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
292 reports, newest first.
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.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 8, 2016, crash
THE VISIBILITY ON THIS CAR IS SO BAD. IN 40 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAD 1 ACCIDENT UNTIL I GOT THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD 3 MINOR ACCIDENTS IN LESS THAN A YEAR ALL DUE TO BACKING UP AND LOOKING OUT PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN YOU BACK UP YOU CAN'T SEE OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE FRONT DUE TO MIRROR PLACEMENT AND DOOR FRAME AND IN THE BACK DUE TO FRAME AND HEADREST IN SAME POSITION. I FEEL THIS CAR WAS DESIGNED POORLY, I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE.
Other or unspecified, Jun 7, 2016
WHEN PARKING OUR CAR, THE KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED. OBVIOUSLY, WE COULD NOT LEAVE THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I LOOKED AT A VIDEO ON YOUTUBE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=A4T6YDZKB5G AND THIS GUY'S VIDEO SAVED THE DAY. THIS OBVIOUSLY HAS HAPPENED FOR OTHER PEOPLE AND SEEMS TO BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. WE WILL BE TAKING THIS TO THE DEALER TO FIX, HOWEVER, SINCE IT APPARENTLY HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO OTHERS FOR YEARS I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT IT TO YOU. IF IT IS NOT FIXED BY HYUNDAI I WILL LET YOU KNOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION.
Steering, Air bags, May 16, 2016, crash
THE 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WAS WRECKED AT 501 MILES . IT WAS BOUGHT BRAND-NEW IT STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AT 45 MILES PER HOUR THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY HYUNDAI HAS A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG SYSTEM WHICH NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO I HAVE A CLAIM NUMBER AGAINST HYUNDAI THE CLAIM NUMBER IS 8922194. THE TELEPHONE NUMBER TO THE CLAIM AGENT IS1-714-965-3105. MY SON WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT SUFFERED INJURIES DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE ASKED THE HYUNDAI CLAIM AGENT TO DO AN INSPECTION ON THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS DONE ON MAY 4TH AND NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT RECEIVING ANY INFORMATION ON WHAT HAPPENED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT . I WOULD LIKE FOR YOUR AGENCY TO LOOK INTO HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY IN THERE AIRBAGS THAT DO NOT DEPLOY . YOU MAY CONTACT ME AT[XXX] MY NAME IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Steering, May 2, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DEALER PERFORMED ANOTHER ALIGNMENT. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60.
Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 14, 2016
I BOUGHT A NEW ELANTRA IN OCT. 2015 WITH 13 MILES ON IT. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT I WOULD GET NO LESS THAN 30 MILES PER GAL. I HAVE NEVER GOT MORE THAN 25 MPG I'V TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER THREE TIME THEY DRIVE IT AND SAY THE COMPUTOR SAYS YOUR GETTING 35 TO 40MPG. I TRIED TO SHOW THEM ACTUAL DOCUMENTATION SENSE I HAVE KEPT WRITTEN RECORDS EVERY SENSE THE DAY I'VE BOUGHT THIS CAR.
Power train, Apr 13, 2016
I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET GOING APPROX. 30 MPH WHEN THE CAR FELT LIKE IT HAD DOWNSHIFTED INTO A LOW GEAR. THE TACHOMETER WA REVVING BETWEEN 4,000 AND 5,000 RPMS EVEN THOUGH I WAS SLOWING. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AS THE GEAR SHIFT WAS STUCK IN DRIVE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, I PULLED THE GEAR SHIFT DOWN AS LOW AS IT WOULD GO PAST D(RIVE) AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT UP INTO THE PARK POSITION. ONCE I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE AGAIN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE NORMAL.
Wheels, Apr 11, 2016
WE HAVE A BRAND NEW 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA PURCHASED JANUARY 22, 2016 AND ONLY HAS @ 4,000 MILES. THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE HAS ALREADY RECEIVED A FLAT TWO WEEKS AGO FROM TODAY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND HAD TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF OUR POCKET. THE TIRE IS THE STANDARD HANKOOK OPTIMO. THE CAR IS DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AND SIDE STREETS, NORMAL EVERYDAY DRIVING. THE DAY AFTER REPLACING IT WITH ANOTHER TIRE, IT ALSO WENT FLAT. TODAY, APRIL 11, 2016, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE IS FLAT AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE WHEELS OR TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM TO CAUSE THIS.
Electrical system, Apr 7, 2016, fire
VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITED 4/5/2016 @ ~3:45PM (SEE PICTURES ATTACHED) WHILE PARKED IN A FENCED, GUARDED, PRIVATE CORPORATION EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT, DESTROYING ITSELF & BOTH VEHICLES PARKED ON EITHER SIDE OF IT. 5 MONTHS OLD, 11,000 MILES ON ODOMETER, ONLY PRIOR SERVICES WERE OIL CHANGES AT 3K & 10K @ WALMART & JIFFY-LUBE.
Power train, Feb 23, 2016
I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO 2 HYUNDAI DEALERSHIPS TO BE LOOKED AT. WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR GETS STUCK IN A HIGH GEAR & GIVES ME A HARD TIME DRIVING UNLESS I ACCELERATE DRAMATICALLY TO DROP THE RPMS & THE CAR WILL DROP GEARS. I LIVE ON A VERY STEEP HILL & CAME CLOSE TO A VERY DANGEROUS ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS ISSUE. MY CAR DID NOT WANT TO MAKE IT UP MY HILL BECAUSE THE CAR MAKES A LOUD NOISE. THE DAY THIS HAPPENED IT WAS SNOWING & I HAD TO ACCELERATE TO MAKE IT UP & ALMOST CRASHED BECAUSE MY CAR WAS ROLLING BACK DOWN THE HILL & I LIVE OFF OF A BUSY INTERSECTION.
Wheels, Feb 15, 2016
TIRE BLOW OUT ON HIGHWAY:( HANCOOK P215/45R 17 DRIVER SIDE FRONT) CAR PURCHASED NEW ONLY 377 MILES ON IT WHEN BLOWOUT OCCURRED. ROAD WAS SMOOTH SPEED WAS 60 MPH WAS TOLD BY SERVICE DEPT. NO BUBBLES WERE FOUND, PROBLEM IS THE TIRE. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
Steering, Jan 11, 2016
THE SPORT STEERING IS OVER SENSITIVE WHICH IS A HAZARD. THE SLIGHTEST TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO TURN ABRUPTLY. I HAVE MEASURED THAT A QUICK LANE CHANGE COULD TAKE PLACE BY MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL BY 1/4 OF AN INCH IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND BODILY INJURY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
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.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Oct 20, 2015
WHEN ENTERING A FAIRLY SEVERE CURVE, LIKE A 270 DEGREE FREEWAY ON-RAMP OR OFF-RAMP TO AN OVERPASS, OR 90 DEGREE CURVES ON MOUNTAIN ROADS, AT NORMAL SPEEDS, THE ESC APPEARS TO SPORADICALLY TURN ON AND OFF AGGRESSIVELY. THE BEHAVIOR IS SEVERE. THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, HARD, ABOUT TWICE PER SECOND. HARD ENOUGH TO FEEL LIKE YOU HIT A POTHOLE. THE THROTTLE SEEMS TO BE CUT AS WELL. PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR DOES NOTHING WHILE IN THIS STATE, AS IF ITS BEEN DISCONNECTED. AFTER STRAIGHTENING OUT OF THE CURVE, THE BEHAVIOR STOPS. DISABLING VIA THE ESC BUTTON HAS NO EFFECT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. A TRIP TO THE DEALER (10/2015) RESULTED IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF A BAD 'LATERAL SENSOR' - THAT IT WASN'T COMMUNICATING TO THE ESC. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM APPARENTLY WAS MORE INVOLVED: THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 17 DAYS AND HAD TWO OTHER 2016 ELANTRA GT MODELS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE SAME ISSUE. ULTIMATELY THEY COULD NOT FIND A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AND RETURNED THE CAR, STATING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT A "SAFETY CONCERN". HOWEVER THEY INTENDED TO CONTINUE TROUBLESHOOTING THE ISSUE WITH ONE OF THE PROBLEM CARS BEING USED AS A "TEST MULE". THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE LIMITED TO THE 2016 ELANTRA GT. I AM NOT ENTIRELY CONVINCED OF THE "SAFETY" VERDICT. WHILE I AGREE THAT ITS FAIRLY SAFE FOR "ME", SINCE I'M AWARE OF THE BEHAVIOR AND ITS CONSISTENT, IT MIGHT BE A SURPRISE FOR ANOTHER ELANTRA GT OWNER WHOSE FIRST EXPERIENCE MIGHT BE IN THE RAIN OR SNOW. WINTER IS COMING, AND WHILE I'M AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THEREFORE WILL TAKE CURVES SLOWER AS TO NOT ANTAGONIZE THE CAR - WHAT ABOUT OTHERS?
Suspension, Oct 18, 2015
THE REAR OF THE CAR IS BUMPY.I HAD 3 FAMILY MEMEBERS AT THE BACK AND TRAVELLING WAS UNCOMFORABLE FOR THEM.THEY COMPLAINTED ABOUT SHOCKS GOOD.I HAVE 4458 MILES ON MY CAR.
Other or unspecified, Sep 26, 2015
ON JULY 6, 2016 WE PURCHASED A 2016 ELANTRA LIMITED. WE DO LIKE THE CAR. HOWEVER, IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS, JUST OVER 2400 MILES THE NEW 2016 HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS A 2013 ELANTRA THAT WE USED TO HAVE. WE WOULD PRESS THE BRAKE, THEN PRESS THE PUSH START BUTTON. NOTHING HAPPENED, IT DIDN?T EVEN TRY TO CRANK. IT WAS AS IF THE BRAKE AND START BUTTON HAD NEVER BEEN DEPRESSED. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS DEAD AS A DOOR NAIL. THEN WE WOULD TRY STARTING THE CAR A SECOND TIME AND THE CAR WOULD START. THESE EVENTS HAPPENED WITH A COLD START AND ALSO A WARM START. WE TOOK THE 2016 CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. BETWEEN THE 2013 AND THE 2016 MODEL YEARS IT WOULD SEEM THAT SOMETHING COULD BE FIGURED OUT TO CORRECT AND FIX THE STARTING PROBLEM. WE STILL HAVE A NEW 2016 CAR THAT HAS A STARTING PROBLEM WITH THE PUSH BUTTON START.