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: power train
59 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Oct 15, 2019
YESTERDAY EVENING 14OCT2019 VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO POWER UP, HYBRID SYSTEM HEV WARNING LIGHT WENT ON AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TRIED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE CAR GOING. FINALLY GOT IT GOING. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS 15OCT2019.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Aug 7, 2019
CAR SHAKES ERRATICALLY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND HAS NO POWER AFTER HITTING ACCELERATOR. IT STRUGGLES TO GET ANY POWER TO GET GOING AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. GEAR CHANGES GET STUCK AND I HAVE LITERALLY BEEN STUCK IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION WHILE DOING A LEGAL U-TURN IN A BUSY BUSY LA INTERSECTION WITH MY 10YR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THE SITUATION WAS TO TURN CAR OFF AND TURN ON AGAIN WHICH POSES A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR BOTH MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF. TOOK CAR IN TO SERVICE LAST WEEK AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED ISSUE BUT ONE WEEK LATER HERE WE ARE WITH SAME PROBLEM. SERVICE TOLD ME IT LOOKS LIKE SOLENOID IS GOING OUT. WHICH SEEMS STRANGE FOR A 2016 CAR WITH ONLY 27,000. SO IF THIS WAS THE CASE WHY NOT CHANGE IT BEFORE IT WAS SOLD TO ME. ALSO CAR HAD PRIOR ISSUES BEFORE IT WAS SOLD TO ME ACCORDING TO SERVICE. I SMELL RECALL???? I HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION BUT THE DEALER HAS ALL SUPPORTING PAPERWORK.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 21, 2019
I WENT INTO THE DEALER TO GET AN OIL CHANGE ON 3/14/2019. THE DEALER CHOSE TO DO A FACTORY RECALL 50HYZ. SOON AS I LEFT THE DEALER MY CAR STARTED STALLING ON 495 NORTH TOWARDS TYSON CORNER IN VIRGINIA, JERKING AND LOST DRIVETRAIN POWER. I COULD GET TO 60MPH AND THE CAR WOULDN'T RESPOND AFTER THAT. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THE SOFTWARE UPDATED BRICKED MY SONATA. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WILL ORDER THE PART AND WILL COME IN 3/21/2019 WHICH IS TODAY. ONLY TO GET A CALL SAYING THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER INTO MAY. MY QUESTION IS WHY ISN'T HOLDING HYUNDAI ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS? MY CAR ISN'T THE FIRST ONE TO GET THIS SOFTWARE UPDATE SO IF HYUNDAI KNOWS THIS SOFTWARE IS GOING TO BRINK PEOPLES CAR HOW IN THE HELL ARE THEY ALLOWED TO KEEP DOING THIS RECALL WHEN THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE?
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 6, 2019
ENGINE IS MAKING WEIRD RATTLING SOUND ON ACCELERATION AND BURNING OIL TOO MUCH. PRIOR TO 3000 MILES OIL CHANGE, CHECKED DIP STICK AND INDICATED NO OIL. LOW OIL ON DASHBOARD DID NOT CAME ON. BELIEVED THAT THE ENGINE CONSUMPTION IS OUT OF LIMIT. ROUGH IDLE AND ACCELERATION HESITATION WAS NOTICE.
Power train, Dec 20, 2018
WHEN I DRIVE MY SONATA, SOMETIMES THE GEARS DO NO SWITCH. I CAN DRIVE ON A FLAT OR INCLINED SURFACE AND IT WILL ACT UP. WE'VE TAKEN OUR CAR SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. BUT WHEN THE CAR IS CONNECTED OR THE SERVICEMAN DRIVES THE CAR, THE CAR WILL SWITCH GEARS AND NOTHING IS FOUND ON THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. WE CURRENTLY DRIVING A FEW STATES OVER AND OUR CAR IS NOT SWITCHING GEARS AT TIMES, AFFECTING THE GAS MILEAGE. MY HUSBAND AND I WILL DECELERATE UNTIL GEARS SWITCH AND THEN ACCELERATE AGAIN.
Power train, Engine, Oct 16, 2018
AFTER A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE STALLED OUT. ATTEMPTED TO RESTART AND ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT IT STARTED AND AS I ACCELERATED IT STATED TO BUCK AS THE TRANSMISSION MADE SOUNDS WHILE THE GEARS WERE STRUGGLED TO CHANGE. AS I GAVE IT MORE GAS THEY SLOWLY RECOVERED OVER THE NEXT MILE. TOOK IT IN FOR A CHECK TO HYUNDAI ON 8/29/18. CHECKED OUT OK WITH NO REASON.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Aug 22, 2018
LOSS OF ACCELERATION BETWEEN 3-4 RPM.. HARD ACCELERATION..LOSS OF ACCELERATION BEFORE SHIFTING BETWEEN 60-70MP.. THEN SLOWLY ACCELERATES. MAJOR PROBLEM IF ON HIGHWAY WHERE YOU MUST SPEED UP BUT CAR NOT QUICKLY SHIFTING GEARS AND IS RUNNING TOO SLOW.
Power train, Service brakes, Engine, Oct 27, 2017
WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE MY CAR IS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE. WENT TO THE DEALER AND HE SAID IT IS NORMAL. PREVIOUSLY IT WAS LITTLE BUT NOW DAYS IT IS MAKING LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING. WHEN WE DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND TRY TO CHANGE THE GEAR FROM P TO D THE GEAR ROD IS MAKING SAME CLICKING NOISE. WHEN READ FORUMS I HEARD THAT IT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE SOLENOID BUT THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO DO BECAUSE HE HAS TO DO IT FOR FREE. WHEN ASKED THE DEALER HE SAID THAT IT DOES NOT COME UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THE NOISE IS REALLY LOUD AND NO ONE IS HELPING ME OUT.
Power train, Apr 4, 2017
DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ONCE THE ENGINE IS AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE THERE IS A HARSH SURGE DURING DOWN SHIFTING AT 35 MPH ( ALMOST AS IF I WERE DOWN SHIFTING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION OR HITTING THE BRAKES) THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SLOW MUCH MORE RAPIDLY THAN EXPECTED CAUSING MY HEAD AND BODY TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE CAR. IT IS EXTREMELY DISTRACTING AND I AM NERVOUS IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.