IllustrationAIRBAG IN DRIVER SEAT IS BULGING INSIDE THE SEAT MAKING THE SEAT UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNSAFE. IT JUST HAPPENED FROM USE OF THE CAR SITTING IN THE DRIVERS SEAT.
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
Air Bags complaints
26 reportsCAR 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 ACCIDEN…
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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.
THE RED LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE PURCHASE AND HYUDAI SERVICE HAS BEEN SAYING IT IS NOTHING BRUSHING IT OFF. I
NOTHING SO FAR. JOE 12/13/2019
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
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED ON DASH
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 I…
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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
ON MARCH 19, 2019, MY 16 ELANTRA GT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A MAJOR ROAD IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE FULL FRONT END WAS TOTALED AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS NOT A FUTURE PROBLEM WITH HYUNDAI AIR BAGS.
ANOTHER CAR HIT MY CAR THE IMPACT CAUSED ME TO HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS OVER $10,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR. I WAS PULLING OUT OF WALMART PARKING LOT ENTERING INTO THE LANE
ROUTE 120 ST MARYS PA 15857 ABOUT 7:15AM TRAVELING AT 45MPH HIT GUARD RAILS HEAD ON PUSHED THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR IN DID OVER $8100.00 DAMAGE. THE IMPACT WAS HARD ENOUGH IT PUSHED THE ENGINE BACK HAD MY SEAT BELT ON WAS UNINJURED OTHER THAN SPRAINS AND STRAINS AND ABRASIONS TO MY FACE I HIT MY HEAD OFF OF I DON'T KNOW WHAT …
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ROUTE 120 ST MARYS PA 15857 ABOUT 7:15AM TRAVELING AT 45MPH HIT GUARD RAILS HEAD ON PUSHED THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR IN DID OVER $8100.00 DAMAGE. THE IMPACT WAS HARD ENOUGH IT PUSHED THE ENGINE BACK HAD MY SEAT BELT ON WAS UNINJURED OTHER THAN SPRAINS AND STRAINS AND ABRASIONS TO MY FACE I HIT MY HEAD OFF OF I DON'T KNOW WHAT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HYUNDAI TOLD ME THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE BUT WOULD TELL ME IF THEY FIND ANYTHING OR NOT. I ASKED SPECIFICALLY FOR A REPORT SO I WOULD KNOW IF MY AIR BAGS FAILED OR DID NOT AND THEY TOLD ME ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! DO I HAVE A RECOURSE TO GET THIS FROM THEM OR CAN YOU DEMAND IT FROM THEM? I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH FAULTY AIR BAGS. THANK YOU (XXXXX) 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)
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.