Showing the 2016 Elantra Value Edition. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
About every 2016 Elantra
The 2016 Hyundai Elantra has 300 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most for the engine, with 116. It gets 27 to 31 mpg combined on gasoline, with a 5-year fuel cost of $10,480 to $12,030 at U.S. average prices, based on 15,000 miles a year. NHTSA gives it 5 overall stars. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns that may apply, covering air bags and door latches and locks.
Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.
Fuel economy
27–31 mpgcombined; city 24–28, highway 32–37; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$10,480–$12,030U.S. average; Ohio $9,360–$10,750 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2016 Elantra. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 300 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Elantra. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
116
1
2
0
Unknown or other
54
1
0
1
Power train
31
0
0
0
Air bags
26
15
1
14
Electrical system
23
0
2
0
Fuel/propulsion system
19
1
0
0
Steering
19
2
0
2
Structure
18
1
1
1
Vehicle speed control
18
4
0
1
Service brakes
16
1
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
13
0
0
0
Suspension
10
1
0
0
13 more parts
Wheels
10
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
9
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
5
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
4
0
0
1
Visibility/wiper
4
1
0
0
Seat belts
3
2
0
2
Seats
2
0
0
0
Tires
2
0
0
0
Visibility
2
0
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
1
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
1
0
0
0
Lane departure
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2016 Elantra over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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.
Risk: An air bag inflator that ruptures may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or passengers, increasing the risk of injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers 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.
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."
Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers 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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 141 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2016 Elantra, the latest on Oct 8, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (35), engine and engine cooling (30), equipment (30), power train (20), equipment adaptive/mobility (10).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Defect petition DP21003 Throttle control system vulnerabilities · covers 2 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2016 Elantra.
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data