YearToAvoid

2016 Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 123 engine complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra, 42% of the 292 total complaints filed for this year. Median mileage at failure was 72,000 miles, with 4 crashes and 2 fires reported. No related recalls are listed for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
123
42% of 292
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
72,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of power or stalling while driving, sometimes with the check engine and oil lights flashing before the engine shuts down.
  • Some describe unintended acceleration during low-speed maneuvers such as parking, resulting in collisions.
  • Several complaints describe the engine catching fire or emitting a burning smell after a brief drive, with smoke coming from under the hood.
  • Owners describe hesitation or jerking during acceleration that worsened over time.
  • One complaint describes the timing chain and motor falling out of sync, causing the vehicle to stall repeatedly and not start.
  • A few owners report an internal exhaust leak with a strong fuel odor entering the cabin.

When 2016 Hyundai Elantra engine complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 20, 2015, latest Aug 29, 2026.

2016 Hyundai Elantra engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter92015 Q42018 Q42020 Q22021 Q32022 Q42024 Q12025 Q4
123 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2021 Q4 (9).

Engine recalls for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Elantra model year

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

  1. 201040 (11%)
  2. 2011109 (25%)
  3. 2012161 (25%)
  4. 2013271 (21%)
  5. 2014180 (47%)
  6. 2015105 (40%)
  7. 2016123 (42%)
  8. 2017303 (40%)
  9. 2018150 (53%)
  10. 2019136 (54%)
  11. 2020117 (47%)
  12. 202125 (19%)
  13. 202213 (13%)
  14. 202322 (22%)
  15. 202413 (24%)
  16. 20254 (18%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2016 Hyundai Elantra have?
NHTSA lists 123 engine complaints for the 2016 Elantra, which is 42% of the 292 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra engine?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint category.
At what mileage do 2016 Elantra engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 72,000 miles.
Have there been any fires or crashes linked to the 2016 Elantra engine complaints?
NHTSA data tied to these engine complaints includes 4 crashes and 2 fires, with 2 injuries reported.

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.