2016 Hyundai Elantra Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 73,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

The motor started to make a ticking noise 5 months earlier. 5 months later at 180,000 miles a borascope finding, reveled all 4 cylinder walls were worn related to cylinder slap. Called Hyundai dealership and was told ithe car is too old and the milage too high for a warranty coverage.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Engine burned oil and had knocking sound, despite having regular oil changes. Stalked out while driving took to dealer initial said it was covered by the exerted coverage but ultimately denied. It had 111,000 miles on it. I believe this engine has the same issues as the others.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 79,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

Transmission P0731 code. Vehicle will not shift into 1st gear when idle but will stay in 3 or 4 gear. Speedometer would indicate high speed when pressing on accelerator. At traffic light when light turn green car rev but would not shift into gear. Has only 130K miles. Car was towed to dealer and required a new transmission.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Vehicle started to violently lurch when shifted into drive. A week later loud clunking sound also started when shifting into drive. Sometimes would not go into drive and had to use manual 1st, 2nd, etc. Reverse was fine, no issues. No dash lights ever came on. Auto parts store had error code P0722. Have a diagnostic appt in a week at…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 62,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (16).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

Paint delamination has exposed bare metal on hood/roof/trunk. Corrosion is spreading, which can compromise crashworthiness and latch integrity. Additional peeling near the window trim near the roof is beginning to corrode. This part of the vehicle is structural and could compromise roof strength. This issue is a world wide(yes Canada…Owner complaint, filed 2025

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…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 154,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 32,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic, who informed the contact of a Manufacturer's Extended Warranty Coverage for the failure and referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. The…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 53,600 miles

On [XXX] I was struck by a OVI driver at 50mph the side airbags deployed however the front airbag never deployed. The vehicle was totaled out my insurance company. The vehicle had no record or open recalls for the airbag and had been given a multiple point inspection in November 2024 with no issues noted. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 64,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was driving my vehicle damages stop accelerating the check engine light battery light and all light all came on in a vehicle just came to a complete stop and did not let me restart the vehicle. This has happened to me a second time.Owner complaint, filed 2022

The car does not turn over when you initially start car you have to turn the key back and try starting again it has been consistently doing this for over a year and no mechanic can figure out what the problem is. Other than that there is no issues with the driving.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 70,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 45,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 92,000 miles

For the past three years I have had to add oil to my car proir to the 3000 mile mark that is recommended. As of the past year, I have had to add oil every 1000 miles. I have had several oil changer businesses tell me that they see this issue all the time with Hyundai vehicles. My car is used to get me to work, doctor appointments…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 27,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The brake line on the car rusted out, and subsequently ruptured, leading to a loss of brake fluid and a total loss of brake function. The failure was quite abrupt. The fluid leaking had been noted within 24 hours of brake failure, but the brake warning lights only came on after the rupture had occurred and were noted at the same time…Owner complaint, filed 2023

The stop lamps on my 2016 Hyundai Elantra (date of delivery 7/9/2015) began to illuminate continuously on 5/13/2022 in Miami, FL - even after I turned off the engine. Consequently, my battery fully discharged. The traction control warning lamp was illuminated, too. These symptoms are precisely the ones identified in the 12/13/2017 Brake…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 46,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

As I was driving all of a sudden my power steering light and traction control light would pop on my car and my wheel would lock up on my making it extremely difficult to navigate. Would happen randomly at different speeds and scenarios. Once turned on when I was getting on the Delaware Memorial Bridge, another time on a highway, and…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Power steering failed causing the vehicle to be difficult to control. The vehicle was in motion on a city street, turning left.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 52,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 60,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving out of the driveway, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. During the incident, the engine's RPMs suddenly increased before the vehicle erroneously accelerated forward and crashed into a tree causing body damage to the vehicle. During the crash, no…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 58,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking space with her foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated and crashed into the tires of another vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 62,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 20,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

All 3 brake lights stopped working over the weekend & there was a recall for all other years except for 2016. This is a serious problem & Hyundai has been having major recalls on their vehicles as of recentOwner complaint, filed 2023

-Exterior lighting continuously burns out and I am willing to have my vehicle inspected. Lights that continuously burn out are both headlights, all blinkers, all break lights. -Since the lights burn out so frequently (sometimes as soon as you install a new bulb) I am concerned that without adequate lighting I am at risk for an accident…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 17,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra equipped with Waterfall Tires, Tire Line: Eco Dynamic, Tire Size:195/65/R15, DOT Number: 48AEYUEN. The contact stated that while performing an oil change on the vehicle, the contact discovered that the steel belt was exposed on the front driver’s and front passenger’s side tires due to severe tread…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 134,000 miles

I purchased a new vehicle, 2016 Hyundai, from a local dealer, with a current mileage of 47,000. Hankook tires were OEM with the vehicle. I religiously bring my vehicle into the dealer for all maintenance, including rotating and balancing the tires every 3,000 miles. The first set of tires FAILED (less than 3/32) at approximately 23,000…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 21,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

Anytime I hit a bump going at least 35 mph the back of my car jumps to one side or another. I've tried adding weight to the back of the car, less and more air in tires, new tires, but nothing seems to fix the problem. It has knocked me sideways on the roads and when on the highway or interstate it's gets worse as you are driving faster.…Owner complaint, filed 2021

Passenger side coil spring on my 2016 elantra snapped after driving over a normally worn road. Taking to a mechanic tomorrow to assess the damage. This is the same issue my significant other had with his 2011 sonata and a friend of mine's 2015 elantra. Finding it very odd that there are several recalls out for the same reason on many…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 43,564 miles

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

Airbag in driver seat is bulging inside the seat making the seat uncomfortable and unsafe. It just happened from use of the car sitting in the drivers seat.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 72,000 miles

2016 hyundai elantra. Consumer states that air bag did not deploy during accident. *ld the consumer stated the airbag may not operate properly. *js the consumer stated the airbags and the seatbelt may not have operated as designed a crash.Owner complaint, filed 2019

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

No accident has occurred as of yet (for my case). Ongoing issues with Hyundai left brake bulb and center brake bulb burning out due to over-amperage. These two are on their own 10A circuit separate from the 5A circuit for the right brakelight bulb. It appears that these two bulbs are possibly receiving 15A and therefore burning out…Owner complaint, filed 2026

I was driving when suddenly I hear a knock in the engine and a grinding sound inside the engine and a mechanic inspected it and said that it is rod bearing that they have damage, speak to the hyundai department and that their system did not work that they could not give me informationOwner complaint, filed 2021, at 72,000 miles