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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

What owners actually said

292 reports
65,000 miles · Nov 18, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CRAIN HYUNDAI OF CONWAY (1003 N MUSEUM RD, CONWAY, AR 72032, (501) 470-7300) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. ON ON…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CRAIN HYUNDAI OF CONWAY (1003 N MUSEUM RD, CONWAY, AR 72032, (501) 470-7300) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. ON ONE OCCASION, WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED 50% OFF THE COST OF THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11280859

54,128 miles · Nov 13, 2019
Engine

I NOTICED THAT MY GAS MILEAGE WAS HORRIBLE SO I TOOK IT IN AND HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND A TUNE UP DONE. THEN IT CONTINUED TO RUN BAD AND THEN IT STARTED SHUTTING OFF. AFTER LIKE 1 WEEK MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID MY ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I TOOK IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER AND THEY CONFIR…

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I NOTICED THAT MY GAS MILEAGE WAS HORRIBLE SO I TOOK IT IN AND HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND A TUNE UP DONE. THEN IT CONTINUED TO RUN BAD AND THEN IT STARTED SHUTTING OFF. AFTER LIKE 1 WEEK MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID MY ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I TOOK IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE ENGINE WAS. THE WORST PART ABOUT ALL THIS IS IT ONLY HAD 54,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #11279937

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

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

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2019
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #11258133

85,858 miles · Sep 25, 2019
Engine

THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE LOST OF POWER FROM THE ENGINE WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN FROM THE DEALER UNTIL THE PART ARRIVED. THE CAR HAD KNOCKING, ENGINE LIGHT/OIL CAME ON AS WELL AS HAD TO START AND RESTART THE ENGINE. I WAS LATER TOLD THE CAR HAD A MANUFACTURER DEFECT…

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THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE LOST OF POWER FROM THE ENGINE WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN FROM THE DEALER UNTIL THE PART ARRIVED. THE CAR HAD KNOCKING, ENGINE LIGHT/OIL CAME ON AS WELL AS HAD TO START AND RESTART THE ENGINE. I WAS LATER TOLD THE CAR HAD A MANUFACTURER DEFECTIVE ENGINE. THE CAR KNOCKS, ENGINE SOUNDS STRANGE. THE ENGINE WAS TO BE REPLACE AS A COURTESY BY HYUNDAI USA THE MANUFACTURER DUE TO MANUFACTURER ENGINE HAD RECENTLY EXPIRED ON THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE. THE CLAIMS REP FOR HYUNDAI USA SAID MY ENGINE WOULD BE COVERED LATER AFTER THE CLAIM WAS DENIED. THE DENIAL WAS BASED OF THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THE UPKEEP OF REPAIRS/MAINTENANCE WAS LACKING EVEN THOUGH MAINTENANCE WAS TRACKED. I ASSUMED MANUFACTURED DEFECT WAS BASED ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOW THE ENGINE WAS MADE. MY TRUST AND LOYALTY TO BUSINESSES ARE TRULY LACKING DUE TO THE FACT I PUT MY TRUST IN THE PROFESSIONALS LIKE THE DEALERSHIP, LIKE HYUNDAI USA IN PROVIDING A SAFE WELL MADE VEHICLE. THE CAR LOSES POWER AS THE VEHICLE INCREASE WITH HIGH SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH SHAKING AND CLANKING SOUNDS A CLANKING CLANK CLANK NOISE. THE LOSS OF POWER GOING UP A HILL AND OR EMBANKMENT SAME SOUNDS MENTION BEFORE.

NHTSA ODI #11258018

67,000 miles · Aug 26, 2019
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED ON DASH

NHTSA ODI #11246519

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2019
Engine

THERE IS ROUGH IDLING. SHAKES.

NHTSA ODI #11242688

82,700 miles · Aug 3, 2019
Engine

MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA HAS 82,700 MILES, MAINTAINED REGULARLY. AS OF YESTERDAY THE VEHICLE STALLS WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 45 MILES PER HOUR. PHONED HYUNDAI AND THEY SAY THE WARRANTY ONLY GOES UP TO 80,000 MILES. WE ARE TAKING IT IN TO HYUNDAI ON MONDAY TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT STALL AT THIS MILEAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11241538

115,000 miles · Jul 29, 2019
Engine

VEHICLE HAS 115,000 MILES AND HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE EVERY 4000-5000 MILES. DROVE THE CAR 376 MILES YESTERDAY AND CAMPED OVERNIGHT. NOT 30 MILES FROM LEAVING THE CAMPSITE THIS MORNING MY CAT STARTS HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING UP HOLD AND KNOCKS WHEN THE ENGINE GOES OVER 2500RPMS. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS. I CONTINUE DRIVING TOW…

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VEHICLE HAS 115,000 MILES AND HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE EVERY 4000-5000 MILES. DROVE THE CAR 376 MILES YESTERDAY AND CAMPED OVERNIGHT. NOT 30 MILES FROM LEAVING THE CAMPSITE THIS MORNING MY CAT STARTS HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING UP HOLD AND KNOCKS WHEN THE ENGINE GOES OVER 2500RPMS. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS. I CONTINUE DRIVING TOWARD THE NEAREST AUTO SERVICE STATION (30 MILES) BUT THE CAR DOESN'T MAKE IT. GOING UP A HILL IT ACCELERATED LESS AND LESS UNTIL IT STOPPED AT WHICH POINT THE BATTERY AND OIL LIGHTS CAME ON. HAD THE CAR TOWED AND THE MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE IS LOCKED UP AND THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE AT ALL. HIS RECOMMENDATION IS A NEW ENGINE. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON UNTIL THE CAR DIED.

NHTSA ODI #11240456

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