RecallRepo

2016 Hyundai Sonata Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2016 Hyundai Sonata has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 759,070 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 991 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 21V749000 2021-09-24 469,377 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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 is 210.

PARKING BRAKE 17V359000 2017-06-05 161,074 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

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. Hyundai's number for this recall is 164.

VISIBILITY 16V726000 2016-10-11 62,811 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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 number for this recall is 152.

AIR BAGS 16V615000 2016-08-24 1,031 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 148.

AIR BAGS 16V232000 2016-04-21 33 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 144.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15V678000 2015-10-20 64,744 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

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.

Complaints by component

ENGINE
442
1crashes19fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
91
7crashes7fires8injuries1deaths
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
86
4crashes6fires3injuries
POWER TRAIN
59
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES
42
3crashes4fires4injuries
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
36
3fires
STEERING
33
1crashes2injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
32
1crashes1fires
STRUCTURE:BODY
30
2crashes2injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
30
5crashes1fires5injuries1deaths
Total complaints991

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“After the emissions 9c2 recall car hesitant when changing an hyundai has knowledgement of the problem but don’t have a fix”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2026-06-02

“After the emissions 9c2 recall car hesitant when changing an hyundai has knowledgement of the problem but don’t have a fix”

ENGINE · reported 2026-06-02

“Went from 65 and dropped down to 40 going up grades on the freeway. Started shaking, check engine light went on and electric battery disappeared from dash. Got to top of grade, went back to normal. Problem repeated on next grades. Car had just left dealership lot an hour prior where it was safety…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2026-05-16

“Went from 65 and dropped down to 40 going up grades on the freeway. Started shaking, check engine light went on and electric battery disappeared from dash. Got to top of grade, went back to normal. Problem repeated on next grades. Car had just left dealership lot an hour prior where it was safety…”

ENGINE · reported 2026-05-16

“Went from 65 and dropped down to 40 going up grades on the freeway. Started shaking, check engine light went on and electric battery disappeared from dash. Got to top of grade, went back to normal. Problem repeated on next grades. Car had just left dealership lot an hour prior where it was safety…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2026-05-16

“The contact owns a 2016 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle suddenly shut off with the message "hev system failure" displayed. The driver safely pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. A towing truck arrived on the scene…”

ENGINE · reported 2026-05-15

“The contact owns a 2016 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle suddenly shut off with the message "hev system failure" displayed. The driver safely pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. A towing truck arrived on the scene…”

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2026-05-15

“After completion of hyundai service campaign 9c2, my 2016 hyundai sonata se is very difficult to drive at low rpms. Cold start its sluggish and jerks and driving uphill feels like transmission slipping but is not. An additional update to the ecm needs to be conducted asap.”

ENGINE · reported 2026-05-08

Defect investigations

Investigation DP22003 Opened 2022-09-12 · closed 2023-12-12

Loss of Motive Power

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles…

Investigation EA19001 Opened 2019-04-19 · closed 2024-09-19

Electrical overstress

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air…

Investigation EA21003 Opened 2021-12-22 · closed 2024-02-05

Engine Fires

On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles.  During the PE…

Investigation PE16010 Opened 2016-09-03 · closed 2017-02-22

Electronic Parking Brake

The Office of Defects Investigation opened this investigation on September 3, 2016 based on four reports alleging the rear brakes locked or applied while driving without brake pedal application. One of the reports alleged a fire in the right rear wheel area.The vehicles subject to the investigation are equipped with…

Investigation PE16010 Opened 2016-09-03 · closed 2017-02-22

Electronic Parking Brake

The Office of Defects Investigation opened this investigation on September 3, 2016 based on four reports alleging the rear brakes locked or applied while driving without brake pedal application. One of the reports alleged a fire in the right rear wheel area.The vehicles subject to the investigation are equipped with…

Investigation PE16010 Opened 2016-09-03 · closed 2017-02-22

Electronic Parking Brake

The Office of Defects Investigation opened this investigation on September 3, 2016 based on four reports alleging the rear brakes locked or applied while driving without brake pedal application. One of the reports alleged a fire in the right rear wheel area.The vehicles subject to the investigation are equipped with…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.