Worst 2016 Hyundai Sonata Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Electrical Faults
Transmission / Drivetrain
Check the actual VIN — every car is different.
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 431 | 1 | 19 | 78,865 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 84 | 4 | 6 | 69,928 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 54 | — | 1 | 64,299 mi | |
| Brakes | 42 | 3 | 4 | 33,531 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 36 | — | 3 | 53,827 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 33 | 1 | — | 56,719 mi | |
| Fuel System | 30 | 1 | 1 | 75,943 mi | |
| Body Structure | 30 | 2 | — | 49,271 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 29 | 5 | 1 | 57,617 mi | |
| Airbags | 20 | 9 | — | 54,628 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 10 | — | — | 86,246 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 9 | — | — | 31,750 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 5 | — | — | 24,423 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication | 5 | — | — | 45,000 mi | |
| Sunroof/Moonroof | 5 | 1 | — | 80,142 mi | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Immobilizer/Proximity:Key/Sender | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Cybersecurity | 1 | — | — | — |
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.
Recalls for 2016 Hyundai Sonata
6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~759,070 vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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."
Other Hyundai Sonata Years
2016 Hyundai Sonata — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2016 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
What are common problems with the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
How safe is the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
Does the 2016 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Hyundai Sonata reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
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.
Check Any VIN — $4.99