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
Power train, Engine, May 15, 2019
I AM TOLD I NEED TO HAVE MY ENGINE REPLACED. MY CAR HAD BEEN MAKING TICKING AND KNOCKING NOISES AS IF IT WAS STRUGGLING TO FUNCTION. THE DAY IT BROKE DOWN, IT WAS BEGINNING TO KNOCK EXCEPTIONALLY LOUD. I WAS AFRAID IT WAS GOING TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AS THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I PUSHED ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT STALLED AGAIN AT THE NEXT INTERSECTION. THEN WOULD NOT START AT ALL. I HAD TO ASK FOR HELP TO PUSH MY CAR TO A SAFE AREA. THIS HAPPENED ON A CITY STREETS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP BELIEVING IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AT A COST OF ABOUT $8,000. IF I REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH THE SAME ENGINE, WHO'S TO SAY THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN? I BOUGHT THE HYUNDAI BECAUSE OF THE 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY KNOWING I'D BE PUTTING ON THE MILES FOR WORK. I DON'T EXPECT ENGINE FAILURE AT THE 78,800 MILES (I BOUGHT IT USED FROM ENTERPRISE CAR SALES WITH 18,000 MILES ON IT). THE SELLING POINT WAS THE 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY THAT I EXPECTED TO HAVE. I LEARNED IT DOES NOT PASS TO THE SECOND OWNER. WHY NOT? HOW DOES THE DRIVER CHANGE THE APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING OF THE ENGINE?! AS I PRESSED ON WITH THE HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVE, HE TOLD ME (AFTER CONSULTING WITH HIS SUPERVISOR) IT IS ONLY COVERED FOR A SECOND OWNER IF IT WAS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE. I SAID IT WAS CPO AND THAT IS HOW ENTERPRISE MARKETED THEIR VEHICLES. HYUNDAI THEN SAID THE OWNERSHIP FOR THE WARRANTY IS UNDER ALAMO/ENTERPRISE, NOT ME. NEWS TO ME, BUT, AGAIN, WHY DOES IT MATTER IF THE ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE? THESE "NU" ENGINES HAVE ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED TO BE DEFECTIVE. WHAT ENGINE BITES THE DUST AT 78,800 MILES? MY CAR WAS SERVICED REGULARLY ALTHOUGH NOT BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE REPRESENTATIVE THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THE WARRANTY WOULD BE INVALID ANYWAY IF IT WAS NOT SERVICED BY HYUNDAI.
Engine, Apr 23, 2019
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR WILL STALL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I AM DRIVING STRAIGHT WITHOUT PUTTING ON BRAKES OR ACCELERATING. I CAN RESTART IT. AGAIN WITHOUT ANY NOTICE IT STALLS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES AND AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR.THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU LOOSE POWER STEERING AND EFFECTIVE BRAKING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I NOTICED ONLINE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER ELANTRA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH IS RELATED TO THE PISTONS.
Engine, Apr 11, 2019, fire
WHILE DIVING MY 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT ON THE DALLAS NORTH TOLLWAY I FELT THE ENGINE LOSE HORSEPOWER. I APPLIED THE GAS JUST TO SEE IF IT WAS THE CAR CHANGING GEARS, I HEARD THE ENGINE REV, BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO SLOW DOWN. I LOOKED DOWN AT MY DASHBOARD AND NOTICED THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED TO BLINK FOLLOWED BY MY OIL LIGHT. THEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STOPPED BLINKED AND CONTINUED TO STAY ON FOLLOWED BY MY BATTERY LIGHT COMING ON. I TURNED MY HAZARDS LIGHTS ON AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND STARTED TO SEE WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY VENTS AND QUICKLY FILLING UP THE CABIN. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND WALKED AWAY. I DIALED DALLAS ROADSIDE SAFETY SERVICES AND WHILE SPEAKING TO THEIR DISPATCHER MY ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. I WATCHED MY CAR GET COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES BEFORE HELP ARRIVED.
Engine, Dec 9, 2018
WHEN I AM DRIVING AFTER ABOUT 30 MINS WHEN I LET OFF THE GAS I GET A WARNING LIGHT FOR THE BATTERY,OIL AND ENGINE. THE CAR TURNS OFF AND YOU JUST COAST AND IT STALLS.
Engine, Dec 7, 2018
THERE IS AN ENGINE KNOCK UPON COLD START. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED 3 TIMES AND 3 TIMES HYUNDAI HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 9, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY, AND OIL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO POHANKA HYUNDAI (1770 RITCHIE STATION CT, WALKER MILL, MD 20743, 301-899-0480) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT AN INVESTIGATION WOULD BE OPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,242.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 17, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL EXHAUST LEAK AND A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS PRESENT IN THE CABIN AND TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BECAME ILL AND NAUSEOUS DUE TO THE FAILURE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE DEALER (ABC HYUNDAI, 6825 REDWOOD ST, LAS VEGAS, NV 89118, (702) 475-8698) WAS NOTIFIED WITHIN TWO DAYS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT IT WAS A NORMAL CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, CLOSED THE CASE, AND DID NOT PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION FOR THE ODOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 6, 2018
MY 17 YEAR OLD WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AFTER JUST COMPLETING A TURN, WHEN THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR BATTERY, ENGINE, AND OIL CAME ON, THE CAR SLOWED AND STOPPED RUNNING. SHE TRIED TO RESTART, NOTHING. 5 MINS LATER, A FRIENDS DAD STARTED IT WITH NO PROBLEMS. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. TOOK IT TO SERVICE PLACE AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE IN HYUNDAI ELANTRA, WE WERE TOLD IT IS A "FLOODING" PROBLEM THAT HYUNDAI IS LOOKING INTO. THIS SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL TO FIX. I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR FOR HER AND SHE IS STUCK DRIVING THIS BACK AND FORTH TO COLLEGE THIS FALL. IMAGINE DRIVING A CAR THAT TURNS OFF AT ANYTIME.
Electrical system, Engine, Apr 9, 2018
WHEN CAR IS SLOWING AT INTERSECTION, CAR WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. ONCE CAR IS PUT IN PARK AND KEY IS TAKEN OUT, CAR STARTS UP IMMEDIATELY. HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 2 WEEKS. SEEMS LIKE I HAVE TO PUT MORE PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL TO GO EVEN SLIGHTLY FASTER.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 18, 2017, crash
I DROVE SLOWLY THROUGH THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT. INSTEAD OF STOPPING, THE CAR SUDDENLY SWERVED, LURCHED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE CEMENT BASE OF A LIGHT POLE. THE CAR KEPT GRINDING INTO THE CEMENT BASE. I WAS HELPLESS TO STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF MY CAR. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS HAD MY CAR FOR ONE WEEK BUT NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE YET. THE REPAIR SHOP IS AWAITING THE DECISION FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR IS OVER $10,000. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER WHEN DRIVING MY CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN THE CAR HAS TRIED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND WOULD LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE BEEN A SAFE DRIVER FOR MANY YEARS AND HAD NEVER GOTTEN A TICKET NOR BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE. I HAVE READ REPORTS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR HYUNDAI CARS UNEXPECTEDLY CRASHING INTO PARKING GARAGE WALLS, OBJECTS, OR OTHER CARS. I DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THIS DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION OF THE HYUNDAI CAR BUT THE CAUSE NEEDS TO BE DETERMINED BEFORE SOMEONE IS BADLY INJURED OR KILLED.
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 17, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE MOTOR WERE OFF SYNC AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS LOOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS KEPT FOR LONGER THAN THREE WEEKS. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
Engine, Nov 24, 2015
ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURRED TWICE ON THE FREEWAY AND ONCE ON A CITY STREET WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 1800 MILES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR NUMEROUS TIMES. WHEN I PICK IT UP THEY SAY "ITS BEEN REPAIRED" BUT HOURS OR DAYS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. I DEMANDED THAT THEY VOID THE PURCHASE CONTRACT BUT HYUNDAI REFUSED. I HAD TO RETAIN AN ATTORNEY WHO RECENTLY FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST HYUNDAI REGARDING THIS MATTER (CASE # 15K14065).
Engine, Nov 20, 2015
WIFE WAS DRIVING A NEW THREE WEEK OLD 2016 ELANTRA WITH APPOX. 500 MILES ON IT. THE CAR STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AND JUST DIED. SHE COASTED TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WOULD NOT RESTART. NO LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING ANY PROBLEM TILL THE CAR QUIT RUNNING. THEN ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AS THEY SHOULD. CALLED AAA HAD THEM TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECKED THE CAR OVER AND THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE AN ALTERNATOR. SOME TIME WENT BY, AND THE SERVICE WRITER SAID THEY WERE PUTTING ME IN A RENTAL CAR AS THE REPAIR WAS GOING TO TAKE TIME. TWO DAYS LATER GET A CALL AND THE MOTOR IS RUINED AND THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE IT WITH A LONG BLOCK. THIS IS JUST GREAT. NEW CAR THREE WEEKS OLD AND IS GOING TO BE TORE APART. LUCKY IT IS A LONG BLOCK NOT A SHORT BLOCK. THE BIG BREAK COMES FROM MY WIFE DECIDING NOT TO GO TO THE MALL THAT DAY TO FINISH XMAS SHOPPING. THE MALL IS TWENTY MILES AWAY ON AN INTERSTATE. IF THIS CAR HAD DIED ON THE INTERSTATE WITH CARS GOING 70 PLUS BEHIND HER, INSTEAD OF OUR SUBDIVISION STREET. SHE STOOD A GOOD CHANCE OF BEING REAR ENDED AND IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. PLUS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES AND TRYING TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER WITH A DEAD CAR! WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN ON A SIDE STREET WITH LITTLE OR NO TRAFFIC AND THREE BLOCKS FROM HOME. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN HORRIBLE TO HAVE HAPPENED ON AN INTERSTATE WHILE OUT OF STATE OR SOME BACK ROAD OFF THE BEATEN PATH. WE NOW WILL HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE CAR AT ALL AND CONSTANTLY AFRAID IT IS GOING TO BREAK DOWN AGAIN. DARN SHAME.