31 complaints reported

2016 Hyundai Elantra UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
31
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Oct 2026

Issue: Hyundai recall denial for paint peeling defect My vehicle qualifies for the Hyundai paint-peeling recall, and the paint deterioration matches the defect described by Hyundai. Despite this, Hyundai has denied my recall repair twice. Approximately 2 1/2 years before the recall was issued, I applied a small touch-up to the affected area to slow the deterioration. This was done solely to protect the vehicle and occurred long before any recall existed. Hyundai is now using that minor touch-up as a reason to deny the recall repair, even though the underlying paint defect was already present. The paint continues to peel and worsen. Hyundai's refusal to honor the recall appears unreasonable and inconsistent with the purpose of a safety/defect recall, especially since the touch-up did not cause the defect and was done years before Hyundai acknowledged the issue. I am requesting that NHTSA review Hyundai's handling of this recall and their denial of legitimate claims.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2025
Feb 2026

My car turned off while it was in drive. The oil pressure light flashed on for a second then disappeared. The car did not have anything else seem like it is wrong. I was put in dangers way because it turned off right before I was about to turn onto a very busy street and if it had done that in the middle of the street I would have gotten into an accident.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2026
Oct 2025

The trunk latch was recalled. I supposedly got it fixed in July 2024. It was functioning at the time it was supposedly fixed. It Does say it’s a safety issue.Now it is not working, exactly the symptoms of the recall, not open from the inside. There isn’t a key hole to open it. My belongings are inside, and if I get a flat, there is no way of opening the trunk. I’ve called their corporate office. They want to charge me a diagnostic fee, of $200.00 to check the recall. Isn’t it their legal obligation to check if the recall has taken affect?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2025
Aug 2025

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 an incident two years prior and that it hasn’t caused any issues with opening or shutting the trunk since. But the gentleman I talked to reiterated that the recall repair to my trunk latch couldn’t be done. I recently found out that the recall was marked as completed when it was not. I don’t know what to do!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2025
Jul 2025

UNKNOWN

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2025
May 2025

Unknown

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2024
Nov 2024

I received a notice of the recall for the trunk latch function for my 2016 Hyundai elantra. I had to pay $450 out of pocket for this exact same problem in October 2022 and I want a refund. I was parked and went to open the trunk. Not only did the latch not work but also the trunk wouldn't close.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2022
Jul 2024

The sun visors on both the driver and passenger sides of the car are made of plastic (under the fabric material). Both visors no longer work properly. The plastic body of the visor has cracked and broken which causes the visor to no longer stay in the up position. The passenger side only stays in the down position. But the driver side is at an awkward position where it sticks out. It will not stay up and it does not go down. The vehicle has not been in an accident to have caused this to happen. The car has had one consistent driver within the family and the primary driver is typically the only person in the car. The broken visors are not from being abused or misused. The fact that the driver side visor protrudes and impedes the drivers view is a safety concern. If the car were to be in an accident the sun visor is at an angle that it could potentially cause face/head contusions. The passenger side visor failed roughly 3 years ago. The driver side visor failed June 2024.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2024
May 2024

The following dealerships owned by Paul Peebles, Humble Hyundai, North Freeway Hyundai and Baytown Hyundai are unwilling to service the recall unless a customer schedules a return appointment to have $1,040.64 dollars of recommended repairs. On [XXX] I made an appointment for [XXX] for the recall service. When I presented, they told me that they did not have the part because they could not order it until I came in to have a photo taken of my VIN & odometer. I was told I needed to come back and gave me a 21-point estimate of required immediate attention work needed. One of the items was an alignment noting Tires - Damage/Abnormal Wear. The four tires on my car were purchased from Discount Tires on [XXX] and the alignment was done at NTB on [XXX]. So obviously, this was fraud. I became very upset on [XXX] realizing I had wasted my time and money and then to top the insult was being lied to. My sister had the same recall serviced in Austin and did not need to make two appointments for the recall. When I took my car to North Freeway Humble on [XXX] to have the recall serviced, I was told that I had been put on a DO NOT SERVICE LIST by the three dealerships owned by Mr. Peebles, Mr. John Ray, the General Manager at Humble Hyundai and Tim Shipe, Service Director of the three dealerships, Humble, North Freeway and Baytown. I would like an independent mechanic shop to service the recall. I no longer trust my car to be serviced at the above dealerships due to their dishonest business practices. Please help. I contacted Hyundai Customer Service to request an independent mechanic shop I could have the recall serviced and they told me that I needed to have the work done at a dealership. They recommended dealerships three and four hours away from my home. Please assist me in finding an intendent mechanic to service the recall. I no longer trust my car to be serviced at the above dealerships My VIN [XXX] & [XXX] need service. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2024
May 2024

Haven't had any issues at the moment, but was wondering if the clock spring has ever been recalled on these vehicles.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2024
Apr 2024

The recall (code 256————-41D029R1) was fixed on my Hyundai Elantra today on April 23 2024.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Apr 2024
Nov 2023

Paint peeling off in huge sections. Clear coat is fine but the paint is coming off in large amounts down to bare metal. Car is white in color

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2023
Nov 2023

My car was stolen out of my driveway, taken for a joy ride, and abandoned on the side of the road. This year/model of car is experiencing extremely high levels of theft across the nation (e.g, 7K in Chicago alone, and 59,991 nationwide through August). This is due to: 1 - the ease with which it can be stolen with no special tools, due to poor design 2 - a popular "TikTok Challenge" to steal these cars This presents an extreme public safety concern as: - the cars are typically stolen by teenagers and taken for joy rides, posing a hazard to other drivers - this can lead to dangerous high-speed police chases - having cars abandoned haphazardly on the sides of roads is a traffic hazard - owners who recover their cars may be unaware of equipment safety issues that may have been caused by reckless driving - insurers are dropping coverage of these cars, which may force lower-income owners to drive uninsured To date, Hyundai has done nothing to address this issue.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Dec 2022
Sep 2023

This issue is the catalytic converter. Mine went bad and affected my clutch and my acceleration. This led to many safety issues!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2023
Jun 2023

Trunk latch inoperable does not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401. Similar previous recalls 21V619000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2023
Apr 2023

The trunk latch in my 2016 Hyundai Elantra is broken. I brought it to the dealer in 12/2022 and showed it to them, and it had been failing for some time. It would not open using the latch next to the drivers seat. That just did nothing. The guy at the dealer told me that there was no recall and it would cost $800 just to diagnose the problem. I can’t afford that so I didn’t have it done. It completely doesn’t work now. You can’t open it. If you are lucky and get it open then you can’t close it. It is barely closed right now. Light on panel inside the car is on saying the trunk is open. If I am driving and hit a bump it could fly open. The guy at the dealer ordered the part and told me to use painters tape to keep it shut in the meantime like I know what I am doing. It will cost me $400 to fix—I am on Social Security and don’t have $400–and I don’t have access to my spare tire if I get a flat tire. There was a recall for this exact part for 2016 Hyundai Elantras but it didn’t include my VIN number. Sounds to me like it should have. The dealership sent me on my way with my trunk still just barely closed. Use painters tape. Couldn’t even help me secure it. I need to figure out out how to secure it on my own as I need to drive in the highway. Don’t know what happens if I need the spare. I don’t know why it wasn’t included in the original recall. There were other 2016 Elantras. I am basically on my own on this. Nobody has paid a bit of interest. Dealer told me to call Hyundai. Hyundai told me to call dealer. Who’s on first? All I know is I feel like I am paying this $400 but I’m going to have to not pay something else—like groceries, cable, gas for the car, etc. I don’t understand. Why are some covered and some not?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Apr 2023
Jan 2023

When I use the shift control to shift my car into drive, nothing happens. The car does not transition into drive, and when I step on the gas, the engine just revs. This happens most often after I have driven the car for at least an hour. When I shut the car off and later (5 to 10 min) return to my car, I can not get the car to shift into drive. It will go in reverse and neutral but not drive. When I start the car first thing in the morning, the car goes into drive with no problem. I have to avoid parallel parking due to fear of not being able to get the car to go into drive after I have shifted in reverse to parallel park.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2023
Nov 2022

The trunk latch has malfunctioned, exactly what is happening with 2016 Hyundai models that are recalled for the trunk latch not staying latched. Suddenly the latch will no longer stay closed. There were no warnings.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2022
Nov 2022

Was driving about 25 mph coming to slow down to turn and my car just died there was no warning no lights came on the dash the car just shut off put it in park and it started with no problem it has done it three times even while I was just driving down the road wasn't stopping or anything

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2022
Jul 2022

Trunk latch won’t work, there is a recall on other models for this problem but they say this isn’t on recall

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2022
Jan 2022

Vehicle turns off without warning while driving . No lights appear. Has been in the shop for 2 months . No codes appear on diagnostic device.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2021
Nov 2021

Trunk will not open. Passenger side latch doesn’t open the trunk. Trunk is stuck. Rear seats do not have a button or latch to make them go down/fold. Cannot get into the trunk from inside of car. Car passenger door has no access to trunk latch. No smart key came with car, but if trunk latch is broken/damaged, there is still no way to get access to the trunk! Safety feature has no access from inside or outside the car! No key entry to the trunk! Nothing!!! A child gets stuck in this 2016 Hyundai Elantra they will die!!! No key entry to the trunk.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2016
Feb 2021

Latch for trunk does not work from the inside by the floor at the driver seat.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2021
Aug 2020

IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS MY REAR WINDOW IS BUBBLING BETWEEN THE WINDOW. IF IT CONTINUES IT LOOKS LIKE THE WINDOW WILL SEPERATE OR SHATTER. IT LOOKS LIKE MOISTURE GOT IN BETWEEN THE GLASS AND TINT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2020
Nov 2019

I WAS IN A DRIVE THRU AT A PHARMACY WHEN THE AIR STOPPED WORKING, CAR HAD 62,000 MILES TO DATE & UPON VEHICLE INSPECTION THE AIR COMPRESSOR WENT OUT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2019

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Quick Summary

The 2016 Hyundai Elantra has 31 UNKNOWN OR OTHER complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.