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2016 Hyundai Elantra

Gas

Midsize Cars
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11

Safety Signal

86 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns2

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA299

Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA31 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2016 Hyundai Elantra is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize car with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Elantra, is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 299 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Elantra	Gas	FWD	1.8L 4-cyl	28	37	31	$2,000
Elantra	Gas	FWD	1.8L 4-cyl	27	36	30	$2,100
Elantra Limited	Gas	FWD	1.8L 4-cyl	27	36	30	$2,100
Elantra	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	24	35	28	$2,250
Elantra	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	24	34	28	$2,250
Elantra GT	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	24	32	27	$2,300
Elantra GT	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	24	32	27	$2,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36096, 36097, 36095, 36098, 36099, 36022, 36036.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Air Bags

300

3,493 vehicles

ProblemHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Elantra and 2016 Elantra GT vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.RiskAn air bag inflator that ruptures may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or passengers, increasing the risk of injury or death.FixDealers 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.

NHTSA campaign 26V307000reported May 14, 2026Hyundai Motor America

●moderate

Latches/Locks/Linkages

256

186,588 vehicles

ProblemHyundai 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."RiskA person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.FixDealers 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.

NHTSA campaign 24V146000reported Feb 23, 2024Hyundai Motor America

NHTSA defect investigations

Vehicle Speed Control:Throttle — Throttle control system vulnerabilities closed

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. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defec

Opened Nov 12, 2021 · closed Jun 20, 2023 · action DP21003

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

299complaints filed

22 involved a crash · 5 a fire · 17 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2015: 5 · 2016: 17 · 2017: 14 · 2018: 25 · 2019: 23 · 2020: 25 · 2021: 36 · 2022: 41 · 2023: 40 · 2024: 34 · 2025: 19 · 2026: 20

Most-cited components

Engine116

Unspecified53

Power Train31

Air Bags26

Electrical System23

Steering19

What owners describe

“The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that there was an abnormal burning odor inside and outside the vehicle. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was later towed to the residence where an ind…”Jul 6, 2023 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

“The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed and determined that the vehicle had a experienced a failure w…”May 31, 2023 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

“The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH and depressing the brake pedal to stop the vehicle, the braked malfunctioned, and the vehicle failed to slow down. The contact shifted to park and turned off the vehicle to avoid crashing into the rear of a truck. Aft…”Nov 25, 2022 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	11%
5 HB FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Compare the 2016 Elantra with

2016 Toyota Camry →2016 Toyota Corolla →

Other Elantra model years

2026 Hyundai Elantra

2 recalls · 3 complaints

2025 Hyundai Elantra

2 recalls · 33 complaints

2024 Hyundai Elantra

2 recalls · 59 complaints

2023 Hyundai Elantra

4 recalls · 165 complaints

2022 Hyundai Elantra

8 recalls · 155 complaints

2021 Hyundai Elantra

7 recalls · 158 complaints

2020 Hyundai Elantra

3 recalls · 255 complaints

2019 Hyundai Elantra

1 recalls · 263 complaints

2018 Hyundai Elantra

1 recalls · 330 complaints

2017 Hyundai Elantra

4 recalls · 790 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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