2015 Hyundai Elantra Safety Report
2015 Hyundai Elantra Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2015 Hyundai Elantra. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (2) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (254) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 35 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Hyundai Elantra with 122 complaints and 6 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2017 | Check the 2017 Hyundai Elantra before buying across this generation. |
Hyundai Elantra Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Hyundai Elantra years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Hyundai Elantra | 278 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2017 Hyundai Elantra | 750 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Hyundai Elantra | 264 | 0 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Hyundai Elantra | 229 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Hyundai Elantra | 218 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Hyundai Elantra | 122 | 6 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2015 Hyundai Elantra Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2015 Hyundai Elantra, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
53 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Hyundai onlyUnknown Or Other
30 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Hyundai onlyService Brakes, Hydraulic
23 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes, Hydraulic issues Hyundai onlySteering
18 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Hyundai onlyAir Bags
16 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Hyundai onlyService Brakes
15 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Hyundai onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability Score
The 2015 Hyundai Elantra receives a reliability score of 75 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
Known Issues for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Defect Engine failure consistent with known Hyundai engine defect. Symptoms include blue smoke, oil consumption, and engine knock. Mechanic autoscanned codes were P0300, P0301, P0. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Hydraulic Service Brakes Service brakes, hydraulic issues. Problems include anti-lock/traction control/electronic limited slip control unit/module failures. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Trunk Latch Issues Trunk latch issues. The trunk will not open, and the latch would click but not open. This issue has been reported in multiple recalls. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Transmission Slippage Transmission slippage without warning. The engine transmission slips gears without notice, and dealers have been replacing transmissions. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2015 Hyundai Elantra:
Engine issues are the most common problem, affecting 23% of the vehicles.
Service brakes are the second most common issue, affecting 15% of the vehicles.
Trunk latch issues are less common but still affect 6% of the vehicles.
Transmission slippage is a common issue, affecting 8% of the vehicles.
Recall Details for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra by NHTSA:
Summary: 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."
Consequence: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2015 Hyundai Elantra with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 3 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fires. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
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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 denied repair based solely on VIN despite identical f...
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 serviced regularly since I bought it.
2015 Hyundai Elantra is consuming oil. I have changed the oil on all of my vehicles ever since I have owned vehicles and this vehicle purchased used for my children and maintained by me is consuming oil requiring addition of +/- a quart of oil between trips from Baltimore, MD to New Haven, CT. Oil lamp on dashboard is lighting indicating low level of oil upon return to home just north of Baltimore...
Hello I own a Hyundai Elantra 2015 SE I am having trunk latch issues the trunk will not open at all I cannot pull seats down without getting into the trunk once something is in there it cannot get out I believe this is a safety hazard I called my dealership to see if there is a recall on this but there is not this is a big issue .
Unkown
My 2015 Hyundai Elantra fits the 'window' of Elantras where the engine transmission slips gears without notice. Hyundai dealers have been replacing transmissions at no cost, if the car is still under 100,000 miles, as part of a class action settlement. As the second owner, I have no warranty rights to get Hyundai to fix my car at no cost. This is despite the Hyundai dealer just today (Aug 20, 2025...
Vehicle routinely (3,000-5,000 miles, depending on oil used) maintained by qualified mechanics. Around 129,000 miles the engine began to knock / rattle. Mechanic was unable to determine the cause, but the rattle was only present between 0-40mph and would settle at higher speeds. Mechanic also noted the absence of sludge. Around 133,000 miles the vehicle stalled. The vehicle would start, but woul...
I had a trunk latch recall done on my car in June 2024. Immediately after that, my trunk stopped opening with the key fob. The latch would click but not release. A few weeks ago, it started doing the same thing with the release lever by the driver's side. There was no way to get the trunk open, so I went to a different Hyundai dealership than where my recall was done at (due to travel costs from s...
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The vehicle crashed into a guardrail. In addition, the air bags did not deploy. The contact was taken to the hospital and was treated for facial fractures. The contact was then transferred to another hospital for ...
N/A
Hello my vehicle developed a knock and it has become so much worse, I will not drive it. Hyundai has played games with me. My vehicle has been at Jenkins Subaru three times at Hyundai request. This third time my vehicle had to be towed to Jenkins Subaru. Now Hyundai tells me they will not repair my vehicle even though they have been aware with this lifter knock piston slap issue for quite some tim...
Abs and traction control lights on as well as e brake light this is all after I had recall work that was supposed to fix this problem but only made it worse I am dealing with Hyundai but I don’t see a solution for this problem my car is inoperable and very unsafe it is my main source of transportation to and from my place of work and without this vehicle I am at a great loss I have lost brakes com...
Check engine light came on, the code says misfire on random cylinders, drives very rough. Took to mechanic and said timing chain is loose, which causes the “skipping” or misfire, and could snap at any moment (which is unsafe and could cause a wreck). Mechanic has 3 other Hyundai Elantra's with same problem. Around 2 grand fix.
For the past 2 years, the car shuts off while driving. There is no warning lights or other warning that it is going to shut off. The steering doesn't lock but the car shuts off. I have to come to a stop and then restart the car. It does restart every time. This seems to happen frequently and then doesn't do it for a few weeks. I have had it looked at by 4 different mechanics, had multiple sen...
While operating my 2015 Hyundai ELANTRA, the engine cuts out.. it just stalls out of nowhere without any signs or warnings its about to happen. As well as approximately 50% of the time the engine stalls the power steering also stops working. At this point I have to coast to the side of the road, put it in park, turn the key to the off position and then restart the car when this happens which is qu...
Drove my 2015 Hyundai Elantra on the coldest day of the year to an appointment. Car was fully warmed up. Pulled into a gas station to park and was going less than 3 mph, making a left hand turn into the space. Elantra suddenly accelerated hard and the car hit a cement pole, causing extensive front end damage. If car had full insurance coverage, it would have been a write off. Hood crumpled, r...
The engine blew once at 38,000 miles and now the new engine blew at 85,000 miles (47,000 on this engine). The car was driving fine, 5 minutes into driving i heard a slight knocking noise, 10 minutes after that I was stranded on the side of the road.
On [XXX] I was parking in my parking spot outside my house, went to pull up 3 more inches in my parking spot when the vehicle accelerated at an extremely rapid speed, went over the high curb, up my front lawn into the tree in my front yard. It was a battle between the brake and the gas acceleration event. Then I put it gently in reverse, my car fled rapidly down into the parking lot at such a high...
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the engine had misfired; however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact received notification of ...
Showing 20 of 254 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Vehicle Speed Control:Throttle
Opened 2021-11-12 · Closed 2023-06-20
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of t...
Component: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Opened 2023-11-17
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando....
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2015 Hyundai Elantra
Has the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA been recalled?
Yes, the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA have?
The 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA has 254 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 27 involved crashes. 25 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA?
The 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA involve engine (53 complaints), unknown or other (30 complaints), service brakes, hydraulic (23 complaints). Other affected components include steering, air bags, service brakes.
How many crash reports does the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA have?
There are 27 crash reports associated with the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA out of 254 total complaints (10.6% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA have?
There are 8 fire reports for the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA out of 254 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA.
How many injuries are reported for the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA?
25 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 254 complaints, 2 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA?
The components with the most failures on the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA are: 1. ENGINE (53 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (30 complaints), 3. SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC (23 complaints), 4. STEERING (18 complaints), 5. AIR BAGS (16 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 53 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA?
Be cautious of engine defects and hydraulic service brake issues. Regular maintenance is crucial to avoid transmission slippage and trunk latch problems. The 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA has 254 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA?
The 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA receives a reliability score of 75/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 254 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 35 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine Defect and Hydraulic Service Brakes.
What are the known issues with the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA?
Known issues with the 2015 HYUNDAI ELANTRA include: Engine Defect, Hydraulic Service Brakes, Trunk Latch Issues, Transmission Slippage. These are based on patterns found across 254 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the common issues with the 2015 Hyundai Elantra?
Common issues include engine defects, hydraulic service brake problems, transmission slippage, and trunk latch issues.
How often do engine defects occur in the 2015 Hyundai Elantra?
Engine defects occur frequently, with reports of blue smoke, oil consumption, and engine knock.
What should I do if I experience transmission slippage in my 2015 Hyundai Elantra?
Take your vehicle to a qualified mechanic for diagnosis and repair, as transmission slippage can be a sign of a serious issue.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of engine defects and hydraulic service brake issues. Regular maintenance is crucial to avoid transmission slippage and trunk latch problems.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2015 Hyundai Elantra
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The data includes 254 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 27 reported crashes, 8 fire incidents, 25 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16