IllustrationTHE PAINT HAS STARTED TO CHIP ON MULTIPLES OF THIS VEHICLE. IN THE SAME EXACT SPOTS.
2015 Hyundai Elantra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2015 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
310–25K
2725–50K
2650–75K
1975–100K
19100–150K
5150K+
127 reports with mileage · 134 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 91 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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.
27 crash reports8 fire reports16 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
48 reportsTHE HYUNDAI ELANTRA WAS STATIONARY AND HOOKED UP TO JUMPER CABLES TO JUMP A DEAD CAR. THE ELANTRA WAS RUNNING TO ALLOW THE OTHER CAR TO CHARGE. THE FUSE BOX ON THE ELANTRA CAUGHT FIRE WHICH SPREAD TO THE JUMPER CABLES AND TO THE OTHER CAR. THERE WAS MUCH MORE DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE ELANTRA THAN THERE WAS TO THE OTHER CAR,…
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THE HYUNDAI ELANTRA WAS STATIONARY AND HOOKED UP TO JUMPER CABLES TO JUMP A DEAD CAR. THE ELANTRA WAS RUNNING TO ALLOW THE OTHER CAR TO CHARGE. THE FUSE BOX ON THE ELANTRA CAUGHT FIRE WHICH SPREAD TO THE JUMPER CABLES AND TO THE OTHER CAR. THERE WAS MUCH MORE DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE ELANTRA THAN THERE WAS TO THE OTHER CAR, WHICH ONLY HAD MINOR COSMETIC BURNING. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ELANTRA AND THE DAMAGE HAS NOT YET BEEN ASSESSED.
CAR BURNS OIL WHICH HAS NOW DESTROYED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. DEALER REFUSES TO CORRECT
CAR USED TO RUN WELL , BUT LAST WEEK STARTED TO MAKE A VERY LOUSY NOISE FROM THE ENGINE , I DONT FEEL SAFE TO USE IT ANYMORE ,ALSO THE CAR DONT HAVE THE SAME PUSH TO MAKE IT RUN I HAVE TO PUSH THE PEDAL ALMOST COMPLETELY BUT STILL IT DONT .IT DONT WORK AS IT USED TO BE
CAR IS STALLING AND ENGINE TURNS OFF WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS HEAVY TRAFFIC. HAVE TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND RESTART. ALL INDICATORS ON DASH TURN ON SUDDENLY AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS OCCURRED REPEATIDLY WHENEVER I AM IN TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY
THE ISSUE IS RELATED TO AIR VENTILATION IN THE CAR IF I SET THE OPTIONS CORRECTLY TO GET OUTSIDE FRESH AIR WITH NO A/C RUNNING, AFTER SOME TIME I FEEL LIKE I AM INHALING ENGINE EXHAUST. MADE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS BUT EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S WORKING AS DESIGNED. AIR VENTS HAVE SOME ISSUE WHICH LETS THE ENGINE EXHAUST G…
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THE ISSUE IS RELATED TO AIR VENTILATION IN THE CAR IF I SET THE OPTIONS CORRECTLY TO GET OUTSIDE FRESH AIR WITH NO A/C RUNNING, AFTER SOME TIME I FEEL LIKE I AM INHALING ENGINE EXHAUST. MADE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS BUT EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S WORKING AS DESIGNED. AIR VENTS HAVE SOME ISSUE WHICH LETS THE ENGINE EXHAUST GET INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN.
2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH 43,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR VIBRATES AND SHAKES WHILE IN THE DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN STOPPED WITH THE DRIVER'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE VIBRATION AND SHAKING VARY IN INTENSITY. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE CLEANED DUE TO ROUGH IDLE. I HAD THE SERVICE PERFOR…
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2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH 43,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR VIBRATES AND SHAKES WHILE IN THE DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN STOPPED WITH THE DRIVER'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE VIBRATION AND SHAKING VARY IN INTENSITY. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE CLEANED DUE TO ROUGH IDLE. I HAD THE SERVICE PERFORMED AND IT HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HYUNDIA NEEDS TO ADDRESS.
WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FOR YEARS NOW. 2 OF THE ISSUES THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT EVEN FIX THE PROBLEM. ON 11/15/2016 WITH 12185 MILES ON THE CAR, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY ON THE CAR. ON 05/22/2017 WITH 15516 MILES ON THE CAR, WE HAD TO REPLACE (2) TIRES ON THE CAR BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE BALD. ON 11/03/2017 WITH 18…
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WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FOR YEARS NOW. 2 OF THE ISSUES THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT EVEN FIX THE PROBLEM. ON 11/15/2016 WITH 12185 MILES ON THE CAR, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY ON THE CAR. ON 05/22/2017 WITH 15516 MILES ON THE CAR, WE HAD TO REPLACE (2) TIRES ON THE CAR BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE BALD. ON 11/03/2017 WITH 18268 ON THE CAR, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE OTHER (2) TIRES ON THE CAR BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE BALD. WE HAD PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STALLING. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR.ON 01/18/2018 WITH 20747 MILES ON THE CAR. WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH A SOUND WHEN THE CAR STARTS. WHEN THE CAR STARTS IT SOUNDS LIKE METAL CLINKING. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE CAR IS COLD IN THE MORNING OR ANYTIME OF THE DAY. WHEN I START THE CAR, IT MAKES THIS SOUND. I HAD TO TAPE THE SOUND SO THE SERVICE ADVISOR COULD HEAR THE SOUND. THE TECH COULD NOT HEAR IT. 02/08/2018 WITH 20749 MILES ON THE CAR. WE STILL HAD THE PROBLEM WITH A SOUND WHEN THE CAR STARTED. WHEN THE CAR STARTS IT SOUNDS LIKE METAL CLINKING.THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE CAR OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT DAY THE TECH DID HEAR THE SOUND. THEY TESTED THE ALTERNATOR AND IT WAS BAD. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR ON THE CAR. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR I STILL HAD THE SAME SOUND AS BEFORE. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ALTERNATOR DID NOT STOP THE SOUND. 03/20/2018 WITH 20802 MILES ON THE CAR. WE ARE STILL HAVING THE SAME SOUND WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT TIME OF THE DAY THE CAR IS STARTED, THE SAME SOUND HAPPENS. IT SOUNDS LIKE A METAL CLINKING. I HAD A TAPE OF THE SOUND, THE TECH DID NOT HEAR A THING. WE ARE STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SOUND WHEN THE CAR STARTS. I AM SCARED TO START THE CAR BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. I AM SCARED IT MIGHT BLOW UP WHEN THE CAR STARTS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.
1ST TIME THIS HAPPENED 3/15/18 AROUND 2:30-3:00 WE TOOK RIDE TO DAIRY QUEEN IN N L R , HUSBAND DROVE HOME WHEN WE GOT TO THE PARKING LOT IN OUR COMPLEX RIGHT BEFORE PARKING LOT IN FRONT OF OUR BUILDING AFTER TURNING THE CORNER LEFT WHEN THE CAR TOTALLY SHUT OFF. ALL LIGHTS LIT UP ON DASH, AFTER PUTTING IN PARK IT RESTARTED AGA…
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1ST TIME THIS HAPPENED 3/15/18 AROUND 2:30-3:00 WE TOOK RIDE TO DAIRY QUEEN IN N L R , HUSBAND DROVE HOME WHEN WE GOT TO THE PARKING LOT IN OUR COMPLEX RIGHT BEFORE PARKING LOT IN FRONT OF OUR BUILDING AFTER TURNING THE CORNER LEFT WHEN THE CAR TOTALLY SHUT OFF. ALL LIGHTS LIT UP ON DASH, AFTER PUTTING IN PARK IT RESTARTED AGAIN AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO OUR APARTMENT PARKING AREA. 2ND TIME THIS HAPPENED WE WERE AT THE LIGHT TO TURN LEFT INTO PROMINADE! 5/13/18 AT 4:20-4:30 WE WERE TURNING INTO THE CHENAL PROMINADE AT THE RED LIGHT WHEN IT STALLED WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND US. MY HUSBAND PUT IT IN PARK RESTARTED THEN LEFT US DRIVE AGAIN.
DON'T BUY HYUNDAI CAR. I WAS SO PROUD OF BEING HYUNDAI CAR OWNER WHO HAVE TWO HYUNDAI VEHICLES. HOWEVER, I STARTED TO DISLIKE HYUNDAI. THE REASON IS THE NAVIGATING SYSTEM THAT I GOT INTO. IT POINTED WRONG LOCATION WHILE I AM DRIVING TO GO TO GOLF COURSE WHERE I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO GET THERE. I GOT PANIC IN THE FREEWAY. WHAT IF I…
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DON'T BUY HYUNDAI CAR. I WAS SO PROUD OF BEING HYUNDAI CAR OWNER WHO HAVE TWO HYUNDAI VEHICLES. HOWEVER, I STARTED TO DISLIKE HYUNDAI. THE REASON IS THE NAVIGATING SYSTEM THAT I GOT INTO. IT POINTED WRONG LOCATION WHILE I AM DRIVING TO GO TO GOLF COURSE WHERE I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO GET THERE. I GOT PANIC IN THE FREEWAY. WHAT IF IT WAS NIGHT TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF FREEWAY? WHAT IF I WAS DRIVING FOR THE VERY IMPORTANT MEETING? I COULD STOP ON THE RAIL ROAD OR THE DANGEROUS PLACE. EVEN MORE I HAD TO DRIVE ONE HAND BECAUSE I HAD TO USE ONE HAND HOLDING THE HANDPHONE WITH MAP APP DIRECTING ME TO THE PLACE. I HAD TO STOP IN THE SIDE ROAD OF FREEWAY. IT WAS SO DANGEROUS. 2015 YEAR ELANTRA WHICH IS KIND BRAND NEW. DEALER SAID NO WARRANTY, HYUNDAI AMERICA SAID NO WARRANTY OR RECALL. I FOUND MANY OWNERS OF HYUNDAI VEHECLE DRIVERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM LIKE ME. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO RESPONSIBLITY FROM HYUNDAI. JUST PAY AND FIX IN THE DEALER. THEY SHOULD COVER THIS BY RECALLING. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. IT MAY BE MORE DANGEROUS THAN BROKEN BREAK. DON'T BUY HYUNDAI THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE MANUFACTURER. THEY SHOULD GO OUT OF U.S.A IF THEY DO NOT DO ANYTHING FOR THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.HYUNDAI-FORUMS.COM/'/377562-NAV-SCREEN-DISPLAYIN' HTTP://WWW.GENCOUPE.COM/'/101212-COMPLETELY-INCORRECT-POSIT' NAV SCREEN DISPLAYING WRONG LOCATION - HYUNDAI FORUMS : HYUNDAI FORUM JUST BOUGHT A USED 2013 ELANTRA LIMITED, NAVIGATION, 35K ON THE ODOMETER. LOVE THE CAR. DIDN'T BOTHER TO TRY THE NAV UNIT ON THE TEST DRIVE. THE HYUNDAI-FORUMS.COM
Official recalls
326V307000 · 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.
23V651000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
Sep 22, 2023
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
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
2AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires
Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.
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.