2016 Hyundai Sonata: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata: 6 recalls, 727 owner complaints and up to 31 mpg combined.
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Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Electrical Vehicle recall #15V678000 · 2015 · 64,744 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: If the driver is alerted there is a brake system malfunction, but not specifically with the ABS system, the driver May operate the vehicle unaware that the vehicle's brakes May lock up during hard braking, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V232000 · 2016 · 33 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: An air bag that does not inflate increases the risk of injury.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V615000 · 2016 · 1,031 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: A frontal air bag that does not adequately protect the driver's neck May increase their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2016.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #16V726000 · 2016 · 62,811 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to a bonding issue with the sunroof wind deflector, the sunroof panel on the affected vehicles May detach while driving.
Why it matters: If the sunroof detaches from the vehicle it could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair the wind deflector anchor plate, free of charge. The recall began December 2016.
Parking brake Vehicle recall #17V359000 · 2017 · 161,074 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the parking brake indicator is not illuminated when the parking brake is applied, the driver May operate the vehicle with the parking brake partially engaged, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the parking brake switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017.
Electrical, Exterior lights Vehicle recall #21V749000 · 2021 · 469,377 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A turn signal that activates in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the sjb software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2021.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 28 mention a fire, 19 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (452): the most common themes are warning light on (151), stalls / loses power (132), noise or vibration (104).
- Other / unknown (91): the most common themes are warning light on (18), noise or vibration (16), stalls / loses power (16).
- Electrical (89): the most common themes are electrical failure (27), warning light on (25), stalls / loses power (22).
- Transmission & drivetrain (59): the most common themes are warning light on (21), stalls / loses power (19), hard / delayed shifting (15).
The 2016 Hyundai Sonata has 727 owner complaints, ranking #8 of 37 Sonata model years for complaints (1.7× the average Sonata year). Complaints peaked in 2023 (152 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 62,550 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (1148 complaints, 9 recalls), 2017 (764 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 36 | 31 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 36 | 29 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 26 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2016 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Hyundai Sonata problems?
Owners have filed 727 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (452), other / unknown (91), electrical (89).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Hyundai Sonata get?
EPA ratings run up to 31 mpg combined (1.6 L, Automatic (AM7)), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Hyundai Sonata repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.