2016 Hyundai Elantra
Common Problems
Ranked from 111 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
21 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Engine Stall During Driving
20complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine unexpectedly stalls during driving, posing a significant safety risk to the driver and passengers.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Trunk Latch Failure
16complaintsHigh severityOtherThe trunk latch fails to open or close properly, leading to inconvenience and potential safety risks.
- 3
Engine Knocking and Seizure
10complaintsSafety riskEngineThe engine starts making a knocking sound and eventually seizes, rendering the vehicle inoperable.
- 4
Airbag Deployment Failure During Collision
7complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe airbags fail to deploy during a collision, increasing the risk of injury.
- 5
Air bag malfunction
7complaintsSafety riskElectricalAir bags fail to deploy during an accident, posing a safety risk.
- 6
Check Engine Light Issues
7complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe check engine light illuminates without warning, indicating potential underlying issues with the engine or fuel system.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Transmission Issues Leading to Complete Failure
7complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission fails completely, leaving the vehicle unable to move forward.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Engine Stall at Idle Due to Stop-Start System Failure
6complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine stalls at idle when the stop-start system malfunctions.
$150–$900est. stop-start system diagnosis · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Fuel Consumption Issues
6complaintsMedium severityFuel systemThe vehicle consumes excessive fuel, especially during long drives, which may indicate a fuel system malfunction.
- 10
Engine Overheating and Malfunction
5complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine overheats and malfunctions, leading to sudden loss of power and stalling.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Vehicle speed control issues
5complaintsSafety riskOtherThe car experiences sudden acceleration or deceleration while driving, potentially causing loss of control.
- 12
Brake System Malfunctions
4complaintsHigh severityBrakesThe brake system malfunctions, leading to a loss of braking ability and posing a significant safety risk.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 13
Brake System Malfunction Leading to Safety Risks
2complaintsSafety riskBrakesThe brake system malfunctions, leading to reduced stopping power and safety risks.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 14
Coolant system failures
2complaintsMedium severityFuel systemThe coolant system repeatedly fails, leading to engine overheating and potential engine damage.
- 15
Engine Knocking and Premature Oil Consumption
2complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine produces a knocking sound and consumes oil at an abnormal rate, leading to potential engine failure.
$400–$4,500est. oil-consumption repair (rings/pcv) · 3–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 16
Engine Randomly Shutting Off While Driving
2complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine unexpectedly shuts off while driving, sometimes without any warning lights.
- 17
Steering Sensitivity Issues
2complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe steering is overly sensitive, causing the car to turn abruptly with minimal input, increasing the risk of accidents.
- 18
Steering Wheel Locking Up
2complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe steering wheel locks up and becomes difficult to turn, requiring multiple attempts and sometimes being stranded.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 19
Suspension issues causing instability
2complaintsMedium severitySuspensionSuspension problems cause the vehicle to feel unstable or unsafe on uneven roads.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 20
Suspension Issues Causing Vehicle to Fish Tail
2complaintsHigh severitySuspensionThe vehicle fishtails and becomes unstable when going over bumps or turns, posing a significant safety risk.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 21
Tire Blowouts and Disfigurement
2complaintsHigh severityOtherMultiple tire blowouts and disfigurement occur, especially on highways, risking loss of control and accidents.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.