2016 Hyundai Sonata engine problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Oct 6, 202660,436 miMITowedEngine

   The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. While the contact's daughter was driving 55 MPH, the engine seized. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while the contact's two minor grandchildren were inside the vehicle during the failure. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted,…

   NHTSA complaint #11769408 · source
2. Filed Oct 4, 2026UTEngine

   While driving on the freeway, the check engine light started flashing and the gas pedal became useless. This put the driver and the passenger of the car in massive danger as they could no longer accelerate on the freeway. Luckily, they were able to get off the freeway without causing an accident. Upon reading the code at an auto shop, they discovered that it was P1326 or a knock sensor issue. This malfunction caused the car to go into limp mode and put the passengers in…

   NHTSA complaint #11768862 · source
3. Filed Sep 15, 2026INEngine

   I am concerned that the engine may seize or stall without warning while driving, creating a risk of crash, injury, or death. The Theta II engine defect is known to cause engine seizure, stalling, and fire. Hyundai has denied warranty coverage based on mileage and second-owner status — both of which are explicitly prohibited as denial grounds under the Settlement — leaving me driving an unsafe vehicle.

   NHTSA complaint #11764572 · source
4. Filed Sep 15, 2026TXEngine

   The vehicle experienced a Theta II engine failure at under 57,830 miles while driving on northbound [XXX] near the [XXX] Parkway U-turn in [XXX]. The engine made a loud noise and lost power. I was able to coast to the far right side of the U-turn under the bridge. I called HERO (Austin's emergency roadside assistance). They responded, determined it was not a battery issue, and pushed the vehicle to the Southern Leisure Spa parking lot on the southbound side of the road. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11764424 · source
5. Filed Sep 3, 2026TXEngine

   The car died while going 70 on a highway with no warning signs. The car completely shut off and will not turn over or move at all.

   NHTSA complaint #11761997 · source
6. Filed Aug 25, 2026WAEngine

   Component & Inspection: Vehicle engine suffered connecting rod bearing failure and entered restricted P1326 "Limp Home Mode" (max 2,000 RPM). The vehicle is grounded and available for inspection at Bud Clary Hyundai in [XXX].Safety Risk: Sudden, unexpected loss of power occurred while driving, placing me and other drivers at immediate risk on public roads due to the vehicle's inability to maintain normal traffic speed or safely accelerate.Dealer & Corporate Confirmation:…

   NHTSA complaint #11759428 · source
7. Filed Aug 11, 2026PAEngine

   My Sonata 2016 suddenly lit up the Check Engine icon, which was blinking. It is available for inspection request, as it's in the shop right now. Added 2 qts of oil just to be safe. Was hoping the light would go away in the morning. It didn't. The car was sputtering and jerking while I was attempting to get where I was going, so I drove a little slower so it wouldn't stall out, which would have caused someone behind me to crash into me if it stopped suddenly. My mechanic said…

   NHTSA complaint #11756308 · source
8. Filed Aug 6, 2026NCEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   My 2016 Hyundai Sonata (VIN: [XXX]) has a serious safety issue involving excessive engine oil consumption. The vehicle loses oil rapidly between changes and requires frequent top‑offs to avoid engine damage. This creates a risk of sudden engine failure while driving. The dealership, South Charlotte Hyundai (10518 Cadillac Street, Pineville, NC 28134), refused to perform Hyundai’s official oil‑consumption test. Instead, they told me to pay $750 for a combustion cleaning and…

   NHTSA complaint #11755304 · source
9. Filed Jul 13, 2026TNEngine

   Cylinder 3 misfire code and rough idle/driving car tries to stall out, engine is consuming a quart of oil every 500 miles and has 30psi compression in cylinder 3. Car only has 129k miles

   NHTSA complaint #11750150 · source
10. Filed Jul 8, 2026MNEngine

    My 2016 Hyundai Sonata 2.4L suffered an in-transit engine failure and entered emergency limp mode with an active P1326 rod bearing defect code, which is a recognized fire and safety hazard under NHTSA mandates. Service Campaign 953 was successfully completed on August 12, 2019, qualifying the vehicle for a lifetime settlement engine replacement. Walser Hyundai Brooklyn Park (RO #257457) has issued an administrative denial based solely on a prior-salvage title flag from a…

    NHTSA complaint #11749029 · source
11. Filed Jun 15, 2026149,000 miWITowedEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

    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 and reset the diagnostic codes before towing the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The dealer retrieved several diagnostic trouble codes; however, the dealer was…

    NHTSA complaint #11744248 · source
12. Filed Jun 12, 2026NCEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

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

    NHTSA complaint #11743836 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology