2016 HYUNDAI SONATA Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata. This model year has 704 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2016 Hyundai Sonata Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Uncategorized Issues
Electrical Faults
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 449 | 1 | 19 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 88 | 7 | 7 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 85 | 4 | 6 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 55 | — | 1 | — | |
| Brake System | 46 | 4 | 4 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 37 | — | 3 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 33 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 32 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 31 | 2 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 29 | 5 | 1 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 20 | 9 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 704 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
Our Car is 2016 with 97000 miles with engine failure. Previous driving noticed the Engine will slow down suddenly at times. Preston Hyundai Dealer says bad engine cylinder $6000 is a fire hazzard and needs new engine. I see Hyundai sold 199000 2016 Sonatas and replaced 129000 ba…
While driving my car with no warning light or any type of sound just cut off engine while driving. I was on busy highway going slightly uphill and was almost rear ended causing car behind me to swerve to avoid hitting me swerving to other lane and almost colliding into another ca…
I am writing about my concerns on a 2016 Hyundai Sonata SE that I purchased for my daughter in October 2023. After purchasing I took it to my local Hyundai dealer to have it checked out. It was one of the cars that came with a lifetime warranty for the rods DO TO A DEFECT.On Janu…
I have a car covered by the Theta II Settlement. Engine, fuel system. Metal shavings found in oil and oil is diluted with fuel and oil if overfilled 1 inch above full mark on dipstick upon pickup from dealership. The vehicle is available for inspection at my residence; however, i…
I am submitting this complaint regarding Hyundai Motor America’s denial of my request for engine replacement assistance. I own a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid with approximately 106,000 miles. The vehicle experienced sudden engine failure while driving which put my daughter, in dang…
*Engine failure-needs a new engine *The car turned off while I was driving it on the freeway, I managed to steer the car to the shoulder, almost caused an extremely dangerous accident due to traffic and speed limit. *Took it to a Hyundai dealership in Irving, TX 3x about 3 yea…
Burning oil
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal odor inside the vehicle, with an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure had occurred on several…
The failure involves the engine, which has seized (locked up) and is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle became unsafe when it stopped operating in traffic, creating a potential hazard to myself and others due to the sudden loss of power and inability to move the …
Engine siezed
I contact the Hyundai dealer about my 2016 Hyundai sonata. for all I know those vehicles have recalls with engine failure/stalling due to premature rod bearing wear, fire risks from malfunctioning electric oil pumps. My car is having those exact problems with the abs lights being…
This complaint is NOT related to the existing recall associated with this vehicle. The vehicle is experiencing a serious loss of power and acceleration issue. The car is unable to accelerate past approximately 60 mph. When pressing the accelerator fully, the vehicle does not resp…
Car burning oil and engine started knocking no warning lights ever came on prior to knocking noise. Brought to mechanic and engine has failed. Vehicle has less that 130,000 miles on it.
Both rear doors will not open. The door locks stopped functioning so we are not able to open and close both rear back doors. In addition, the right rear door window stopped rolling up and down.
code P1326 unable to accelerate, drive past 1st gear and knocking noise in engine area engine could stall out or lock up if problem is not fixed 3/14/2026- started engine light blinking warning light also code p1326 has had recalls for this particular car brand
i took my car in for an oil change and the tech wouldn’t even take my money because he said the car was a safety issue and it needed to be taken to a hyundai dealership ASAP as he has seen the engine fail or blow up on this model before. on the way to the dealer the engine comple…
Vehicle started then stalled requiring tow. No initial illumination of warning lamps or messages. Findings upon inspection by independent service center: multiple cylinder misfires (P030100, P030300, P030400, P030200, P030000) and excessive debris buildup on vvt sensor screen. Ca…
While driving in normal traffic, the engine experienced a sudden and significant loss of power and went into a reduced-power “limp” mode. The check engine light illuminated and the vehicle stored an active P1326 diagnostic trouble code related to the engine/Knock Sensor Detection…
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond or exceed 30 MPH. The contact stated that the speedometer reading was lagging. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated as inte…
Engine failure, cylinder 4 is swimming on oil.
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata.
Recalls for 2016 Hyundai Sonata
6 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2016 Hyundai Sonata — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2016 Hyundai Sonata reliable?▾
Notable Issues. The 2016 Hyundai Sonata has 704 NHTSA owner complaints, 19 crash-related, and 6 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (449 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?▾
#1: Engine Problems (449 complaints). #2: Uncategorized Issues (88 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (85 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?▾
The 2016 Hyundai Sonata has 19 crash-related complaints and 28 fire reports out of 704 total NHTSA complaints. 19 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2016 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?▾
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The largest issue: VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2016 Hyundai Sonata?▾
The 2016 Hyundai Sonata has notable issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Hyundai Sonata reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2016 Hyundai Sonata
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.