2016 Hyundai Sonata Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

6 safety recalls on file

The 2016 Hyundai Sonata has 6 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.

Owners have filed 729 complaints with NHTSA, including 19 crashes, 28 fires, 19 injuries.

The most-reported problem area is Engine (453 reports).

NHTSA rates it up to 5 stars overall for crash safety, depending on the version.

6Recalls
729Owner complaints
19Crashes reported
5/5NHTSA safety rating
Is the repair still open on your Sonata?

A recall covers specific vehicles. Your VIN shows whether yours still needs the free repair.

2016 Hyundai Sonata recalls

Turn Signal May Blink the Wrong Way, Raising Crash Risk

Recall 21V749Sep 24, 2021469,377 vehicles affected

Certain vehicles have a software logic problem in the Smart Junction Box that may not correctly read signals from the multifunction switch.

Parking Brake Light May Not Show When Engaged

Recall 17V359Jun 5, 2017161,074 vehicles affected

The parking brake indicator light on the dashboard may intermittently fail to illuminate when the parking brake is applied.

Sunroof Panel Can Detach While Driving, Creating a Crash Risk

Recall 16V726Oct 11, 201662,811 vehicles affected

Some 2015-2016 Hyundai Sonata and Sonata Hybrid vehicles equipped with the panoramic sunroof have a bonding problem with the sunroof wind deflector.

Driver airbag may not protect neck in a crash

Recall 16V615Aug 24, 20161,031 vehicles affected

Certain 2016 model year vehicles built between March 28 and April 12, 2016 have a driver-side frontal airbag that may not adequately protect the driver's neck during a crash.

Driver's Front Airbag May Not Fully Inflate in a Crash

Recall 16V232Apr 21, 201633 vehicles affected

Certain vehicles may have a driver's frontal airbag that is missing a chemical enhancer needed for the second stage of deployment.

ABS Warning Light May Fail to Signal Brake Problem

Recall 15V678Oct 20, 201564,744 vehicles affected

Certain 2015-2016 Hyundai Sonata vehicles built between May 28, 2014 and August 21, 2015 have an antilock braking system (ABS) warning light that may not turn on when the ABS has a malfunction.

Most common 2016 Hyundai Sonata problems

Problem areas named in the 729 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem areaReports
Engine453
Electrical System91
Unknown Or Other91
Power Train59
Service Brakes42
Exterior Lighting38
Steering34
Fuel/Propulsion System33
Structure31
Vehicle Speed Control30

What owners report

2026-10-29, Suspension
I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding severe vehicle instability, structural safety risks, and dealership workmanship negligence following a federal safety recall engine replacement. My vehicle received a new engine block under a federal campaign at a local dealership. Immediately upon picking up the vehicle, the front suspension developed a severe, heavy mechanical knocking and bumping noise over road surfaces under 20 mph, making the vehicle structurally unstable and hazardous to drive. To perform this engine swap, technicians were physically required to drop the front subframe framework and disconnect the lower suspension linkages and steering column components. The dealership i
2026-10-20, Engine And Engine Cooling
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while getting an oil change, the contact was informed that the oil pan was empty. The contact could not recall seeing leaks or making changes to the oil change routine. An independent mechanic informed the contact of an engine recall regarding excessive oil consumption. The contact was referred to the dealer. The contact had the oil inspected twice more and was informed of low oil levels on each occasion, but there were no leaks or burning oil odors. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed that no open recall was associated with the VIN. The dealer replaced several sensors; however, the contact was unable to
2026-10-06, Engine
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. While the contact's daughter was driving 55 MPH, the engine seized. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while the contact's two minor grandchildren were inside the vehicle during the failure. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The contact was informed about the eligibility for the extended warranty under Campaign 953. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the extended warranty because the Campaign 95
2026-10-04, Engine
While driving on the freeway, the check engine light started flashing and the gas pedal became useless. This put the driver and the passenger of the car in massive danger as they could no longer accelerate on the freeway. Luckily, they were able to get off the freeway without causing an accident. Upon reading the code at an auto shop, they discovered that it was P1326 or a knock sensor issue. This malfunction caused the car to go into limp mode and put the passengers in serious danger. Several calls to the Hyundai Service Center were made yesterday (Saturday, October 3rd). However, not one was ever answered. They hope to be able to get the car to the dealership's service center as soon as po
2026-09-17, Electrical System
Backup vision system failed. Couldn't see vision because screen was blank. Radio didn't work either. Went to dealership with the problem they said it was not covered by the warranty. Paid to have it fixed.

2016 Hyundai Sonata safety rating

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2016 Hyundai Sonata 4 DR FWD★★★★★ 5-star554 (10.5% rollover risk)

2016 Hyundai Sonata questions

Does the 2016 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata: Turn Signal May Blink the Wrong Way, Raising Crash Risk; Parking Brake Light May Not Show When Engaged; Sunroof Panel Can Detach While Driving, Creating a Crash Risk; Driver airbag may not protect neck in a crash; Driver's Front Airbag May Not Fully Inflate in a Crash. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?

Based on 729 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Engine (453), Electrical System (91), Unknown Or Other (91).

How safe is the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings program gives the 2016 Hyundai Sonata up to 5 out of 5 stars overall; ratings vary by version, see the table above.

How do I check if a recall on my 2016 Hyundai Sonata has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

Other Hyundai Sonata years

Other 2016 Hyundai models