2015 Hyundai Elantra problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (58) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic (25) · Service Brakes (25)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Elantra model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
127 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2026-05-14 · campaign 26V307000 · 3,493 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Latches/Locks/Linkages:trunk Lid:latch 2024-02-23 · campaign 24V146000 · 186,588 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module 2023-09-22 · campaign 23V651000 · 1,649,478 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
Defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
Service bulletins (148)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2026-10-15 · 26-GI-004H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (pdw) sensor(s) that may trigger various dtcs and display warning messages on the instrument cluster, resulting in the pdw sensor(s) failing to detect nearby objects or triggering multiple false alarms. this condition may be a res
Engine 2026-10-08 · 26-EM-016H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. all internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operatio
Engine 2026-10-07 · 26-EM-015H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. all internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operatio
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-26 · Z05 OL · Warranty Program/Extension
certain vehicles may exhibit excessive paint peeling or bubbling of the primer/paint film on the exterior metal body panels: hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. this warranty extension only applies to factory-applied paint and does not cover collision-related paint
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-28 · 26-BD-002H TSB · Warranty Program/Extension
certain hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on metal body panels: hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. the paint warranty coverage for affected vehicles has been extended to 10 years/unlimited miles from the date of original ret
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-28 · 26-BD-002H DN · Warranty Program/Extension
some hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on metal body panels: hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. the paint warranty coverage for affected vehicles has been extended to 10 years/unlimited miles from the date of original retail
Showing the 6 most recent of 148 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-22 · Engine“the vehicle experienced severe, sudden loss of power while driving, leaving the car unable to exceed approximately 40 mph on public roads and highways. this restriction creates an immediate rear-end collision hazard and severely degrades acceleration under traffic conditions. diagnostic & technical history: the vehicle previously triggered diagnost…”
2026-08-16 · Steering“i am writing to formally report a serious vehicle safety concern involving a 2015 hyundai elantra, vin [xxx], which is owned by my mother. the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power steering assistance, creating an immediate and significant safety concern. this could have caused a series issue to myself and others on the road. following the…”
2026-08-11 · Power Train“failed engine due to class action recall…”
2026-07-13 · Engine“i purchased the vehicle from a private party on 8/18/21 with 38,310 miles. almost immediately after owning the vehicle i noticed the engine oil level was low.. the owner had said she had just got an oil change so i thought maybe the shop just left it low. then i noticed it low again a month later, and that was the start of my nearly 5 year journey …”
2026-05-22 · Service Brakes“the engine failed on a 2015 hyundai elantra with approximately 71,000 miles. the vehicle has an open, unresolved safety recall (recall 251, nhtsa #23v651000) for an abs module brake fluid leak that hyundai has acknowledged but has not provided a remedy for. the vehicle is currently at an independent repair facility and is available for inspection u…”
2026-04-20 · Electrical System:instrument Panel:speedometer/Odometer · 152,572 mi“odometer fraud. the contact purchased a 2015 hyundai elantra. it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. the vehicle was a dealer sale. at the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was approximately 182,204 - 215,000; and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 152,572.…”
2026-04-14 · Structure:body“i am submitting a vehicle safety complaint regarding a vehicle purchased on march 5, 2026. within days of purchase, the vehicle exhibited multiple safety-related issues despite reportedly passing a virginia safety inspection on february 27, 2026. the safety concerns identified include: - driver-side headlight partially inoperable, which resulted in…”
2026-04-10 · Engine · 160,000 mi“the contact owns a 2015 hyundai elantra. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power several times, with the check engine warning light and low oil warning lights blinking. the vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure persisted. there was an abnormal tapping sound coming from the vehicle. th…”
2026-02-06 · Engine“engine failure consistent with known hyundai engine defect. blue smoke, oil consumption, engine knock mechanic autoscanned codes were p0300, po301, po302 lost half quart of oil in 800 miles fire risk acknowledged in recall documentation - undriveable car at hyundai dealer in salem nh, renting a car now as without any transportation manufacturer den…”
2026-01-15 · Power Train“i was at a red light waiting to go an when it was time to go my car would not go. it was on it would not go into gear. it will reverse. it just won't go forward in auto or manual. im the 1st owner of this car. i bought it new. i need hyundai to take care of this problem. asap please. it happened the car only has 133,718 miles on it and been servi…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.