Recalled components: brakes, air bags, and latches, locks and linkages. Most-described problem: stalling or shutting off (45 complaints, 17%). Most-reported area: engine (93 complaints, 35%; median mileage when it happened: 74,000).
Fewer complaints than a typical Elantra year
The 2015 drew 40 owner complaints in its first three years, against 101 for a typical Elantra year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.
Years to avoid: 2013; best years: 2016 and 2019. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
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 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.
The fix and full notice
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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Elantra and 2016 Elantra GT 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.
The fix and full notice
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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Elantra vehicles.
NHTSA listing: ELANTRA. Hyundai campaign 256.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra apart from an audit query, which reviews a company's recall and reporting duties rather than the vehicle.
What owners report
Owners have filed 263 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Elantra. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Stalling or shutting off45 · 17%
Median 86,000 miles at failure, from 21 reports with mileage
Engine failure or replacement26 · 10%
Median 98,100 miles at failure, from 15 reports with mileage
Median 74,000 miles at failure, from 47 reports with mileage
Brakes55 · 21%
Median 55,800 miles at failure, from 18 reports with mileage
Steering26 · 10%
Median 40,000 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
Air bags23 · 9%
Electrical system23 · 9%
Powertrain18 · 7%
Speed control15 · 6%
Unknown or other48 · 18%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Hyundai Elantra recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2015 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2013 Elantra drew the most (347) and the 2015 drew 40.
Owner complaints
2015: 263 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Hyundai Elantra
Model year
Complaints
2010
454
2011
462
2012
675
2013
1,345
2014
394
2015
263
2016
299
2017
792
2018
332
2019
265
2020
259
2021
160
2022
158
2023
167
2024
61
2025
34
2026
3
Safety recalls
2015: 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Hyundai Elantra
Model year
Recalls
2010
4
2011
8
2012
5
2013
4
2014
2
2015
3
2016
2
2017
4
2018
1
2019
1
2020
3
2021
7
2022
8
2023
4
2024
2
2025
2
2026
2
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 263 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra, the problems described most are stalling or shutting off (45), engine failure or replacement (26), and the check engine light coming on (17). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2015 Hyundai Elantra safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2015 Hyundai Elantra earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2015 Hyundai Elantra?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra apart from an audit query, which reviews a company's recall and reporting duties rather than the vehicle.
How do I check if my Elantra has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Hyundai dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: ELANTRA, ELANTRA COUPE, ELANTRA GT.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.