2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sonata Hybrid years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 16 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. That ranks 2nd out of 16 Sonata Hybrid model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (73 complaints, 55%), typically at around 80,000 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 3 fires, 1 injury. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations involving it.
- 133owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 4NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 73 | 55% | 80,000 | “turn off engine” (10%) | — |
| Electrical System | 36 | 27% | 63,618 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 19 | 14% | 26,750 | — | — |
| Power Train | 14 | 11% | 36,300 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 5% | 16,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 7 | 5% | 59,318 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 5% | 32,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 3% | 23,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 3% | 103,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 2% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | 2% | 24,500 | — | — |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 2 | 2% | 147,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 2% | 122,449 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 2% | 90,636 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 2% | 39,100 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 2,200 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1% | 88,385 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:software; exterior lighting:turn signal
Problem: 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.
Latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:latch
Problem: 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."
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.
Engine
Problem: 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.
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.
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Problem: 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:frontal
Problem: 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.
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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds (DP22005) — opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V063000.
- Loss of Motive Power (DP22003) — opened Sep 12, 2022, closed Dec 12, 2023.
- Engine Fires (EA21003) — opened Dec 22, 2021, closed Feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V877.
- Electrical overstress (EA19001) — opened Apr 19, 2019, closed Sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V024.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and decelerated. The check engine warning light and the battery warning light were illuminated. The failure was a recurring failure. The vehicle was towed to the first dealer, and…
Vehicle Impact:While driving, the vehicle suddenly displayed a "Check Hybrid System" warning on the dashboard and suffered a complete, sudden loss of propulsion while on the road. The vehicle dropped power completely and would not restart, creating an immediate, severe safety hazard to myself and…
EGR needs to be replaced as this is a major engine issue
Vehicle experiences intermittent DTC C222908 (Integrated Brake Actuator internal circuit malfunction). Warning lights (Brake, ABS, ESC, Hybrid System) illuminate intermittently, brake pedal feel changes, and regenerative braking fails. Dealer confirmed stored code but refused repair stating "no…
The car will randomly lose acceleration and jerk forward. It will make a beeping noise while the hev system warning flashes on the dash. It also says to turn off engine. While the warning is flashing and engine light is on it goes into a limp mode and you have limited acceleration. It has almost…
Other Hyundai Sonata Hybrid years
← 2015 Sonata Hybrid · 2017 Sonata Hybrid →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sonata Hybrid | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 Sonata Hybrid | 11 | 0 |
| 2024 Sonata Hybrid | 9 | 0 |
| 2023 Sonata Hybrid | 15 | 0 |
| 2022 Sonata Hybrid | 19 | 0 |
| 2021 Sonata Hybrid | 55 | 0 |
| 2020 Sonata Hybrid | 16 | 1 |
| 2019 Sonata Hybrid | 5 | 0 |
| 2018 Sonata Hybrid | 9 | 1 |
| 2017 Sonata Hybrid | 80 | 3 |
| 2016 | 133 | 5 |
| 2015 Sonata Hybrid | 54 | 4 |
| 2014 Sonata Hybrid | 28 | 3 |
| 2013 Sonata Hybrid | 108 | 4 |
| 2012 Sonata Hybrid | 154 | 6 |
| 2011 Sonata Hybrid | 96 | 6 |
See all Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problems by year, every Hyundai model, or the Hyundai VIN decoder.
Similar Hyundai models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, unknown or other problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 73 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sonata Hybrid model years, the 2016 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.