10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
26,689 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #24

Apr 142022

Sonata

  • miles
The paint chipping and causing rust to car

- Selma, NC, USA

problem #23

Nov 022023

Sonata

  • miles
I own a 2016 Hyundai Sonata and on vacation in Florida the cap to the shark Finn Antenna flew off on the highway. I noted there are recalls on newer versions of the Sonata but not on the 2016. I feel that is a problem that Hyundai should address as it is a safety hazard and could cause an accident resulting in injuries. Also the cost to replace the antenna is almost 500 dollar as they do not just sell the cover for the antenna. Thank you for any help you can provide in addressing this issue as I do not want anyone to get hurt because of this faulty problem with the antenna cover.

- Wallingdord, CT, USA

problem #22

Oct 092023

Sonata

  • miles
The White pearl paint is bubbling and peeling right above the driver door window. It's getting worse by the day. While driving with my window open a piece about the size of a nickel flew into my car and hit me on the face right under my eye. If it had flew into my eye I surely would have had an accident. Took car to Delray Hyundai on August 3,2023 for pictures and was lead to believe it would be taken care of. I'm getting the run around from them. I have read many many articles on the internet about this problem, can you help me or assist me in what I can do to get this taken care of. Thanking you in advance for your help.

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

problem #21

Feb 012020

Sonata

  • miles
The paint on the vehicle is peeling. It started on the roof and has progressed to the hood, frond fenders, and trunk. Because I am not the first owner, Hyundai will not not cover repairs. On 23 Aug 2023 I also had to replace the transmission at 115,416 miles. Again, Hyundai refused to cover any repairs.

- Lorton, VA, USA

problem #20

Jun 182020

Sonata

  • miles
Engine burns off oil at an excessive rate. I was told there is a recall on the engine for my vehicle. Also, the transmission is acting up. I have a white pearl sonata and the paint has peeled off the roof and part of the hood. There is a recall on that as well, as I was told.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #19

Sep 022022

Sonata

  • miles
The Sunroof wind deflector, the panel has become detached. It is loose and flapping when sunroof is open. Yes it is available for inspection. My safety was at risk because when it happened at first it scared me and I didn't know what happened. 2nd if it had came all the way off it could have flown into someone else's windshield and causing them to crash or swerve to miss it flying in the air. I did mention it to the dealership when it was there, but rather they looked at it or not I have no idea. No one else has inspected it. No warning lamps or other signals appeared before hand.

- Simms, TX, USA

problem #18

Oct 012021

Sonata

  • miles
Paint is peeling off car in several places, causing rust. Paint peeled in sheets from roof of car and hood. Paint is peeling off of side panels as well. Currently a class action lawsuit against Kia/Hyundai regarding improper curing of white pearl paint on models from 2014 to present. Dealership admitted to issue being replicated among same make/models of that color. No warnings were issued, however, company has settled several occasions by paying for repaint, thus admitting there is an extreme issue with improper curing of the paint.

- Kennesaw, GA, USA

problem #17

Nov 052021

Sonata

  • miles
2016 Hyundai Sonata. Consumer writes in regards to paint peeling off vehicle.

- Coamo, PR, USA

problem #16

Mar 072021

Sonata

  • 21,000 miles
May 7, 2021 around 5pm I entered the highway @ dorset rd and I-270 driving South on I-270 @ 60mph when the sunroof deflector detached from the vehicle and started to blow in the wind and next I hear the sunroof glass rattling afraid it would fly of and hit a car behind me, I hit the close button for the roof. When I got to my destination I open the roof to see what the problem was, noticing the sunroof deflector is no longer attached to the vehicle, but is made onto the track that moves with the glass panel, I held the deflector down with my hand and tried my best to get the glass panels to close flat. On my drive back home now all I can hear is the glass panels rattling continually, this is a scary feeling being the entire roof of the vehicle is glass and what if the wind blows the panels of and cause someone behind me on the highway to get hurt or if the glass rattling causes it to shatter and break on me while driving this would be a concern also for a traffic accident. Why would a small deflector be attached to the actual track and now this has caused serious concern for the sunroof structure or shall I say the entire roof of the Sonata. Never had a sunroof concern with my tiburon sunroof, now rethinking my love for Hyundai's. mileage is just 21 thousand

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #15

Feb 052021

Sonata

  • 67,000 miles
Returned home from travel to find antenna cover was missing. Cover was attached prior to this drive. Cover likely flew off while driving. Was unable to locate. Roughly 15 miles were driven during this trip.

- Springfield, IL, USA

problem #14

Nov 202020

Sonata

  • 120,000 miles
Paint coming off the top of the car and I have to change my front light and brake light every month it goes out

- Waco, TX, USA

problem #13

Dec 282020

Sonata

  • 48,000 miles
Paint on top of car coming off.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #12

Dec 142020

Sonata

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 55 mph, the antenna cover detached from the vehicle. The contact was unable to locate the part once the failure occurred. The contact's wife then called lee Hyundai (1960 skibo rd, fayetteville, nc 28314) where an estimate for the replacement was provided. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

- Sanford, NC, USA

problem #11

Oct 222020

Sonata

  • miles
My door handles keep breaking. The end caps of the door handles break easily. This is the second time it has happened. The first time was a month after I purchased it. Of course the dealer replaced it because I was still under warranty. Now the warranty is out the door handle on the passenger side of the door broke. Dealer said $187.50 to fix it. I called Hyundai corporate and was just blown off telling me I was out of my warranty. Customer service wasn't even nice about it.

- Arapahoe, NC, USA

problem #10

Oct 182020

Sonata

  • 22,000 miles
I've had issues with the paint. I had a huge chip in the paint and the body shop told me that it was an issue with the factory paint. So now for the 3rd time, I am having to have the paint fixed on the top of my car. Tiny chips in the paint have very quickly turned in to much larger areas. Nothing hit or damaged the area any of the times to my knowledge. The first time was February 2019, touch up in March 2020, and now October 2020.

- Albertville, AL, USA

problem #9

Jun 012020

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
A screw that connects the driver's seat to the rail and car frame came out on it's own over time. Car has been used in a normal manner. Discovered the issue when getting in and out of the car and the seat started rocking and wobbling. No pieces are broken.

- Edmond, OK, USA

problem #8

Apr 172017

Sonata

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the passenger's side rear door lock was inoperable. The contact stated that the door could not be opened from inside or outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #7

Oct 212019

Sonata

  • 32,000 miles
My trunk wouldn't open. I used the key fob & nothing happened. It was pouring rain and I had groceries I was trying to put in my trunk. I tried the button on the panel still nothing. I put my groceries in the back seat and got out my owners manual. It said in case of the trunk not opening use your key. I did & it opened & now I can't get it shut! I tried w-D40 on the latch & it didn't help. My husband tied it down with a rope. I never had any trouble before & now my trunk is held down with rope. I don't know if it's covered by my warranty but it should be. My vehicle was parked at the grocery store.

- Blue Springs, MO, USA

problem #6

May 022019

Sonata

  • miles
The problem I'm having, is the right side door, the sound of "knocking" like something is defective, or coming lose, the window is working, but each time I close it, to listen the sound is coming from within the door, speakers, or hinges, something is lose, and I'm very concerning about it, this been going on for a while, when the right side window is half way down, I can nearly hear the knocking sound within the door, sometime it sound like, its coming from the rightside dash board, ,the vehicle in motion, on a street, or on a highway, you can hear the knocking sound, coming from the right side door, even when the road is kinda rough, you can hear it shake witihin the door.., I don't recall exactly when this started, but it doesn't sound right.

- Mt. Vernon, NY, USA

problem #5

Apr 252019

Sonata

  • 62,000 miles
Panoramic sunroof wind deflector became unbonded from car body stopping the sunroof from closing properly and possibly causing the glass sunroof to dislodge and create a hazard to surrounding traffic at high speeds. Happened while travelling at highway speed. Hyundai dealer claims there is no recall available.

- Grayslake, IL, USA

Read the next 4 complaints »