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2016 Hyundai Elantra Electrical Problems

18 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data

18
Complaints
2
Fires
Jan 2026Nov 2022
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (18)

highELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Filed: Jan 2026

Your brake light bulbs (left and center) keep burning out every 3 months or less, likely due to excessive electrical current reaching them. After replacing the bulbs, your battery began draining, and you discovered that removing the brake lamp fuse prevents the battery from dying—but this also triggers your ABS warning light since that system depends on the same circuit. Your dealership quoted $500 to replace the brake lamp relay and ABS components, which you declined. The underlying issue appears to be a short circuit or electrical fault in the brake light circuit that's affecting multiple Hyundai and Kia vehicles across different model years.

NHTSA #: 11711743
highELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2025

Your fuel pump warning light keeps coming on, and your fuel gauge is unreliable—sometimes showing empty when full or full when empty, and resetting your trip meter when you fill up. Additionally, your car randomly shuts off while driving and then restarts on its own, which appears to be caused by a loose clip under the positive battery terminal that was extended to fit properly and now comes loose over bumps, causing electrical connection issues.

NHTSA #: 11694187
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Jul 2024

Just driving down the road and the drivers side front window fell down. I tried to push the switch for to make it go lback up because it was windy and rainy. It just made the window drop down more. I was wondering if anyone else has had this complaint . It’s pulled back up and taped but it won’t go back up and tape keeps coming loose. It’s expensive to fix . I also fixed my trunk latch which was on a recall because when I called the dealer at that time there was no recall on it. I was stuck at Walmart and it wouldn’t close. The dealer wanted over 700 to fix trunk latch so I bought the part to fix it but I am checking to see if anyone else has complained on the window motor .

NHTSA #: 11603617
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Oct 2023

Clockspring Failure. 2016 hyundai elantra, 123k miles. Airbag light on, horn does not function. Likely unavailable for inspection due to being replaced soon. Inability to use horn to alert reckless drivers swerving into my lane. Airbag will not deploy if needed in an accident. The dealership seemed aware that the clocksprings go out in Hyundai's and is confident this is the issue. Warning lamp prior/at the same time as the horn stopped working.

NHTSA #: 11549425
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Filed: Apr 2023

My Elantra stalled while driving twice the other day. The first time I occurred on a Highway inter belt and the second occurred in slow moving traffic. I had the car evaluated by 2 different repair shops. Both said they could not reduplicate the problem or find any malfunctioning codes. No warning lights appeared when the car stalled. I had this happen before last fall. I had it repaired. They changed spark plugs, performed engine oil system purge, serviced fuel injector and air induction and realigned tires. Until the day before yesterday, the car performed well. In researching my car issue, I have learned that this is a top complaint of many 2016 Elantra owners.

NHTSA #: 11517957
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Nov 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was a hole in the engine block. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The manufacturer offered to cover a percent of the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

NHTSA #: 11494547
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
Filed: Oct 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 35-40 MPH, he looked in the rearview mirror and noticed that the trunk of the vehicle was open. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that he was unable to lock the trunk using the lever on the front seat, key fob, or the button on the trunk door. The contact continued driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the next availability would be in February 2023. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA #: 11487874
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2022

I was driving my vehicle damages stop accelerating the check engine light battery light and all light all came on in a vehicle just came to a complete stop and did not let me restart the vehicle. This has happened to me a second time.

NHTSA #: 11464608
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2022

Engine Code: P0335 Crankshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Severe Issue Consequences of Continued Driving - Rough running - possible Misfire - May not start In my case I was at work and it wouldn’t start at all. It ended up having to be towed. Had the battery tested and it was fine then I bought a “FIXD” sensor and it told me the problem

NHTSA #: 11461512
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Mar 2021

MY CAR IS A PUSH START N IT WILL NOT TURN OFF .. I OUT THE BOTTOM TO TURN IT OFF BUT THE ENGINE IS STILL CONSTANTLY RUNNING IT WON'T TURN OFF

NHTSA #: 11405679
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2020

THE CAR DOES NOT TURN OVER WHEN YOU INITIALLY START CAR YOU HAVE TO TURN THE KEY BACK AND TRY STARTING AGAIN IT HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY DOING THIS FOR OVER A YEAR AND NO MECHANIC CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. OTHER THAN THAT THERE IS NO ISSUES WITH THE DRIVING.

NHTSA #: 11317982
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Feb 2020

WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR THE ENGINE TURNS BUT WON'T TURN OVER. THE CAR DOES THIS MORE OFTEN IN VERY COLD WEATHER. EVEN IN WARM WEATHER IT WILL START SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TRY MULTIPLE TIMES AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT START AT ALL. THERE ARE NO CHECK ENGINE OR OTHER INDICATORS THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE RELATED THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I NORMALLY EXPECT IS THAT SOMETIMES THE WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE IN A TIMELY MANNER. THERE IS A BIT OF A HESITATION AS IF THE FUEL OUTPUT IS NOT INCREASING. THIS HAPPENS WHILE I'M ALREADY DRIVING (FOR EXAMPLE WHEN I'M GOING FROM THE ACCESS ROAD AND ENTERING THE HIGHWAY OR WHEN THERE IS A SPEED LIMIT INCREASE OF SOME KIND). I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THE PART AFFECTED IS CONNECTED TO OTHER SYSTEMS IN THE CAR THAT HAVE AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT SUCH AS THE FUEL PUMP.

NHTSA #: 11311658
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Jan 2020

HI... I OWN 11 ELANTRA'S. 4-2013, 3-2016, 2-2018, 1-2019, 1-2020. I OWN A DRIVING SCHOOL. THEY ALL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BURNING OUT LIGHT BULBS, HEADLIGHTS ,SIDE MARKERS AND TAIL LIGHTS. I AM REPLACING BULBS 2 TO 3 TIMES A WEEK. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE SOCKETS BECAUSE THEY MELTED. THE PLASTIC HOLDERS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT ALSO MELTED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A REMEDY FOR THIS OR ONE IN THE PROCESS. I ALSO HAVE A COMPLAINT ON WHY IT SO DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS.

NHTSA #: 11302462
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE
FireFiled: Jun 2018

STARTED ASCENDING OVER A BRIDGE WHEN CAR STARTED TO PUTTER. THEN SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAILPIPE. POWER FLICKERED THEN WENT OFF. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED OFF THE CAR AND IT WAS SMOKING. LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND SAW DRIPPING FLUID THEN A SPARK. THAT IS WHEN THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE.

NHTSA #: 11100294
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Apr 2018

WHEN CAR IS SLOWING AT INTERSECTION, CAR WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. ONCE CAR IS PUT IN PARK AND KEY IS TAKEN OUT, CAR STARTS UP IMMEDIATELY. HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 2 WEEKS. SEEMS LIKE I HAVE TO PUT MORE PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL TO GO EVEN SLIGHTLY FASTER.

NHTSA #: 11084193
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Oct 2016

WHILE DRIVING THE CLOCK WILL START TO FLASH THEN THE HEADLIGHTS WILL FLASH AS THE RADIO/CLOCK FLASHES. IF HEAD LIGHTS ARE OFF THE LIGHT BY GAUGES WILL START FLASHING MAKING A CLICKING NOISE, THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL SOMETIMES COME ON AND FLASH ALSO. IF I TURN THE AIR ON THE FLASHING WILL STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10920146
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT
Filed: Jul 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND RESUMED DRIVING. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

NHTSA #: 10884151
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: Apr 2016

VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITED 4/5/2016 @ ~3:45PM (SEE PICTURES ATTACHED) WHILE PARKED IN A FENCED, GUARDED, PRIVATE CORPORATION EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT, DESTROYING ITSELF & BOTH VEHICLES PARKED ON EITHER SIDE OF IT. 5 MONTHS OLD, 11,000 MILES ON ODOMETER, ONLY PRIOR SERVICES WERE OIL CHANGES AT 3K & 10K @ WALMART & JIFFY-LUBE.

NHTSA #: 10854106

Other 2016 Hyundai Elantra Issues