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2016 Hyundai Sonata Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 727 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata, most often about the engine (63% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles). It is 8th of 27 Sonata model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2016 Hyundai Sonata problems
Engine
461 complaints · 63%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. While driving over 45 MPH, the check engine indicator illuminated and the vehicle hesitated to drive. The vehicle was taken to webb Hyundai highland (9236 south indianapolis blvd, highland, in 46322, ([phone]) where the contact was informed that an unknown piece of the motor…
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.
Other or unspecified
91 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 46,500 miles.
My 2016 Hyundai Sonata misfire sometimes at starting. Here is a little description. Today june 28 2016 I started my vehicle and noticed it was running a little harder making an unusual sound as I engaged the reverse the vehicle started rolling back slowly and checking like it was going to stall and stop. It all sounds…
Car was in motion at about 75mph on the highway when it jerked really hard then lost all power, making it a very unsafe situation for not only my family but also other drivers. The lights on the dashboard went all crazy and it hasn't started since that happened, car was towed to a dealership where they are stating…
Electrical
89 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, cybersecurity.
The car when driven highway miles will not crank when you stop the engine. The check hybrid system light message comes up. The car will not start for 15 to 45 minutes. The engine light is on once the car starts but the next day there are no lights or diagnostic codes. Stopped in a drive way and had to push it. This is…
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.
Transmission
59 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles.
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.
After a period of driving, which is random at best, the check engine light will appear and the vehicle will start to shudder and lose its ability to accelerate. This happens when the vehicle is in motion and happens both on the freeway at high speeds, as well as on city streets in low speeds. The only way to get this…
Brakes
47 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 31,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock.
While the vehicle is in motion and when I hit the brake. A click noise is always coming when we hit the brake till the end. Always happening observing from past 2 months. The other problem is when we hit the brake and and hold the shift knob it is making tick tick noise. Always happens when I showed to the mechanic…
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the automatic emergency brake was engaged after attempting to avoid a crash at 35 MPH, but failed to respond. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the cause of the failure was unable to be determined. The manufacturer was…
Lights
38 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 55,500 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
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…
The contact owned a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously stolen, and she related the failure to Hyundai campaign number: 993. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly to approximately 45 MPH. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle…
Fuel system
34 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
When accelerating there is a ticking noise coming from engine. This has been happening for a while after I got the update and new wiring harness from the campaign. I'm scared to drive my car, I accelerate slowly because I get nervous it will blow up. I took this car to a Hyundai dealership and they quoted me over 500…
Car runs out of oil well before 2000 miles/2 months. When accelerating the car is sluggish the engine is ticking and feels like the engine is going to seize, no matter if the car is moving 5mph or 70 MPH.
Steering
33 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles.
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…
At stop sign to turn left, started and steering wheel would not turn. Felt like loss of power steering. Fortunately, no other cars around, I put gear in reverse to back up before hitting ditch on other side of road. I turned off car, restarted and wheel worked. Stopped on major highway to turn at light, happened…
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 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.
Brakes: indicator light
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
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
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
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.
Electrical: instrument cluster/panel
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
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
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
Electronic parking brake
Summary
The office of defects investigation opened this investigation on september 3, 2016 based on four reports alleging the rear brakes locked or applied while driving without brake pedal application. One of the reports alleged a fire in the right rear wheel area.the vehicles subject to the investigation are equipped with an optional electronic parking brake (epb). In this system, an electric motor applies the parking brake by moving the rear brake pads (pads) against the brake rotors (rotors) when activated by the epb control switch. The epb is released by the control switch or by selecting a drive gear with the transmission shifter when the ignition is on.if the epb has not been used within 1000
Questions about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (461 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles); other or unspecified (91 complaints, typically around 46,500 miles); electrical (89 complaints, typically around 85,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Hyundai Sonata have?
- 6 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?
- It is 8th of 27 Sonata model years by number of complaints, with 727 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.