2016 Hyundai Sonata Power Train Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 6, 2026 · 59 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata, 8% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 60,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (12% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Oil consumption: mentioned in 7 of 59 complaints (12%)

At what mileage do power train problems happen?

Based on 21 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles0 · 0%
10k–25k miles2 · 10%
25k–50k miles4 · 19%
50k–75k miles9 · 43%
75k–100k miles4 · 19%
100k–150k miles1 · 5%
150k+ miles1 · 5%

How serious are the reports?

Of 59 complaints, 1 a fire.

Hyundai Sonata power train complaints by model year

Peak: 2011, with 173 complaints
1995: 1519951996: 51997: 91998: 1219981999: 142000: 192001: 1820012002: 112003: 102004: 1020042005: 52006: 222007: 920072008: 142009: 412010: 2120102011: 1731732012: 972013: 9420132014: 552015: 1352016: 5920162017: 562018: 402019: 820192020: 242021: 252022: 2420222023: 162024: 62025: 32025

n = 1,050 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearPower Train complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2025 Sonata318%19,025
2024 Sonata613%16,500
2023 Sonata1618%50
2022 Sonata2426%8,500
2021 Sonata2519%21,500
2020 Sonata2413%16,599
2019 Sonata85%—
2018 Sonata4011%40,538
2017 Sonata567%43,000
2016 Sonata598%60,000
2015 Sonata13512%50,000
2014 Sonata557%51,000
2013 Sonata945%57,555
2012 Sonata976%86,000
2011 Sonata1735%49,444
2010 Sonata216%47,500
2009 Sonata419%38,889
2008 Sonata143%61,500
2007 Sonata91%35,000
2006 Sonata222%76,860
2005 Sonata53%59,755
2004 Sonata105%43,750
2003 Sonata105%9,300
2002 Sonata113%72,832
2001 Sonata189%69,334
2000 Sonata197%72,000
1999 Sonata1411%71,313
1998 Sonata1224%42,000
1997 Sonata918%72,000
1996 Sonata522%—
1995 Sonata1523%142,000

When owners reported it

Peak: 2026, with 9 complaints
2017: 2201722018: 3201832019: 7201972020: 6202062021: 5202152022: 8202282023: 8202382024: 4202442025: 7202572026: 920269

n = 59 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (0)

No safety recall lists power train for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

After the emissions 9c2 recall car hesitant when changing an Hyundai has knowledgement of the problem but don’t have a fix

Received Jun 12, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11743836

Went from 65 and dropped down to 40 going up grades on the freeway. Started shaking, check engine light went on and electric battery disappeared from dash. Got to top of grade, went back to normal. Problem repeated on next grades. Car had just left dealership lot an hour prior where it was safety…

Received Jun 2, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11741506

The following mandatory software update was performed on my vehicle: ECU SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THETA II EMISSIONS IMPROVEMENT (SERVICE CAMPAIGN 9C2). After this update my vehicle drivetrain is quite erratic. In particular when the engine is cold it appears to jerk even when in Parking gear position…

Received May 19, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11738811
Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai Sonata 2.5 T-GDI N Line (VIII, Facelift). Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: © M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2016 Hyundai Sonatas have power train problems?

No. NHTSA has 59 owner complaints about power train for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata (8% of the 727 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata power train?

No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.

At what mileage do power train problems start?

The median reported mileage is 60,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about power train problems on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?

The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 7 of 59 complaints.

Other 2016 Hyundai Sonata problems

See all 2016 Hyundai Sonata problems or power train problems across all Sonata years.