2016 Hyundai Sonata Electrical Problems

Which parts fail

• Ignition › Anti-theft › Immobilizer/proximity › Key/sender
  3
• Cybersecurity
  1

Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1027%
• 25k–50k
  38%
• 50k–75k
  411%
• 75k–100k
  616%
• 100k–150k
  1232%
• 150k+
  25%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Hyundai Sonata owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, other drivers started beeping the horn and shouting that the vehicle was on fire. The contact immediately veered to the side of the road. The contact then noticed flames under the front end of the vehicle, near the engine location. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the fire was extinguished independently. There was no injury sustained. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to her son-in-law's repair shop, where it remained. There was no police report filed. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a repair fee would be charged for the engine replacement. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. …

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that his passenger side headlight housing had melted and become defective. While driving at 55 MPH, the contact stated that the windshield wipers failed to operate without warning during a rainstorm. Additionally, he stated that the turn signals would operate in the opposite directions of his intention. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed him that the vehicle was placed under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V749000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the remedy was not yet available. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 111,000. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

On February 6, around 3:46am, parked my vehicle on the driveway I noticed a smell like smoke, I looked at my dashboard but nothing was on, no warnings, so I entered my house a few minutes later Possibly 4 I heard a noise look outside from my window an noticed my car was on fire, immediately called 911 car garage door also cut on fire and the vehicle next to it. I m requesting an investigation Police report 24-031575, my vehicle was towed by insurance company Start Casualty claim # 2024-90001577.

The contact owned a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously stolen, and she related the failure to Hyundai Campaign Number: 993. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly to approximately 45 MPH. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle decelerated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The contact stated while driving into the driveway and coming into a complete stop, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly. The contact stated that she quickly depressed the brake pedal however, the vehicle hit the barbecue grill, and the barbecue grill struck the residence. The contact stated that the failure recurred while at the ATM, and the vehicle nearly crashed into another vehicle. …

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond or exceed 30 MPH. The contact stated that the speedometer reading was lagging. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal with more force. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the camshaft position sensor was replaced. Additionally, the contact stated that the starter was previously replaced due to the engine's failure to turn over while starting the vehicle. The contact stated that upon switching to Sport Mode and driving 40 MPH, the vehicle jerked and lost motive power. The contact shifted to neutral(N) and was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle was undrivable. …

My husband (Scott) was driving the car on Florida highway 408 eastbound approaching the exit 21 on 10/12/2023 around 8 am. Scott heard something pop suddenly and saw fire shooting out from both sides of the car in the rearview mirrors. Upon noticing the fire, he tried to slow down to pull over the car, but brakes failed (went to the floor). A police officer on the road happened to see the fire so he drove next to my husband's car and Scott yelled at officer that he had no brakes. The officer went ahead of Scott to help Scott's car slow down. When approaching uphill slopes by the exit, Scott was finally able to use the emergency brakes to come to a complete stop. The fire engine came right away and put out the fire which took over 20 minutes. My husband is handicapped and him walking away from such car catastrophic fire unharmed was near miracle. …

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, he became aware of smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact veered to the side of the road and exited the vehicle. The TPMS, oil pressure, power train, and battery warning lights along with an unknown warning light were illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. Upon opening the hood to inspect the vehicle, the contact noticed that oil was leaking onto the ground. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced, the transmission needed to be flushed, and the drivebelt needed to be replaced. The dealer also diagnosed that the failure was associated NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V749000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System). The vehicle was not repaired. …

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V749000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System). The contact stated months later, the driver's and passenger's headlight fault warning lights were illuminated. The contact called local dealers; Freeman Hyundai (1800 Airport Fwy, Irving, TX 75062: [phone]), AutoNation Hyundai North Richland Hills (7724 NE Loop 820, North Richland Hills, TX 76180: [phone]) and Van Hyundai (1301 S Interstate 35E, Carrollton, TX 75006: [phone]) and was informed that the earliest available appointment would be in 8 weeks. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that she initially received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V749000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System) however, after the recall repair was performed, the contact stated that the vehicle would shut off while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights would illuminate on the instrument panel during the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number and was then referred back to the dealer for assistance. The dealer performed a diagnostic test and informed her husband that an unknown defective sensor was the cause of the failure. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 89,443.

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the exterior lights in auto mode, the exterior lights inadvertently turned off when the right turn signal switch was engaged. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring whenever the exterior light switch was in auto mode and the right turn signal was engaged while driving. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V749000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

Related recalls

Electrical complaints in other Sonata years