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2016 Hyundai Sonata HybridProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 133 owner complaints about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, most often about the engine. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-749 the manufacturer reports only 53% of affected cars repaired.

2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
43
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.3× the Sonata Hybrid median · #2 of 12 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Lowest repair rate 53%Owner complaints1338 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage80kEngine, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 7, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has problems

133 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine731
Electrical system362
Power train141
Exterior lighting70
Fuel/propulsion system70
Service brakes70
Visibility40
Vehicle speed control41
Engine and engine cooling31
9 other systems152

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

53%repaired · 2023 Q3

Electrical system: software

Recall 21V-749 · Sep 24, 2021 · 469,377 vehicles · 249,761 repaired

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

56%repaired · 2023 Q3

Trunk lid: latch

Recall 21V-619 · Aug 6, 2021 · 348,158 vehicles · 194,724 repaired

Risk. A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

61%repaired · 2022 Q4

Engine

Recall 20V-746 · Dec 1, 2020 · 128,948 vehicles · 78,101 repaired

Risk. A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

87%repaired · 2018 Q1

Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly

Recall 16V-726 · Oct 11, 2016 · 62,811 vehicles · 54,334 repaired

Risk. If the sunroof detaches from the vehicle it could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Hyundai.

Mileage at failure

When do engine problems start?

80kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 41 engine complaints. 71% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
3under 30k miles29under 100k miles12100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2016 vs. every other Sonata Hybrid year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sonata Hybrid median. How we score

'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid safety ratings

2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

★★★★★Overall rating
  • Rollover: 4 stars (10.5% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Optional
  • Lane departure warning: Optional
4 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Loss of Motive PowerDP22003 · closed Dec 12, 2023
    No recall
  2. Pedestrian alert soundsDP22005 · closed Aug 7, 2023
    Led to recall 22V-063
  3. Electrical overstressEA19001 · closed Sep 19, 2024
    Led to recall 20V-024
  4. Engine FiresEA21003 · closed Feb 5, 2024
    Led to recall 23V-877
In owners' words

What Sonata Hybrid owners report

Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and decelerated. The check engine warning light and the battery warning light were illuminated. The failure was a recurring failure. The vehicle was towed to the first dealer, and…
Complaint 11769587 · Oct 7, 2026 · 88,385 miles
The car will randomly lose acceleration and jerk forward. It will make a beeping noise while the hev system warning flashes on the dash. It also says to turn off engine. While the warning is flashing and engine light is on it goes into a limp mode and you have limited acceleration. It has almost…
Complaint 11692279 · Oct 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the message "Shut Down" was displayed, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the…
Complaint 11680336 · Aug 13, 2025 · 140,600 miles

Own a 2016 Sonata Hybrid?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.