HyundaiELANTRA MD2015Overview/hyundai/elantra-md/2015/base/

2015 Hyundai ELANTRA MD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2015 Elantra.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2015 Hyundai Elantra is a passenger car with a 4.2-quart oil capacity specified for viscosity grades including 5W-20, 10W-30, and 5W-30 API. With 259 owner complaints recorded across the model's 1992-2026 production span, this year sits in the middle tier of reliability—well below the 2013 high of 1,325 complaints yet far above the 2025 low of 21—while drawing three official recalls. Engine-related issues constitute the top complaint category, positioning the 2015 model as a moderate year that distances itself from the worst historical reliability peaks but retains documented powertrain concerns.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182015

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 550 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 550 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnBRAKEOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195/65R15OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Battery371103X100 alt 371103X565

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length179.1 in
Overall width70.1 in
Overall height57.1 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight2877 lb
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Elantra of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.8–9.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.80 sec — 2012 GLS Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2014GT 5-door Hatchback 2.0L I-47.90 sec16.10 sec173 hpFWD
2014Sport Sedan 2.0L I-48.00 sec16.20 sec173 hpFWD
2014GT 5-door Hatchback 2.0L I-48.40 sec16.40 sec173 hpFWD
2014Limited Sedan 1.8L I-49.40 sec17.30 sec148 hpFWD
2014Limited Sedan 1.8L I-49.60 sec17.20 sec148 hpFWD
2013SE Coupe 1.8L I-48.10 sec16.40 sec148 hpFWD
2013SE Coupe 1.8L I-48.10 sec16.40 sec148 hpFWD
2013GT 5-door Hatchback 1.8L I-48.30 sec16.50 sec148 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-20 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity6.2
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity6.2-6.3
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity6.3
Engine Oil5W-20 · API · 10W-30 · 5W-30

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs10.0-11.0 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts145-152 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts145-152 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87.0-94.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87.0-94.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts22
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14

Chassis torques

Front Wheel Hub145-202 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance0.64-0.86 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5015-6785 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerHyundai
Spark Plug Gap.039 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque11-18 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerHyundai
Spark Plug Gap.031 - .035 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity16.80-18.57 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.04-3.73 oz
Standard BCI Group Number47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance550 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)46.9-52.6 psi
Engine Compression164 - 185 psi / Max Variation 15 psi
Intake Valve Lash0.0067-0.0009 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.0105-0.0130 in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront or rear: 16-23 / 16-23
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 58-; Rear: 47-; Front: 58-; Rear: 47-
ABS Sensor Torque6.0-7.0 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .842; Rear: .331
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.0002
Maximum Rotor Runout.001

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113.0-15.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9013–15 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 88.0-92.013–16 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head bolts. Apply Loctite 5900H or equivalent on the front edge of the cylinder head gasket. Both the upside and the down side. Assembly of the cylinder head must be completed within five minutes of applying the liquid gasket compound.

124.0-27.0 ft. lbs.24–27 ft. lbs
290 degrees-95 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees-95 degrees90 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120.0-23.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 122.520–23 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 22.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 122.511 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBattery (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
Every 37,500 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 105,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2015 Hyundai Elantra sits in the declining phase of its generation's complaint arc, which peaked dramatically in 2013 at 1,325 complaints before falling to 380 in 2014 and further to 259 in the target year. Recalls held steady at three (up from two in 2014 but down from four in 2013), while investigations remained at two and TSBs stayed flat at 144, indicating that Hyundai's technical service attention persisted even as formal complaints subsided. The top complaint areas—Engine (55), Unknown/Other (30), Service Brakes (23), and Steering (18)—mirror the broader generation's pattern, with engine issues dominating, though the data does not specify root causes. The 27 crash complaints and 8 fire complaints are notable but proportionate to the reduced overall volume relative to 2012–2013. The slight uptick in complaints to 288 in 2016 suggests 2015 represents a relative low point rather than the start of a new trend. For a used buyer, 2015 is one of the stronger years in this generation, offering meaningfully fewer complaints than the 2011–2013 peak years while still benefiting from the same high TSB coverage—making it a reasonable purchase, provided the engine and braking systems are specifically inspected given their prominence in the complaint data.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
144
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
259
Owner complaints
27 involved a crash · 8 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 259 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine55
Unknown Or Other30
Service Brakes, Hydraulic23
Steering18
Air Bags16
Service Brakes15
Power Train8
Unknown Or Other,Engine6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

23V651000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/ModuleReported 22/09/2023

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… 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…

24V146000Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:LatchReported 23/02/2024

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 144 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
26-BD-002H TSB2026-04-28Unknown Or OtherCertain Hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on…
26-BD-002H DN2026-04-28Unknown Or OtherSome Hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on metal…
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…
DTN DCS2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety…
26-01-033H TSB2026-03-26EngineThis TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Elantra. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2015 Elantra take?

4.2 qt of 5W-20 API certification, SL or SM-is preferred. Above 0 degreesF 10W-30 API certification, SL or SM, All temperatures 5W-20 or 5W-30 API certification, SL or SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2015 Elantra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.