2016 Hyundai Sonata Transmission & Powertrain Problems
NHTSA lists 59 transmission and powertrain complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata, 8% of its 725 total complaints for the year. Median mileage at failure is 60,000 miles. No related recalls are listed for this problem area.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 59
- 8% of 725
- Crashes reported
- 0
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 60,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Owners report hesitation and jerking during acceleration at low speeds, sometimes with a burning smell and ticking noise.
- Some describe a harsh, sudden downshift surge near 35 mph that slows the car more abruptly than expected.
- Others report loss of acceleration or sluggish power between 60 and 70 mph while the transmission struggles to shift gears.
- Several drivers say gears intermittently fail to switch, especially on flat or inclined roads, though dealership diagnostics found no fault.
- A few complaints describe complete loss of acceleration or power at highway speeds around 65 mph, with the engine near 4,000 rpm before slowing unexpectedly.
- One owner noted engine stalling and rough shifting following a software update performed during a dealer visit.
When 2016 Hyundai Sonata transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Apr 4, 2017, latest Jun 12, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Transmission & Powertrain 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 transmission complaints does NHTSA have for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
- NHTSA lists 59 transmission and powertrain complaints for the 2016 Sonata, which is 8% of the 725 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata transmission?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the transmission and powertrain area on the 2016 Sonata.
- At what mileage do 2016 Sonata transmission problems typically appear?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 60,000 miles.
- Were there any crashes or injuries linked to these complaints?
- NHTSA records 0 crashes and 0 injuries among the 59 transmission and powertrain complaints, though 1 fire was reported.
- How does 2016 compare to other Sonata years for transmission complaints?
- The 2016 Sonata's transmission share of 8% is lower than years like 2021 (18%), 2022 (26%), and 2023 (18%), based on NHTSA complaint data.