2016 Hyundai Elantra Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

107Engine complaints

37.3%Of all 287 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE107 · 37.3%

Unspecified / other53 · 18.5%

POWER TRAIN29 · 10.1%

AIR BAGS26 · 9.1%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20 · 7%

Share of the 287 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Hyundai Elantra overview page.

What owners report

“This cars engine has seized and stopped working. This is an unacceptable problem and it seems as though other years have a recall for this…”NHTSA complaint 11438730 — filed 10/30/2021

“I lost power while driving my 2016 Hyundai Elantra gt and also started hearing a knocking sound so I pulled over and knocking sound got…”NHTSA complaint 11436155 — filed 10/09/2021

“Under 70,000 miles, transmission no longer works. Left me stuck in a parking lot and will not go forward. Began with pulling motion while trying…”NHTSA complaint 11428117 — filed 08/06/2021

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Hyundai Elantra have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2016 Hyundai Elantra: 107 of 287 complaints on file (37.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Hyundai Elantra have in total?

287 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 22 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 17 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.