2016 Hyundai Sonata Complaint Log

I was going down the highway and noticed a weird sound and when off the highway it just shut down on me thank God I was able to pull in a median and I could not drive or start it. No other warning signs. I had it towed to a mechanic and they told me the engine was blown and he wouldn’t touch it.

On [XXX] as I was driving out my garage my car started to drive with hesitation. As I turn the corner from home my car started to shake vigorously so I turned into the alley which leads back to my home the check engine light came on. I was able to drive into the garage. So I went to a mechanic who has serviced all my previous cars and he showed me that the car is burning too much oil that was effecting the performance of the engine making it drive sluggish I was also told at the oil changing company in numerous occasions that the sonatas burn oil. I’m trying to get it resolved but having no luck . It’s a real hassle with servicing this car. I need assistance on what I need to do INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My check engine light came on and my car went into “limp mode” and wouldn’t go above 30 mph. It also kept blowing hot air through the vents and the coolant level thermometer kept raising.

This car burned oil like crazy from the start. We kept the oil changed regularly, had to change spark plugs weekly and add a quart or more of oil each week in between oil changes. One day whole stopped at a red light the engine started knocking for no reason. Once diagnosed it turned out that it had spun a rod bearing. These engines need to be recalled before someone ends up in a fatal accident. This car was driven daily on a major interstate thankfully the issue happened at a red light, but has left me with a car note and a non drivable car. What’s it gonna take to get these engines recalled and replaced?

Engine failure. Happened in the middle of the beltway in dc. Was left in the middle of traffic had to get car towed. No lights were on prior to this happening. Seems everyone i have talked to with a senata has had engine failure and has ultimately got a new one replaced by the delorship. The 2016 isn't on the recall list only models 2011-2014. But I have heard of numerous 2015-2016 models having the same issue. This car barley had 110k miles on it before the engine failure. These vehicles are not safe and there needs to be something done. It is currently being looked at by delorship. Im hoping for the best.

Vehicle: 2016 Hyundai Sonata Limited VIN: [XXX] Issue: Failed sunroof recall repair. Details: Vehicle had a manufacturer sunroof recall/service repair in 2018. Repair has now failed completely; sunroof detached. Vehicle is unsafe to drive and exposed to weather elements. Local dealership quoted $2,100 for repair, despite this being a failed manufacturer remedy for a known safety defect. Hyundai corporate and my financing company have been contacted; issue remains unresolved. Impact: Cannot safely operate vehicle, preventing commuting and daily use. Causing financial hardship. Requested Action: Investigate as a failed recall repair. Ensure Hyundai provides a remedy in compliance with federal safety regulations. Thank you, My Contact Information: [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH and making a turn into a parking lot, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle came to a stop. The contact was able to push the vehicle to a parking space with assistance. The vehicle was then pushed on to a tow truck and was towed to a Cadillac dealer but was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to Goose Auto Repair, where it was diagnosed and determined that the front driver's side wheel hub had fractured, causing the wheel to separate from the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.

Driving and engine began to tick, for a couple minutes, then died. Would not restart.

The engine began knocking on us, towed to dealership. Safety concern was dying on the highway with other cars around. The dealer said it needs a new engine. Not sure there were any indications of failure or not. Some records indicate in order for Hyundai to warranty, this car needed to have had campaign 953 KSDS installed prior. Some records such as the TG3 TXXI warranty state that in April 2022, the KSDS campaign update was no longer required for the Hyundai Theta II engine warranty. owner did not perform KSDS 953, based on not receiving the information. Hyundai is currently denying warranty, but if TG3 TXXI is correct, the dealer has yet to fully inspect, and the fact remains that in April 2022 the Campaign 953 is no longer a prerequisite. I dont feel like I should be denied assistance. Please help.

While driving on the highway, experienced loss of power and flashing check engine light, subsequently causing engine knock and engine failure. This situation could have caused an accident and put myself and others at risk. It is understood the manufacturer has recalled more than one million vehicles due to engine failure and is working with NHTSA to address the issue. In communication with the manufacturer to inspect the damage and resolve the issue.

This vehicle has a faulty engine design which results in extreme over-consumption of oil. After an oil change, the engine will typically empty in less than a month, which is beyond a reasonable level of oil consumption. Side effects of this include other parts of the engine wearing down quicker, including the spark plugs, which cause engine misfires. Ultimately, this vehicle's engine design causes financial hardship to it's owners and poses a potential safety risk to those who drive in it. I believe Hyundai should do a recall to fix this faulty engine (with an engine replacement if necessary).

Power steering fails intermittently

Car been burning oil since i got it . I have been taking it back and forth to the dealership they not helping and I’m basically paying a note on a car i can’t even enjoy

Engine consumes excessive amount of oil, approximately 5 quarts every 1,000 miles. No leaks found when taken for inspection.

WARNING LIGHT ON DASH JUST WENT ON

There is an oil problem with this car - my engine light keeps going on, then it backfires, I brought to the dealership and $2,800 later, I still have the same problem. There is no leak that I can see, the oil just disappears. My mechanic said this is a known problem but Hyandai will not get back to me, I have tried several times with no interaction back

Rod bearing failed at highway speeds, loss of power and flashing check engine light only after engine failure. This could have caused an accident putting myself and others at risk of bodily damage had I not been able to pull off of the freeway. Engine knock/rattle, eventually leading to catastrophic engine failure. This has been confirmed by a third party trusted and certified technician at an independent shop. Currently in the process of having the damage inspected by the manufacturer.

The engine stopped as I was driving on the road.

My dad gave me his car a little bit ago, and I just learned there is a cap and sensor part in the engine that fills with oil which triggers the check engine light. I nearly got hit because I didn't know the car couldn't accelerate properly when this happens. My neighborhood exits onto the main road at an incline and my car wouldn't move faster than 10 mph while cars were coming behind me at 45. I was terrified. My dad told me had the same problem. He took it to the dealership to be repaired when it happened to him and they said it was fixed, so apparently it is a reoccurring problem.

I had knocking in the engine from the auto body shop and my extend warranty told me this is the problem that I have

My car has 123,000 miles on it, it started with just aircon compressor not working then a week after the engine light started blinking and doesn’t accelerate more than 60 in the interstate then there is a rod knocking in my engine after that.

I am writing to formally request reconsideration of a denied warranty claim regarding my [XXX] son's 2016 Hyundai Sonata, which recently suffered complete engine failure and Hyundai has denied. The vehicle is equipped with the Theta II engine, which is widely known to be associated with engine failure risks and is covered under Hyundai’s extended warranty program. Despite this, my warranty claim was denied due to the fact that two recall-related services were not completed. I would like to respectfully challenge this decision for the following reasons: The engine failure is consistent with the known defects in the Theta II engine, which Hyundai has acknowledged through its extended warranty program and recall campaigns. I was not properly informed of the outstanding recalls or their impact on warranty eligibility. We purchased the vehicle in November 2024 and had not received any notifications of these recalls. Had I been made aware of these recalls I would have taken immediate action but again, I was not ever notified. The failure of the engine is unrelated to any owner negligence and should be covered regardless of recall status, especially under a defect-related extended warranty program. The failure has left my son without a functioning vehicle and facing a costly engine replacement for an issue Hyundai has accepted responsibility for in thousands of similar cases. He started working at [XXX] to begin saving for his first vehicle. He spent $8,000 of his own money and is now devastated by an issue outside of his control. I am requesting a full reconsideration of my claim and repair costs under the extended warranty program. Due to the Engine failure my sons car locked up and died while traveling with passengers. This was a terrifying safety event as my son was stuck in the driving lane with traffic until the car could be towed. Please let me know what additional information you need to review my case. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Recall on paint quartz pearl white my car is peeling and chipping I notified hyundai because I know many customers also are having this issue and they will not resolve this issue.

I had engine issues back in 2021. I had to pay $600 for a part to be installed to fix the problem . The engine failed, the idle was violently lurching forward and would randomly Shut down. Recently the car shut down without warning again. Its scary.

Engine failure

My car on the freeway started knocking. The check engine light came on. The car immediately caught fire. It is at the tow yard now. We just went through the oil consumption testing and the cleaning. I filed a report in November it failed for misfire and we paid to have the top rebuild. The car failed the oil consumption 1000 miles after the cleaning. We were told to continue to drive. We had 4 people in the car. I have the dash cam with the rod knock. The car has a check engine code. Hyundai needs to be held accountable.

While driving my 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE (89,000 miles), a “Check Hybrid System” warning appeared on the dashboard, followed by a sudden loss of power. Shortly after, the engine began knocking loudly. A local mechanic scanned the codes and saw engine misfire and hybrid system faults. After clearing the codes, the engine ran worse and the knocking increased significantly. I had to tow the car over 700 miles from Whitehorse, Yukon, to the Anchorage Hyundai dealership in Alaska, which cost me over $5,000. The dealership said they hear engine knocking but refuse further diagnosis unless Hyundai initiates a goodwill assistance case. My car has a rebuilt title, but this issue appears to be similar to other known failures and recalls, such as Campaign 198 / NHTSA 20V746000. It is a serious safety issue — I was stranded in the middle of a remote highway. This appears to be a major defect, and Hyundai needs to investigate and support affected customers.

While accelerating from a red light, the engine suddenly lost power and the car stalled in the left turn lane in the middle of traffic. We had to have the vehicle towed to a repair shop, where I was informed that the engine had seized or locked up. The mechanic mentioned this type of failure can happen if the engine loses oil pressure, but we received no warning lights (oil, check engine, or otherwise) prior to the failure. The vehicle has always been properly maintained, including an oil change just a few months prior, and it had not been driven much since. This vehicle was purchased for my daughter to travel to and from college safely and reliably. We have taken great care of it, so the sudden and catastrophic failure of the engine (without any prior warning) is both unacceptable and devastating to our family and we have no way to get her back to her college. I’ve now learned that this year, make, and model: 2016 Hyundai Sonata has had numerous complaints and issues related to sudden engine failure and oil system issues. To my knowledge, this issue has not been officially recalled, despite a pattern of numerous similar reports. This kind of failure puts drivers and passengers at serious risk, particularly when it occurs during active driving conditions like what happened to us as we were stranded in the road and it almost caused a vehicle to hit us. As a parent, I entrusted Hyundai with my family’s safety. I am extremely disappointed by what appears to be a systemic issue and . I urge the agency to reconsider investigating these failures and pressure the manufacturer to do the right thing, stand behind their product and support affected customers like us.

Unknown

I just recently purchased about a month and a half ago. I was on my way to work and it was a thudded knocking noise before my car slowed down and shut off on the highway. I had to get it towed to a nearby restaurant I had a mobile mechanic come by he put it on a scanner code p0014 came up with the engine light on.. When he cut the car on and heard the noise he said my engine has failed.. I haven’t had any prior issues with my car before this date.. He mentioned it’s recalls on the engine I have my VIN doesn’t show it’s a recall but it’s the same issues described happened

Sometimes I see the engine ligth when I drive to long

In April 2025, my 2016 Hyundai Sonata 2.4L began making a knocking noise while driving. There were no warning lights or error messages on the dashboard, so I was confused about what was wrong and assumed it might be a minor issue related to the axle, which I had repaired in the past. I brought it to a local mechanic, who informed me the engine noise was concerning and mentioned this model was known to have engine-related recalls. Upon researching, I discovered my vehicle had an outstanding recall for the exact issue (connecting rod bearing wear leading to potential engine seizure), but it had expired due to the age of the vehicle. The car was brought into the dealership on April 30, 2025, and has remained there ever since with a completely failed engine. I was told by Hyundai corporate that they would not offer goodwill assistance due to the recall technically expiring. However, I never received any notification about this recall and had no idea it existed. The engine failure has left me without a vehicle for over three months. I cannot afford the $10,000 replacement cost quoted to me. My Sonata only has approximately 145,000 miles, and this engine failure puts my safety and financial situation at risk. I believe this is directly connected to the original recall defect and should have been addressed regardless of the expiration date, especially since the failure occurred from the same root cause. It has been inspected by the Jacksonville Key Hyundai dealership (where it is located now) as well as two other local auto shops.

Tengo este sonata ya 3 años a solo un mes de haberlo comprado empezó con los problemas de check hybrid system todo el tiempo el mecánico no sabe que pasa con eso además siempre cuando se enciende esa luz no se puede manejar el carro y le dice que tengo que apagarlo

See attached document for complaint.

My vehicles engine gave out on highway 95 . I towed it to the Hyundai dealership after a mechanic friend informed me of the recall with the Sonata Engines. Hyundai is refusing to assist with my engine failure under the recall or my lifetime warranty. They are stating that the recall is voided due to my dipstick size and that my lifetime warranty on the engine is voided due to another safety software recall not being updated before the engine recall; I was not informed by Hyundai of either recall. I am now without a vehicle

The vehicle is burning oil, so I had a Hyundai dealer (Brandfon Hyundai New haven, CT) start an oil consumption test. At 1,000 miles the vehicle has no oil. Therefore, the engine can seize and shutdown without warning, which could cause serious injury or accident. Hyundai declined an engine cleaning, which the dealership indicated doesn't work anyway. The next step is engine replacement. However, the dealership won't return my calls. This is a common engine problem with older Hyundai's.

Hello this is my second time filing for a complaint because the first time I did not receive an email confirmation. On Thursday night (April 4th) I was driving back home, I had just existed the highway and was now on a regular big busy street. I was driving approximately no more than 25 MPH. At the traffic light when it turned red I obviously had my foot on the break. When it had turned green and I tried to accelerate the car would just not simply move. As I said I was on a busy street there was many cars, My partner and I had to safety move the car by foot out of the road to let other cars pass, it was very dangerous for us since it was at night. I'd like to add prior to this the only time I ever had a problem was when I would turned on the car and later try to drive it would start shaking for a minute and then suddenly stop when I parked it and turned it off. Also there was never any engine light or any warning lights on the dashboard, To continue I had to call my dad late at night to help me find what was wrong with the car, obviously since it was at night there was not much to do, but to park the car and leave it there overnight. Next morning he goes and try to see if it turned on, It didn't the car was not running anymore, he called a tow truck for them to take it to a mechanic, In where they said it was an engine problem. The mechanic told my dad it would need a new engine which that can cost a lot. I called in the dealership in where i am financing it and told me if it was a motor problem I would have to pay $7500 to $8000 for a new engine replacement. This is do draining knowing I've had this car for less than TWO MONTHS and already having to pay for a new ENGINE? This was also very dangerous knowing the car never showed a warning light on the dashboard !! I could've been driving on the highway and the car could've stopped in the middle this could've been super dangerous putting my life at risk not knowing the the car had an engine problem.

Driving back home [about a 20 min ride] car has been driving fine, with no lights on dashboard EVER showing , obviously on a red light i had the break, then when it turn green the car would not accelerate at ALL. Car was still on with light and radio working the car would just not accelerate. I was on a busy street so I had to push the vehicle by foot with my partner to get it out of the way. Oil and battery seemed fine, I had to call my dad for help he as well did not find anything. We had no other choice but to leave the car on that street parked. Next morning my dad went to check it out and the car would not turn on AT ALL. He called a towing truck and took it to a mechanic in where he said that it was in fact the engine. When driving and prior to other cars I've driven the car there was never a warning sign what so ever this came out unexpectedly, putting my partner and I at risk in a busy street having to move the vehicle by foot.

Extremely well maintained car began burning excessive amounts of oil. Called Hyundai corporate and they said that there is an extended 150,000 mile warranty on the engine and set me up with the Metrowest Hyundai dealership in Framingham, MA to begin oil consumption test procedure. Dealership performed test and I burned almost 2 out of 5.1 quarts in 1,000 miles. There is no reason a well maintained engine, with regular oil changes well within the manufacturer recommended interval and using full synthetic oil, coupled with regular engine maintenance and Techron, plus at least 80% highway miles, should be doing this. Dealership then performed combustion chamber clean as step 2 of process and the entire timing system began failing after that (P0010 and P0011). The car is now at the point of almost catastrophic engine failure and it will cost $6,200 to repair (the value of the car itself). Hyundai corporate then told me I'm actually not covered and that the warranty only covers rod bearing failure. So both they and/or the dealership strung me along, and the car is clearly not made well and Hyundai is not addressing these concerns. I know many people have had these issues with these cars. In my case, trying to get them addressed then destroyed my car.

THE ENGINE THEY EVEN HAVE A RECALL ON MY CAR ENGINE THIS HAVE CAUSED NO RISK THIS PROBLEM HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED BY A MECHANIC HAVEN’T BEEN LEGALLY INSPECTED YES THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON OFTEN

After driving for a few minutes with the sunroof open the wind deflector pulled and nearly off the car. This had been repaired previously under a recall and the repair was simply to re-glue the wind deflector back in place. This had clearly been done before as the dried glue was still on it. The back end of the sunroof nearly came off during this ordeal while we were traveling at highway speeds and it could have killed someone. We were able to close the sunroof once we had stopped, however it was very difficult to do so and required four of us, each with tools that I happened to have in the car at the time. Had we not been able to get the sunroof back closed it surely would have been ripped from the car. Another recall needs to be put into place and an improved correction needs to be put into place.

The engine violently vibrates and no matter how much I get an oil change it burns so fast and I have to keep adding. It's not leaking, just burning. I plugged in a diagnostic tester and it said that the 3rd cylinder was misfiring. I haven't had the car for very long, and this is not normal. I take good care of it.

After having the car for about a week the engine light came on at that time I took the car back to Carmax Service Department in Canoga Park. They scanned the car and they told me that it was misfiring. Carmax fixed the car. They had the car for the ten days. The day I received the car back, the engine light came on again. Took the car to my mechanic and he ran the codes again and he told me it was misfiring, again. He cleared the code and I again returned the car to Carmax, and explained to them what happened. I checked on the car couple days later and I was told that they drove the car for 30 miles and the engine light didn't come on. I picked up the car the next day On [XXX], the engine light came on, again. I returned the car back to Carmax, April 1st and talked to the Service Manager. I explained to him everything that happened. In each case, before returning the car or having the inspected, I did notice a difference in the way the car responded. Also, when I filled up with gas, the gas didn't fill up all the way and there was a clicking sound when driving. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact smelled burning engine oil coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact stated that a friend arrived at the residence to inspect the vehicle. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the friend became aware that oil was leaking from the head gasket. The contact stated that the friend used an ODB scanner and retrieved DTC: P1326. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (ENGINE); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,558.

Car Lost Power going up a hill. Generating codes P1326, P0455 and P0302

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to respond. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while driving around a corner, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact continued depressing the accelerator to the floorboard; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and the engine seized. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with bearing failure. The contact then towed the vehicle to the residence. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,336.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Engine How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was driving 60 mph down a busy highway when I lost the ability to accelerate—putting myself and others at risk while trying to get off the road to a safe location. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? Yes. A mechanic that has been in our area for decades. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem before the failure, and when did they first appear? No.

The shark fin antennae on top of the vehicle was ripped off in a car wash; the antennae serves to transmit radio/GPS/data to & from the vehicle which will cease to function if it the cover is removed and components damaged. Hyundai description: The shark fin antenna will receive AM, FM broadcast signals and transmit data Multiple Hyundai dealers have been contacted for quotes on replacing the antennae which they claim will cost $1500+ since the top of the roof must be removed and electronics/circuit board/cables must be replaced; it appears to be a common issue with these shark fins according to the dealers and online research. The GPS and data transfer could be a major safety factor depending on the systems affected. These shark fins need to be replaced with a more resilient system. Owners are unable to 'store' the antennae when taking it to the car wash as it is not removable or retractable. It is a design flaw. I've read that many have lost them simply driving the vehicle --not agitated using a car wash.

My car burns through approximately 1qt of oil every 500 miles or less. There is a known oil consumption issue and I have left multiple messages with Key Hyundai of Milford CT and do not receive a call back. Additionally today I was driving 25mph and my car was reading 4000rpm and then completely locked and shut down I was stuck in the middle of the road.

My vehicle had the following symptoms: 1. Alternating between sluggish acceleration/handling AND rough acceleration with the vehicle lurching forward at times 2. Check engine light with error code P00010 3. Occurred frequently over a one month period (5+ times) This was unsafe as the car could not properly accelerate and would lurch forward at intersections. This could easily have led to a crash. We limited driving. This issue was observed at the dealer where I repaired issue. The issue is exactly the same as the issue described in the recall for Hyundai Sonata 2015 under SB-10058136-4434 and was resolved by replacement of the E-CVVT seal as described. This issue is ridiculous for me to deal with and put my family as risk given it a KNOWN issue for Hyundai in their other vehicles.