2016 Hyundai Elantra problems and recalls

Owners have filed 292 complaints on the 2016 Hyundai Elantra, and NHTSA has issued 2 recalls. The most cited component is the Engine (111 complaints).

292
Complaints
2
Recalls
22
Crash reports
5
Fire reports
17
Injuries
80.3
Severity index

Severity index 80.3 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 80.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 38 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 73% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 111 complaints (38.0%)111 38%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 53 complaints (18.2%)53 18%Power TrainPower Train: 31 complaints (10.6%)31 11%Air BagsAir Bags: 26 complaints (8.9%)26 9%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 22 complaints (7.5%)22 8%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 19 complaints (6.5%)19 7%SteeringSteering: 19 complaints (6.5%)19 7%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 18 complaints (6.2%)18 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE11138.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5318.2%
POWER TRAIN3110.6%
AIR BAGS268.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM227.5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM196.5%
STEERING196.5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL186.2%

Complaints filed per year

019382015: 52016: 172017: 142018: 252019: 232020: 252021: 352022: 372023: 382024: 342025: 192026: 20 (partial year)15161718192021222338242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20155
201617
201714
201825
201923
202025
202135
202237
202338
202434
202519
2026 (year to date)20
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (91 against 97).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
24V14600023/02/2024LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCHHyundai 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
26V30700015/05/2026AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Elantra and 2016 Elantra GT vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.

Other Hyundai Elantra model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-03. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.