Recalls (5)
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Turn Signal May Activate in Wrong Direction
- Summary
- 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.
- 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.
Trunk Emergency Release May Fail/FMVSS 401
- Summary
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
- Consequence
- A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the trunk latch base, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 208.
Engine Damage May Cause Stall or Fire
- Summary
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Veloster, 2012 Santa Fe, 2011-2013 Sonata Hybrid, and 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which over time can result in engine damage.
- Consequence
- A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 198.
Sunroof Panel may Detach
- Summary
- 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.
- 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 Bag Second Stage may not Inflate Properly
- Summary
- 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.
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (132)
132 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 132 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 72 | 54.5% |
| Electrical system | 35 | 26.5% |
| Unknown or other | 19 | 14.4% |
| Power train | 14 | 10.6% |
| Service brakes | 9 | 6.8% |
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 5.3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 | 5.3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 3% |
| Visibility | 4 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 2.3% |
How 2016 compares with other Sonata Hybrid years
Best and worst Sonata Hybrid years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 154 | 6 |
| 2013 | 108 | 4 |
| 2014 | 27 | 3 |
| 2015 | 53 | 4 |
| 2016 | 132 | 5 |
| 2017 | 80 | 3 |
| 2018 | 9 | 1 |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 |
| 2020 | 16 | 1 |
| 2021 | 55 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 40 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,700
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 225 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 40 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · Automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 38 / 41 / 40 | $1,700 | 225 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2016 Sonata Hybrid for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid FAQ
How many recalls does the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns: 21V749000 (electrical), 21V619000 (latch), 20V746000 (engine), 16V726000 (visibility), 16V232000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problems?
Owners filed 132 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (72), Electrical system (35), Unknown or other (19) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · Automatic version at 38 city, 41 highway and 40 combined mpg.
What safety rating did the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid get?
NHTSA rated the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.5% rollover risk).
How does the 2016 Sonata Hybrid compare with other years?
Among the 2012–2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid model years at least five years old, the 2019 drew the fewest complaints (5) and the 2012 the most (154). The 2016 drew 132. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.