2016 Hyundai Sonata transmission and drivetrain problems
76 of the 883 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 56 manufacturer bulletins. 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.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 76 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 9 · 2020: 8 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2024: 7 · 2025: 7 · 2026: 10
Half of the 29 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 31,000 and 70,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
883 complaints in all about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata, 10 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 “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Hyundai Sonata transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Vehicle Impact:While driving, the vehicle suddenly displayed a "Check Hybrid System" warning on the dashboard and suffered a complete, sudden loss of propulsion while on the road. The vehicle dropped power completely and would not restart, creating an immediate, severe safety hazard to myself and surrounding traffic.
Contact was driving on city streets, received Hybrid System Warning, turn off engine alert. Car slowed to dangerous speed in heavy traffic, would only drive under electric system. Car pulled over when safe, restarted, same issue recurred.
On Tuesday February 1st 2022, I was driving home from work on the interstate doing 70mph when my engine shut off. There was no warning lights ...nothing. By the grace of God I was able to pull over on the right shoulder without getting in an accident. That was TOTALLY unacceptable! Scared me to death!
The parking mechanism in the transmission failed. The car was parked in my garage . The lever was in the "Park" position when the car drove backwards out of my garage and crashed into the fence. It continued driving into the street and into the neighbors yard. Two people were out walking and saw it happen.
I received a safety recall (198) from Hyundai in dec about a potentially dangerous problem with the connecting rod bearings on my car, yet they still do not have a remedy or an estimated time for a remedy. This is too long
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications56 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 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
P200A P261F P0880 P0302 P0455 P0717 P0A40
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- engine problems 560 complaints
- electrical problems 138 complaints
- brake problems 55 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 76 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (9% of everything owners filed about it), and 56 manufacturer bulletins 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 transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 9 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 56,000 miles; half of them between 31,000 and 70,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.