Most common 2016 Hyundai Elantra problems
Share of the 300 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 →
2016 Hyundai Elantra recalls (2)
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2016 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.
What 2016 Hyundai Elantra owners say
Engine & cooling all 118 →
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact's wife was driving approximately 12 MPH smelled a burning odor, as she parked at the residence she saw smoke emitting from under the hood and the vehicle ignited and began to burn. The contact stated that the engine caught on fire. The contact stated his wife did not notice any warning light was illuminated. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire with water. The fire department wrote an incident report. The police department was also on scene but did not issue a report. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The front of the vehicle was severely damaged. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT. The contact stated that while her wife was driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's wife was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact's wife was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The co-workers of the contact's wife inspected under the hood and noticed that there was no engine oil in the vehicle. However, the contact stated that she had recently completed an oil change. The contact's wife added engine oil in the vehicle with assistance. The contact stated that upon attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle emitted an abnormally loud sound. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer identified the failure as excessive oil consumption that had damaged the engine. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 31 →
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle jerked with an abnormal sound coming from the transmission while shifting gears. In addition, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure due to a workmanship error. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired due to the cost. The dealer notified the manufacturer of the failure and submitted a request for a new transmission. The manufacturer declined the request. …
Bought a 2016 Elantra in 2020 with 44,000 miles on it and a clean repair/ maintenance history. Let me preface the rest of this by saying I am an ASE certified mechanic of 15 years who has been in the industry even longer. The first major issues I incurred with the vehicle happened approximately one year after purchase. The lifters started tapping and not long afterwards (about a week) I had a total engine failure on my hands. I was almost killed by a passing semi truck that was merging on to the interstate but was luckily able to avoid it and get the car on the side of the interstate where I had it towed to Ralph Sellers Hyundai in Baton Rouge Louisiana. Long story short , even though the second owner is entitled to a 5 year, 60,000 mile warranty, they made me pay for a new engine. …
Air bags all 26 →
My daughter and friend were in an accident, traveling 50 miles an hour and hit the center barrier on the highway. The air bags didn't employ. The Minnesota Department of Transportation came up on the accident right away and got them safely off the highway so they wouldn't get hit by other cars. They have provided us with the video of the accident. My daughter and friend had no protection due to air bags not deploying. She has been seen by a doctor for whip lash, neck and headache pains as symptoms. As well as being traumatized by the incident me lack of protection. We have sent the pictures and video to the insurance and they are reviewing to determine if the vehicle can be repaired of totaled. Although, question as to whether they would fix it with what appears to be defective air bags. We will not put her back on the vehicle if repaired without some air bag inspection. …
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who informed him that the air bags were defective. The mechanic then referred him to a dealer for assistance and informed him that there might be a recall on the vehicle for the air bags. The contact's wife called the dealer and the manufacturer and was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
2016 Hyundai Elantra engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 28 / 37 / 31 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 27 / 36 / 30 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 34 / 28 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 35 / 28 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Hyundai Elantra a good car?
Based on 300 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Elantra rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Elantra at the same age. It is one of the Elantra years we suggest avoiding. 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 2016 Hyundai Elantra?
The engine & cooling — 118 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline › belts and associated pulleys. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (31) and air bags (26).
How many recalls does the 2016 Hyundai Elantra have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2016 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 2016 Hyundai Elantra problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 57,000 miles; 42% 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.