Most common 2015 Hyundai Elantra problems
Share of the 263 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Elantra complaints by model year
Best Elantra years: 2025. Years to avoid: 2013, 2017, 2012, 2018, 2011. Compare all years →
2015 Hyundai Elantra recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
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.
Latches/locks/linkages › Trunk lid › Latch
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."
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2015 Hyundai Elantra:
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
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.
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando.
What 2015 Hyundai Elantra owners say
Engine & cooling all 96 →
The contact owned a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked outside his residence, it caught on fire. The contact stated the fire was emanating from the engine compartment. No one was injured during the fire. A volunteer fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. A fire department and police report were not filed. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the insurance; however, the contact stated the vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was not repaired and remains at the contact residence. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The contact stated that he was able to navigate the vehicle off the roadway. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not covered under recall or warranty. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the gear shifter only operated in second gear (D2) and the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the shifter locked Mr. Transmission where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
Brakes all 55 →
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that upon accelerating from a stop light, the vehicle in the right lane abruptly attempted a U-turn, colliding with the contact's vehicle on the front passenger side. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated at the time of the collision, but the ABS warning light had illuminated intermittently before the collision. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The contact did not seek immediate medical attention but was treated days later for a concussion, a fractured collar, a broken rib, a broken wrist, and two herniated discs. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the Malfunction Indicator Lamp sensors, determining that the air bag warning would have been illuminated had the sensors have been functioning properly. The vehicle was repaired. …
The contact owned a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately at 40 MPH, smoke was being emitted from the vents on the dashboard. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over, stopped the vehicle, exited, and saw flames emitting from under the engine compartment. The contact opened the hood and saw that the engine compartment was engulfed in flames. The contact stated that he called the fire department. The contact stated that the fire department arrived and extinguished the fire, however the front end of the vehicle had been nearly consumed by the fire. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an impound lot and later declared a total loss by his insurance provider. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. …
Steering all 26 →
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of motive power, and the vehicle was difficult to steer. The ABS light, traction control, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and steering wheel warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and has not been repaired. The contact also stated the vehicle was taken to the mechanic for an oil leak 3 times, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
When you go to stop at a stop.sihn or in general it fails to do so. It locks up an I slide an almost hit people multiple times. Today I was backing out of a parking lot an when I went to turn my steering wheel straight it locked up an failed to let me counter steer it. Causing me to go over a curb an almost blow my tire out. Leaving my tire with a big bubble on the side of my tire. Eventually going to lead to a blow out.
2015 Hyundai Elantra engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 27 / 37 / 31 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 27 / 36 / 30 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 35 / 28 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 34 / 28 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2015 Hyundai Elantra a good car?
Based on 263 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2015 Elantra rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Elantra at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2015 Hyundai Elantra?
The engine & cooling — 96 complaints, 37% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › crank/camshaft position sensor. Next are the brakes (55) and steering (26).
How many recalls does the 2015 Hyundai Elantra have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra, the most recent from May 14, 2026 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Elantra?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2025. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2017, 2012, 2018 and 2011. See the full Hyundai Elantra years comparison.
At what mileage do 2015 Hyundai Elantra problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 54,000 miles; 45% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.