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2016 Hyundai SONATA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

722 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

63,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 251 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 448 of 722 complaints (62.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation10514.5%
Braking behavior628.6%
Electrical and battery issues537.3%
Steering behavior456.2%
Transmission and shifting273.7%
Fuel system concerns91.2%

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.

Engine
448
Unknown Or Other
91
Electrical System
86
Power Train
59
Service Brakes
42
Exterior Lighting
36
Fuel/Propulsion System
33
Steering
33
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine448
Unknown Or Other91
Electrical System86
Power Train59
Service Brakes42
Exterior Lighting36
Fuel/Propulsion System33
Steering33

Engine: 448; Unknown Or Other: 91; Electrical System: 86; Power Train: 59; Service Brakes: 42; Exterior Lighting: 36; Fuel/Propulsion System: 33; Steering: 33

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
56
25,000 to 49,999
41
50,000 to 74,999
49
75,000 to 99,999
39
100,000 to 149,999
58
150,000 and above
8
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00056
25,000 to 49,99941
50,000 to 74,99949
75,000 to 99,99939
100,000 to 149,99958
150,000 and above8

Under 25,000: 56; 25,000 to 49,999: 41; 50,000 to 74,999: 49; 75,000 to 99,999: 39; 100,000 to 149,999: 58; 150,000 and above: 8

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (58). 471 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.

2016
25
2017
23
2018
22
2019
51
2020
50
2021
85
2022
111
2023
152
2024
65
2025
92
2026
46
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
201625
201723
201822
201951
202050
202185
2022111
2023152
202465
202592
202646

2016: 25; 2017: 23; 2018: 22; 2019: 51; 2020: 50; 2021: 85; 2022: 111; 2023: 152; 2024: 65; 2025: 92; 2026: 46

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 105 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 62 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 53 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 10935528 · 2016-12-15 (December 15, 2016)

ECM ISSUES. CAR HAD ECM PROBLEM AND LOST POWER. WENT INTO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THEY REPAIRED IT. DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT HOME FROM THE DEALER AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. BACK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID AGAIN IT WAS REPAIRED. CAR HAD 10,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. LESS THAN 3,000 MILES LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN - CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND "FIXED" IT WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE. NOW SCARED TO DRIVE IT - CONSIDERING LEMON LAW? THREE PROBLEMS IN 6 MONTHS ON A BRAND NEW CAR, AND S…

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10935528 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10968509 · 2017-03-25 (March 25, 2017)

EVERY TIME I RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL AFTER SITTING AT A LONG RED LIGHT THE CAR SHAKES AND SHUDDERS, SOMETIMES REALLY HARD, AND SOUNDS LIKE IT'S CHOKING FOR A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE I AM ABLE TO ACCELERATE. IT SOUNDS AND FEELS AND ACTS AS THOUGH IT IS GOING TO STALL BUT IT HAS NOT YET. THE EFFECT DOES *NOT* HAPPEN WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER OR THE VENT ARE BEING USED; ONLY WHEN THOSE ARE OFF. IT VARIES FROM MILD TO REALLY STRONG. IT TOOK MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE DEALER FOR THEM TO DETERMINE THAT IT IS NORMAL NOT JUST FOR MY CAR BUT FOR ALL 2016 SONATA…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,361 miles reported. Look up ODI 10968509 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10820359 · 2016-01-15 (January 15, 2016)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 75 miles reported. Look up ODI 10820359 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10854476 · 2016-04-08 (April 8, 2016)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 951 miles reported. Look up ODI 10854476 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10928478 · 2016-11-29 (November 29, 2016)

11/18/2016 - I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS SLOWLY ACCELERATING UP MY RURAL STREET WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKE HARD OF ITS OWN ACCORD AND MADE A CLUNKING NOISE. NO INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATION WAS PROVIDED AS TO WHY THIS OCCURRED. THIS WAS NOT DRIVER ERROR AS MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD - NOT TURNING - NO OTHER CARS WERE IN THE VICINITY. 11/21/16 - WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR DROVE SLUGGISHLY (ALMOST LIKE THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ON). WHEN I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, I AGAIN HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND. WHEN I…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10928478 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10990755 · 2017-05-20 (May 20, 2017)

WE WERE DRIVING ALONG AT 70 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STALLED AND ELECTRICAL GAUGES ALL TURNED OFF FOR 15 SECONDS, MEANING ALL GAUGES WENT TO THE LEFT LIKE WHEN YOU TURN YOUR CAR OFF. DEALER SAID THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THEY SAID TO LET THEM KNOW IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN????????????? . I TOLD THEM THAT HOW COULD WE LET THEM KNOW IF WE ARE BOTH DEAD.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10990755 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10876620 · 2016-06-25 (June 25, 2016)

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH AT 10PM ON A THE INTERSTATE, I HEARD A POUND "THUNK" AND THOUGHT I HAD A TIRE ISSUE, SO BEGAN TO STEER TOWARD THE EMERGENCY LANE. I QUICKLY REALIZED I HAD NO POWER TO ACCELERATE, NO POWER STEERING AND THE DASH WAS BLACKED OUT...CAR WAS DEAD. ONLY EVER THING WORKING WAS RADIO, EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND DOME LIGHT. DOOR LOCKS DID NOT EVEN WORK. CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND CAR WAS TOWED. I HAVE NO FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAR'S DISPOSITION AS IT WAS A RENTAL. IT WAS TERRIFYING AND COULD HAVE ENDED CATASTROPHICALLY IN S…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10876620 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10985645 · 2017-05-14 (May 14, 2017)

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO STICK SLIGHTLY SO THAT YOU HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT SLIGHTLY THEN IT RESUMES STEERING PROPERLY FOR FEW SECONDS THEN IT STICKS AGAIN. IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME BUT WHEN IT DOES IT MAKES ME THINK THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS GETTING READY TO LOCK UP. I NOTICE THIS MOSTLY ON HIGHWAYS AND IT REALLY WEARS YOU OUT TRYING TO DRIVE AND WORRYING THAT THE STEERING MIGHT LOCK UP. THIS HAPPENS A LOT.

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10985645 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10970556 · 2017-04-04 (April 4, 2017)

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ONCE THE ENGINE IS AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE THERE IS A HARSH SURGE DURING DOWN SHIFTING AT 35 MPH ( ALMOST AS IF I WERE DOWN SHIFTING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION OR HITTING THE BRAKES) THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SLOW MUCH MORE RAPIDLY THAN EXPECTED CAUSING MY HEAD AND BODY TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE CAR. IT IS EXTREMELY DISTRACTING AND I AM NERVOUS IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

Owner-reported narrative. 41,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10970556 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11426583 · 2021-07-27 (July 27, 2021)

Fuel Pump Control Module replaced before 50,000 mi. - 58,539 mi. got my 2016 Hyundai Sonata Sport for ECM Update. Told dealership I heard ticking/clicking noise coming from engine; said oil was low and suggested oil change & low key battery was causing issues. Oil consumption was more and more 1qt every 2,000 mi, then 1qt every 1,000 mi. 1/29/21 at 90,340 mi, on the turnpike (70 MPH), car check engine light came on, car started vibrating VERY bad, pulled over & LIMP mode had activated. Hyundai dealership was 5 miles away, - found cylinder 2 had…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11426583 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11480564 · 2022-08-22 (August 22, 2022)

I was driving and then my car jerk every time I tried to go pass 20mph so I took it to the auto zone to get it checked and they hooked a machine that read code p1326 so I took it in to get checked and the mechanic replaced a knock sensor spark plugs and coil pack and for some reason the vehicle still is misfiring on spark plug number 3 it’s getting no fire I’ve bought a new fuel injector that’s still new in the box but now the vehicle is reading code p0193 which is the fuel rail pressure sensor and was told it could possibly be the engine and I…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11480564 at NHTSA ↗