← 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

Air Bags complaints

26 reports
Clear category filter
27,000 miles · Dec 21, 2017
Air BagsStructureSuspension

I PURCHASED THE 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT FROM VAN HORN HYUNDAI IN SHEBOYGAN WI ON 8/18/17. IT WAS SOLD AS CERTIFIED PRE OWNED - NO ACCIDENTS. THE AUTO CHECK REPORT THEY PROVIDED SHOWED A CLEAN HISTORY. I BEGAN EXPERIENCING WHAT SEEMED TO BE SUSPENSION ISSUES- CAR WOULD SKIP SIDEWAYS ON BUMPS AND HAD THE FEELING THAT IT WANTED TO …

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED THE 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT FROM VAN HORN HYUNDAI IN SHEBOYGAN WI ON 8/18/17. IT WAS SOLD AS CERTIFIED PRE OWNED - NO ACCIDENTS. THE AUTO CHECK REPORT THEY PROVIDED SHOWED A CLEAN HISTORY. I BEGAN EXPERIENCING WHAT SEEMED TO BE SUSPENSION ISSUES- CAR WOULD SKIP SIDEWAYS ON BUMPS AND HAD THE FEELING THAT IT WANTED TO FISHTAIL. I ORDERED A CARFAX REPORT AND IT SHOWED THE VEHICLE WAS IN 2 ACCIDENTS, AND AFTER MORE DIGGING, I FOUND IT WAS SOLD BY INSURANCE AUTO AUCTIONS TO JOE VAN HORN CHEVROLET IN PLYMOUTH WI. WHEN I PRESENTED THE DEALERSHIP WITH WHAT I HAD DISCOVERED, THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A MISTAKE AND THAT THEY HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING THE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED BY ONE OF THEIR OTHER DEALERSHIPS. THEY DID, HOWEVER, SHOW ME THE VEHICLE CHECK LIST FROM JOE VAN HORN WHICH SHOWS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THIS VEHICLE INCLUDING FRAME REPAIRS AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THEY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK FROM ME FOR WHAT I PAID AND I GOT A DIFFERENT VEHICLE THAT ACTUALLY DID CHECK OUT. THIS WAS A CLEAR CASE OF FRAUD BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY KNEW THEY WERE FOUND OUT. I AM HAPPY THAT THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY GRIEF ABOUT RETURNING THE VEHICLE, MOST DEFINITELY TO AVOID A LAWSUIT! HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IS NOW LISTED FOR SALE AGAIN 2 DAYS AFTER I RETURNED IT WITH NO DISCLOSURE IN THE LISTING AS TO IT'S HISTORY. I BELIEVE THAT THE FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PREVENT IT FROM EVER BEING PROPERLY ALIGNED TO DRIVE SAFELY.

NHTSA ODI #11055846

35,000 miles · Aug 28, 2017
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

TAKATA RECALL THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS AND SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, HOWEVER THEY WERE LATE AND DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL THE DRIVER'S HEAD HAD HIT THE WINDOW. THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS TBONED ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR BY A TRUCK GOING OVER 20MPH. THE DRIVER HEAD HIT WINDOW AND SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, NO SEATBELT DEPLOYMEN…

Read full complaint

TAKATA RECALL THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS AND SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, HOWEVER THEY WERE LATE AND DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL THE DRIVER'S HEAD HAD HIT THE WINDOW. THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS TBONED ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR BY A TRUCK GOING OVER 20MPH. THE DRIVER HEAD HIT WINDOW AND SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, NO SEATBELT DEPLOYMENT, THE CAR SPUN OUT AND UP ONTO MEDIAN AT WHICH POINT SEAT SEATBELT ENGAGED AND CAR HIT TREE HEAD ON. NO FRONTAL AIRBAGS EVER DEPLOYED. CAR HAD A 2-4" INVERSION. DRIVER HAD 7MIN LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND SUFFERED CLOSED HEAD INJURY.

NHTSA ODI #11020236

500 miles · Jul 5, 2017
Air BagsCrashInjury

2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH INVOLVED IN INJURY ACCIDENT 07/18/2015 WITH FAILURE OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CURTAIN DEPLOYING. VEHICLE'S OWNER WAS MAKING LEFT TURN WHEN STRUCK IN THE CENTER PILLAR DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 M.P.H. CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE PUSH SIDEWAYS APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET. THE DRIVER H…

Read full complaint

2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH INVOLVED IN INJURY ACCIDENT 07/18/2015 WITH FAILURE OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CURTAIN DEPLOYING. VEHICLE'S OWNER WAS MAKING LEFT TURN WHEN STRUCK IN THE CENTER PILLAR DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 M.P.H. CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE PUSH SIDEWAYS APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET. THE DRIVER HAD TO EXIT VEHICLE PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO DOORS AND SUB FRAME. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO BOTH FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS AS WELL AS DOOR SUB FRAME REQUIRING CUTTING AND RE-WELDING IN NEW DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR SUB FRAME, REPLACEMENT OF DOOR HINGES AND BOTH FRONT AND READ DOORS DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CURTAIN DID NOT DEPLOY AND COMPLAINT WAS FILED DIRECTLY TO HYUNDAI AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A HYUNDAI ENGINEER AND WAS NOT TOUCHED BY THE BODY SHOP AS PER HYUNDAI'S INSTRUCTIONS. HYUNDAI ENGINEER TOOK MEASUREMENTS, PHOTOS AND DOWNLOADED BLACK BOX DATA BUT THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED TO VEHICLE OWNER. HYUNDAI HAS REFUSED TO TALK TO VEHICLE OWNER AND PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION AS TO RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION, TO HONOR WARRANTY REPAIRS OR PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AS OF 07/05/2017 .

NHTSA ODI #11003115

11,000 miles · Jan 20, 2017
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

ON 10/15/16 I WAS IN A MULTI IMPACT ACCIDENT. AFTER HITTING A CURB, SMALL TREE, TOOK A STOP SIGN OUT, MY CAR LANDED INTO A TREE IN BETWEEN TWO 10 IN. BUSHES. AS THE CAR SEEMED TO SETTLE I IMMEDIATELY SMELLED A CHEMICAL ODOR. I THEN SAW A SMALL WHITE WHAT I THOUGHT WAS PAPER APPEAR ON THE INNER STEERING WHEEL, SUDDENLY BLOOD WAS…

Read full complaint

ON 10/15/16 I WAS IN A MULTI IMPACT ACCIDENT. AFTER HITTING A CURB, SMALL TREE, TOOK A STOP SIGN OUT, MY CAR LANDED INTO A TREE IN BETWEEN TWO 10 IN. BUSHES. AS THE CAR SEEMED TO SETTLE I IMMEDIATELY SMELLED A CHEMICAL ODOR. I THEN SAW A SMALL WHITE WHAT I THOUGHT WAS PAPER APPEAR ON THE INNER STEERING WHEEL, SUDDENLY BLOOD WAS POURING DOWN MY FACE WHERE I COULD BARELY SEE. I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE BECAUSE OF THE SMELL. IT DID NOT SMELL LIKE GAS BUT MORE LIKE SULFUR. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO UCI TRAUMA CENTER WHERE I STAYED FOR FOUR DAYS. MY CAR HAD 6 AIRBAGS AND ALL FAILED EXCEPT FOR THE ONE I SAW WHEN MY CAR SETTLED. SINCE I BOUGHT THE ELANTRA I REPORTED TO HYUNDAI THAT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND SOMETIMES WHEN I WOULD TURN LEFT THE CAR WOULD STOP, THEN ACCELERATE FULL SPEED. I HAVE THE WORK ORDER. THIS ACCELERATION WOULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT. I HAVE SEVERAL WITNESSES WHO HAVE BEEN WITH ME WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE CAR DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT I RESTART IT, IT JUST STOPS THEN ACCELERATES. IT HAS DONE THIS THREE OR FOUR TIME A MONTH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10946816

9,999 miles · Sep 13, 2016
Air BagsCrashFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND EMITTED FIRE DURING THE DEPLOYMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND EMITTED FIRE DURING THE DEPLOYMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,999.

NHTSA ODI #10906014

501 miles · May 16, 2016
Air BagsSteeringCrashInjury

THE 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WAS WRECKED AT 501 MILES . IT WAS BOUGHT BRAND-NEW IT STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AT 45 MILES PER HOUR THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY HYUNDAI HAS A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG SYSTEM WHICH NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO I HAVE A CLAIM NUMBER AGAINST HYUNDAI THE CLAIM NUMBER IS 8922194. THE TELEPHONE NUMBER TO THE CLAIM AGENT IS1-…

Read full complaint

THE 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WAS WRECKED AT 501 MILES . IT WAS BOUGHT BRAND-NEW IT STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AT 45 MILES PER HOUR THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY HYUNDAI HAS A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG SYSTEM WHICH NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO I HAVE A CLAIM NUMBER AGAINST HYUNDAI THE CLAIM NUMBER IS 8922194. THE TELEPHONE NUMBER TO THE CLAIM AGENT IS1-714-965-3105. MY SON WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT SUFFERED INJURIES DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE ASKED THE HYUNDAI CLAIM AGENT TO DO AN INSPECTION ON THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS DONE ON MAY 4TH AND NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT RECEIVING ANY INFORMATION ON WHAT HAPPENED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT . I WOULD LIKE FOR YOUR AGENCY TO LOOK INTO HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY IN THERE AIRBAGS THAT DO NOT DEPLOY . YOU MAY CONTACT ME AT[XXX] MY NAME IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10865281

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