YearToAvoid

2016 Hyundai Accent Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 38 engine complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Accent, 38% of all complaints filed for this model year. Owners report knocking noises, excessive oil consumption, stalling, and overheating, with failures showing up at a median of 91,689 miles. There is no related recall in NHTSA data.

Engine complaints
38
38% of 100
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
91,690 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine knocking noise develops followed by oil draining out and the engine needing replacement.
  • Excessive oil consumption reported by owners, sometimes dismissed by dealers as within normal range.
  • Engine hesitates or stalls when accelerating from a stop, requiring the driver to floor the pedal to reach normal speed.
  • Cooling system failures, including a frozen fan and broken gasket, lead to overheating, smoking, and the engine shutting down.
  • Check engine light comes on with oil described as thick and dark, indicating internal buildup.
  • One reported case of the engine catching fire with sparks and flames while driving on the highway.

When 2016 Hyundai Accent engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 21, 2016, latest Apr 12, 2026.

2016 Hyundai Accent engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Jun 2016Mar 2019Jan 2021Jul 2022May 2023Aug 2024Oct 2025
38 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2016 to Apr 2026; peak Aug 2019 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2016 Hyundai Accent

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Accent model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20055 (10%)
  2. 20061 (2%)
  3. 20079 (10%)
  4. 200811 (11%)
  5. 200912 (12%)
  6. 201013 (15%)
  7. 201114 (37%)
  8. 201253 (35%)
  9. 201341 (29%)
  10. 201419 (24%)
  11. 201521 (30%)
  12. 201638 (38%)
  13. 201727 (40%)
  14. 20188 (42%)
  15. 201921 (68%)
  16. 20205 (42%)
  17. 20214 (25%)
  18. 20224 (25%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2016 Hyundai Accent?
NHTSA lists 38 engine complaints for the 2016 Accent, which is 38% of all 100 complaints filed for this model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Hyundai Accent engine?
NHTSA data shows no related recall listed for this engine problem area on the 2016 Accent.
At what mileage do 2016 Accent engine problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2016 Accent is 91,689.5 miles.
What kind of engine failures do owners report?
Owners describe knocking noises followed by engine replacement, excessive oil consumption, stalling on acceleration, overheating from cooling system failures, and one fire incident.
Were there any crashes or injuries linked to engine complaints?
Among the 38 engine complaints for the 2016 Accent, NHTSA records show 2 crashes, 2 fires, and 2 injuries.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.