2016 Hyundai Elantra · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 52owner reports
- 75,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Aug 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
151 of the 292 complaints on this car are about the engine. 52 of those describe stalling, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Elantra.
Tick what matches of 52 reports
Stalling on other Elantra years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2021, 2022.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Elantra
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
Engine stalling - fuel pump failure. Closed sep 3, 2008, led to recall 08V-429.
Post-crash fuel tank leak. Closed jul 13, 2004, led to recall 04V-208.
Fuel cap replacement campaign 36. Open, led to recall 00V-095.
None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 47,000 and 92,000 miles, from the 28 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
A class action lawsuit against Hyundai Motor America (âHMAâ) alleges that certain Hyundai vehicles (âClass Vehiclesâ) were manufactured, marketed, sold, and/or leased with an engine defect that can result in sudden engine seizure, stalling, engine ...
If you are servicing a vehicle with a transmission slipping concern, follow the Service Procedure shown below and perform a stall test. This TSB provides a procedure to test each clutch in the transmission.
What owners wrote
“Vehicle stalls while driving which is very dangerous. All dashboard lights go on prior to stalling. No engine light is on. Knocking sound coming from engine. Dealer states engine needs to be replaced. Car has been serviced regularly despite that Hyundai denies engine replacement. The knocking sound that engine does is common between this model and year but mysteriously there has not been engine recalls.”
Filed Aug 29, 2026
“This car is consuming oil to the degree that it is empty 1,000 miles after an oil change. The engine has stalled out on the highway twice, and once on a back road. It will not accelerate properly, and wonât go over 40 mph. I had the catalytic converter replaced less than a year ago, and I am experiencing these issues all over again.”
Filed Jul 8, 2024 · 1,000 miles
“I do know itâs the catalytic converter it causes the car to stall while driving and itâs going to cost 1500 just for the part thatâs not including the labor”
Filed May 31, 2023
“Car suddenly started to jolts while decelerating from 25mphs -20mins. Car âstall & joltsâ from park to drive. Stuck in park for a couple seconds. Dangerous , unable to go from park to drive is a safe timely manner No check engine light or trouble codes, car is maintained”
Filed Dec 31, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 52 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 42 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 26 reports