2016 Hyundai Sonata Engine Problems
Engine problems account for 472 of 725 complaints (65%) filed on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata, the highest share among all model years. NHTSA logs 19 fires and 5 injuries tied to this component, with a median failure mileage of 79,150.
- Engine complaints
- 472
- 65% of 725
- Crashes reported
- 5
- Fires reported
- 19
- Injuries reported
- 5
- Median mileage
- 79,150 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Engine catches fire or smokes heavily while driving or while parked and running, sometimes fully engulfing the vehicle.
- Engine seizes or stalls suddenly at highway speed, in one case with a piston rod puncturing the engine block and damaging the transmission housing.
- Vehicle hesitates, jerks, or fails to accelerate at low speeds, often paired with a burning smell and a ticking noise.
- Excessive oil consumption requiring owners to add oil every few days, accompanied by check engine light and limp mode activation with code P1326.
- Sudden loss of power on the highway, with speed dropping sharply below the posted limit in heavy traffic.
When 2016 Hyundai Sonata engine complaints were filed
First complaint Jun 25, 2016, latest Sep 15, 2026.
Engine recalls for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine complaints by Sonata model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are engine problems in the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
- NHTSA lists 472 engine complaints for the 2016 Sonata, which is 65% of all 725 complaints filed for that model year — the highest share of any Sonata model year.
- Are there fires linked to the 2016 Sonata engine?
- Yes. NHTSA data shows 19 fires and 5 injuries associated with engine complaints for the 2016 Sonata.
- Is there a recall for the 2016 Sonata engine?
- The JSON data provided lists no related recalls tied to this engine complaint category for the 2016 Sonata.
- At what mileage do 2016 Sonata engine problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for engine complaints on the 2016 Sonata is 79,150 miles.
- How does the 2016 Sonata compare to other years for engine complaints?
- The 2016 Sonata's 65% engine-complaint share is higher than 2015 (58%), 2017 (54%), and every other model year listed, making it the worst year for this issue among Sonatas.