10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 18
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,677 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.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #341

Oct 272023

Sonata

  • miles
I am writing to bring to your attention a critical issue affecting Hyundai car owners that warrants investigation and public awareness. Hyundai cars are currently plagued by oil consumption problems that ultimately lead to engine failure, a concerning issue that remains largely unknown to most customers. When these issues arise, car owners are often left to grapple with uncooperative dealerships that either deny the problem or offer minimal assistance. Even Hyundai corporate and extended warranties fail to provide adequate support, frequently citing owner negligence as a reason for denial. This occurs despite the fact that engine sludge buildup is inevitable, even with consistent car maintenance. Furthermore, car owners are forced to endure long waiting times for their vehicles to be inspected and, if approved for an engine replacement, face additional months of delay. The situation is exacerbated by the lack of loaner vehicles and no assurance of rental reimbursement. This leaves countless individuals burdened with car payments for vehicles either stranded in garages or idle in driveways. My personal experience has been with First Hyundai, and many others have voiced similar grievances. Numerous complaints have been filed with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), yet little action has been taken to aid the thousands of people who lack the resources to rectify this issue. It is imperative that attention is drawn to this matter as Hyundai's approach to selling cars with hidden engine issues puts customers at risk and places them in dire financial straits. I implore the Boston Globe to conduct an investigation into these concerns and help shed light on a situation that demands immediate attention

- Brockton, MA, USA

problem #340

Sep 072023

Sonata

  • miles
I was driving on the freeway and the car went from 70 mph to 60 then 50 then 40 slowing on the freeway each second. This has happened multiple times, each time taken in Hyundai and -??repaired-?? only to happen a couple months later.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #339

Feb 012021

Sonata

  • miles
Engine is burning the oil quickly. Hyundai dealer performed oil consumption test and found that engine is burning the oil quickly and I need to add 1-quarter at every 750 miles. Dealer told me if you are 1st owner than Hyundai will replace the engine but i am second owner i won't eligible for engine replacement. Due to this problem, oil get on the spark plug and car is vibrating a lot and I feel it very dangerous. I have check online and many people have this issue. I would appreciate it if you could help me here.

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #338

Nov 012023

Sonata

  • miles
Engine is burning is oil at least 1,5 qt on 1000 miles, added 7 quarts of oil in 3500miles, dealership is playing around and says everything is ok, did a oil consumption test and wrote down that is burning 0,5 qt and don-??t want to recognize that the have to change the engine on warranty

- Plainfield , IL, USA

problem #337

Aug 102023

Sonata

  • miles
Engine failure. Metal in the engine oil pan. P1326 code. No warranty coverage and no recall. Replacing the parts myself. Vehicle went into limp mode without warning. Oil bypassing one of the pistons. Lower end was loose.

- Stillwater, OK, USA

problem #336

Oct 252023

Sonata

  • 73,000 miles
The contact owned a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while her son was driving at approximately 45 mph, the check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle began to shake, lost power, and failed to accelerate. The driver pulled over and noticed smoke, and the vehicle caught fire. The fire department was on the scene and extinguished the fire. It was unknown if a police report was foiled. There were no reported injuries. The air bag did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. The contact mentioned that in 2021, the motor may have been replaced.

- Spotsylvania, VA, USA

problem #335

Sep 232023

Sonata

  • miles
Engine seized on the highway

- Lansing, MI, USA

problem #334

Nov 052022

Sonata

  • miles
3 months after the engine was replaced under extended manufacturer warranty the vehicle started shifting funny, took it to the dealership and was told the transmission was bad, then another person in service said the transmission wasn't bad and didn't need to be replaced and they couldn't find anything wrong (after waiting for 2+ weeks for the transmission to come in), then the car left us stranded on the side of the road and not running, took it back to the dealership and was told it's a bad catalytic converter and we had to pay $2000+ to replace it. They at this time blamed the engine issues on a bad alternator. Now the car has a check engine light again and is throwing the code permanently for the catalytic converter. No way that a HYBRID car that barely ever actually runs on the engine should need a new calaytic converter around the 100,000 mile point except for an engine malfunction, which was the case and that engine was replaced back in December. Hyundai says it's not related and sorry, you have to pay for everything.

- Arlington, TN, USA

problem #333

Oct 192023

Sonata

  • miles
HEV WARNING TURN OFF ENGINE CAR STARTED SHAKING while driving on the interstate gas pedal went to the floor car started making a loud noise from the engine I put car in park and it would not move for 45 minutes at a stop sign

- Navarre, FL, USA

problem #332

May 072023

Sonata

  • miles
Engine began having issues with stalling out around 70k Miles. Car was taken to the dealer and Tessa on for issue couldn-??t be diagnosed. Car then began again at 83k miles took it to a repair shop and the issue could not be pin pointed once again. I was informed that the engine would have to completely fail for the issue to be properly diagnosed. Engine completely failed at 100k miles from barring breaking while I was driving the vehicle with my children in the car. Vehicle had to be towed to a mechanic shop and later transferred to Hyundai of Cumming. This issue was then confirmed for engine failure due to barrings breaks and the oil not circulating through the engine. There were not any prior warnings signs such as a light on dashboard or smoke out of the exhaust. All car maintenance is documented and up to date. This is the same reasoning behind prior 2016 models failing and being recalled. Dealer is refusing to issue a goodwill repair that was recommended by Hyundai corporate.

- Alpharetta , GA, USA

problem #331

Oct 152023

Sonata

  • miles
Yesterday while driving my vehicle engine stalled and wouldn't go over 40 MPH, about 10 seconds later the engine would not go over 15 MPH.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #330

Oct 122023

Sonata

  • miles
As I was driving on the highway at 65MPH, a sudden warning appeared on the dashboard that read, "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM/TURN OFF ENGINE". Immediately after that, I noticed that my vehicle started behaving erratically, making it difficult to control. I stepped on the gas pedal expecting the car to pick up speed and move forward. Despite the pressure I applied, the car failed to accelerate, leaving me stuck in my current position. After nearly causing a severe accident on a busy interstate, I was able to safely pull my car over to the side of the road. After conducting extensive research, I discovered that the issue I am facing with my hybrid vehicle is actually quite common among Hyundai Sonata Hybrids. It's surprising to note that despite this problem's prevalence, no recall or common solution has been provided to address it. I am highly concerned that Hyundai has not taken any action to address this issue. I request an immediate resolution as I could have been severely injured or lost my life today!

- Fairburn, GA, USA

problem #329

Oct 102023

Sonata

  • miles
I constantly have to purchase bottles of oil and put into the car in between oil changes. The oil burns so fast and the car does not give a low oil signal on the dash. This is a known issue because the dealer recommended I return in between the oil change for a free top off because Hyundai engines are known for burning oil. I spend extra money every 2 weeks buying oil.

- Toney, AL, USA

problem #328

Oct 102023

Sonata

  • miles
Unknown

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #327

Apr 232023

Sonata

  • miles
Engine is experiencing excessive oil consumption. Vehicle was confirmed by dealership.

- Kyle, TX, USA

problem #326

Sep 202023

Sonata

  • miles
Was driving home when my car went into limp mode - couldn-??t pick up speed to keep up with the flow of traffic. This seems to be due to the car-??s engine knock sensor being triggered. It is impossible to get it to the dealer in a timely manner. We are having to wait half a month before it can even be diagnosed.

- Lakewood, CO, USA

problem #325

Aug 202023

Sonata

  • 108,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, other drivers started beeping the horn and shouting that the vehicle was on fire. The contact immediately veered to the side of the road. The contact then noticed flames under the front end of the vehicle, near the engine location. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the fire was extinguished independently. There was no injury sustained. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to her son-in-law's repair shop, where it remained. There was no police report filed. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a repair fee would be charged for the engine replacement. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

- Largo, FL, USA

problem #324

Aug 062023

Sonata

  • miles
Bought the car on 08/20/2022. On 09/07/2022 we took the car back to Allen Turner because the engine light was flashing and the car would not go over a certain speed. There were metal shavings in the oil. It was throwing code P1326. They did an update on car and told me the cylinder walls were scored but the motor had a lifetime warranty no matter what happened to it. Every time we would have the oil changed, we would have to add 3 quarts of oil every 10-15 days. The vehicle stalled out at a very busy intersection nearly causing a wreck with my teenage daughter driving. Had it towed to dealership and they said it needed a new motor because it has one of the defective motors in it according to the VIN. Then they told me it was oil consumption and they could replace spark plugs and oil and it would be drivable but it would stall, it would break down and the motor will seize. It is only a matter of time. Hyundai will not honor the warranty on it because the motor is not seized up. The service manager told me to drive it until it seizes and then they would cover the engine replacement. The vehicle is not safe to operate. It is a safety hazard for anyone to drive. Hyundai will not stand behind their products when they already know it is defective.

- Milton, FL, USA

problem #323

Sep 162023

Sonata

  • miles
09/16/2023: Engine caught fire arrived at work at 830am and left at 4pm. Went to fedex (5 min away from job) and noticed burning smell. Left fedex (was there less than a minute because I was dropping envelope in drop box) and noticed smoke coming from under hood. Drove about a block and while making a left turn I noticed more smoke coming from under the hood. Pulled back into job's parking lot (since it was close) and within 5 minutes the engine was in flames. Flames were extinguished, but car was no longer driveable. Insurance claim was filed and vehicle was deemed a total loss. Cause of engine fire is still undetermined per insurance company.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #322

Jan 012020

Sonata

  • miles
Excessive oil consumption. Failed the oil consumption test preformed by Hyundai multiple times. Hyundai performed full engine cleaning and still consumes an excessive amount of oil.

- Perkasie, PA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »