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2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 133 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, most often about the engine (57% of complaints, typically around 84,500 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Sonata Hybrid model year since 2000 and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problems
Engine
76 complaints · 57%Half of these problems showed up before 84,500 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
Engine knocking which lead to engine failure requiring a complete replacement of the engine. There was no warning from the engine warning system. Hyundai corporate said since I am the second owner they will not cover the cost of the repair which was over $3200. This issue seems to be related to the engine bearing…
2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid ignition issue the engine is rattling while idling and under acceleration and the check engine light is coming on. Believe it is an issue with either spark plugs or ignition coil. Service dept said both components looked free of damage upon inspection.
Electrical
36 complaints · 27%Half of these problems showed up before 63,500 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. While attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to start and the engine and hybrid indicators illuminated. The contact made several attempts to start the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. Brown's manassas Hyundai (8651 centreville rd, manassas, va 20110, ([phone])…
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Other or unspecified
19 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 27,000 miles.
Spontaneous explosion of panoramic sunroof as I was travelling down the highway at about 60 MPH. No foreign object involved. Sounded like a bomb went off above my head. Thank goodness, the inner liner was closed.
Numerous posts and this has occurred to me numerous times within the past 2 months. After driving vehicle on the freeway, and getting off to get gas or stop to get groceries or anything, when the vehicle is turned off, check hybrid system light comes on and vehicle is disabled. Will not start or attempt to start for…
Transmission
14 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 36,500 miles.
The automatic transmission on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid went out on the car oct 31, 2019. My wife was driving the car, when she lost drivability of the car. The car would not go, she was able to park it on a side street. She restarted the car but would not go into gear, the engine was running. The car was towed…
Mileage was about 16,500. On the freeway going about 70 MPH, car shut down with alarm information and into a controlled glide, not allowing acceleration. After almost being run into I was able to move to the right shoulder and per directions, shut off motor. Was able to restart. Went three miles to my destination and…
Brakes
10 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 33,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock.
9/14 vehicle parking breaks engaged. Replaced parking break sensor and motor and car was available to be picked up on 9/21, but not picked up until 9/24. On 9/25 parking break engaged again doing roughly 15mph after turning the vehicle on in a parking lot.
While driving in a parking lot, the parking break automatically engaged. Approx speed was 15 MPH. Repairs still being worked after 5 days. Unknown root cause. Attempting to replace the motor next.
Lights
7 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 16,000 miles.
Just saw on tv consumer reports about poor night vision with SUV headlights and was reminded of a problem I have that may affect other vehicles headlights. I have a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. I was driving home at night this last winter during a very heavy wet snowstorm when I noticed my headlights seem to be getting…
With the headlights set to auto, when using using the turn signal the headlight turn off occasionally. This happen more often when signaling right turn or lain changes. Link to video the file is to large to upload. This happens daily now. Https://youtu.be/-goigz3tbhy
Fuel system
7 complaints · 5%Abrupt and total loss of acceleration at full throttle at or near high RPM shift points. This behavior can be reliably reproduced by "flooring it" (all the way, including kickdown) and not letting go - as if one is executing a passing maneuver. The power loss will occur at the next shift point after kick down, and…
Hev check hybrid system. Car would not start. Car dropped @ dealer on 4/16/18 @ 0830. Today is 4/24/18. Car started after waiting 15-20 mins. Check engine light still on when dropped at dealer.
Visibility and wipers
4 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: sun/moon roof assembly.
While I was driving on interstate , moonroof/sunroof start making awkward noise. I noted the moonroof had came out of it's position. I held with one hand and drive so that other vehicles approaching will be safe. Unfortunately I could not hold longer due to the wind power and it flew back and shattered the entire…
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the sunroof exploded without impact. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The contact stated that the failure was related to…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid recalls
Electrical: software
Risk: A turn signal that activates in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed december 4, 2021. Owners may contact hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 208.
Full defect summary
Hyundai motor america (hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 sonata, 2016-2018 sonata hybrid, 2018-2020 accent, and 2016-2017 azera vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 401, "internal trunk release."
Engine
Risk: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new knock sensor detection system (ksds). Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began march 31, 2021. Owners may contact hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 198.
Full defect summary
Hyundai motor america (hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 veloster, 2012 santa fe, 2011-2013 sonata hybrid, and 2016 sonata hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which over time can result in engine damage.
Visibility and wipers: sun/moon roof assembly
Risk: If the sunroof detaches from the vehicle it could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: An air bag that does not inflate increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
Nhtsa received a petition on or about july 18, 2022, requesting that federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the united states. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under odi number 11486072. Fmvss 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after march 1, 2021.on january 27, 2023, NHTSA opened defect petition (dp) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Engine fires
Summary
On march 29, 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened two preliminary evaluations (pe19-003 on hyundai and pe19-004 on kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year hyundai and kia vehicles.â during the pe investigations, hyundai and kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types.â the remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement.â additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modif
Electrical overstress
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.â during the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (acu) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ecu) manufactured by zf-trw. â the ecu receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with m
Questions about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (76 complaints, typically around 84,500 miles); electrical (36 complaints, typically around 63,500 miles); other or unspecified (19 complaints, typically around 27,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 24, 2021 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Sonata Hybrid model year since 2000, with 133 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.