AI Damage2016 Hyundai Sonata: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata filed 726 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. The maker issued 183 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 726
- involving a crash
- 19
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 183
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 62% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 12% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 5% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 5% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 5% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 4% of all complaints
- Engine: 450 complaints (62% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 25.
- Electrical system: 88 complaints (12% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 65.
- Powertrain: 59 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 21.
- Service brakes: 46 complaints (6% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Exterior lighting: 38 complaints (5% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 11 complaints
- 2 L · hybrid · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- 2 L · plug-in hybrid · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 6-speednamed in 1 complaints
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speednamed in 1 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 726 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 450 | 1 | 25 |
| Electrical system | 88 | 4 | 65 |
| Powertrain | 59 | 0 | 21 |
| Service brakes | 46 | 4 | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 38 | 0 | 2 |
| Steering | 33 | 1 | 8 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 33 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 31 | 2 | 6 |
| Vehicle speed control | 30 | 5 | 0 |
| Air bags | 21 | 9 | 8 |
| Engine and cooling | 17 | 0 | 35 |
| Visibility | 11 | 1 | 4 |
| Seat belts | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 7 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The passenger front airbag did not deploy, and no side or curtain airbags deployed. There was no significant intrusion into the engine compartment or passenger cabin.
On September 25, 2023, I was involved in a motor vehicle collision while driving my Hyundai Sonata 2016, during which the front driver-side airbag failed to deploy despite the impact being significant enough to cause injury.
This vehicle had a complete engine failure. Since it is a hybrid, when the engine shut down, the vehicle lost all power. The driver had no control over steering or brakes. The vehicle crashed through three trees and into a house.
I was in a near head on collision that knocked me out of my lane and knocked me around my car (I was wearing the seatbelt) and the point of impact was on my driver side near my impact sensor and the damage continued to the other side of my vehicle including a crack in the filter in front of my radiator
The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where another update was completed. The contact stated that 4 days later the failure recurred as the accelerated pedal was released, the vehicle accelerated however when she attempted to depress…
Panoramic sunroof detached from vehicle once let up and wind pushes in. Sunroof was lifted up and blown out on interstate almost causing a wreck
- sudden accecleration surge when releasing brake. When turning into parking and when light turn green and releasing brake. - spuratic acceleration decrease when driving... Most recent: pulling into parking stall ( left) as I pulled foward and release brake to move up another foot, the car suddenly accelerated.
Head on collision with a deer, going 70mph on highway 49. No air bags released. After taking car to dealership, from receiving a letter of recall in the mail. Motor would shut down when reaching 65 mph, before taking car to dealership for recal. Car was in motion on the highway.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 66 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 3% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sonata has 236 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 726, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
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…
- Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
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…
- Certain vehicles may exhibit excessive paint peeling or bubbling of the primer/paint film on the exterior…
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…
- Following completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain vehicles may…
Following completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain vehicles may exhibit a brief hesitation or rough shifting condition during cold start operation. If present, this condition is…
- Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II…
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…
- Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II…
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…
- Certain Hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on metal body panels
hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. The paint warranty coverage for affected vehicles has been extended to 10 years/unlimited miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of…
- Some Hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on metal body panels
hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. The paint warranty coverage for affected vehicles has been extended to 10 years/unlimited miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety…
- Certain 2019 – 2020 model year Santa Fe, 2017 – 2018 model year Santa Fe Sport, 2015 – 2019 model year…
Certain 2019 – 2020 model year Santa Fe, 2017 – 2018 model year Santa Fe Sport, 2015 – 2019 model year Sonata, and 2018 – 2021 model year Tucson vehicles may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions. Hyundai is conducting…
- Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather
This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an inspection on the starter magnetic switch for potential freezing and, if necessary, replace the starter magnetic switch (solenoid) assembly.
NHTSA lists 183 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 726. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (28%), oil leak or consumption (18%), engine failure or replacement (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA lists 183 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Hyundai Sonata from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.