2016 Hyundai Sonata Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 115 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata, 16% of all complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 74,000. Two related recalls exist, including a Smart Junction Box software campaign (21V749000) tied to fire and lighting reports.
- Electrical System complaints
- 115
- 16% of 725
- Crashes reported
- 4
- Fires reported
- 8
- Injuries reported
- 3
- Median mileage
- 74,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Owners report engine compartment fires accompanied by smoke or a burning odor, sometimes with no warning light illuminated before flames appeared.
- Some describe headlights or wiring harnesses melting, in one case diagnosed by a dealer as a melted wiring harness that was left unrepaired.
- Windshield wipers and turn signals were reported to fail or behave unexpectedly, including wipers stopping during rain and turn signals engaging in the wrong direction.
- Several drivers noticed smoke coming from vents or the hood while driving, with one vehicle catching fire minutes after being parked.
- A recurring dashboard warning tied to the blind spot detection (BSD) system was reported to appear and disable driver assistance features without a clear cause.
When 2016 Hyundai Sonata electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Mar 23, 2016, latest Sep 17, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata
- NHTSA 21V749000Sep 24, 2021Electrical System469,377 vehicles
Electrical system:software
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 15V678000Oct 20, 2015Electrical System64,744 vehicles
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to August 21, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with an Antilock Braking System (ABS) warning light intended to warn the driver if there is an ABS malfunction. In the event of an ABS malfunction, the Brake System warning light will illuminate, but the ABS warning light will not illuminate. Since the vehicles have ABS malfunction lights that do not illuminate, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: If the driver is alerted there is a brake system malfunction, but not specifically with the ABS system, the driver may operate the vehicle unaware that the vehicle's brakes may lock up during hard braking, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 134.
Electrical System complaints by Sonata model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many electrical system complaints does NHTSA have for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
- NHTSA lists 115 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 Sonata, which is 16% of the 725 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall related to the 2016 Hyundai Sonata electrical system?
- Yes. Campaign 21V749000 covers Smart Junction Box software that may misread signals, and campaign 15V678000 covers an ABS control unit software update; both are electrical system recalls.
- At what mileage do 2016 Sonata electrical problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints on the 2016 Sonata is 74,000 miles.
- Did the 2016 Sonata electrical issues cause fires or crashes?
- NHTSA records 8 fires, 4 crashes, and 3 injuries associated with Electrical System complaints for the 2016 Sonata.
- Is the electrical system a bigger issue in the 2016 Sonata than other years?
- The 2016 Sonata's 16% share of complaints tied to electrical issues is lower than years like 2014 (28%) and 2018 (21%), but higher than 2017 (11%).