What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2016 Hyundai Sonata

Typical pattern

2.9% of complaints about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2016 vehicle — around the middle of the 199 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.9 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (450 complaints), typically at 7.3 yr or about 84,000 miles.

Complaints
997
Median age at failure
6.9 yr
Median mileage
63,300 n=351
Crash / fire / tow
11.2% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
450 reports · 84,000 mi
7.3 yr
9.1%
Other
91 reports · 48,000 mi
6.9 yr
14.3%
Electrical system
88 reports · 86,118 mi
6.7 yr
15.9%
Power train
59 reports · 60,000 mi
6.5 yr
5.1%
Service brakes
42 reports · 16,000 mi
6.6 yr
19%
Exterior lighting
37 reports · 58,000 mi
5.8 yr
8.1%
Steering
33 reports · 40,000 mi
5.3 yr
6.1%
Fuel / propulsion
33 reports · 70,000 mi
7.3 yr
6.1%
Structure
31 reports · 55,000 mi
5.3 yr
6.5%
Speed control
30 reports · 56,000 mi
4.9 yr
20%
Air bags
21 reports · 63,000 mi
6.4 yr
42.9%
Engine cooling
17 reports · 78,000 mi
7.9 yr
11.8%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

21V749000 2021-09-24
Exterior lighting:turn signal

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.

17V359000 2017-06-05
Parking brake:indicator light

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.

16V726000 2016-10-11
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly

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.

16V615000 2016-08-24
Air bags

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.

16V232000 2016-04-21
Air bags:frontal

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.

15V678000 2015-10-20
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

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,

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.

In owners’ own words

Service brakes 75 mi 4 mo in service
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AND FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE PULLING. IT FELT LIKE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON BUT THERE WAS NO INDICATOR THAT IT WAS ON. THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT THIS POINT.
Service brakes 951 mi 4 mo in service crash / fire / tow
REAR BRAKES FAILED TO PROPERLY FUNCTION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN FORWARD MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. BOTH REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP WITHOUT OPERATOR PRESSING ON BRAKE PETAL. BOTH REAR BRAKES AND WHEEL GOT RED HOT CAUSING PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKES CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS WAS ACTIVATE. THIS EVENT TOOK PLACE TWICE, ONCE ON 1/27/16 (18 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE) AND 2ND TIME 3/7/16. (30 DAYS AFTER IT WAS ALLEGEDLY REPAIRED.
Service brakes 9,096 mi 10 mo in service
EMERGENCY BRAKE SELF ENGAGED WHILE ENTERING ROADWAY CAUSING CAR TO BE IMMOBILE AND SMOKE POURED FROM REAR OF CAR. WAS NEARLY T-BONED THEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. ...UPDATED 08/31/16 *BF *TR
Electrical system 80 mi 5 mo in service
TPMS INDICATORS CONTINUE TO SAY THERE IS AN ISSUE AND THE TIRE AND TIRE PRESSURE BUT THE CAR SHOWS THE CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE AND THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE TIRES.

Other Sonata model years

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