YearToAvoid

2016 Hyundai Genesis Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

43/100

#5 most-complained of 8 Genesis years

The 2016 Hyundai Genesis has a Complaint Index of 43 and ranks 5th worst of 8 model years, earning a "Good" rating relative to other Genesis years. NHTSA lists 96 complaints, 3 recalls, and 4 fire reports, with electrical system issues the top problem area at 38% of complaints.

Complaints
96
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
3 / 4
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
19
16 city / 25 hwy

Top 2016 Hyundai Genesis problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System36 (38%)
  2. Engine31 (32%)
  3. Other13 (14%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain10 (10%)
  5. Brakes9 (9%)
  6. Structure & Body9 (9%)
  7. Steering8 (8%)
  8. Fuel System6 (6%)
  9. Airbags3 (3%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers2 (2%)

What owners report

  • Some owners report the vehicle unexpectedly rolled or accelerated on its own while parked with the brake depressed, crashing into structures.
  • Drivers describe sudden loss of engine power at freeway speed with the engine RPM dropping to zero and the car stalling without warning lights.
  • Several owners report headlights in auto mode switching on and off erratically while driving, confusing other drivers.
  • Owners describe fires starting under the front passenger seat or in the passenger seat area while the vehicle was parked, with heavy smoke and self-extinguishing flames.
  • One owner reported the vehicle lost power on an incline, requiring the driver to pull off the road onto the shoulder.
  • A driver reported the sunroof shattering at highway speed after an abnormal loud noise, attributed to a stone strike.
2016 Hyundai Genesis complaints: complaints filed per quarter142015 Q42017 Q42019 Q22020 Q32022 Q12023 Q22024 Q32026 Q1
130 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2026 Q1 (14).

2016 Hyundai Genesis recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V107000Feb 13, 2024Electrical System90,907 vehiclesPark Outside

    Electrical system:starter assembly:solenoid

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Genesis, 2017-2019 Genesis G80, Genesis G90, and 2019 Genesis G70 vehicles. Water may enter the starter solenoid and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

    Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a remedy relay kit in the engine junction box, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 254(H) and 018G(G).

  2. NHTSA 21V160000Mar 10, 2021Brakes94,646 vehiclesPark Outside

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Genesis and 2017-2020 Genesis G80 vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and short circuit.

    Risk: An electrical short circuit inside the ABS module could cause an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the remedy is complete. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS module fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 6, 2021. Owners can contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 201 and 006G.

  3. NHTSA 17V359000Jun 5, 2017Brakes161,074 vehicles

    Parking brake:indicator light

    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.

    Risk: 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.

2016 Hyundai Genesis fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
25 MPG
Combined
19 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,400
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other Genesis years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162018
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Best1422019.5
2015Avoid100290619
2016Good4396319
2018No verdict030—

All Hyundai Genesis years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Hyundai Genesis reliable?
Relative to other Genesis model years, 2016 is rated "Good" with a Complaint Index of 43, ranking 5th worst out of 8 years tracked. It has fewer complaints per the index than years like 2012 and 2015.
What problems does the 2016 Hyundai Genesis have?
NHTSA lists 96 complaints for the 2016 Genesis, with the Electrical System as the top problem area (36 complaints, 38% share), followed by Engine issues (31 complaints, 32% share). Median mileage at failure for electrical complaints was 50,500 miles.
Are there recalls on the 2016 Hyundai Genesis?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2016 Genesis: an electrical system starter solenoid water intrusion recall, an ABS module short-circuit recall, and a parking brake warning light recall. None are do-not-drive recalls, but two advise parking outside away from structures.
Which Hyundai Genesis years should I avoid?
Based on NHTSA data, 2012 and 2015 are rated "Avoid" with Complaint Indexes of 86 and 100. The 2016 model year is rated "Good" by comparison, with an index of 43.
Does the 2016 Hyundai Genesis catch fire?
NHTSA lists 4 fire reports for the 2016 Genesis, including incidents involving the electrical system and passenger seat area. There were 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported across all complaints.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.