2016 Hyundai Elantra: jerking or lurching

Filed Jul 8, 2026 · Transmission · UT

2016 Hyundai Elantra (75k miles) experiences severe, un-commanded Loss of Propulsive Power and a Severe Drivetrain Instability Hazard. At steady highway speeds, the automatic transmission completely loses hydraulic pressure, slips out of gear, and unexpectedly drops into a temporary "neutral." The engine suddenly revs up to high RPM on its own while losing all forward acceleration. After coasting helplessly, it violently slams back into gear, causing the vehicle to lurch forward. This also happens from a complete stop.The vehicle's OBD-II system fails to illuminate the Check Engine Light or store fault codes during these flares, providing zero warning before a loss of propulsion.This dangerous transmission slipping has occurred intermittently for several years. I repeatedly took it to an authorized Hyundai dealership to address this crash hazard. Because there was no active Check Engine Light, the dealership dismissed my concerns, refused to document it, and sent me away without a diagnosis. Recently, the service department acted in bad faith by misrepresenting my warranty terms (falsely claiming it was only 7 years) and refusing a live-data diagnostic scan. The bad faith dealership was Murdock Hyundai of Murray in [XXX], specifically the service manager Tyler as well as Krateton. The car is a verified vehicle under the Hyundai Nu 1.8L Piston Slap Class Action Settlement (TXXK Campaign). An official safety escalation case is open with Hyundai Motor America under my corporate case number XXX. I request a federal safety investigation into premature transmission pressure failure in 2016 Elantras, as this vehicle is entirely unsafe to operate. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Dec 20, 2025 · Acceleration, Engine · CA

Engine turns off unexpectedly when driving. all power steering and brakes stop working when engine itself off. entire engine, drive train, and vehicle shakes while driving. Transmission is a replacement as first one failed after 90 days of purchase. paid labor for replacement and waited over 6 weeks without a vehicle. Now replaced oem transmission slips out of gear. making vehicle difficult to drive as the transmission and engine sputter and make ride jerky. car has turned off on the freeway in traffic 3 times. almost causing an accident each time. car has been robbed at least 5 separate times. stealing items within the vehicle. car was locked and next day it is unlocked and my stuff all gone. i am scared to drive the vehicle. i believe it is a lemon.

Filed Nov 1, 2025 · Transmission · FL

Vehicle started to violently lurch when shifted into drive. A week later loud clunking sound also started when shifting into drive. Sometimes would not go into drive and had to use manual 1st, 2nd, etc. Reverse was fine, no issues. No dash lights ever came on. Auto parts store had error code P0722. Have a diagnostic appt in a week at local Hyundai dealer. We may attempt to replace input/output speed sensor to solve, but probably will let dealership do diag first. Mileage approx 84686. Very dangerous at stop lights if can not get car into drive. Crash risk is high.

Filed Aug 21, 2025 · Transmission · 93,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle jerked with an abnormal sound coming from the transmission while shifting gears. In addition, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure due to a workmanship error. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired due to the cost. The dealer notified the manufacturer of the failure and submitted a request for a new transmission. The manufacturer declined the request. The contact notified the manufacturer and was informed that there was no Extended Warranty on the vehicle declined to offer any assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

Filed Feb 23, 2023 · Engine · TN

No mechanical issues . Left work one morning driving to work . Made it home turned the car off .and the car never cranked back up . Sent to shop for assessment says the motor . I have routine maintenance done . No check engine light appeared . Car had been jerking on and off

Filed May 16, 2022 · Transmission · GA

My 2016 Hyundai Elantra started jerking and losing acceleration power. I got stuck at a stop sign because the car lost the ability to change gears. It felt very unsafe to be stuck in the middle of traffic and have to wave people around my vehicle at night. I’ve taken it to two different mechanics who have both said my vehicle has experienced premature transmission failure due to a factory defect. The car has 90,000 miles. I am a second owner so my warranty ended at 60,000 miles. There was no warning or dash lights. It was very abrupt and unexpected.

Filed Sep 26, 2020 · Engine · 65,800 miles · CO

I was driving on a road that is 50mph when I tried to accelerate I wasn't able to and dropped speed no lights came on and the car started jerking and jolting. I then heard a ticking coming from the hood. I then had it towed to hyundai and when they finally did look at it they said that the engine needed replaced.

Filed May 21, 2020 · Engine, Fuel system · 55,970 miles · MD

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. I also have videos of the tapping noise and shaking just before shutting off. The last time I took my car to be serviced I was told that the oil pressure pump and exhaust CVT need replacement. I was told the hyundai techline instructed the technician not to make any repairs because the technician was unable to duplicate the problem. I was advised by a hyundai case manager to take my vehicle to another hyundai shop to see if they can duplicate the problem.

Filed Dec 17, 2019 · Acceleration · 72,486 miles · GA

This has happened numerus times, whether on highway's or city streets. Driving the car you will feel it lurch forward accelerating suddenly and then return to normal driving. The rpms will be at 4000 to 5000 each time. The other day on the way home from a family christmas party with my 2 girls and husband, I had the cruse control set. It suddenly revved up to 4000 rpms on a curved hilly road. This happened at 1am. No other cars where around. My then 16 year old daughter was driving the car to get her drivers license it did it with the instructor in the car. The instructor has her stop and get another car for the test. She said that this was a safety issue with the car and could not continue the test. We had only had the car at that time for 6 months. We purchased the car new with only 6 miles on it. I am now seeing all the complaints on this issue with this car and several other of hyundai car makes and modules on the internet. Just search hyundai cars surging while driving and you can see for your self. They must be waiting on a fatality before they make a recall.

Filed Oct 19, 2019 · Acceleration · 184,000 miles · FL

On more than one occasion when accelerating from a stopped position, the car will lurch forward when pressing the gas, but not equal to the depression of the accelerator pedal. I bought this car 8 months ago and it has happened many times. One incident I believe when this happened caused me to damage personal property.inwas stopped behind a car waiting to get to a gate key pad. When I started to pull forward the car suddenly accelerated and I hit the key pad, ran over it! This sudden acceleration is not typically a hazard when on the open road, obviously this was an issue with a solid object in front of me.

Filed May 17, 2018 · Acceleration · 57,000 miles · NC

When I first purchased my car, I was given a different car than the one written down on my paperwork. I had to come back in to get the car that matched my paperwork. Since receiving this car, I noticed a slight hesitation when accelerating. Recently, it has gotten worse to the point where it will jerk repeatedly when I have to constantly accelerate and then break when there is traffic. When I am just driving freely on the highway or side streets, it seems to get stuck in one gear and no matter how hard I push on the gas pedal, it will not go any faster. I have to press extremely hard on the gas to make it go and then it will jerk forward and make a really loud accelerating sound as if I'm a monster truck. This is very unsafe on the road and it makes me nervous to drive it. This car is my only vehicle so I can't afford not to drive it, but I really need something done with this.

Filed Aug 18, 2017 · Acceleration, Engine · 33,600 miles · OK · crash

I drove slowly through the parking lot at work and pulled into a parking spot. Instead of stopping, the car suddenly swerved, lurched forward and crashed into the cement base of a light pole. The car kept grinding into the cement base. I was helpless to stop the destruction of my car. The repair shop has had my car for one week but no repairs have been made yet. The repair shop is awaiting the decision from the insurance company. The damage to my car is over $10,000. I have previously experienced a loss of power when driving my car. There have been times when the car has tried to accelerate on its own and would lurch forward. I have been a safe driver for many years and had never gotten a ticket nor been in an accident before. I have read reports of other people having problems with their hyundai cars unexpectedly crashing into parking garage walls, objects, or other cars. I do not know the cause of this dangerous malfunction of the hyundai car but the cause needs to be determined before someone is badly injured or killed.