2016 Hyundai SONATA PLUG-IN HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls

I SAW ENGINE POWERTRAIN PROBLEM LIGHT ON MY CAR SCREEN. SO I WENT TO CAPITAL HILL HYNDAI DEALER. I WAITED MORE THAN 6,5HOUR WITH EATING BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AT NEAR MALL. HYUNDAI EXPLAINED JUST GAS CAP TIGHTING PROBLEM. THEY NEVER EXPLAINED THE PROCESS ABOUT SIX AND HALF HOUR FIXING. I NEED DETAIL EXPLANATION ABOUT SIX HOUR FIXING PROCESS AND SINCERE APOLOGY ABOUT THE ENGINE PROBLEM SIGN IN ONE WEEK AFTER BUYING NEW CAR. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10873672 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, I HAVE HAD THE YELLOW ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE NO ISSUES RELATED TO PERFORMANCE NOTED, I TOOK VEHICLE TO MY GARAGE TO DIAGNOSE. THE DIAGNOSIS DID NOT FIND ANY ISSUE, BUT MECHANIC PROCEEDED TO CHECK THE GAS COVER CAP. LO AND BEHOLD, BOTH TIMES, REMOVING THE CAP AND REPLACING SEEMED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE AND THE YELLOW ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. QUITE ANNOYING AS DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO KEEP CHECKING IF LIGHT COMES ON INCORRECTLY AND NOT ADDRESS IF THERE WAS INDEED A PROBLEM TO CORRECT.

Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11031772 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE PHEV WARNING ILLUMINATED AND THE GASOLINE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL PROPULSION. IT REFUSED TO ENGAGE THE GASOLINE OR ELECTRIC MOTOR TO MOVE OUT OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED HYBRID BATTERY.

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11044785 at NHTSA ↗

CAR IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY IN THE MOUNTAINS LOST POWER AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INDICATED THEY HAD SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS. ENGINE REPAIRS NEEDED AND WILL TAKE AT LEAST 2 WEEKS WHEN THEY IDENTIFY PROBLEM. CAR HAS 11,700 MILES ON IT. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF ROAD SO NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENT.

Owner-reported narrative. 11,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11055967 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT 68 MPH IN HOV LANE, HYBRID SYSTEM ALERT LIGHT UP AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND LUCKY ABLE TO DIRECT THE CAR TO RIGHT SIDE AND STOP AND WAIT FOR TOWING. THIS HAPPEN DURING TRAFFIC WAS SLIGHTLY JAM SO ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN OTHER CARS ARE SLOWING DOWN IN REGULAR LANE. CANNOT IMAGINE IF THERE IS NO TRAFFIC JAM, HIGH POTENTIAL TO GET INTO ACCIDENT AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. WITH THE DEALER FOR FIVE DAYS AND THEY CANNOT PINPOINT THE EXACT PROBLEM AND KEEP…

Owner-reported narrative. 26,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11058626 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2018-03-12 (March 12, 2018)

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently.

Consequence: If the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will remove the VPD switch and install a new Battery Management System (BMS) that contains an Overvoltage Protection Device (OPD). The recall is expected to begin May 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 175.

Reported: 2021-09-24 (September 24, 2021)

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.

Consequence: A turn signal that activates in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.