← New search

2016 Hyundai Elantra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

123 reports with mileage · 169 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 111 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports5 fire reports16 injury reports

Engine complaints

111 reports
Clear category filter
87,000 miles · Jun 21, 2020
Engine

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.

NHTSA ODI #11329907

55,970 miles · May 21, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

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, …

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #11325480

129,000 miles · Feb 5, 2020
Engine

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.

NHTSA ODI #11307241

125,000 miles · Jan 29, 2020
Engine

ENGINE TICKING SOUND , WHEN STARTING, VEHICLE AT 125,000 MILES WHEN FIRST HAPPENED. PERFECT MAINTENANCE, AS CAR WAS USED AS PROFESSIONAL SALES VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11302940

65,000 miles · Nov 18, 2019
Engine

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 ON…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #11280859

54,128 miles · Nov 13, 2019
Engine

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 CONFIR…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #11279937

85,858 miles · Sep 25, 2019
Engine

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 DEFECT…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #11258018

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2019
Engine

THERE IS ROUGH IDLING. SHAKES.

NHTSA ODI #11242688

82,700 miles · Aug 3, 2019
Engine

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.

NHTSA ODI #11241538

115,000 miles · Jul 29, 2019
Engine

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 TOW…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #11240456

Official recalls

2

26V307000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

May 14, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An air bag inflator that ruptures may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or passengers, increasing the risk of injury or death.

Remedy: 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.

24V146000 · Latches/locks/linkages:trunk Lid:latch

Feb 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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP21003 · Throttle Control System Vulnerabilities

Opened Nov 12, 2021 · Closed Jun 20, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.

Go deeper into Hyundai Elantra problems