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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.

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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

Steering complaints

19 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2025
SteeringSuspensionCrash

I was driving normally down the road and all of a sudden I lost control and couldn’t turn my vehicle apparently the control arm rusted from the subframe, causing me to swerve hit a curb and cause more damage to the front end. Thank God I was on a not so busy street! I could have killed myself or someone else all because this com…

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I was driving normally down the road and all of a sudden I lost control and couldn’t turn my vehicle apparently the control arm rusted from the subframe, causing me to swerve hit a curb and cause more damage to the front end. Thank God I was on a not so busy street! I could have killed myself or someone else all because this company’s metal rusted out.

NHTSA ODI #11638816

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2024
EngineService BrakesSteering

I was driving down the interstate when my car completely locked up, my brakes stopped working, the steering wheel wouldn't turn, the car completely shut down, so I had to make my way off the bisy interstate luckily I didn't have an accident so I took it to a mechanic and found out the alternator went out, so it was replaced then…

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I was driving down the interstate when my car completely locked up, my brakes stopped working, the steering wheel wouldn't turn, the car completely shut down, so I had to make my way off the bisy interstate luckily I didn't have an accident so I took it to a mechanic and found out the alternator went out, so it was replaced then less than a year later i had issues with the headlights not working then magically comong on while driving, and the interior lighta will work then bot work but the bulbs are new, leading to another replacement alternator, then less than about 8 months pass and I have issues with the electrical stuff again not wanting to work even when new bulbs are pit in the car, the radio turning on and off by itself and I've had to put it a third alternator in less than 3 years, it's a driving hazard and safety hazard. My driver side door handle will only open from the inside and it doesn't shut inkess the door is locked and the car has to be turned on. The belt in my 2016 hyundai elanyra looks like it's shredding and it's throwing black stuff on the inside of my hood. I've had preoffwsional mechanics look at it and the alternator is assembled correctly, and now my ball joints are all of a sudden needing to be replaced inthe front.

NHTSA ODI #11597057

Mileage unknown · May 13, 2023
Steering

As I was driving all of a sudden my power steering light and traction control light would pop on my car and my wheel would lock up on my making it extremely difficult to navigate. Would happen randomly at different speeds and scenarios. Once turned on when I was getting on the Delaware Memorial Bridge, another time on a highway,…

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As I was driving all of a sudden my power steering light and traction control light would pop on my car and my wheel would lock up on my making it extremely difficult to navigate. Would happen randomly at different speeds and scenarios. Once turned on when I was getting on the Delaware Memorial Bridge, another time on a highway, and happened while I was turning. Brought it 4 times to a dealership and the techs have done nothing to actively fix the problems. It’s very upsetting bc I take pictures of it because I feel like nobody believes me and I feel unsafe driving this car.

NHTSA ODI #11521867

90,000 miles · Apr 14, 2021
SteeringStructureSuspension

ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR THE FRONT AXLE SHAKES REALLY BAD CAN I KEEP IT IN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #11408048

46,000 miles · Dec 10, 2020
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSteering

FRONT HEADLIGHTS NEED REPLACING ONE MONTHLY. HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHILE STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A WIRING ISSUE BUT SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THE FRONT HIGHBEAMS AND DAYLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOR GOING OUT (NO LONGER WORKING) 12 TIMES IN 2 YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #11382810

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2020
Steering

SHAFT AND STEERING KOPLER BROKEN.. NO ONE ELSE CAN FIX IT BUT THE DEALER. MULTIPLE COMPLAINS ONLINE

NHTSA ODI #11342438

52,000 miles · May 20, 2020
Steering

POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, TURNING LEFT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11325345

85,000 miles · Apr 12, 2020
Steering

POWER STERRUNG LIGHT KEEP COMING OFF AND ON. 1 WEEK I CAN DRIVE IT WITH NO PROBLEMS AND THE NEXT WEEK I I CAN'T. WHEN I DRIVE THE MY WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT WILL LOCK ON ME. SO I AVOID DRIVING IT ANYWHERE. I DONT WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO ME WHILE IM DRIVING THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #11320891

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2020
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

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 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.

NHTSA ODI #11310664

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2019
SteeringUnknown Or Other

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…

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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

NHTSA ODI #11268821

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.

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