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2016 Hyundai Sonata Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 6 NHTSA recalls and 725 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

F
20/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2016 Hyundai Sonata

The 2016 Hyundai Sonata shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

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6
NHTSA Recalls
6 recalls on record
725
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
19
Crash Reports
28 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2016 Hyundai Sonata (6)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Hyundai dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Visibility: Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
If the sunroof detaches from the vehicle it could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
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…
NHTSA #16V726000
🔧 Parking Brake: Indicator Light
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.
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….
NHTSA #17V359000
🔧 Air Bags
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.
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…
NHTSA #16V615000
🔧 Air Bags: Frontal
An air bag that does not inflate increases the risk of injury.
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…
NHTSA #16V232000
🔧 Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
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…
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…
NHTSA #15V678000
🔧 Exterior Lighting: Turn Signal
A turn signal that activates in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
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…
NHTSA #21V749000
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Most Common Problems — 2016 Hyundai Sonata

Based on 725 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Engine
337
Electrical System
74
Unknown Or Other
60
Power Train
58
Steering
33
Service Brakes
29
Structure
27
Exterior Lighting
24
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Hyundai Sonata — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.

2010 345 complaints 2011 3,378 complaints 2012 1,558 complaints 2013 1,915 complaints 2014 751 complaints 2015 1,153 complaints 2016 725 complaints 2017 766 complaints 2018 374 complaints 2019 162 complaints 2020 181 complaints

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2011, 2013 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2010, 2018, 2019 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 Hyundai Sonata

Is the 2016 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Hyundai Sonata has 6 recall campaigns and 725 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2016 Hyundai Sonata have?
The 2016 Hyundai Sonata has 6 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata are: Engine, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Power Train. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2016 Hyundai Sonata safe to buy?
The 2016 Hyundai Sonata has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 6 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Hyundai Sonata should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Hyundai Sonata are: 2010, 2018, 2019. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2011, 2013.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.