Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Air Bag Inflator May Rupture
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- An air bag inflator that ruptures may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or passengers, increasing the risk of injury or death.
- 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. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated August, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 300. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 16, 2026.
Trunk Emergency Release May Fail/FMVSS 401
- Summary
- 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."
- Consequence
- A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
- 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. Hyundai's number for this recall is 256.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (293)
293 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 293 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 111 | 37.9% |
| Unknown or other | 54 | 18.4% |
| Power train | 31 | 10.6% |
| Air bags | 26 | 8.9% |
| Electrical system | 22 | 7.5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 19 | 6.5% |
| Steering | 19 | 6.5% |
| Structure | 18 | 6.1% |
| Vehicle speed control | 18 | 6.1% |
| Service brakes | 15 | 5.1% |
How 2016 compares with other Elantra years
Best and worst Elantra years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 653 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1,324 | 4 |
| 2014 | 386 | 2 |
| 2015 | 262 | 3 |
| 2016 | 293 | 2 |
| 2017 | 767 | 4 |
| 2018 | 283 | 0 |
| 2019 | 251 | 1 |
| 2020 | 252 | 3 |
| 2021 | 131 | 6 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2016 Hyundai Elantra 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 31 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,150
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 282 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 31 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 37 / 31 | $2,150 | 282 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 36 / 30 | $2,250 | 295 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 36 / 30 | $2,250 | 290 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 35 / 28 | $2,400 | 315 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 34 / 28 | $2,400 | 319 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2016 Elantra for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2016 Hyundai Elantra FAQ
How many recalls does the 2016 Hyundai Elantra have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 26V307000 (air bag), 24V146000 (latch). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2016 Hyundai Elantra problems?
Owners filed 293 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (111), Unknown or other (54), Power train (31) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2016 Hyundai Elantra get?
EPA rates the 1.8 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 28 city, 37 highway and 31 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2016 Hyundai Elantra get?
NHTSA rated the 2016 Hyundai Elantra 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.9% rollover risk).
How does the 2016 Elantra compare with other years?
Among the 2012–2021 Hyundai Elantra model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (131) and the 2013 the most (1,324). The 2016 drew 293. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.