IllustrationIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS MY REAR WINDOW IS BUBBLING BETWEEN THE WINDOW. IF IT CONTINUES IT LOOKS LIKE THE WINDOW WILL SEPERATE OR SHATTER. IT LOOKS LIKE MOISTURE GOT IN BETWEEN THE GLASS AND TINT.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Elantra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
350–25K
1825–50K
3650–75K
1775–100K
13100–150K
4150K+
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
53 reportsSTEERING 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…
Read full complaint
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
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
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.
2/22/2019 CAR HAS 55,000 MILES BUT FOR PAST YEAR HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING ON UNEVEN SURFACES [CRACKS, POTHOLES] ON HIGHWAY, STREETS. WHEN BRAKING CAR FEELS LIKE YOU ARE BRAKING ON FULL METAL AND BOTTOM OF CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS COMING APART. ANOTHER ISSUE FROM THE BEGINNING OF OWNING THE CAR ARE ISSUES WITH CAR HESITAT…
Read full complaint
2/22/2019 CAR HAS 55,000 MILES BUT FOR PAST YEAR HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING ON UNEVEN SURFACES [CRACKS, POTHOLES] ON HIGHWAY, STREETS. WHEN BRAKING CAR FEELS LIKE YOU ARE BRAKING ON FULL METAL AND BOTTOM OF CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS COMING APART. ANOTHER ISSUE FROM THE BEGINNING OF OWNING THE CAR ARE ISSUES WITH CAR HESITATING UPON LIFTING FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR. MY SISTER WHO OWNS THE SAME CAR/YEAR, HAS THE SAME ISSUE. PROBLEMS REPORTED: SUSPENSION/ACCELERATION.
I PURCHASE A BRAND NEW HYUNDAI ELANTRA END OF JANUARY 2016. WHEN I START DRIVING IT THE CAR STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS FOR 2 AND 7 MONTHS I'VE BEEN HAVING SO MUCH PROBLEM WITH MY CAR WHEN GOING TO DEALER CONSTANTLY SINCE I HAD IT NOW I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER ON TUESDAY AND THE DEALER CALLED ME ON WEDNESDAY WITH THE MECHA…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASE A BRAND NEW HYUNDAI ELANTRA END OF JANUARY 2016. WHEN I START DRIVING IT THE CAR STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS FOR 2 AND 7 MONTHS I'VE BEEN HAVING SO MUCH PROBLEM WITH MY CAR WHEN GOING TO DEALER CONSTANTLY SINCE I HAD IT NOW I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER ON TUESDAY AND THE DEALER CALLED ME ON WEDNESDAY WITH THE MECHANIC EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CAR ON THURSDAY THE DEALER CALLED ME BACK SAYING THE CORPORATE COMPANY CAME OUT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE MY WHOLE ENGINE ON MY CAR I AM REALLY NOT HAPPY WITH MY CAR I DON'T WANT IT I WANT THEM TO TAKE THE CAR BACK I AM SO DONE AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS SO BAD THERE. THEY GAVE ME THE RUN-AROUND NORM REEVES HYUNDAI IN CERRITOS AND ALSO THE HENRY INN IN GARDEN GROVE ALSO.
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…
Read full complaint
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.
MY VIN IS FOR A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA SE/VE WHICH IS WHAT I BELIEVE I HAVE BUT A WEB SEARCH SHOWS THAT SAME VIN ON WWW.VINDECODER.ORG AND WWW.VINCHECK.COM AS A 1986 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS.
AFTER TWO WEEKS OF CONSISTENT STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN KEY IN THE IGNITION I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 6, 2017. I ALSO TURNED THE WHEEL COUNTERCLOCKWISE AND DID AS THE MANUAL INSTRUCTED. IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, FRUSTERATION AND BEING STRANDED AT WORK SEVERAL TIMES AND IT FINALLY U…
Read full complaint
AFTER TWO WEEKS OF CONSISTENT STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN KEY IN THE IGNITION I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 6, 2017. I ALSO TURNED THE WHEEL COUNTERCLOCKWISE AND DID AS THE MANUAL INSTRUCTED. IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, FRUSTERATION AND BEING STRANDED AT WORK SEVERAL TIMES AND IT FINALLY UNLOCKED. MY HUSBAND HAD A DIFFICULT TIME UNLOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL AS WELL. WHEN I BOUGHT IT TO DEALERSHIP IT WASN'T LOCKING UP AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID IT WOULD BE LOOKED AT BUT THAT WAS A VERY COMMON HAPPENING IN THESE VEHICLES. IT WAS BROUGHT TO 6251 GRAND AVE. GURNEE, IL. THE SERVICE ADVISOR WAS JEFFREY VLACH #49715.
VEHICLE STUMBLES BADLY 2 TO 4 SECONDS WHEN MAKING A TURN OR EVEN A LANE CHANGE SOMETIMES. DEALER TWICE. RESPONSE: EVERYTHING "NORMAL"? GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR--NO ACCELERATION FOR UP TO 4 SECONDS. DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS.
Official recalls
226V307000 · 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
1DP21003 · 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.