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: structure
18 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Structure, Jun 14, 2026
The vehicle's security system malfunctioned immediately after service at Parks Hyundai of Gainesville on 05/27/26 for Recall 256 & Campaign P33. The alarm blares & emergency lights flash while I am driving on public roads. This defect first presented in the dealership parking lot upon pickup. This creates a severe safety risk: the high-decibel alarm is a major distraction, the flashing lights confuse other motorists, & the malfunction prevents me from using turn signals, violating safety protocols. I demonstrated this to the service manager on 06/10/26. While the technician acknowledged the defect during a road test & performed a 'cap reset' (documented on the repair order), this attempt failed to resolve the issue. Despite this, the service manager refuses to acknowledge the defect, claiming it is an 'intended feature' of a 2023 recall at a different facility (993). This contradicts the technician's findings & my years of incident-free driving until the work on 05/27/26. The dealership initially omitted my return visit from their records, only acknowledging it after I confronted them in writing. An independent shop confirmed this electrical failure likely stems from P33, but requires proprietary dealer tools to diagnose. Attached video proves the vehicle runs while the alarm blares, confirming no relation to old Campaign 993 logic. Attached Repair Order proves the technician acknowledged the defect & attempted a repair. Despite this, the service manager ignores the documentation, his own technician's findings, & my demonstrations, blaming my locking habits while refusing a deep diagnostic. After 16 days in their possession, neither the dealer nor manufacturer has provided a remedy. If this malfunction were an intended feature, it would be an ongoing hazard; it creates a distraction, causes a panic response, & prevents the adequate use of turn signals while in operation. The vehicle is unsafe, & the dealership & manufacturer have failed to provide a valid repair.
Structure, Sep 30, 2025
Paint delamination has exposed bare metal on hood/roof/trunk. Corrosion is spreading, which can compromise crashworthiness and latch integrity. Additional peeling near the window trim near the roof is beginning to corrode. This part of the vehicle is structural and could compromise roof strength. This issue is a world wide(yes Canada too) has understood this issue and has consistently been on the news.
Structure, Aug 9, 2024
See attached document for complaint
Structure, Jun 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving and making turns, there was a significant amount of water leaking from behind the glove compartment onto the front passenger's side floor. The contact stated that the failure mainly occurred while making turns. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Structure, Jun 15, 2024
The car antenna cover flew off while I was driving. I was not speeding. Car has never been in an accident. Car has not gone through a car wash. This could have hit the car behind me had they been closer.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Dec 24, 2023
A few years ago, my 2016 Hyundai Elantra hatch stopped opening. The hatch lever next to the drivers seat as well as the key fob button stopped working. I know there was a trunk latch recall number 208 from Oct. 2021. Hyundai told me there’s nothing I can do about it. I haven’t been able to get into my trunk for 3 years.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jul 14, 2023
My elentra is BLUE....the courage of the hood has faded. Wish you could see it. It has gradually faded. I purchased ii 2019
Structure, May 26, 2023
The paint on the roof right above the windshield is peeling off. I've gone online and seen pictures of other white elantras with paint peeling. I was told by Crestmont Hyundai that my car is not part of any recall. I had the car at Crestmont Hyundai on April 28 for a recall for an anti-rust undercoating and the pictures that were taken do not show any type of damage to the area.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Mar 22, 2023
Disk brake backing plates rusted through, flaking. Could lodge in brake pads.
Structure, Jun 30, 2022
The paint is peeling off my Hyundai Elantra and I only have 28000 miles on it. It started peeling 2 years ago. I can supply pictures. I visited my local Hyundai dealership, where I bought the car, they made me wait for an hour then told me there was nothing they could do. I noticed someone scratched the paint with a fingernail from their workshop. I also called the Hyundai corp and they said there was nothing they could do.
Structure, Jun 20, 2022
The trunk latch stopped working. There was a recall in 8/2021 for the same issue with Hyundai and Kia models. I strongly believe this recall should be extended to include 2016 Hyundai elantras because this is a safety issue. God forbid someone were to get stuck in the trunk they would have no way of getting out as I do not have a trunk release button on my key fob or a key hole on the trunk itself. The only way to open the trunk is the lever on the drivers side floorboard which stopped working abruptly approximately one month ago. I live in SC and I strongly believe the heat has something to do with the malfunction. Heat was implicated in the 2021 recall. Please assist as this is a widespread issue with no solution or acknowledgement from Hyundai.
Structure, Oct 10, 2021
The trunk latch just completely stopped working out of no where. I always use the button on the actual trunk and have never had issues before. The trunk shuts, but the latch does not lock causing the trunk to not stay closed. This happened while on vacation when I needed to use my trunk for all of my items. I had to use 3 different bungee ropes and a ratchet strap to keep it closed from the inside. I had to drive 12 hours on the highway with the trunk like this beyond scared the trunk would pop open with all of my items back there since I had no where else to put them. I think we all need to use our trunks especially when the car itself is smaller with not much room for suitcases.
Structure, Jul 24, 2021
Blue paint started peeling on the rear spoiler and rear bumper and side near handle.
Steering, Suspension, Structure, Apr 14, 2021
ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR THE FRONT AXLE SHAKES REALLY BAD CAN I KEEP IT IN THE ROAD.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Feb 2, 2021
PAINT PEELING IN LARGE SHEETS DOWN TO THE BARE METAL
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jul 16, 2018, crash
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON A FREEWAY. THE ACCIDENT INVOLVED MY HYUNDAI, A PICK UP, AND A KIA. THE PERSON DRIVING THE KIA WAS AT FAULT. THE LANE WE WERE IN CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP DUE TO TRAFFIC AND THE PERSON IN THE KIA REAR ENDED ME WHICH CAUSE MY CAR TO HIT THE PICK UP. THE PICK UP HAD MINOR SCRATCHES AND DENTS, THE KIA HAD MINOR SCRATCHES WHERE AS MY HYUNDAI CRUSHED LIKE A CAN. MY BACK DOORS WOULDNT OPEN AFTER THE IMPACT AND MY CAR IS CONSIDERED TOTALED.
Electrical system, Structure, Jun 6, 2018, fire
STARTED ASCENDING OVER A BRIDGE WHEN CAR STARTED TO PUTTER. THEN SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAILPIPE. POWER FLICKERED THEN WENT OFF. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED OFF THE CAR AND IT WAS SMOKING. LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND SAW DRIPPING FLUID THEN A SPARK. THAT IS WHEN THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE.
Suspension, Air bags, Structure, Dec 21, 2017
I PURCHASED THE 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT FROM VAN HORN HYUNDAI IN SHEBOYGAN WI ON 8/18/17. IT WAS SOLD AS CERTIFIED PRE OWNED - NO ACCIDENTS. THE AUTO CHECK REPORT THEY PROVIDED SHOWED A CLEAN HISTORY. I BEGAN EXPERIENCING WHAT SEEMED TO BE SUSPENSION ISSUES- CAR WOULD SKIP SIDEWAYS ON BUMPS AND HAD THE FEELING THAT IT WANTED TO FISHTAIL. I ORDERED A CARFAX REPORT AND IT SHOWED THE VEHICLE WAS IN 2 ACCIDENTS, AND AFTER MORE DIGGING, I FOUND IT WAS SOLD BY INSURANCE AUTO AUCTIONS TO JOE VAN HORN CHEVROLET IN PLYMOUTH WI. WHEN I PRESENTED THE DEALERSHIP WITH WHAT I HAD DISCOVERED, THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A MISTAKE AND THAT THEY HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING THE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED BY ONE OF THEIR OTHER DEALERSHIPS. THEY DID, HOWEVER, SHOW ME THE VEHICLE CHECK LIST FROM JOE VAN HORN WHICH SHOWS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THIS VEHICLE INCLUDING FRAME REPAIRS AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THEY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK FROM ME FOR WHAT I PAID AND I GOT A DIFFERENT VEHICLE THAT ACTUALLY DID CHECK OUT. THIS WAS A CLEAR CASE OF FRAUD BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY KNEW THEY WERE FOUND OUT. I AM HAPPY THAT THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY GRIEF ABOUT RETURNING THE VEHICLE, MOST DEFINITELY TO AVOID A LAWSUIT! HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IS NOW LISTED FOR SALE AGAIN 2 DAYS AFTER I RETURNED IT WITH NO DISCLOSURE IN THE LISTING AS TO IT'S HISTORY. I BELIEVE THAT THE FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PREVENT IT FROM EVER BEING PROPERLY ALIGNED TO DRIVE SAFELY.