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: steering
33 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Engine, Dec 17, 2018
VEHICLE EXHIBITS STICKY STEERING AND ENGINE HAS STALLED 3 TIMES. STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AS IT STICKS SEVERELY WHEN TRYING TO STEER OR MANEUVER THE VEHICLE ON ANY LOCAL ROAD OR HIGHWAY. VEHICLE HAS STALLED 3X ALREADY WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN BRAKE IS RELEASED MOVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP.
Steering, Apr 11, 2018
I GOT THE CAR INSPECTED AND BALANCE, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL CAN'T BE UPRIGHT, IS ALWAYS TO THE LEFT SIDE AND NOBODY CAN FIX IT YET.
Steering, Mar 27, 2018
THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE WHILE IN DRIVE MODE ON 3/24/18, 3/27/18. ON 3/27/18 WHILE ON I495 HIGHWAY GOING 35-40 MPH THE STEERING WILL SUDDENLY LOCKED. A TRACTOR TRAILER HAD TO SWERVE IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHO STATED THAT IT IS AN EPS FAILURE .
Steering, Engine, Dec 4, 2017
MY CARS ENGINE HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING SEVERAL TIMES. IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT FIXED THE ISSUE FOR THE TIME BEING. THE SECOND ISSUE IS MY STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED WHILE I'VE BEEN DRIVING MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE CAR.
Steering, Nov 16, 2017
I PURCHASED THIS AUTO IN SEPT 2917 USED, A FEW WEEKS LATER MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE ELECTRIC STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND A RED STEERING WHEEL INDICATOR APPEARED ON THE DASH SHE MANAGED TO DRIVE IT HOME, WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT EVERYTHING WAS OK. ON 11/12 2017 THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME AS I WAS TURNING ONTO A SIDE STREET FROM A CITY STREET I WAS SO SURPRISED I DIDNT TURN FAST ENOUGH AND ALMOST HIT 3 TEENAGERS ON A SIDEWALK. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RE STARTED IT AND EVERY THING AGAIN WAS OK.I AM AFRAID THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE CONTROL I AM SURE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND THE RESULT MAY NOT BE AS EASILY SOLVED.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 3, 2017
WITHOUT CLEAR CAUSE THIS RENTAL CAR'S POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW TO MODERATE SPEEDS- THE FIRST TIME WE WERE IN A PARKING LOT SO ABLE TO PULL INTO A SAFE PLACE AFTER A TOW COMPANY CHECKED IT OUT AND IT SEEMED TO HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY RESOLVED WE TRIED TO DRIVE IT A SHORT DISTANCE AT SLOW SPEEDS AND THE DASHBOARD STARTED TO FLASH ON AND OFF AND THE POWER STEERING CUT AGAIN.
Steering, May 14, 2017
WHILE DRIVING I NOTICE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO STICK SLIGHTLY SO THAT YOU HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT SLIGHTLY THEN IT RESUMES STEERING PROPERLY FOR FEW SECONDS THEN IT STICKS AGAIN. IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME BUT WHEN IT DOES IT MAKES ME THINK THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS GETTING READY TO LOCK UP. I NOTICE THIS MOSTLY ON HIGHWAYS AND IT REALLY WEARS YOU OUT TRYING TO DRIVE AND WORRYING THAT THE STEERING MIGHT LOCK UP. THIS HAPPENS A LOT.
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 .