2016 Hyundai SONATA PLUG-IN HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
26 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
28,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 26 complaints (69.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 34.6% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 15.4% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 18 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Engine: 18; Electrical System: 12; Unknown Or Other: 5; Hybrid Propulsion System: 3; Power Train: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 |
2016: 1; 2017: 5; 2018: 10; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 5; 2023: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11013127 · 2017-08-06 (August 6, 2017)
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT CHARGE THE HYBRID BATTERY WHEN PROPERLY PLUGGED IN, WITH EITHER 110V OR 220V PLUG. THIS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY AND HYUNDAI REPAIRED IT WITH A PART COSTING AROUND $2,000 THEY TOLD ME (IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND COST ME NOTHING). HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP CONTINUALLY SINCE JULY 7, 2017 (31 DAYS!) THIS TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IN MY GARAGE. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOTICED IN THE PAST (NOT CHARGING OVERNIGHT), BUT NEVER STAYED A PROBLEM--I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO CHARGE USUALLY THE VERY NEXT DAY. THIS CURRENT PROBLEM BEGAN AROUND JULY 3…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11013127 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11024125 · 2017-09-18 (September 18, 2017)
MY SONATA PHEV HAD HYBRID SYSTEM FAILED NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE WITHIN A SPAN OF 1.5 MONTHS. IT'S BEEN HARDLY 1.5 YEARS SINCE I HAD BOUGHT THIS CAR. IN BOTH CASES THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING COMES UP AND ENGINE LOOSES TOTAL POWER. THE 1ST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY 405 FREEWAY AND WAS LEFT ALL OF A SUDDEN WITH NO POWER ON THE ENGINE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM TO FACE WITH. WITH WHATEVER POWER WAS LEFT, WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE RAMP ON THE RIGHT. STOPPING ANYWHERE IN 405 FREEWAY IS ABSOLUTELY DANGEROU…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,284 miles reported. Look up ODI 11024125 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11061171 · 2018-01-08 (January 8, 2018)
ON 1/7/2018 WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID WITH APPROXIMATELY 41,100 MILES IN IT TO LOS ANGELES, CA WITH MY 82 YEAR OLD FATHER ON OXYGEN FROM SAN JOSE WHICH IS ABOUT 370 MILES AWAY ON HIGHWAY I5 WITH THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH. WHEN WE EXPERIENCED ENGINE PROBLEM. WHILE EXITING TO OUR DESTINATION ON HIGHWAY 118 DE SOTO EXIT, THE ENGINE HAD SLOWED DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AND BARELY TURNED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR SAFELY .WE WERE UNABLE TO START THE CAR AND DASHBOARD HAD INDICATED TO CHECK HEV . SEVERAL ATTEM…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11061171 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11384407 · 2020-12-21 (December 21, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OFF THE ROADWAY WITH ASSISTANCE FROM A BYSTANDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TUSTIN HYUNDAI (16 AUTO CENTER DRIVE, TUSTIN, CA 92782, [phone removed]) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE COMMUNICATION WIRE BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND COMPUTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURR…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11384407 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11099959 · 2018-06-05 (June 5, 2018)
I WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MPH IN FULL ELECTRIC MODE AND THE CAR REMOVED ALL POWER FROM MY GAS PEDAL, THERE WAS LOTS OF DINGING SOUNDS AND THE DASH SAID "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, TURN YOUR CAR OFF". LUCKILY I WAS ALREADY TO THE FAR RIGHT SO I COULD JUST PULL TOT HE SHOULDER AND STOP THE CAR, THE BREAKS AND STEERING WERE STILL WORKING. TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOPING THE MARCH 2018 RECALL IS THE FIX. I HAD TO CALL AAA, ALL BLUE LINK CAPABILITIES STOPPED WORKING AS WELL. 2016 PLUGIN WITH ABOUT 25,000 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11099959 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11478763 · 2022-08-11 (August 11, 2022)
My 2016 plug in hybrid Sonata repeatedly inidcates that there is "high system temperature switching to hybrid mode." This first happened on my first long trip in the car in 10/21 and has happened repeatedly since. This happens at all temperatures, including moderate temperatures (mid 70s). It seems to happen randomly, such as when battery has several miles of charge left in it, when it is fully discharged, and repeatedly when the car is already running in hybrid mode, which a driver could interpret means that the engine is about to shut down…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11478763 at NHTSA ↗