2016 Hyundai Elantra problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 2016 Hyundai Elantra have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Q: What gas mileage does the 2016 Hyundai Elantra get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2016 Hyundai Elantra at about 29 mpg combined (26 city / 36 highway).

Q: How much is a 2016 Hyundai Elantra worth?

Comparable 2016 Hyundai Elantra listings run roughly $6,995–$13,900, typically around $10,621 (from 47 vehicles).

2016 Hyundai Elantra at a glance

Safety recalls2

Owner complaints282

Combined29 mpg

Typical price$10,621

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2016 Hyundai Elantra recalls 2

Latches/locks/linkages:trunk Lid:latch NHTSA Campaign #24V146000 · 23/02/2024

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."

Fix: 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.

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #26V307000 · 15/05/2026

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.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 13, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 300. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) invo…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2016 Hyundai Elantra common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 282 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine

Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

Air Bags

Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Fuel/propulsion System

Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.

Power Train

Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

Electrical System

Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

Service Brakes

Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

2016 Hyundai Elantra MPG & running costs

Combined29 mpg

City26 mpg

Highway36 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$2,113

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2016 Hyundai Elantra worth?

Low

$6,995

Typical price

$10,621

High

$13,900

From 47 comparable 2016 Hyundai Elantra listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2016 Hyundai Elantra costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$10,565

Depreciation (5 yrs)$2,450

Total$13,015

Per mile$0.17

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($10,621) with the same model 5 model-years older ($8,181), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2016 Hyundai Elantra trims & engines on record

Trims

SE / Value Edition/ Limited · SE / Value Edition / Sport / Limited · Standard / Standard w/ Style Pkg, Standard w/ Tech Pkg · Signature / Ultimate · SE Popular Pkg, SE Tech pkg, Limited

Engines

1.8L 4-cyl · 1.8L 4-cyl 145 hp · 2.0L 4-cyl 145 hp · 2.0L 4-cyl 147 hp

2016 Hyundai Elantra vehicles on record

2016 Hyundai Elantra SE / Value Edition / Sport / LimitedKMHDH4AE7GU477888

2016 Hyundai Elantra SE / Value Edition/ Limited5NPDH4AE2GH739430 2016 Hyundai Elantra SE / Value Edition/ Limited5NPDH4AE3GH766345

2016 Hyundai Elantra SE / Value Edition/ Limited5NPDH4AE4GH766127 2016 Hyundai Elantra Standard / Standard w/ Style Pkg, Standard w/ Tech PkgKMHD35LH4GU304020

2016 Hyundai Elantra SE / Value Edition / Sport / LimitedKMHDH4AE0GU586788 2016 Hyundai Elantra SE / Value Edition/ Limited5NPDH4AE3GH740067 2016 Hyundai Elantra SE / Value Edition/ Limited5NPDH4AE0GH686887 2016 Hyundai Elantra SE / Value Edition/ Limited5NPDH4AE9GH712483

2016 Hyundai Elantra Standard / Standard w/ Style Pkg, Standard w/ Tech PkgKMHD35LH8GU308930

2016 Hyundai Elantra Standard / Standard w/ Style Pkg, Standard w/ Tech PkgKMHD35LH2GU326405

2016 Hyundai Elantra SE / Value Edition/ Limited5NPDH4AE9GH727906

2016 Hyundai Elantra SE / Value Edition / Sport / LimitedKMHDH4AE6GU608244 2016 Hyundai Elantra SE / Value Edition / Sport / LimitedKMHDH4AE0GU520354

2016 Hyundai Elantra SE / Value Edition/ Limited5NPDH4AEXGH670762

2016 Hyundai Elantra SE / Value Edition/ Limited5NPDH4AE6GH771622

Other Hyundai Elantra model years

2016 Hyundai Elantra — frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Hyundai Elantra have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Hyundai Elantra?

Based on 282 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, air bags, fuel/propulsion system.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Hyundai Elantra get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2016 Hyundai Elantra at about 29 mpg combined (26 city / 36 highway).

How much is a 2016 Hyundai Elantra worth?

Comparable 2016 Hyundai Elantra listings run roughly $6,995–$13,900, typically around $10,621 (from 47 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.