT IS ROD BEARING THAT THEY HAVE DAMAGE, SPEAK TO THE HYUNDAI DEPARTMENT AND THAT THEIR SYSTEM DID NOT WORK THAT THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME INFORMATION
Engine, Jan 22, 2021
CAR HAS BEGUN TO MALFUNCTION AFTER ONLY THREE YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OF A FAULTY ENGINE OR OVERHEATING. IN DECEMBER OF 2020 I TOOK THE CAR TO GET AN OIL CHANGE, IT IS NOW JANUARY 2021 AND I HAVE HAD TO ADD OIL TO MY CAR DUE TO AN OVERCONSUMPTION OF OIL. AFTER TAKING IT TO HYUNDAI I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT THE CAR MIGHT NEED TO HAVE THE PISTON RINGS REPLACED WHICH WOULD REQUIRE AN ENGINE REBUILD OR A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. THE CAR MALFUNCTIONS ON THE ROAD AS WELL AS WHEN IT IS IDLING. THE CAR WAS USED REGULARLY FOR SCHOOL BUT SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN IT HAS BEEN RARELY USED.
Power train, Engine, Jan 22, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR OVER AN HOUR, THE VEHICLE SHUT-OFF WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Engine, Dec 7, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, A KNOCKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT DROVE TO HER RESIDENCE AND CALLED HYUNDAI OF NEW PORT RICHEY (3936 US-19, NEW PORT RICHEY, FL 34652) AND INFORMED THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT IF THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON HER WAY TO THE DEALER, SEVERAL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RODS AND PISTON FAILED AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECENTLY HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND HAD CALLED THE SAME DEALER AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,200.
Engine, Dec 4, 2020
ON NOVEMBER 10, 2020, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AND MY CAR OUT OF THE BLUE STARTED KNOCKING. AS I KEPT DRIVING ABOUT 1/2 MILE THE KNOCKING GOT WORSE. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHEN I DID, MY ENGINE QUIT AND STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO START IT BACK UP, BUT IT CONTINUES TO KNOCK. THE CAR IS NOT FIXABLE, THERE ARE NO MOTORS AVAILABLE FOR THE CAR, AS HYUNDAI HAS STOPPED MAKING 2016 MOTORS. IM STUCK WITH A 12K LOAN ON A CAR THAT I CAN NOT DRIVE.
Engine, Oct 24, 2020
WAS TOLD A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH THE ENGINE BY MY LOCAL DEALER HYUNDAI REPAIR SHOP
Engine, Sep 26, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ON A ROAD THAT IS 50MPH WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE I WASN'T ABLE TO AND DROPPED SPEED NO LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND JOLTING. I THEN HEARD A TICKING COMING FROM THE HOOD. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO HYUNDAI AND WHEN THEY FINALLY DID LOOK AT IT THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED.
Engine, Aug 12, 2020
MY ENGINE, WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING SIGNS, SUDDENLY STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER DRIVING IT. WITHIN A FEW MILES ON THE HIGHWAY, THE SOUND GOT LOUDER AND HEAVIER, AND THE ACCELERATION BECAME VERY WEAK. I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED THE CAR. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART IT WAS SO HESITANT TO DO SO THAT I CALLED FOR A TOW. UPON INSPECTION THE ENGINE WAS CONSIDERED DEAD AND HAD TO BE VERY EXPENSIVELY REBUILT. I KEEP UP WITH MY REGULARLY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE CAR PROPERLY FOR THE DURATION OF MY OWNERSHIP. THIS MALFUNCTION CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND WAS NO FAULT OF MY OWN.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 25, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET WHEN I REACHED A STOP LIGHT. I CAME TO A COMPLETE, FULL, AND SAFE STOP. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. AND BEFORE THIS DAY THAT THIS ALL HAPPENED, THE CAR WAS IN PERFECT DRIVING CONDITION. NOTHING WAS WRONG FROM WHAT I COULD TELL. I THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON, IN THE FRONT OF TRAFFIC FORMING BEHIND ME. IT KEPT SHUTTING OFF EVERY TIME I WOULD STOP OR SLOW DOWN. IT HAPPENED ABOUT 7 TIMES BEFORE I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM.
Engine, Jun 21, 2020
DIFFICULTY STARTING. SOMETIMES IT WOULD HAVE TO SIT FOR AN HOUR OR TWO TO GET IT TO START. STALLED AT RED LIGHT. BURNING GAS FASTER THAN NORMAL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAD GONE BAD. REPLACED.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 21, 2020
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE FOR A YEAR NOW. I TOOK THE CAR TO HYUNDAI SEVERAL TIMES TO GET MY VEHICLE SERVICE AND EACH TIME THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEMS I AM EXPERIENCING ARE A DELAY IN ACCELERATION, CAR SHUTS OFF OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING, CAR SHUT OFF OCCASIONALLY WHEN SWITCHING TO REVERSE, THE CAR ALWAYS SHAKES AND MAKES A WEIRD NOISE JUST BEFORE SHUTTING OFF. THE CAR JERKS WHEN DRIVING SPONTANEOUSLY, LOW TAPPING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD THAT COULD BE HEARD INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE VIDEOS OF MY CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING AND BACKING UP. I ALSO HAVE VIDEOS OF THE TAPPING NOISE AND SHAKING JUST BEFORE SHUTTING OFF. THE LAST TIME I TOOK MY CAR TO BE SERVICED I WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL PRESSURE PUMP AND EXHAUST CVT NEED REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD THE HYUNDAI TECHLINE INSTRUCTED THE TECHNICIAN NOT TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED BY A HYUNDAI CASE MANAGER TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO ANOTHER HYUNDAI SHOP TO SEE IF THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Engine, Feb 5, 2020
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP AND WOULDN'T RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A HYUNDAI DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A CRANKSHAFT BEARING HAD FAILED. HYUNDAI NO LONGER MANUFACTURES THE ENGINE, SO NOW MY ONLY OPTION IS A USED MOTOR WITH 60,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW LESS THAN THREE YEARS AGO.
Engine, Jan 29, 2020
ENGINE TICKING SOUND , WHEN STARTING, VEHICLE AT 125,000 MILES WHEN FIRST HAPPENED. PERFECT MAINTENANCE, AS CAR WAS USED AS PROFESSIONAL SALES VEHICLE.
Engine, Nov 18, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CRAIN HYUNDAI OF CONWAY (1003 N MUSEUM RD, CONWAY, AR 72032, (501) 470-7300) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. ON ONE OCCASION, WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED 50% OFF THE COST OF THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Engine, Nov 13, 2019
I NOTICED THAT MY GAS MILEAGE WAS HORRIBLE SO I TOOK IT IN AND HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND A TUNE UP DONE. THEN IT CONTINUED TO RUN BAD AND THEN IT STARTED SHUTTING OFF. AFTER LIKE 1 WEEK MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID MY ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I TOOK IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE ENGINE WAS. THE WORST PART ABOUT ALL THIS IS IT ONLY HAD 54,000 MILES ON IT.
Engine, Sep 25, 2019
THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE LOST OF POWER FROM THE ENGINE WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN FROM THE DEALER UNTIL THE PART ARRIVED. THE CAR HAD KNOCKING, ENGINE LIGHT/OIL CAME ON AS WELL AS HAD TO START AND RESTART THE ENGINE. I WAS LATER TOLD THE CAR HAD A MANUFACTURER DEFECTIVE ENGINE. THE CAR KNOCKS, ENGINE SOUNDS STRANGE. THE ENGINE WAS TO BE REPLACE AS A COURTESY BY HYUNDAI USA THE MANUFACTURER DUE TO MANUFACTURER ENGINE HAD RECENTLY EXPIRED ON THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE. THE CLAIMS REP FOR HYUNDAI USA SAID MY ENGINE WOULD BE COVERED LATER AFTER THE CLAIM WAS DENIED. THE DENIAL WAS BASED OF THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THE UPKEEP OF REPAIRS/MAINTENANCE WAS LACKING EVEN THOUGH MAINTENANCE WAS TRACKED. I ASSUMED MANUFACTURED DEFECT WAS BASED ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOW THE ENGINE WAS MADE. MY TRUST AND LOYALTY TO BUSINESSES ARE TRULY LACKING DUE TO THE FACT I PUT MY TRUST IN THE PROFESSIONALS LIKE THE DEALERSHIP, LIKE HYUNDAI USA IN PROVIDING A SAFE WELL MADE VEHICLE. THE CAR LOSES POWER AS THE VEHICLE INCREASE WITH HIGH SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH SHAKING AND CLANKING SOUNDS A CLANKING CLANK CLANK NOISE. THE LOSS OF POWER GOING UP A HILL AND OR EMBANKMENT SAME SOUNDS MENTION BEFORE.
Engine, Aug 8, 2019
THERE IS ROUGH IDLING. SHAKES.
Engine, Aug 3, 2019
MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA HAS 82,700 MILES, MAINTAINED REGULARLY. AS OF YESTERDAY THE VEHICLE STALLS WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 45 MILES PER HOUR. PHONED HYUNDAI AND THEY SAY THE WARRANTY ONLY GOES UP TO 80,000 MILES. WE ARE TAKING IT IN TO HYUNDAI ON MONDAY TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT STALL AT THIS MILEAGE.
Engine, Jul 29, 2019
VEHICLE HAS 115,000 MILES AND HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE EVERY 4000-5000 MILES. DROVE THE CAR 376 MILES YESTERDAY AND CAMPED OVERNIGHT. NOT 30 MILES FROM LEAVING THE CAMPSITE THIS MORNING MY CAT STARTS HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING UP HOLD AND KNOCKS WHEN THE ENGINE GOES OVER 2500RPMS. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS. I CONTINUE DRIVING TOWARD THE NEAREST AUTO SERVICE STATION (30 MILES) BUT THE CAR DOESN'T MAKE IT. GOING UP A HILL IT ACCELERATED LESS AND LESS UNTIL IT STOPPED AT WHICH POINT THE BATTERY AND OIL LIGHTS CAME ON. HAD THE CAR TOWED AND THE MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE IS LOCKED UP AND THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE AT ALL. HIS RECOMMENDATION IS A NEW ENGINE. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON UNTIL THE CAR DIED.