YearToAvoid

2016 Hyundai Sonata Steering Problems

NHTSA lists 33 steering complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata, about 5% of its 725 total complaints for the year. There is 1 crash and 2 injuries linked to this area, with a median failure mileage of 40,000 miles, and no related recall is listed.

Steering complaints
33
5% of 725
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
40,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the steering wheel sticking or catching while turning, requiring extra force before it moves freely again.
  • Several drivers describe sudden loss of power steering assist at highway or city speeds, making the wheel very hard to turn.
  • Some owners say the electric power steering failed and displayed a red steering wheel warning light on the dash, with the issue sometimes resolving after restarting the car.
  • A few complaints describe the steering wheel locking up completely while parking or driving, in one case nearly causing a collision.
  • One owner reported the steering wheel sitting off-center to the left and could not get it corrected.

When 2016 Hyundai Sonata steering complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 25, 2016, latest Jul 29, 2025.

2016 Hyundai Sonata steering complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2016Dec 2017Jan 2019Jan 2020Dec 2020Nov 2022Aug 2023May 2025
33 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2016 to Jul 2025; peak Aug 2023 (3).

Steering recalls for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Steering complaints by Sonata model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201015 (4%)
  2. 20111,171 (35%)
  3. 2012301 (19%)
  4. 2013341 (18%)
  5. 201465 (9%)
  6. 201574 (6%)
  7. 201633 (5%)
  8. 2017173 (23%)
  9. 20189 (2%)
  10. 20196 (4%)
  11. 20207 (4%)
  12. 20212 (2%)
  13. 20220 (0%)
  14. 20232 (2%)
  15. 20242 (4%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many steering complaints does NHTSA have for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA lists 33 steering complaints for the 2016 Sonata, which is about 5% of the 725 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a steering recall for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
No related recall is listed in the data for steering issues on the 2016 Sonata.
At what mileage do steering problems typically show up on the 2016 Sonata?
The median mileage at failure for steering complaints on the 2016 Sonata is 40,000 miles.
Did steering problems cause any crashes or injuries on the 2016 Sonata?
NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 2 injuries associated with steering complaints on the 2016 Sonata.
How does the 2016 Sonata compare to other years for steering complaints?
The 2016 Sonata's 33 steering complaints and 5% share are much lower than 2011 (1,171 complaints, 35% share) and 2017 (173 complaints, 23% share).

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.