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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

18 reports
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115,000 miles · Nov 19, 2020
Vehicle Speed Control

I'M NOT SURE THE EXACT DATE BUT I KNOW ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING FINE AND THEN LATER THAT NIGHT I WENT TO GET GAS AND MY CAR WAS ACTING FUNNY AND NOT WANTING TO GO FORWARD IN DRIVE UNTIL IT KICKED BACK AND THEN WENT.

NHTSA ODI #11375352

72,486 miles · Dec 17, 2019
Vehicle Speed Control

THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMERUS TIMES, WHETHER ON HIGHWAY'S OR CITY STREETS. DRIVING THE CAR YOU WILL FEEL IT LURCH FORWARD ACCELERATING SUDDENLY AND THEN RETURN TO NORMAL DRIVING. THE RPMS WILL BE AT 4000 TO 5000 EACH TIME. THE OTHER DAY ON THE WAY HOME FROM A FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY WITH MY 2 GIRLS AND HUSBAND, I HAD THE CRUSE CONTRO…

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THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMERUS TIMES, WHETHER ON HIGHWAY'S OR CITY STREETS. DRIVING THE CAR YOU WILL FEEL IT LURCH FORWARD ACCELERATING SUDDENLY AND THEN RETURN TO NORMAL DRIVING. THE RPMS WILL BE AT 4000 TO 5000 EACH TIME. THE OTHER DAY ON THE WAY HOME FROM A FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY WITH MY 2 GIRLS AND HUSBAND, I HAD THE CRUSE CONTROL SET. IT SUDDENLY REVVED UP TO 4000 RPMS ON A CURVED HILLY ROAD. THIS HAPPENED AT 1AM. NO OTHER CARS WHERE AROUND. MY THEN 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR TO GET HER DRIVERS LICENSE IT DID IT WITH THE INSTRUCTOR IN THE CAR. THE INSTRUCTOR HAS HER STOP AND GET ANOTHER CAR FOR THE TEST. SHE SAID THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE CAR AND COULD NOT CONTINUE THE TEST. WE HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR AT THAT TIME FOR 6 MONTHS. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW WITH ONLY 6 MILES ON IT. I AM NOW SEEING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND SEVERAL OTHER OF HYUNDAI CAR MAKES AND MODULES ON THE INTERNET. JUST SEARCH HYUNDAI CARS SURGING WHILE DRIVING AND YOU CAN SEE FOR YOUR SELF. THEY MUST BE WAITING ON A FATALITY BEFORE THEY MAKE A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11289671

184,000 miles · Oct 19, 2019
Vehicle Speed Control

ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD WHEN PRESSING THE GAS, BUT NOT EQUAL TO THE DEPRESSION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I BOUGHT THIS CAR 8 MONTHS AGO AND IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. ONE INCIDENT I BELIEVE WHEN THIS HAPPENED CAUSED ME TO DAMAGE PERSONAL PROPERTY.INWAS STO…

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ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD WHEN PRESSING THE GAS, BUT NOT EQUAL TO THE DEPRESSION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I BOUGHT THIS CAR 8 MONTHS AGO AND IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. ONE INCIDENT I BELIEVE WHEN THIS HAPPENED CAUSED ME TO DAMAGE PERSONAL PROPERTY.INWAS STOPPED BEHIND A CAR WAITING TO GET TO A GATE KEY PAD. WHEN I STARTED TO PULL FORWARD THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND I HIT THE KEY PAD, RAN OVER IT! THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION IS NOT TYPICALLY A HAZARD WHEN ON THE OPEN ROAD, OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH A SOLID OBJECT IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ODI #11269555

63,000 miles · Dec 26, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control

CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. ALL LIGHTS AND ENGINE SEEMED TO STALL BUT WHEN I PRESSED ACCELERATOR AFTER A SECOND EVERYTHING CAME BACK ON. AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AND HAVE IT SHUT DOWN AND BE IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11163517

44,242 miles · Nov 9, 2018
EngineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY, AND OIL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO POHANKA HYUNDAI (1770 RITCHIE STAT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY, AND OIL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO POHANKA HYUNDAI (1770 RITCHIE STATION CT, WALKER MILL, MD 20743, 301-899-0480) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT AN INVESTIGATION WOULD BE OPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,242.

NHTSA ODI #11150313

57,000 miles · May 17, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED MY CAR, I WAS GIVEN A DIFFERENT CAR THAN THE ONE WRITTEN DOWN ON MY PAPERWORK. I HAD TO COME BACK IN TO GET THE CAR THAT MATCHED MY PAPERWORK. SINCE RECEIVING THIS CAR, I NOTICED A SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING. RECENTLY, IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE IT WILL JERK REPEATEDLY WHEN I HAVE TO C…

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WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED MY CAR, I WAS GIVEN A DIFFERENT CAR THAN THE ONE WRITTEN DOWN ON MY PAPERWORK. I HAD TO COME BACK IN TO GET THE CAR THAT MATCHED MY PAPERWORK. SINCE RECEIVING THIS CAR, I NOTICED A SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING. RECENTLY, IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE IT WILL JERK REPEATEDLY WHEN I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY ACCELERATE AND THEN BREAK WHEN THERE IS TRAFFIC. WHEN I AM JUST DRIVING FREELY ON THE HIGHWAY OR SIDE STREETS, IT SEEMS TO GET STUCK IN ONE GEAR AND NO MATTER HOW HARD I PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL, IT WILL NOT GO ANY FASTER. I HAVE TO PRESS EXTREMELY HARD ON THE GAS TO MAKE IT GO AND THEN IT WILL JERK FORWARD AND MAKE A REALLY LOUD ACCELERATING SOUND AS IF I'M A MONSTER TRUCK. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE ON THE ROAD AND IT MAKES ME NERVOUS TO DRIVE IT. THIS CAR IS MY ONLY VEHICLE SO I CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO DRIVE IT, BUT I REALLY NEED SOMETHING DONE WITH THIS.

NHTSA ODI #11096642

33,600 miles · Aug 18, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed ControlCrash

I DROVE SLOWLY THROUGH THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT. INSTEAD OF STOPPING, THE CAR SUDDENLY SWERVED, LURCHED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE CEMENT BASE OF A LIGHT POLE. THE CAR KEPT GRINDING INTO THE CEMENT BASE. I WAS HELPLESS TO STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF MY CAR. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS HAD MY CAR FOR ONE WE…

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I DROVE SLOWLY THROUGH THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT. INSTEAD OF STOPPING, THE CAR SUDDENLY SWERVED, LURCHED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE CEMENT BASE OF A LIGHT POLE. THE CAR KEPT GRINDING INTO THE CEMENT BASE. I WAS HELPLESS TO STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF MY CAR. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS HAD MY CAR FOR ONE WEEK BUT NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE YET. THE REPAIR SHOP IS AWAITING THE DECISION FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR IS OVER $10,000. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER WHEN DRIVING MY CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN THE CAR HAS TRIED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND WOULD LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE BEEN A SAFE DRIVER FOR MANY YEARS AND HAD NEVER GOTTEN A TICKET NOR BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE. I HAVE READ REPORTS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR HYUNDAI CARS UNEXPECTEDLY CRASHING INTO PARKING GARAGE WALLS, OBJECTS, OR OTHER CARS. I DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THIS DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION OF THE HYUNDAI CAR BUT THE CAUSE NEEDS TO BE DETERMINED BEFORE SOMEONE IS BADLY INJURED OR KILLED.

NHTSA ODI #11016096

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…

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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

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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