Diagsheet

Fifth generation (MD/UD facelift)

2015 Hyundai Elantra

The most reported problem on the 2015 Hyundai Elantra is brake wear, with 55 complaints, usually around 58,000 miles.

  • 260owner complaints
  • 3recalls
  • 27involved a crash
  • 58,000median miles at failure

Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

miles

2015 Hyundai Elantra
Photo: Elise240SX, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

What is your Elantra doing?

Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2015 model year.

Is the 2015 Hyundai Elantra reliable?

The 2015 Hyundai Elantra has 260 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 270 for 2015 sedans on this site. Of the 12 Elantra model years since 2014, it has the 5th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.

At a glance

Next to other model years
Complaints filed before 2015 aren't in the files this site reads, so the 2015 count runs short and isn't compared with the model years next to it.
Top problem
Two problems run close. Brake wear has 55 complaints and stalling has 45, out of 260 in all. A quarter of the 20 owners who gave a mileage for brake wear saw it by about 31,000 miles, and half by about 58,000.
Crash, fire and injury reports
34 of the 260 complaints (13%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 27 reports mention a crash, 8 mention a fire and 25 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 17 of 27, fall under airbag.
Recalls behind the top problems
Brake wear has a recall on the same system (23V-651). Stalling and engine failure have none. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
When owners filed
Filings peaked in 2023 at 49 and have dropped every year since, to 16 in 2025. So far in 2026, 11 more have come in. Filings on record start in 2015.

When each problem shows up

Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: brakes grind, pulse or wear early, 55 complaints.

0k25k50k75k100k125k150kyou
Every complaint with a mileage144 of 260
144 complaints state a mileage. The most, 16, fall between 0 and 10,000 miles; 6 are past 150,000.
Airbag warning light or recall23 reports17 crashes2 firesrecall
Wheel bearing, tires or wheels10 reports2 crashes
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early55 reports7 crashes3 firesrecall
Engine rattles or ticks18 reports1 crash
Check engine light or misfire23 reports

middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.

Behind you

    Around your mileage

      Ahead of you

        How this compares

        2015 Hyundai Elantra260
        Median 2015 model here (104 vehicles)277
        Median 2015 sedan here (31)270

        260 complaints is about the median for a 2015 model on this site and about the median for a 2015 sedan. Among the 9 Elantra model years here it ranks 5th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.

        Service bulletins for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra

        Hyundai filed 145 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2015 Hyundai Elantra. 18 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.

        Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.

        Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 1 bulletin · 55 complaints

        • Service bulletin20-AT-011HMar 25, 2020

          If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a “Check Engine” light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.

        Engine stalls or loses power while driving 2 bulletins · 45 complaints

        • Service bulletin22-01-023H-2Jul 11, 2023

          A class action lawsuit against Hyundai Motor America (“HMA”) alleges that certain Hyundai vehicles (“Class Vehicles”) were manufactured, marketed, sold, and/or leased with an engine defect that can result in sudden engine seizure, stalling, engine ...

        • Service bulletin19-AT-021H-1Dec 17, 2019

          If you are servicing a vehicle with a transmission slipping concern, follow the Service Procedure shown below and perform a stall test. This TSB provides a procedure to test each clutch in the transmission.

        Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 7 bulletins · 35 complaints

        • Service bulletin22-EM-006H-2Nov 3, 2022

          The warranty coverage for engine repair or replacement regarding engine damage or malfunction from connecting rod bearing wear has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use, whichever occurs ...

        • Service bulletin22-01-023H-2Nov 3, 2022

          Certain vehicles listed below may experience the Check Engine warning lamp illuminated with DTC P1326 and/or an engine concern/noise related to connecting rod bearing wear or damage.

        5 more on this problem
        • Service bulletin22-01-023H-2Nov 3, 2022

          Certain vehicles may experience the Check Engine warning lamp illuminated with DTC P1326 and/or engine may exhibit abnormal noise, or no crank/no start condition related to connecting rod bearing wear or damage.

        • Service bulletin22-EM-007HJun 29, 2022

          This bulletin describes the procedure to inspect an engine exhibiting noise between the cylinder block and piston due to possible scuffing on one or more cylinder walls.

        • Service bulletin22-EM-006H-1Apr 28, 2022

          The Powertrain warranty coverage for certain engine repairs and/or replacement where the engine damage or malfunction is related to connecting rod bearing wear, has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date ...

        • Service bulletinDBPT6GApr 28, 2022

          Certain vehicles that have completed Service Campaign 966 may experience the Check Engine warning lamp illuminated with DTC P1326 and/or an engine concern/noise related to connecting rod bearing wear or damage.

        • Service bulletin21-EM-002HJan 29, 2021

          The Powertrain warranty coverage for the engine short block, consisting of the engine block, crankshaft, connecting rods and pistons, for damage related to a piston slap noise in the upper end of the engine as described in TSB # 21-EM-001H has been extended.

        Check engine light or misfire 2 bulletins · 23 complaints

        • Service bulletin20-AT-008HFeb 20, 2020

          If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a “Check Engine” light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.

        • Service bulletin19-AT-024HNov 15, 2019

          If you are servicing a vehicle with the DTC or symptoms listed below, refer to the Service Procedure to diagnose the condition.

        Engine knocking or ticking 3 bulletins · 17 complaints

        • Service campaign24-01-068HAug 19, 2024

          Hyundai is conducting a campaign to enhance the knock sensor software to detect abnormal engine bearing noise before potentially severe engine damage occurs.

        • Service bulletinDBP966Apr 28, 2022

          Hyundai is conducting a service campaign to enhance the knock sensor software to detect abnormal engine bearing noise before potentially severe engine damage occurs.

        1 more on this problem
        • Service bulletin966DBPSep 2, 2021

          Hyundai is conducting a product improvement campaign to enhance the knock sensor software to detect abnormal engine bearing noise before potentially severe engine damage occurs.

        Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 1 bulletin · 10 complaints

        • Service bulletin20-SS-004HNov 19, 2020

          This bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize vehicle vibration performance. For all wheel/tire balance claims, the “Tire Balance Data Sheet” must be fully completed including imbalance and Road Force Variation (RFV) ...

        Suspension noise, struts or alignment 1 bulletin · 9 complaints

        • Service bulletin23-01-086HNov 3, 2023

          In certain areas, a vehicle’s underbody may exhibit corrosion due to road-salt usage. As a preventative measure, a cavity wax coating is applied to the internal surfaces of underbody components and an undercoating spray is applied to exterior surfaces of ...

        Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 1 bulletin · 6 complaints

        • Service bulletin5NP-P5G8M-03Feb 27, 2017

          The MDPS (motor driven power steering) assembly contains a flexible rubber coupling which may wear over time resulting in a slight "clicking" or "thud" type noise when turning the steering wheel.

        Complaints filed by year

        Complaints by the year NHTSA received them: 2015: 13, 2016: 16, 2017: 9, 2018: 27, 2019: 29, 2020: 15, 2021: 11, 2022: 21, 2023: 49, 2024: 43, 2025: 16, 2026: 1113'1516'169'1727'1829'1915'2011'2121'2249'2343'2416'2511'26

        49 complaints came in 2023, 2.3 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.

        NHTSA investigations

        AQ23-002opened Nov 17, 2023
        Brakes · model years 2011 to 2015

        Hyundai and kia abs module fires. Open.

        NHTSA summary
        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. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.
        DP21-003opened Nov 12, 2021
        Speed control · model years 2007 to 2016

        Throttle control system vulnerabilities. Closed jun 20, 2023.

        NHTSA summary
        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 the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recor

        Recalls that include the 2015 Hyundai Elantra

        Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

        26V-307May 15, 2026
        Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

        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 and remedy
        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.
        Remedy: 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.
        24V-146Feb 23, 2024
        Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Latch

        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 and remedy
        Risk: 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.
        23V-651Sep 22, 2023
        Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module

        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 and remedy
        Risk: 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.

        All 3 recalls on the 2015 Hyundai Elantra, with the owner complaints on each recalled system

        Guide NHTSA has an open investigation on this car. What the investigation stages mean

        Questions

        What is the most common problem on the 2015 Hyundai Elantra?

        Brake wear, with 55 of the 260 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 58,000 miles.

        At what mileage do 2015 Hyundai Elantra problems start?

        Of the 144 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 31,000 miles and half by about 58,000.

        How many 2015 Hyundai Elantra complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?

        34 of them (13%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.

        Is there a recall for brake wear on the 2015 Hyundai Elantra?

        Yes, NHTSA lists a recall on the same system: 23V-651. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.

        Other model years