Model year
2016 Hyundai Sonata
NHTSA lists 6 recalls and 728 complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 7 recalls and 159 complaints under SONATA HYBRID and SONATA PLUG-IN HYBRID. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are ENGINE (452), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (91), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (87). NHTSA lists 4 investigations. NHTSA rated 2 variants 5 stars overall. EPA rates it 24–41 mpg combined and 34 kWh/100 mi depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $1,650–$2,800, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2000 276 complaints
- 2001 205 complaints
- 2002 320 complaints
- 2003 199 complaints
- 2004 202 complaints
- 2005 165 complaints
- 2006 1,047 complaints
- 2007 696 complaints
- 2008 425 complaints
- 2009 460 complaints
- 2010 345 complaints
- 2011 3,378 complaints
- 2012 1,558 complaints
- 2013 1,916 complaints
- 2014 750 complaints
- 2015 1,153 complaints
- 2016 728 complaints
- 2017 766 complaints
- 2018 374 complaints
- 2019 162 complaints
- 2020 181 complaints
- 2021 134 complaints
- 2022 94 complaints
- 2023 88 complaints
- 2024 46 complaints
- 2025 17 complaints
- 2026 3 complaints
- 2027 0 complaints
Recalls
21V749000 · Sep 24, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
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…
17V359000 · Jun 5, 2017
PARKING BRAKE:INDICATOR LIGHT
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.
16V726000 · Oct 11, 2016
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
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…
16V615000 · Aug 24, 2016
AIR BAGS
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…
16V232000 · Apr 21, 2016
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.…
15V678000 · Oct 20, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
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…
Complaints
728 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 19, fire flag on 28, injury field 19, deaths field 1. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| SONATA HYBRID | 5 | 133 |
| SONATA PLUG-IN HYBRID | 2 | 26 |
Investigations
| Action | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE16010 | Electronic Parking Brake · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC; SERVICE BRAKES | Sep 3, 2016 | Feb 22, 2017 |
| EA19001 | Electrical overstress · AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE | Apr 19, 2019 | Sep 19, 2024 |
| EA21003 | Engine Fires · ENGINE | Dec 22, 2021 | Feb 5, 2024 |
| DP22003 | Loss of Motive Power · ENGINE | Sep 12, 2022 | Dec 12, 2023 |
Safety ratings
| Variant | Overall | Front | Side | Pole | Rollover | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.105 | NHTSA photo |
| Hybrid 4 DR FWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.105 | — |
| Plug-in Hybrid 4 DR FWD | Not rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated · possibility 0 | — |
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonata Hybrid · 2L · Automatic (AM6) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · Hybrid | 38 | 41 | 40 | — | — | $1,700 |
| Sonata Hybrid SE · 2L · Automatic (AM6) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · Hybrid | 39 | 42 | 41 | — | — | $1,650 |
| Sonata · 2L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 | 31 | 26 | — | — | $2,600 |
| Sonata Limited · 2L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 | 30 | 24 | — | — | $2,800 |
| Sonata · 2.4L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 25 | 36 | 29 | — | — | $2,300 |
| Sonata Sport Limited · 2.4L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 25 | 35 | 28 | — | — | $2,400 |
| Sonata · 1.6L · Automatic (AM7) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 28 | 36 | 31 | — | — | $2,150 |
| Sonata Plug-in Hybrid · 2L · Automatic (AM6) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · Plug-in Hybrid | 38 | 41 | 40 | 34.0 | 600 | $1,700 |
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Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2016 Hyundai Sonata at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.