2016 Hyundai Elantra engine problems
120 of the 299 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Elantra name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 72 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 120 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2015: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 6 · 2019: 9 · 2020: 10 · 2021: 19 · 2022: 23 · 2023: 22 · 2024: 13 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 8
Half of the 47 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 56,000 and 94,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
299 complaints in all about the 2016 Hyundai Elantra, 8 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Hyundai Elantra engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that there was an abnormal burning odor inside and outside the vehicle. The vehicle failed to restart.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started losing motive power.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT. The contact stated that while her wife was driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's wife was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact's wife was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the engine made abnormal loud knocking sounds. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that he veered to the side of the road.
While driving my car will stall without any warning. I AM driving straight without putting on brakes or accelerating. I can restart it. Again without any notice it stalls. This has happened at least 10 times and AM scared to drive my car. This is very dangerous because you loose power steering and effective braking.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications72 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 26-01-033H TSB Warranty extensionMar 26, 2026
- This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H-2 (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine Replacement) or the latest version.
- 26-01-033H DN Warranty extensionMar 26, 2026
- This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine Replacement) or the latest version.
The 2 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Hyundai Elantra names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2016 Hyundai Elantra?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 120 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (40% of everything owners filed about it), and 72 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2016 Hyundai Elantra?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 2 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2016 Hyundai Elantra?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 77,170 miles; half of them between 56,000 and 94,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.