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#BS-2016-HYUELA-38C7

2016 Hyundai ElantraProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 399 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
399
Crashes
30
Fires
6
Recalls
2
TSBs
134
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 399 complaints, 30 crashes, 6 fires, and 2 recalls. Complaint rate is 2.1x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

rodents chew soy based wire covering

4 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
2

engine dies no warning

4 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
3

steering locked up

4 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
4

knocking engine seized

3 complaints • Severity 9.3/10

$X,XXX
5

ticking sound

3 complaints • Severity 7.3/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

111 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 54K miles.

!Inspect the DrivetrainMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

48
0–30K
41
30–60K
38
60–90K
20
90–120K
6
120–150K
4
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (48 reports) • Median: 54K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (111 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine111 (28%)
Other54 (14%)
Drivetrain30 (8%)
Airbags26 (7%)
Electrical20 (5%)
Fuel System20 (5%)
Steering19 (5%)
Speed Control18 (5%)

2016 Hyundai Elantra: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 28% of all reports filed for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra, with 111 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 54,128 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 54K-mile mark.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra, with 30 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra, with 26 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra, with 20 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

6
15
20
16
23
17
31
18
30
19
37
20
42
21
50
22
58
23
44
24
28
25
30
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra. Recent trend: stable.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (2 recalls)

24V146000Apr 2024

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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."

26V307000Jul 2026

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2016 Hyundai Elantra NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

DP21003ClosedOpened Nov 2021 · closed Jun 2023

Throttle control system vulnerabilities

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:THROTTLE

The worst model year for the Hyundai Elantra is the 2013 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2016 Hyundai Elantra vs. Class Average (Midsize Cars)

This vehicle

399

Class avg

190

2.1x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical midsize cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 399 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 2 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Hyundai Elantra Model Years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992
View all Hyundai Elantra years →

2016 Hyundai Elantra: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Hyundai Elantra?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2016 Hyundai Elantra is related to the engine, with 111 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2016 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
The 2016 Hyundai Elantra has 399 complaints, 30 crash reports, and 6 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 2.1x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2016 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA rates the 2016 Hyundai Elantra 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2016 Hyundai Elantra problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2016 Hyundai Elantra have any recalls?
Yes, the 2016 Hyundai Elantra has 2 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Hyundai Elantra problems start?
Based on 157 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 54,128 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2016 Hyundai Elantra data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 399 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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