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.
Steering, Apr 12, 2020
POWER STERRUNG LIGHT KEEP COMING OFF AND ON. 1 WEEK I CAN DRIVE IT WITH NO PROBLEMS AND THE NEXT WEEK I I CAN'T. WHEN I DRIVE THE MY WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT WILL LOCK ON ME. SO I AVOID DRIVING IT ANYWHERE. I DONT WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO ME WHILE IM DRIVING THE VEHICLE
Electrical system, Mar 14, 2020
THE CAR DOES NOT TURN OVER WHEN YOU INITIALLY START CAR YOU HAVE TO TURN THE KEY BACK AND TRY STARTING AGAIN IT HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY DOING THIS FOR OVER A YEAR AND NO MECHANIC CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. OTHER THAN THAT THERE IS NO ISSUES WITH THE DRIVING.
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 26, 2020
WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR THE ENGINE TURNS BUT WON'T TURN OVER. THE CAR DOES THIS MORE OFTEN IN VERY COLD WEATHER. EVEN IN WARM WEATHER IT WILL START SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TRY MULTIPLE TIMES AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT START AT ALL. THERE ARE NO CHECK ENGINE OR OTHER INDICATORS THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE RELATED THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I NORMALLY EXPECT IS THAT SOMETIMES THE WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE IN A TIMELY MANNER. THERE IS A BIT OF A HESITATION AS IF THE FUEL OUTPUT IS NOT INCREASING. THIS HAPPENS WHILE I'M ALREADY DRIVING (FOR EXAMPLE WHEN I'M GOING FROM THE ACCESS ROAD AND ENTERING THE HIGHWAY OR WHEN THERE IS A SPEED LIMIT INCREASE OF SOME KIND). I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THE PART AFFECTED IS CONNECTED TO OTHER SYSTEMS IN THE CAR THAT HAVE AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT SUCH AS THE FUEL PUMP.
Steering, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 21, 2020
CAR PURCHASE BRAND NEW FROM DOTHAN HYUNDAI. NOTICED REDLIGHT LOOKED LIKE BABY IN A SEATBELTS. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND TOLD IT WAS NOTHING. HD CAR SERVICES AT HYUNDAI IN ALBANY GA AND TOLD IT WAS NOTHING.. HAD LIGHT LOOKED AT BY ANOTHER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS AIR BAG NOT FUNCTIONING AND IF I WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT MY AIR BAG WOULD NOT WORK.
Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 21, 2020
THE RED LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE PURCHASE AND HYUDAI SERVICE HAS BEEN SAYING IT IS NOTHING BRUSHING IT OFF. I
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.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 28, 2020
HI... I OWN 11 ELANTRA'S. 4-2013, 3-2016, 2-2018, 1-2019, 1-2020. I OWN A DRIVING SCHOOL. THEY ALL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BURNING OUT LIGHT BULBS, HEADLIGHTS ,SIDE MARKERS AND TAIL LIGHTS. I AM REPLACING BULBS 2 TO 3 TIMES A WEEK. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE SOCKETS BECAUSE THEY MELTED. THE PLASTIC HOLDERS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT ALSO MELTED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A REMEDY FOR THIS OR ONE IN THE PROCESS. I ALSO HAVE A COMPLAINT ON WHY IT SO DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS.
Vehicle speed control, Dec 17, 2019
THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMERUS TIMES, WHETHER ON HIGHWAY'S OR CITY STREETS. DRIVING THE CAR YOU WILL FEEL IT LURCH FORWARD ACCELERATING SUDDENLY AND THEN RETURN TO NORMAL DRIVING. THE RPMS WILL BE AT 4000 TO 5000 EACH TIME. THE OTHER DAY ON THE WAY HOME FROM A FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY WITH MY 2 GIRLS AND HUSBAND, I HAD THE CRUSE CONTROL SET. IT SUDDENLY REVVED UP TO 4000 RPMS ON A CURVED HILLY ROAD. THIS HAPPENED AT 1AM. NO OTHER CARS WHERE AROUND. MY THEN 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR TO GET HER DRIVERS LICENSE IT DID IT WITH THE INSTRUCTOR IN THE CAR. THE INSTRUCTOR HAS HER STOP AND GET ANOTHER CAR FOR THE TEST. SHE SAID THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE CAR AND COULD NOT CONTINUE THE TEST. WE HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR AT THAT TIME FOR 6 MONTHS. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW WITH ONLY 6 MILES ON IT. I AM NOW SEEING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND SEVERAL OTHER OF HYUNDAI CAR MAKES AND MODULES ON THE INTERNET. JUST SEARCH HYUNDAI CARS SURGING WHILE DRIVING AND YOU CAN SEE FOR YOUR SELF. THEY MUST BE WAITING ON A FATALITY BEFORE THEY MAKE A RECALL.
Air bags, Dec 13, 2019
NOTHING SO FAR. JOE 12/13/2019
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.
Vehicle speed control, Oct 19, 2019
ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD WHEN PRESSING THE GAS, BUT NOT EQUAL TO THE DEPRESSION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I BOUGHT THIS CAR 8 MONTHS AGO AND IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. ONE INCIDENT I BELIEVE WHEN THIS HAPPENED CAUSED ME TO DAMAGE PERSONAL PROPERTY.INWAS STOPPED BEHIND A CAR WAITING TO GET TO A GATE KEY PAD. WHEN I STARTED TO PULL FORWARD THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND I HIT THE KEY PAD, RAN OVER IT! THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION IS NOT TYPICALLY A HAZARD WHEN ON THE OPEN ROAD, OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH A SOLID OBJECT IN FRONT OF ME.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Oct 16, 2019
STEERING IS QUITE TIGHT AT TIMES ON SLOW TURNS; HOWEVER, WHEN FULL SPEED 0-70, SEEMS THE POWER STEERING IS CUTTING OFF AND ON AND STICKING. GOING AROUND A CURVE CAUSES THE STEERING TO TIGHTEN UP AND IT TAKES MASSIVE EFFORT TO BRING IT BACK CENTER, AND SOMETIMES THIS CAUSES YOU TO OVER CORRECT WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IT'S LIKE A STICKING SENSATION IN THE WHEEL, PULLING. TIRES ARE GOOD, ALIGNMENT IS AMAZING. NONE OF THIS MAKES ANY SENSE. ACCELERATION FROM 0-45, YOU HAVE TO PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO ACCELERATE WHICH IS A NEW ISSUES THAT SUDDENLY APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR MARCH OF 2019, AND HAVE ONLY OWNED IT FOR 7-MONTHS. I DO HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. *BF
Air bags, Seat belts, Sep 30, 2019, crash
2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER STATES THAT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAGS AND THE SEATBELT MAY NOT HAVE OPERATED AS DESIGNED A CRASH. *JS
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.
Air bags, Aug 26, 2019
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED ON DASH
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.
Other or unspecified, Jul 11, 2019
I WAS IN A DRIVE THRU AT A PHARMACY WHEN THE AIR STOPPED WORKING, CAR HAD 62,000 MILES TO DATE & UPON VEHICLE INSPECTION THE AIR COMPRESSOR WENT OUT
Air bags, Jun 18, 2019, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER ROOMMATE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A CURB AND INTO A POLE. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS AT THE CRASH BUT NO REPORT WAS MADE. THE OTHER DRIVER HAD INJURY TO HER HEAD. THE POLICE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A TOW AWAY LOT AT HELMS & HILL TOWING (649 S MAPLE AVE, MONTEBELLO, CA 90640 (323) 889-4900). THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE DAMAGES WERE UNKNOWN AT MOMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *DSY *JS *TR 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB
Other or unspecified, Jun 10, 2019
VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY. I PULLED THE SMALL HANDLE BY THE DRIVER SEAT TO OPEN THE TRUNK. NOW MY TRUNK WILL NOT LATCH. IT WANT CLOSE EVEN WITH THE BUTTON ON THE KEY PHOBE.
Steering, Suspension, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 6, 2019
CAR DRIVE OVER BUMPS AND UNEVEN ROADS LIKE A BOAT IN BAD WAVES STEERING LOCKS UP LIKE NO POWER STEERING IT'S VERY DANGEROUS THEY REPLACED STEERING PARTS 2 TIME THIS HAPPENED AFTER DRIVING 40 TO 70 MILES AND GOING STRAIGHT HIGHWAYS AND IN TOWN
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.