Reliable Auto DB

2015 Hyundai Elantra reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 262 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Hyundai Elantra over 12 years — 13 per year. That is the fewest complaints per year among the 13 Elantra years on this site. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Inflator, Latch, and Brake control module.

2012 Hyundai Elantra
Photo by SsmIntrigue, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

262

Per year

13

Recalls

3

Years on the road

12

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (92 of 262), then Service brakes (29) and Hydraulic brakes (26). Those filings include 27 that report a crash, 8 that report a fire, and 16 that report an injury.

Next to 2014 and 2016

The 2014 Elantra has 382 complaints, 23 per year, and the 2016 has 292 complaints, 20 per year. The 2015 has fewer complaints per year than the 2014. The 2015 has fewer complaints per year than the 2016.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2015 Hyundai Elantra. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (3)

Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2026-05-15 · NHTSA campaign 26V307000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall latches, locks, and linkages, trunk lid, latch 2024-02-23 · NHTSA campaign 24V146000
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."
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.
Recall Brake control module 2023-09-22 · NHTSA campaign 23V651000
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.
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.

Complaints by component (262 total)

Engine
92
Service brakes
29
Hydraulic brakes
26
Steering
26
Air bags
23
Electrical system
23
Powertrain
18
Speed control
15
Structure
14
Fuel and propulsion system
10
Suspension
9
Wheels
7
Exterior lighting
5
Engine and engine cooling
3
Seat belts
3
Tires
3
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Seats
1
Show 11 more Show less
Crash-flagged

27

Fire-flagged

8

Injury reports

16

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

2201413201516201692017272018292019152020112021212022492023432024162025112026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "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…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-22
  • "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…"
    Steering · filed 2026-08-16
  • "Failed engine due to class action recall"
    Powertrain, Engine · filed 2026-08-11
  • "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…"
    Engine · filed 2026-07-13
  • "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…"
    Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine · filed 2026-05-22

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2015 Hyundai Elantra 2 DR FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2015 Hyundai Elantra 4 DR FWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2015 Hyundai Elantra Gt 5 HB FWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Elantra 1.8L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 27 37 31 MPG $2100
Elantra 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 24 35 28 MPG $2300
Elantra 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 24 34 28 MPG $2300
Elantra 1.8L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 27 36 30 MPG $2150
Elantra Coupe 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 23 34 27 MPG $2400
Elantra Coupe 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 24 34 28 MPG $2300
Elantra GT 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 24 33 27 MPG $2400
Elantra GT 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 24 32 27 MPG $2400
Elantra Limited 1.8L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 27 36 30 MPG $2150

Specs and fitment

5th generation (MD), 2012–2016
Body styles Sedan
Oil 5W-20 or 5W-30 (1.8L and 2.0L per manual) , 4.2 qt capacity
Tire size 205/55R16 to 225/45R17 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 17V769000. Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Elantra sedan, coupe and GT vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature. If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 8, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 170. This campaign expands recall 16V574.

Compare

Previous year 2014 Hyundai Elantra Next year 2016 Hyundai Elantra See every Hyundai Elantra model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Hyundai Elantra reliable?

Owners have filed 262 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Hyundai Elantra over 12 years — 13 per year. That is the fewest complaints per year among the 13 Elantra years on this site. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Inflator, Latch, and Brake control module.

What are common problems with a 2015 Hyundai Elantra?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (92 of 262), then Service brakes (29) and Hydraulic brakes (26). Those filings include 27 that report a crash, 8 that report a fire, and 16 that report an injury.

Is the 2015 Hyundai Elantra more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2014 Elantra has 382 complaints, 23 per year, and the 2016 has 292 complaints, 20 per year. The 2015 has fewer complaints per year than the 2014. The 2015 has fewer complaints per year than the 2016.

Has the 2015 Hyundai Elantra been recalled?

The 2015 Hyundai Elantra has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2015 Hyundai Elantra?

Owners have filed 262 complaints about the 2015 Hyundai Elantra with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2015 Hyundai Elantra get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2015 Hyundai Elantra is 28.4 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Elantra take?

5W-20 or 5W-30 (1.8L and 2.0L per manual)

What does NHTSA recall 17V-769 cover on the Hyundai Elantra?

NHTSA campaign 17V769000.

What generation is the 2013 Hyundai Elantra?

5th generation (MD) (2012-2016).