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Home›Hyundai›2016 Hyundai Sonata› engine problems
Owner complaints · Engine

2016 Hyundai Sonata engine problems

560 of the 883 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 161 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 2 NHTSA investigations. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.

560 complaints 63% of this model year’s 1 report a crash 21 a fire typically at 78k miles

What owners filed about the engine

Source: NHTSA complaint database
560complaints name the engine

1 of the 560 reports a crash · 21 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.

Filed per year: 2016: 5 · 2017: 14 · 2018: 21 · 2019: 26 · 2020: 37 · 2021: 80 · 2022: 86 · 2023: 122 · 2024: 53 · 2025: 77 · 2026: 39

78kmiles, typically

Half of the 192 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 45,000 and 106,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

63%of this model year’s complaints

883 complaints in all about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata, 39 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →

Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.

Across model years: Hyundai Sonata engine problems, every year on file →

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In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid. The contact stated that on three separate occasions while driving approximately 65 MPH, the “Check Hybrid System - Turn Off Engine” message was displayed. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact then stated that the vehicle decelerated and went into LIMP Mode.
Engine at 65,000 miles Jun 27, 2023 NHTSA owner report
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH or faster in Hybrid Mode, the vehicle stalled. The HEV error warning light was displayed on the instrument panel. The check engine warning light was also illuminated.
Engine at 66,000 miles Oct 20, 2022 NHTSA owner report
In January of 2022, my vehicle experienced a complete power loss while driving to work, leaving the car coasting down the road. A Check Hybrid System warning came up on the dashboard, along with several other warning lights, including Check Engine. Luckily, I was able to pull over without an accident occurring.
Engine Apr 18, 2022 NHTSA owner report
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at high speeds, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was pushed off the roadway with assistance from a bystander.
Engine at 18,000 miles Dec 21, 2020 NHTSA owner report
Despite ignition being turned off, gasoline engine continued to run. Vehicle was stationary in a garage after being driven 1/2 mile on a very hot day
Engine at 50,000 miles Jul 18, 2020 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the engine

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recall filed under this heading

NHTSA investigations

161 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading

The 3 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

Trouble codes named on this system

P1326 P200A P2600 P0605 P261F P0010 P0011 P0302

Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.

Other systems with a record on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata

Source: the same files
From here
Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Are engine problems common on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?

They are documented: NHTSA holds 560 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (63% of everything owners filed about it), and 161 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 2 NHTSA investigations are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.

Is there a recall for the engine on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?

Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 20V746000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do engine problems show up on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 78,000 miles; half of them between 45,000 and 106,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?

The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.