2016 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 723 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 19 involved a crash and 28 involved a fire. 19 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, turn signalSep 24, 2021
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Sonata, 2016-2017 Sonata Hybrid, and Sonata Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The Smart Junction Box (SJB) software logic may not properly interpret the signals received from the multifunction switch, which could cause the turn signal to activate in the opposite direction of what the driver intended.
A turn signal that activates in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the SJB software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 210.
Campaign 21V749000 on NHTSA.gov
Parking brake, indicator lightJun 5, 2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Sonata and Genesis vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the warning light to indicate that the parking brake is applied may intermittently not illuminate in the dash due to corrosion in the switch.
If the parking brake indicator is not illuminated when the parking brake is applied, the driver may operate the vehicle with the parking brake partially engaged, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the parking brake switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 164.
Campaign 17V359000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, sun/moon roof assemblyOct 11, 2016
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles manufactured December 8, 2014, to August 18, 2015, and Hyundai Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to March 18, 2016, equipped with the panoramic sunroof option. Due to a bonding issue with the sunroof wind deflector, the sunroof panel on the affected vehicles may detach while driving.
If the sunroof detaches from the vehicle it could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair the wind deflector anchor plate, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 152.
Campaign 16V726000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsAug 24, 2016
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured March 28, 2016 through April 12, 2016. The affected vehicles have a driver-side frontal air bag that may not adequately protect the driver's neck from injury in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
A frontal air bag that does not adequately protect the driver's neck may increase their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 148.
Campaign 16V615000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalApr 21, 2016
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 29, 2014 to February 11, 2016, 2017 Elantra vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016 to February 22, 2016, and one 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicle manufactured October 15, 2015. In these vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may be missing a chemical enhancer required for the second stage air bag deployment, resulting in the second stage not deploying in certain crashes. The primary stage will deploy as intended.
An air bag that does not inflate increases the risk of injury.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 5,2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 144.
Campaign 16V232000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, instrument cluster/panelOct 20, 2015
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to August 21, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with an Antilock Braking System (ABS) warning light intended to warn the driver if there is an ABS malfunction. In the event of an ABS malfunction, the Brake System warning light will illuminate, but the ABS warning light will not illuminate. Since the vehicles have ABS malfunction lights that do not illuminate, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
If the driver is alerted there is a brake system malfunction, but not specifically with the ABS system, the driver may operate the vehicle unaware that the vehicle's brakes may lock up during hard braking, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 134.
Campaign 15V678000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: exterior lighting
38 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 15, 2021, fire
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that his passenger side headlight housing had melted and become defective. While driving at 55 MPH, the contact stated that the windshield wipers failed to operate without warning during a rainstorm. Additionally, he stated that the turn signals would operate in the opposite directions of his intention. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed him that the vehicle was placed under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V749000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the remedy was not yet available. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 111,000. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Exterior lighting, Dec 4, 2019
ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45 AND 60 MPH, ON A ARKANSAS STATE HWY AND A US HWY BOTH HEAD LIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OFF AND THEN CAME BACK ON. TWICE IN OCT. 2019 WHILE CHANGING FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM, ONCE IN NOV 2019 HEAD LIGHTS WENT OFF WITH OUT USING HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM. TAKING CAR TO DEALERSHIP ON 12/4/19.
Exterior lighting, Oct 14, 2019
BULBS BURN OUT DUE TO OVERHEATING. EMERGENCY LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING DUE TO OVERHEATING
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 26, 2019
REAR TAIL LIGHTS KEEPS BURNING OUT. THIS SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER CONSUMERS AND HYUNDAI HAS NOT DONE A RECALL. SEE FORUMS AND VIDEOS ONLINE FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=9MJXFA1TMTI THEY HAD THIS ISSUE WITH OLDER MODELS AND NOW IT'S HAPPENING WITH NEWER MODELS. CAN WE HAVE A RECALL?
Exterior lighting, Jul 22, 2019
HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNAL AT NIGHT TIME.
Exterior lighting, Jun 4, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE AND THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL ON THEIR OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
Exterior lighting, Jan 11, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHEN THE DRIVER SWITCHED TO THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Exterior lighting, Jan 10, 2019
HI, THE SONATA LIM THE LIGHT ISSUE IS NOT ONLY TERRIBLE, BUT I FEEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WE BROUGHT IN THE CAR THIS WEEK FOR THIS ISSUE AND WITH THE SERVICE TEAM, DETERMINED THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE LIMITED'S ONLY. THE NON-LIMITED VERSION, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY, ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS THE SAME, THE ENTIRE BULB IS ENCASED IN THE METAL/ALUMINUM. WHEN LOOKING AT THE SONATA LIMITED ONE, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE TOP EDGE OF THAT SAME HOUSING IS CUT OFF. THE DEALER ORDERED ANOTHER LIGHT ASSEMBLY AS THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LIMITED IN THEIR LOT, AND HE JUST CALLED TO TELL ME IT LOOKS IDENTICAL. I WILL HAPPILY JOIN ANY MOVEMENT TO GET THIS RECTIFIED.ITED
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 2, 2019
MY ALARM HORN DONT WORK, MY OVERHEAD LIGHT DOES NOT SHUT OFF PROPERLY , DOORS DONT LOCK BACK SHOWS OPNED WHEN CLOSED. WATER IN BACK DOOR LATCH FROZE AND CRACKED MY CASING. THIS ALL HAPPEMED AT THE SAME TIME. DRAINED MY BATTERY AND THEY REPLACED A BOX IN DOOR. NOW BATTERY DIES AGAIN AND IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. A CONSTANT PROBLEM SINCE LAST YEAR. IT IS NOT DEPENDABLE FOR ME DUE TO DISABLED AND SENIOR CITZEN.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Aug 24, 2017
HARD SHIFTS WHEN IN SPORT MODE AND WHEN IT DOESN'T DO A HARD SHIFT THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS AND POWER STEERING TO NOT FICTION CAUSE A POSSIBLE CRASH HAVE TO STOP AND PUT IN PARK TO RESTART ENGINE
Exterior lighting, Interior lighting, Dec 16, 2016
ISSUE #1 SEAT BELT SAFETY-CHOKING INCIDENT FILED SEPARATE TRACKING # 10935641 ISSUE # 2 BOUGHT VEHICLE SEPT. 29, 2016 WITH ZERO MILEAGE ON CAR. HAPPENED OCTOBER 1, AND 2ND, AND RANDOM. ON OCTOBER 3, 2016 BROUGHT VEHICLE INTO MAINTENANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS MAKING THUMPING SOUND WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING ON THE STREET, LESS THAN 25-30MPH CAR SPONTANEOUSLY DOES THIS SOUND. I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE, TO SEE IF SOMETHING IS DRAGGING. NOTHING IS THERE. I START DRIVING AGAIN, THE SOUND RETURNS, PULL OVER, AGAIN NOTHING FOUND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE OR UNDERNEATH. INSIDE THE VEHICLE I NOTICE THAT THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE LIGHT IS ON AS A SIGNAL ON THE DASH BOARD. I DID NOT TURN IT ON. IT SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING ON THE VEHICLE. I LIFT THE HOOD. NOTHING FOUND. I RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON OCTOBER 3, 2016 FOR INSPECTION AT THE HYUNDAI GERALD DEALERSHIP IN NORTH AURORA ILLINOIS WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SAME SCENARIO SINCE PURCHASING UP UNTIL DECEMBER 4, 2016. HYUNDAI MAINTENANCE FOUND NO PROBLEMS. ISSUE # 3 INCIDENT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE ABOUT 1 WEEK AFTER VEHICLE PURCHASE AT START OF CAR AND WHILE DRIVING. INTERIOR CAR LIGHTS RANDOMLY COME ON. THIS CAN BE INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE, INTERIOR PASSENGER SIDE, AND INTERIOR REAR LIGHTS. UNABLE TO REPLICATE HAPPENS SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING AS WELL. USUALLY FIXED BY DEPRESSING BUTTON. BUT, BUTTON WAS NOT ORIGINALLY PRESSED TO TURN THIS LIGHT ON. HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER OR DEALERSHIP HAS NOT RESOLVED OR FOUND THE ISSUE. THESE ISSUES ARE DOCUMENTED IN VEHICLE MAINTENANCE REPORTS ANYTIME VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE. ISSUES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO HYUNDAI MANUFACTURER. NO RESOLUTION HAS BEEN OFFERED. *TR
Exterior lighting, Sep 14, 2016
HIGHLIGHTS WHEN TO AUTO MODE DO NOT TURN ON WHEN WIPERS ARE TURN ON AS REQUIRED BY FLORIDA STATUTE 316.217(1)(B)
Steering, Exterior lighting, Engine, Jun 25, 2016
WHILE DRIVING 65MPH AT 10PM ON A THE INTERSTATE, I HEARD A POUND "THUNK" AND THOUGHT I HAD A TIRE ISSUE, SO BEGAN TO STEER TOWARD THE EMERGENCY LANE. I QUICKLY REALIZED I HAD NO POWER TO ACCELERATE, NO POWER STEERING AND THE DASH WAS BLACKED OUT...CAR WAS DEAD. ONLY EVER THING WORKING WAS RADIO, EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND DOME LIGHT. DOOR LOCKS DID NOT EVEN WORK. CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND CAR WAS TOWED. I HAVE NO FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAR'S DISPOSITION AS IT WAS A RENTAL. IT WAS TERRIFYING AND COULD HAVE ENDED CATASTROPHICALLY IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THE REASON I AM FILING THIS REPORT IS TO INSURE IT WILL BE INVESTIGATED THOROUGHLY. I DID REPORT IT TO HYUNDAI .