Model year record

2016 Hyundai Sonata

6 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1,203 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V749000

Exterior lighting: turn signal

Component
Exterior lighting: turn signal
Manufacturer
Hyundai Motor America
Vehicles affected
469,377
Reported to NHTSA
2021-09-24
Owners notified
2021-11-19

Defect description

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 turn signal to activate in the opposite direction of what the driver intended.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will update the SJB software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 210.

Recall campaignNHTSA 17V359000

Parking brake: indicator light

Component
Parking brake: indicator light
Manufacturer
Hyundai Motor America
Vehicles affected
161,074
Reported to NHTSA
2017-06-05
Owners notified
2017-08-04

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the parking brake switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 164.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V726000

Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly

Component
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
Manufacturer
Hyundai Motor America
Vehicles affected
62,811
Reported to NHTSA
2016-10-11
Owners notified
2016-11-29

Defect description

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 bonding issue with the sunroof wind deflector, the sunroof panel on the affected vehicles may detach while driving.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer remedy

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair the wind deflector anchor plate, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 152.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V615000

Air bags

Component
Air bags
Manufacturer
Hyundai Motor America
Vehicles affected
1,031
Reported to NHTSA
2016-08-24
Owners notified
2016-10-14

Defect description

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 crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 148.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V232000

Air bags: frontal

Component
Air bags: frontal
Manufacturer
Hyundai Motor America
Vehicles affected
33
Reported to NHTSA
2016-04-21
Owners notified
2016-06-15

Defect description

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. 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.

Safety risk

An air bag that does not inflate increases the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

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. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 144.

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V678000

Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

Component
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Manufacturer
Hyundai Motor America
Vehicles affected
64,744
Reported to NHTSA
2015-10-20
Owners notified
2015-11-30

Defect description

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 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 Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 134.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine55684,000 mi
Unknown or other11045,160 mi
Electrical system10185,200 mi
Power train7560,000 mi
Service brakes479,096 mi
Fuel/propulsion system4570,000 mi
Exterior lighting3758,000 mi
Steering3740,000 mi
Vehicle speed control3456,000 mi
Structure: body3355,000 mi
Air bags2754,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling1578,000 mi
Seat belts1031,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)535,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication545,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking5111,000 mi
Seats570,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly580,142 mi
Visibility/wiper441,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: immobilizer/proximity: key/sender3
Exterior lighting: headlights335,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic3149,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control2
Forward collision avoidance: warnings2
Hybrid propulsion system2149,000 mi
Lane departure: blind spot detection2
Latches/locks/linkages270,000 mi
Parking brake29,096 mi
Suspension26,600 mi
Tires2125,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: compressor2
Wheels: hub2144,000 mi
Back over prevention: rearview system braking1
Electrical system: cybersecurity1
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: seals/gaskets1
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: sump/tank1
Equipment1
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump198,000 mi
Interior lighting1100 mi
Lane departure: warning1
Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: latch1
Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: latch: emergency mechanical release1
Service brakes, air: antilock: ABS warning light150,000 mi
Structure: frame and members1
Suspension: front: wheel bearing118,400 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems150,000 mi
Traction control system150,000 mi
Visibility: fixed panaramic roof/sky light assembly1
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior14,955 mi
Wheels180 mi

The 2015 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2017 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.