2016 Hyundai Elantra Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe engine problems — knocking or ticking noises, stalling, and heavy oil use — that typically appear between roughly 45,000 and 100,000 miles. A second cluster of complaints involves the trunk latch and interior trunk release, and many of those reference a related recall. Smaller groups describe air bag warning lights or non-deployment, power steering loss, and hard starting or stalling in cold weather.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine knocking, stalling, and oil consumption

   • 80 complaints (27%)
   • median 73,000 mi at 4.3 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe a ticking or knocking sound from under the hood that grows louder, often followed by a flashing oil light, loss of power, or the engine shutting off. Several owners say the vehicle was towed and the dealer or mechanic reported no oil on the dipstick or recommended engine replacement or rebuild. Others report needing to add oil between changes, with dealers describing that consumption as normal. Most sample reports fall between about 45,000 and 130,000 miles, with many in the 60,000–90,000 range; a few owners say oil levels were fine and maintenance was kept up to date.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt smell on the dipstick, and listen for ticking at cold start and after warm-up. Ask whether any engine-related service campaign or extended warranty work (oil consumption inspection, knock sensor software) has already been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I just know that my vehicle has a high use of engine oil. I took it to the dealer about a year and half ago to have it checked but they said that was normal but the more I read up on this it sounds like it is not normal. Also the clear over spray paint on all 4 door handles has come off and the rear hatch top window spoiler has completely peeled off also.”

   NHTSA complaint #11581137, filed 2024-04, 113,196 miles

   “I was driving on a road that is 50mph when I tried to accelerate I wasn't able to and dropped speed no lights came on and the car started jerking and jolting. I then heard a ticking coming from the hood. I then had it towed to Hyundai and when they finally did look at it they said that the engine needed replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #11361274, filed 2020-09, 65,800 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light or air bags not deploying

   • 23 complaints (8%)
   • median 35,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the air bag warning light staying on, and in some cases air bags not deploying in a collision. A few owners report the driver's seat-side air bag bulging into the seat, or an air bag deploying while the vehicle was parked and off. Dealers and the manufacturer are described in some reports as saying no recall applied at the time. Reports in the sample range from near-new (under 1,000 miles) to around 160,000 miles, with several between 30,000 and 90,000 miles.

   Recall 26V3070002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the air bag system scanned for stored codes and confirm whether recall 26V307000 (driver's air bag inflator) applies and has been completed. Ask whether the air bag warning light has been on and how it was resolved.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2016 Hyundai Elantra with involved in injury accident 07/18/2015 with failure of driver's side air bag curtain deploying. Vehicle's owner was making left turn when struck in the center pillar driver's side by another vehicle traveling approximately 60 m.p.h. Causing vehicle to be push sideways approximately 10 feet. The driver had to exit vehicle passenger side due to extensive damage to doors and sub frame. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11003115, filed 2017-07, 500 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while her daughter attempted to adjust the front driver's side seat while the vehicle was turned off, the front Driver-side air bag had independently deployed. No warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact's daughter's left arm was injured on impact with the air bag. Medical attention was sought, and further medical diagnosis will be scheduled. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11700504, filed 2025-11, 160,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Hard starting and stalling, worse in cold weather

   • 75 complaints (26%)
   • median 70,600 mi at 4.1 yrs old (36 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe the engine cranking but not catching on the first try, sometimes requiring several attempts or a wait of minutes to hours before it starts. Owners link it to cold temperatures in some cases and also report hesitation or stalling while driving, with the check engine light on; dealers diagnosed a crankshaft sensor or emission-related parts in some cases. Sample reports fall between about 44,000 and 92,000 miles, with several owners noting the problem was worse in very cold weather.

   What to check: Start the car from cold, ideally on a chilly morning, and note whether it catches on the first try. Ask for any stored fault codes to be read and whether the crankshaft position sensor or related software has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the street when I reached a stop light. I came to a complete, full, and safe stop. The car was stationary. And before this day that this all happened, the car was in perfect driving condition. Nothing was wrong from what I could tell. I then turned the car off and turned it back on, in the front of traffic forming behind me. It kept shutting off every time I would stop or slow down. It happened about 7 times before I went back to the dealership I bought it from.”

   NHTSA complaint #11341433, filed 2020-07, 106,894 miles

   “When I attempt to start the car the engine turns but won't turn over. The car does this more often in very cold weather. Even in warm weather it will start sometimes and sometimes I have to try multiple times and sometimes it will not start at all. There are no check engine or other indicators that there is an issue with the car. The only other thing that may or may not be related that is different from what I normally expect is that sometimes the while driving, the car will not accelerate in a timely manner. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11311658, filed 2020-02, 72,000 miles
4. 4
   Other or unknown

   Trunk opens by itself or will not latch

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the trunk popping open while driving at highway speed, or failing to stay shut after closing; some used a rope to hold it closed. Several mention the interior emergency release or the latch no longer working, and some say a dealer could not schedule or complete the recall repair, or that the trunk did not open properly after the recall work was done. Reported from about 42,000 to 154,000 miles in the sample, including several reports filed after the recall was announced.

   Recall 24V146000

   What to check: Check that the trunk latches firmly and that the interior emergency release works, and confirm with a dealer whether recall 24V146000 has been performed on the vehicle. Ask whether the latch has been replaced under that recall.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V146000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) however, after the recall repair was completed, the trunk latch no longer opened the trunk as designed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was informed that a fee would be charged to complete the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,200.”

   NHTSA complaint #11585500, filed 2024-04, 88,200 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that upon inspection, it was discovered that the interior emergency trunk release was inoperable, and the trunk could not be opened from inside the vehicle. The contacted stated that the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V146000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); but the vehicle experienced the failure listed in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 154,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11619283, filed 2024-10, 154,000 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the steering suddenly becoming very heavy or pulling to one side, sometimes with warning lights on the dash. In some reports the power steering warning light comes and goes, and one owner said the repair was not covered under warranty. Some say the car felt hard to control at low speed while turning. Sample reports cluster between roughly 46,000 and 85,000 miles.

   What to check: During a test drive, turn the wheel at low speed and watch for a steering warning light or uneven effort. Ask whether the steering column or power steering assist has been repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While I was driving down the road yesterday, the steering pulled to the right very abruptly and 2 lights came on, on the dash. At that point the steering was very difficult to turn. Then I am told it's not covered under warrenty. I know in researching this issue that they have had this problem in the past with the same issues.”

   NHTSA complaint #11118547, filed 2018-08, 64,700 miles

   “Power sterrung light keep coming off and on. 1 week I can drive it with no problems and the next week I I can't. When I drive the my wheel feels like it will lock on me. So I avoid driving it anywhere. I dont want anything to happen to me while im driving the vehicle”

   NHTSA complaint #11320891, filed 2020-04, 85,000 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the engine — oil level and consumption history, plus any stored codes — and confirm which open recalls for the trunk latch and air bag inflator have actually been completed. Service records showing regular oil changes and any completed engine-related campaigns are worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.