2016 Hyundai Sonata · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 46owner reports
- 36,000median miles
- 4involved a crash
Newest report Mar 18, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
46 of the 725 complaints on this car describe brake wear.
Tick what matches of 46 reports
Brake wear on other Sonata years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the ABS module (9 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the brakes covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Sonata
Electronic parking brake. Closed feb 22, 2017.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 5,002 and 80,000 miles, from the 26 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata that deal with this problem. 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.
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.
What owners wrote
“I began braking and the brakes locked up. Braking to the floor and the car would not stop resulting in a car crash”
Filed Feb 10, 2026
“I was driving as normal and twice about 3 min apart from each other my car went into emergency braking and stopped sudden. No red lights no warnings nothing. Also periodically my car dashboard lights will come on while driving filtering through all the hazard checks. Sometimes it stays on and sometimes it don't. Eventually dash goes back normal. Again all with no warning. Very scary”
Filed Oct 20, 2024
“The blind spot detection system needs alignment. When the blind spot detection fails it disables traction control and anti-lock brakes. The parking sensor and backup sensors should have nothing to do with the antilogue brakes or traction control. Since these items are disabled traction does not exist and anti-lock brakes are ineffective.”
Filed Mar 23, 2024
“I just got my car out the shop on April 29th at a Hyundai dealer and on may 2nd was driving on highway my check engine came back on and my speed decreased on its own almost causing a wreck then my car would only go 20mph in a 70 mph zone I have contacted Hyundai they refuse to do anything”
Filed Sep 7, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 4 of 46 reports involved a crash and 4 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 191 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 148 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 122 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 113 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 37 reports
- Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power 27 reports