repaired · 2026 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
NewRisk. An air bag inflator that ruptures may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or passengers, increasing the risk of injury or death.
2016 Hyundai ElantraProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 294 owner complaints about the 2016 Hyundai Elantra, most often about the engine. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 24V-146 the manufacturer reports only 26% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 11, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Hyundai Elantra has problems
294 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
112Engine3 crash/fire/injury
31Power train
26Air bags16 crash/fire/injury
22Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
19Steering
19Fuel/propulsion system
18Vehicle speed control
18Structure
15Service brakes
6615 other systems5 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 112 | 3 |
| Power train | 31 | 0 |
| Air bags | 26 | 16 |
| Electrical system | 22 | 2 |
| Steering | 19 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 19 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 18 | 4 |
| Structure | 18 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 15 | 1 |
| 15 other systems | 66 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2016 Hyundai Elantra recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q1
Trunk lid: latch
Risk. A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Hyundai.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
73kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 41 engine complaints. 76% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 42% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
2under 30k miles31under 100k miles10100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other Elantra year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Elantra median. How we score
'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2016 Hyundai Elantra safety ratings
2016 Hyundai Elantra 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 Hyundai Elantra, and the recalls they led to.
- Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesNo recall
In owners' words
What Elantra owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
For the past 2 years my car has been stalling on me while driving usually under 50 miles a hour, have had it to 5 different mechanic's and put thousands of money into it and none one can figure out what's wrong, the throttle body, camshaft and crankshaft position sensors and few other parts have…
The motor started to make a ticking noise 5 months earlier. 5 months later at 180,000 miles a borascope finding, reveled all 4 cylinder walls were worn related to cylinder slap. Called Hyundai dealership and was told ithe car is too old and the milage too high for a warranty coverage.
Vehicle stalls while driving which is very dangerous. All dashboard lights go on prior to stalling. No engine light is on. Knocking sound coming from engine. Dealer states engine needs to be replaced. Car has been serviced regularly despite that Hyundai denies engine replacement. The knocking sound…
Own a 2016 Elantra?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.