2016 Hyundai Elantra reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 386
- 226 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 107 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 2
- see below
- Reported harm
- 30 reported crashes · 22 injuries · 6 fires
What owners report fails — 2016 Hyundai Elantra
- ENGINE 107
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 51
- POWER TRAIN 27
- AIR BAGS 26
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20
2 recalls on record for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra
- NHTSA 26V307000 · 2026 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO An air bag inflator that ruptures may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or passengers, increasing the
- NHTSA 24V146000 · 2024 · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2016 Hyundai Elantra
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2016 Hyundai Elantra units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
NHTSA has 386 consumer complaints on record for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra and 2 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (107 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2016 Hyundai Elantra units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Hyundai Elantra?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (107), unknown or other (51), power train (27), air bags (26). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2016 Hyundai Elantra?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.