2016 Hyundai Elantra GT: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
267 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
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Used Hyundai Tucson, Santa Fe and Elantra: beyond the engine recall, including 2016 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 267 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 26.7
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
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 local Hyundai dealer. We may attempt to replace input/output speed sensor to solve,…
My trunk latch hasn’t worked since January. I took it in to McCarthy Olathe Hyundai in Olathe, KS on January 13th for an appointment but they didn’t have the parts available so we rescheduled. When the parts were in, my fiancé took it back on February 18th, 2025 but was told that the repair couldn’t be done since there was previous trunk damage. I explained via the telephone that the damage to my truck was minor from…
I was driving normally down the road and all of a sudden I lost control and couldn’t turn my vehicle apparently the control arm rusted from the subframe, causing me to swerve hit a curb and cause more damage to the front end. Thank God I was on a not so busy street! I could have killed myself or someone else all because this company’s metal rusted out.
Recalls: 1 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 26V307000 | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 27 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,300
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine104 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other44 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train25 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Air Bags22 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
- Electrical System20 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Steering19 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
Other Hyundai Elantra GT years
Hyundai Elantra GT years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (104 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 83/100, computed from 267 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT's most common problem?
104 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT cost to run per year?
About $4,877 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $24,385 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 15/05/2026. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compacts of about the same age.
What will a 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 267 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 267 NHTSA complaints on record (26.7/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (29.7/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems