Seventh generation (LF)
2016 Hyundai Sonata
The most reported problem on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata is engine failure, with 191 complaints, usually around 97,000 miles.
- 725owner complaints
- 6recalls
- 19involved a crash
- 70,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 17, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Sonata doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2016 model year.
Is the 2016 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
The 2016 Hyundai Sonata has 725 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, 3.1 times the median of 232 for 2016 sedans on this site. Of the 12 Sonata model years since 2014, it has the 3rd most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017
- At 66 complaints for each year on the road, the 2016 runs below the 2017 (76). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- Engine failure leads with 191 of the 725 complaints (26%), ahead of stalling at 148. It's a high-mileage complaint: half of the 92 owners who gave a mileage for engine failure were past about 97,000 miles.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 46 of the 725 complaints (6%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, about the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 19 reports mention a crash, 28 mention a fire and 19 people were hurt. The reports record 1 death. The most crash reports, 9 of 19, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as engine failure, stalling and misfire. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2023 at 152 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 92. So far in 2026, 49 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine failure, knocking or rod bearing, 191 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
725 complaints is 2.9 times the median 2016 model on this site and 3.1 times the median 2016 sedan. Among the 11 Sonata model years here it ranks 3rd for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai filed 228 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2016 Hyundai Sonata. 24 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 3 bulletins · 191 complaints
Applicable vehicles with 2.0L T-GDI and 2.4L GDI engines may experience the Check Engine warning lamp illuminated with DTC P1326 and/or engine may exhibit Abnormal Noise or No Crank/No Start condition.
Applicable vehicles with 2.0L Turbo and 2.4L GDI engines may experience the Check Engine warning lamp illuminated with DTC P1326.
1 more on this problem
Hyundai has refined the engine inspection for vehicles that experienced the Check Engine light with DTC P132600 to eliminate the interference caused by the wiring harness.
Engine stalls or loses power while driving 1 bulletin · 148 complaints
If you are servicing a vehicle with a transmission slipping concern, follow the Service Procedure shown below and perform a stall test. This TSB provides a procedure to test each clutch in the transmission.
Check engine light or misfire 8 bulletins · 122 complaints
Hyundai has launched a Service Campaign for applicable vehicles with 2.0L Turbo and 2.4L GDI engines that may experience the Check Engine warning lamp illuminated with DTC P1326.
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.
6 more on this problem
If you are servicing a vehicle with the DTC or symptoms listed below, refer to the Service Procedure to diagnose the condition.
Hyundai has launched a Service Campaign for applicable vehicles with 2.0L Turbo and 2.4L engines that may experience the Check Engine warning lamp illuminated with DTC P1326.
Applicable vehicles with 2.0L Turbo and 2.4L engines may experience the Check Engine warning lamp illuminated with DTC P1326.
This bulletin provides a logic update and inspection for CEL (?Check Engine Light?) ON with DTC P200A (Intake Manifold Runner Performance - Bank 1) and for P0605 (Engine Control Module - ROM Error) on certain 2015 and 2016 model year Sonata (LF) vehicles ...
VCM INSPECTION AND ECM UPDATE DTC P200A AND P0605 (SERVICE CAMPAIGN TZ3) Description: This bulletin provides a logic update and inspection for CEL (Check Engine Light) ON with DTC P200A (Intake Manifold Runner Performance - Bank 1) and for P0605 (Engine Control Module - ROM Error) on ...
Service Campaign TZ3 2015-16 Sonata 2.4L ECM Update DTC P200A & P0605 (TSB# 16-01-004-1) Hyundai Motor America has added additional vehicles to Service Campaign TZ3.
Engine knocking or ticking 2 bulletins · 72 complaints
Hyundai is conducting a product improvement campaign to enhance the knock sensor software to detect abnormal engine bearing noise before potentially severe engine damage occurs.
Hyundai has developed a new engine monitoring technology called a Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). The technology uses software innovations and leverages existing engine sensors to continuously monitor for symptoms that may precede an engine failure.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 1 bulletin · 46 complaints
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.
Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power 3 bulletins · 27 complaints
The warranty coverage for certain 2015-2017MY Sonata (LFa) and Sonata Hybrid/Plug-in (LF HEV/PHEV) vehicles exhibiting reduced power steering assist and/or motor driven power steering (MDPS) warning lamp has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the ...
Some 2016-2017MY Sonata Plug-In Hybrid vehicles may develop a Check Hybrid System Light On with the DTC P1BA7 DTC found stored in the Battery Management System (BMS).
1 more on this problem
Some Sonata Hybrid (LF HEV) vehicles may experience a small oil leak from the electric oil pump (EOP) seals. If so, follow the Service Procedure in this bulletin to inspect and repair the oil seals between the transmission and EOP.
Rod bearing failure 4 bulletins · 21 complaints
The warranty coverage for engine long block repair or replacement regarding engine damage or malfunction from connecting rod bearing wear has been extended to a Limited Lifetime Warranty and is valid for original and subsequent owners.
Certain vehicles with 2.0L T-GDI and 2.4L GDI engines may experience the Check Engine warning lamp illuminated with DTC P1326 and/or engine may exhibit abnormal noise or no crank/no start condition related to connecting rod bearing wear or damage.
2 more on this problem
The warranty coverage for certain Theta II engine long block repair or replacement regarding engine damage or malfunction from connecting rod bearing wear has been extended to a Limited Lifetime Warranty and is valid for original and subsequent owners.
The warranty coverage for the engine long block for engine repairs or replacement related to connecting rod bearing damage as described in Campaign T3G (Seized and/or BCT No Pass Result Only) has been extended to 10 years or 120,000 miles from the date of ...
Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 2 bulletins · 19 complaints
The warranty coverage for certain 2015-2017MY Sonata (LFa) and Sonata HEV/PHEV (LF HEV/PHEV) vehicles exhibiting reduced power steering assist and/or motor driven power steering (MDPS) warning lamp has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the date ...
The warranty coverage for certain 2015-2017MY Sonata (LFa) and Sonata Hybrid/Plug-in (LF HEV/PHEV) vehicles exhibiting reduced power steering assist and/or motor driven power steering (MDPS) warning lamp has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the ...
Complaints filed by year
152 complaints came in 2023. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
NHTSA summary
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
NHTSA summary
Electrical overstress. Closed sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V-024.
NHTSA summary
Electronic parking brake. Closed feb 22, 2017.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2016 Hyundai Sonata
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Sonata and Genesis vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the warning light to indicate that the parking brake is applied may intermittently not illuminate in the dash due to corrosion in the switch.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the parking brake switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 164.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles manufactured December 8, 2014, to August 18, 2015, and Hyundai Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to March 18, 2016, equipped with the panoramic sunroof option. Due to a bonding issue with the sunroof wind deflector, the sunroof panel on the affected vehicles may detach while driving.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair the wind deflector anchor plate, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 152.
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured March 28, 2016 through April 12, 2016. The affected vehicles have a driver-side frontal air bag that may not adequately protect the driver's neck from injury in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 148.
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 29, 2014 to February 11, 2016, 2017 Elantra vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016 to February 22, 2016, and one 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicle manufactured October 15, 2015. In these vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may be missing a chemical enhancer required for the second stage air bag deployment, resulting in the second stage not deploying in certain crashes. The primary stage will deploy as intended.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 5,2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 144.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to August 21, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with an Antilock Braking System (ABS) warning light intended to warn the driver if there is an ABS malfunction. In the event of an ABS malfunction, the Brake System warning light will illuminate, but the ABS warning light will not illuminate. Since the vehicles have ABS malfunction lights that do not illuminate, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 134.
All 6 recalls on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
Engine failure, with 191 of the 725 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 97,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2016 Hyundai Sonata problems start?
Of the 351 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 32,000 miles and half by about 70,000.
Is the 2016 Hyundai Sonata better or worse than the 2017?
Counted per year on the road, the 2016 has fewer complaints than the 2017: 66 a year against 76.
How many 2016 Hyundai Sonata complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
46 of them (6%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for engine failure on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
No recall on file for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata is on the same system as engine failure. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.