2016 Hyundai Elantra Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 31about this part
- Share
- 11%of 293 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 78,800miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 31 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2016 Hyundai Elantra, 11% of the 293 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,800 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving on the street when I reached a stop light. I came to a complete, full, and safe stop. The car was stationary. And before this day that this all happened, the car was in perfect driving condition. Nothing was wrong from what I could tell. I then turned the car off and turned it back on, in the front of traffic forming behind me. It kept shutting off every time I would stop or slow down. It happened about 7 times before I went back to the dealership I bought it from.”
NHTSA complaint #11341433, filed 2020-07, 106,894 miles“I am told I need to have my engine replaced. My car had been making ticking and knocking noises as if it was struggling to function. The day it broke down, it was beginning to knock exceptionally loud. I was afraid it was going to stall while driving as the car would not accelerate when I pushed on the gas pedal. It stalled again at the next intersection. Then would not start at all. I had to ask for help to push my car to a safe area. This happened on a city streets. I had the car towed to the Hyundai dealership believing it was covered under warranty. …”
NHTSA complaint #11207660, filed 2019-05, 78,800 miles“I have had problems with my vehicle for a year now. I took the car to Hyundai several times to get my vehicle service and each time they were unable to duplicate the problem. The problems I am experiencing are a delay in acceleration, car shuts off occasionally while driving, car shut off occasionally when switching to reverse, the car always shakes and makes a weird noise just before shutting off. The car jerks when driving spontaneously, low tapping noise under the hood that could be heard inside the vehicle. I have videos of my car shutting off while driving and backing up. …”
NHTSA complaint #11325480, filed 2020-05, 55,970 miles“I was driving on a city street going approx. 30 MPH when the car felt like it had downshifted into a low gear. The tachometer wa revving between 4,000 and 5,000 rpms even though I was slowing. I pulled to the side of the road but was unable to put the car in park as the gear shift was stuck in drive. After several attempts to put the car in park, I pulled the gear shift down as low as it would go past d(rive) and then I was able to push it up into the park position. Once I put the car back into drive again the engine and transmission were normal.”
NHTSA complaint #10855371, filed 2016-04, 5,000 miles“I have taken my car to 2 Hyundai dealerships to be looked at. When I drive my car gets stuck in a high gear & gives me a hard time driving unless I accelerate dramatically to drop the rpms & the car will drop gears. I live on a very steep hill & came close to a very dangerous accident due to this issue. My car did not want to make it up my hill because the car makes a loud noise. The day this happened it was snowing & I had to accelerate to make it up & almost crashed because my car was rolling back down the hill & I live off of a busy intersection.”
NHTSA complaint #10837795, filed 2016-02, 6,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10253275Apr 9, 2024This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and replace, if necessary, an automatic transmission with Incorrect Ratio DTC (transmission clutch slip in gear above limit) listed on…
- 10241874Aug 17, 2023Hyundai has launched an anti-theft software upgrade and window decal campaign (Campaign 993), combined with an anti-theft steering wheel lock campaign (Campaign P32), in response…
- 10176194May 21, 2020If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with the following symptoms and DTC, follow the Service Procedure on Page 4. ï· Check Engine light on ï· DTC P0880/P088000 - TCM…
- 10174807Apr 17, 2020The automatic transmission warranty repair policy authorizes in-dealership repairs of the following components for both OEM (new) and remanufactured automatic transmissions:
- 10174799Apr 9, 2020If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related…
- 10172227Feb 20, 2020If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related…
- 10170899Jan 2, 2020This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and repair a transaxle for the following Incorrect Ratio DTC (transaxle clutch slipping more than 200 rpm in gear).
- 10170511Dec 17, 2019If 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…
- 10165455Aug 12, 2019If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a ?Check Engine? light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid…
- 10163279Jun 4, 2019This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and repair a transaxle for the following Incorrect Ratio DTC (transaxle clutch slipping more than 200 rpm in gear).
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 5% |
| 2024 | 3 | 5% |
| 2023 | 9 | 9% |
| 2022 | 7 | 7% |
| 2021 | 7 | 5% |
| 2020 | 47 | 19% |
| 2019 | 11 | 4% |
| 2018 | 24 | 8% |
| 2017 | 62 | 8% |
| 2016 | 31 | 11% |
| 2015 | 18 | 7% |
| 2014 | 22 | 6% |
| 2013 | 57 | 4% |
| 2012 | 40 | 6% |
| 2011 | 21 | 5% |
| 2010 | 32 | 8% |
| 2009 | 8 | 3% |
| 2008 | 29 | 9% |
| 2007 | 10 | 4% |
| 2006 | 8 | 5% |
| 2005 | 7 | 5% |
| 2004 | 7 | 4% |
| 2003 | 9 | 4% |
| 2002 | 17 | 5% |
| 2001 | 16 | 5% |
| 2000 | 22 | 11% |
| 1999 | 41 | 32% |
| 1998 | 13 | 24% |
| 1997 | 31 | 27% |
| 1996 | 20 | 20% |
| 1995 | 19 | 17% |
| 1994 | 9 | 12% |
| 1993 | 5 | 21% |
| 1992 | 9 | 31% |
Other parts of the 2016 Hyundai Elantra
111 complaintsOther or unknown
54 complaintsAir bags
26 complaintsElectrical system
22 complaintsFuel system
20 complaintsSteering
19 complaintsBody and structure
18 complaintsVehicle speed control
18 complaintsBrakes
15 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
13 complaintsSuspension
10 complaintsWheels
10 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology