2016 Hyundai Elantra: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
292 NHTSA owner complaints · 2 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The fifth-generation Elantra (2011–2016) carries complaints about the engine's piston-slap ticking, premature brake wear, and — with the highest counts — steering that pulls and wanders, which Hyundai addressed with a software update to the electric power steering. The 2011–2013 years are the worst of it; 2014–2016 score above 78. Read the full note on the model page. 2016 specifically: a year the record favours — 292 complaints, score 82/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Hyundai Tucson, Santa Fe and Elantra: beyond the engine recall, including 2016 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 292 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 29.2
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Vehicle stalls while driving which is very dangerous. All dashboard lights go on prior to stalling. No engine light is on. Knocking sound coming from engine. Dealer states engine needs to be replaced. Car has been serviced regularly despite that Hyundai denies engine replacement. The knocking sound that engine does is common between this model and year but mysteriously there has not been engine recalls.
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.
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.
Recalls: 2 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. |
| 24V146000 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Latch | 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. |
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 31 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,100
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.
- Engine111 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other53 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train31 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Air Bags26 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
- Electrical System22 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Fuel/Propulsion System19 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
Other Hyundai Elantra years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Hyundai Elantra?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (111 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2016 Hyundai Elantra a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 82/100, computed from 292 NHTSA complaints and 2 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2016 Hyundai Elantra's most common problem?
111 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2016 Hyundai Elantra 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 cost to run per year?
About $4,724 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $23,622 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 have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra, 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 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 — 292 complaints, 2 recalls on record
- 292 NHTSA complaints on record (29.2/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (32.7/yr)
- 2 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems