2016 Hyundai Sonata problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (338) · Power Train (46) · Service Brakes (31)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Sonata model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
253 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (6)
Electrical System:software 2021-09-24 · campaign 21V749000 · 469,377 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Parking Brake:indicator Light 2017-06-05 · campaign 17V359000 · 161,074 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2016-10-11 · campaign 16V726000 · 62,811 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Air Bags 2016-08-24 · campaign 16V615000 · 1,031 vehicles
Defect: 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."
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.
Air Bags:frontal 2016-04-21 · campaign 16V232000 · 33 vehicles
Defect: 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
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.
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel 2015-10-20 · campaign 15V678000 · 64,744 vehicles
Defect: 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 vehicle
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.
Service bulletins (231)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2026-10-15 · 26-GI-004H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (pdw) sensor(s) that may trigger various dtcs and display warning messages on the instrument cluster, resulting in the pdw sensor(s) failing to detect nearby objects or triggering multiple false alarms. this condition may be a res
Engine 2026-10-08 · 26-EM-016H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. all internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operatio
Engine 2026-10-07 · 26-EM-015H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. all internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operatio
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-26 · Z05 OL · Warranty Program/Extension
certain vehicles may exhibit excessive paint peeling or bubbling of the primer/paint film on the exterior metal body panels: hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. this warranty extension only applies to factory-applied paint and does not cover collision-related paint
Engine 2026-05-21 · 26-01-013H-2 DN · Service Campaign
certain santa fe (tma), santa fe sport (an), sonata (lfa), and tucson (tl) vehicles equipped with theta ii engines may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions. the california air resources board has determined that these vehicles may be releasing air pollutants which exceed federal and california stan
Engine 2026-05-21 · 26-01-013H-2 TSB · Service Campaign
certain santa fe (tma), santa fe sport (an), sonata (lfa), and tucson (tl) vehicles equipped with theta ii engines may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions. this bulletin provides instructions for updating the engine control module (ecm) to address this condition.
Showing the 6 most recent of 231 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-29 · Suspension“i am filing a formal safety complaint regarding severe vehicle instability, structural safety risks, and dealership workmanship negligence following a federal safety recall engine replacement. my vehicle received a new engine block under a federal campaign at a local dealership. immediately upon picking up the vehicle, the front suspension develope…”
2026-10-20 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 70,000 mi“the contact owns a 2016 hyundai sonata. the contact stated that while getting an oil change, the contact was informed that the oil pan was empty. the contact could not recall seeing leaks or making changes to the oil change routine. an independent mechanic informed the contact of an engine recall regarding excessive oil consumption. the contact was…”
2026-10-06 · Engine · 60,436 mi“the contact owns a 2016 hyundai sonata. while the contact's daughter was driving 55 mph, the engine seized. the contact stated that the failure had occurred while the contact's two minor grandchildren were inside the vehicle during the failure. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. the vehicle was later towed to the dealer where it was …”
2026-10-04 · Engine“while driving on the freeway, the check engine light started flashing and the gas pedal became useless. this put the driver and the passenger of the car in massive danger as they could no longer accelerate on the freeway. luckily, they were able to get off the freeway without causing an accident. upon reading the code at an auto shop, they discover…”
2026-09-17 · Electrical System“backup vision system failed. couldn't see vision because screen was blank. radio didn't work either. went to dealership with the problem they said it was not covered by the warranty. paid to have it fixed. …”
2026-09-15 · Engine“the vehicle experienced a theta ii engine failure at under 57,830 miles while driving on northbound [xxx] near the [xxx] parkway u-turn in [xxx]. the engine made a loud noise and lost power. i was able to coast to the far right side of the u-turn under the bridge. i called hero (austin's emergency roadside assistance). they responded, determined it…”
2026-09-15 · Engine“i am concerned that the engine may seize or stall without warning while driving, creating a risk of crash, injury, or death. the theta ii engine defect is known to cause engine seizure, stalling, and fire. hyundai has denied warranty coverage based on mileage and second-owner status — both of which are explicitly prohibited as denial grounds under …”
2026-09-03 · Engine“the car died while going 70 on a highway with no warning signs. the car completely shut off and will not turn over or move at all. …”
2026-08-25 · Engine“component & inspection: vehicle engine suffered connecting rod bearing failure and entered restricted p1326 "limp home mode" (max 2,000 rpm). the vehicle is grounded and available for inspection at bud clary hyundai in [xxx].safety risk: sudden, unexpected loss of power occurred while driving, placing me and other drivers at immediate risk on publi…”
2026-08-11 · Engine“my sonata 2016 suddenly lit up the check engine icon, which was blinking. it is available for inspection request, as it's in the shop right now. added 2 qts of oil just to be safe. was hoping the light would go away in the morning. it didn't. the car was sputtering and jerking while i was attempting to get where i was going, so i drove a littl…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.