10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 17
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,300 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Hyundai Sonata engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 1 of 19)

problem #375

Jul 052024

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This car looses oil continuously. I put a quart of oil in it every week. Due to this oil leaking into the engine I have had many costly repairs to replace spark plugs, coil packs, air sensor and throttle. In the winter the coolant needs replaced weekly and no idea where that is being used at. Now again the car must go back to dealership for repairs for rough idle and loosing power while driving.

- Bellevue, NE, USA

problem #374

Feb 232023

Sonata

  • miles
I'm making a complaint on my 2016 Hyundai Sonata-??s engine. The problem started in February 2023 with the valve cover gasket leaking, the mileage was around 98,000 miles. Then, 2 months later, the oil pan was leaking. The vehicle was still losing oil. They can not find where the oil went to. Took the car to the dealer to do an oil pressure. Before the oil pressure, oil levels were down 1 -?" quart low. Drove the vehicle for 1,000 miles and checked and the oil was down ? quart low, which was in range according to Hydundia. Checking the oil level every 1,000 miles and the oil level were about 1 quart oil low. Since last year, checking the oil level every 1,000 miles until this month the oil level was 3 quarts low at 1,000 miles. This engine should be recalled, which I had found out several different ones I came across are having the same problem.

- Petersburg, VA, USA

problem #373

Jun 272024

Sonata

  • miles
Vehicle suddenly shuts down while driving. This has happened several times and has cost lengthy repairs and towing fees but still keeps doing the same thing. After it shuts down once the car is reset it will work again for a little while and do the same thing over again.

- Alice, TX, USA

problem #372

Jun 212024

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

taking more engine oil and knocking engine noise

- Overland Park, KS, USA

problem #371

Jun 092024

Sonata

  • 111,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly lost motive power. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to be restarted, and the contact noticed an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact was advised by the independent mechanic that the failure was common failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.

- Bellevue, ID, USA

problem #370

Jun 202023

Sonata

  • 95,950 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered significantly. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped shuddering while shifted into neutral(N). Additionally, the contact stated that while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the failure recurred, and the vehicle jerked significantly. The low oil pressure warning light and the check engine warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where four ignition coils and four spark plugs were replaced; however, the failure recurred four months later. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the spark plugs were replaced and a fuel induction cleaning service was performed; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was jumpstarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was oil intrusion in the combustion chamber, and the spark plugs were fouled. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 95,050.

- Clemson, SC, USA

problem #369

May 142024

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The motor burns oil causing oil to turn black. I have to add oil weekly and get oil changed every month regardless of mileage. The mechanic that works on it said that dipstick is wrong color and doesn-??t look right in engine

- Smithfield, NC, USA

problem #368

Mar 142024

Sonata

  • miles
Hello, My name is [XXX], hopefully this peaks your interest. i have been thru and thru with hyundai about this oil consumption and to be honest i have had it with this terrible company. unwilling to take responsibility for faulty engine issues in millions of individuals with the hyundai brand. Seems to me like this brand is all for profit and not for the customers. I should not have to pay for a combustion cleaning, multiple oil consumption test that are destroying my engine further in HOPES that they will replace my engine out of -??goodwill-?? with no guarantee. This issue should definitely be added to the other recall vehicles that are listed for oil consumption problems, yet isn-??t. there-??s no reason my car should be burning through 5 quarts of oil in less than a week, this is obviously a manufacture issue and to be told the problem was a cracked oil pan that i paid $700 to fix at the dealership just to find out, that was not the issue, my car was not diagnosed correctly and i was charged for this oil pan replacement for absolutely no reason being that my vehicle is still CONSUMING oil, not leaking oil. i have checked for oil leaks myself, that is not the issue. my engine is consuming oil at a very rapid rate in the event i drive my car more than the 15 miles i drive to work and back, one errand run and 5 days of driving back and forth to work SHOULD NOT be using that much oil. my engine is getting hot from a 15 mile drive to work and i SHOULD NOT have to damage my engine further if hyundai can not even promise me a replacement in the event my engine burns up. No kind of loaner car available. This is just a terrible company all around and i-??m ready to just switch to a different vehicle brand as this company obviously does not take responsibility for the issues that millions of individuals are having at this very moment. i spoke to a case manager and she Tells me i will receive an engine replacement if my oil combustion cleaning fails, when i asked for that in INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMA

- Milton , FL, USA

problem #367

May 162024

Sonata

  • 126,228 miles
The oil box does not look right, Also there is an orange handle dipstick to check the oil. The dipstick should be yellow

- Smithfield, NC, USA

problem #366

Mar 102024

Sonata

  • miles
1st Incident: The engine lost its acceleration power on the highway, giving a rattling noise. It was identified as misfire in cylinder 3. This was repaired and gaskets and timing chain replaced. 2nd Incident: The engine lost acceleration again on the highway with a loud rattling noise. On checking the OBD scanner it showed the Knock Sensor as the problem. On taking it into the dealership a KSDS software update was done. Current Situation: The car drinks up 2-3 qt of oil for every 1000 miles and has an intermittent rattling noise when accelerating Losing engine acceleration power on the middle of the highway is a very serious issue. And this keeps happening multiple times and Hyundai has refused to give me a proper explanation on this issue. Other mechanics have suggested to get a replacement from Hyundai as there is already a Lawsuit against these Faulty engines. On contacting Hyundai there has been no proper response. Please look into this as losing power on a busy highway poses danger not only to our car but to other oncoming vehicles as well. It has been a very harrowing experience for us and I am left with no option but to drive a faulty car which might lose power at anytime.

- Denton, TX, USA

problem #365

Apr 152024

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving (speed doesn-??t matter, highway or city streets) the check hybrid system turn off engine message/code comes on. When u turn off the car and wait for a period of time the it-??s not there anymore but the check engine light stays on and the car drive normal until the code comes back up. When the message comes up the engine loses power and and the car just slows down until the car is turned off. This is a safety hazard when you-??re driving on a freeway and especially a freeway with no shoulder to pull over on or going through a read light with no speed. The car just does it periodically and when u take it to the dealership they say they can-??t duplicate the problem. When all u do is hook a computer up and look for a code when the problem arises while driving you-??re never going to find the issue. No the dealer hasn-??t reproduced the problem because they didn-??t drive the car just leaving it to sit up and checking codes doesn-??t bring the problem to light. They wasn-??t any warning signal or codes before this but not code p2600 and code p0401 are coming up. Spending $2000 for a part that will can-??t be ordered anywhere but from the dealership and the problem still exist is not being logical. So many online reviews have the same problem and not one person has found out the problem from changing the electric water pump to transmission to the engine the warning sign still come back after some time. Me not being the 1st owner and the car out of warranty due to mileage is just robbing folks blinds with no solution.

- Fort Worth , TX, USA

problem #364

Nov 132023

Sonata

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle started to make an abnormal knocking noise. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle over and stopped. The contact turned the vehicle off and on. The contact stated that she was able to shift into drive (D) and while depressing the accelerator pedal the abnormal knocking sound was heard. The contact stopped and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine had thrown a rod due to lack of engine oil and the lower part of the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that she had had the oil changed two weeks prior to the failure. The contact stated that she had not noticed any oil stains on the driveway at her residence prior to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

- Joplin, MO, USA

problem #363

Dec 012023

Sonata

  • miles
I am writing to report a concerning issue with my Hyundai Sonata 2016 regarding excessive oil consumption. Every 1000 miles, the vehicle requires approximately 1.5 quarts of oil, if not more. This rapid depletion of oil presents a significant safety risk for driving the car. Upon contacting the dealership regarding this matter, I was informed that they have no knowledge of such issues, which contradicts the numerous complaints I have read and heard from fellow Hyundai owners experiencing similar oil consumption problems. The dealership has suggested conducting an oil consumption test, which they advise will cost us a minimum of $280. However, it seems unfair to incur this expense for what appears to be a common manufacturing defect, particularly since our vehicle is no longer under warranty due to its mileage of 110,000 miles. I firmly believe that Hyundai should take responsibility for any related repair expenses arising from this issue. I urge you to address this matter promptly to ensure the safety and satisfaction of Hyundai customers. Thank you for your attention to this concern. I look forward to your prompt response and resolution.

- Santa Clara, CA, USA

problem #362

Aug 232023

Sonata

  • miles
See attached document for complaint

- New Lenox, IL, USA

problem #361

Mar 052024

Sonata

  • miles
The 2016 Hyundai Sonata 2.4L engine have an abnormal oil consumption, every 1,000 miles consume 1 quart of oil. After the discover of the issue, the car was took to Hyundai dealership for service and confirmed the car have an excessive oil consumption. They performed engine flush with additives to clean up the engine and see if the oil consumption diminished. An oil consumption test is currently in process to see if there are positive results. I read multiple articles about oil consumption issues and most of the cases Hyundai decide to replace the engine.

- Juana Diaz, Pr, PR, USA

problem #360

Mar 252024

Sonata

  • miles
I was driving on the highway yesterday at 85mph when the engine light started flashing and the rpms went haywire. Then within 2 minutes of this taking place the car began to slow down and not want to go any further. I managed to get over to the shoulder of the road when the engine just shut off and would not restart. The engine drinks oil like crazy. We put oil in it every week and get frequent oil changes. On the day that it broke down on, I had been to the oil lube center that we do business with and had them top off all of my fluids. After looking into this problem online, it appears that there are many other people suffering with the same lemon of a car. Hyundai knows that there is a real problem with the 2016 Sonata, and they are not doing anything about it. We have spoken to the dealerships, and they say there's nothing they can do about the problem because it is out of warranty. We're still making payments on this vehicle and can't even drive it now. The mechanics said that the vehicle needs a new engine. Hyundai needs to issue a recall and help their customers instead of turning a blind eye to the problem. Driving at high speeds with absolutely no indication that there is a problem is a real danger. No indication lights had come on other that the flashing engine light and then within two minutes, dead on the side of the road.

- Stillwater, OK, USA

problem #359

Mar 222024

Sonata

  • miles
Engine light appeared on my dashboard in late Feb 2024. At the same time, there was a noted fluid leak on my parking skirt so I immediately stopped driving it. On [xxx] I had car towed to mike's automative service station in South milwaukee, Wisconsin. He remedied the engine issue with 'leak stop'. on [xxx], I was traveling an [xxx] from milwaukee to oshkosh. Around half way, the engine light began flashing, the oil light was on and the car lost ability to accelerate. I engaged my hazard lights given I was in high traffic at that time and 'limped' car to the nearst gas station, to avoid being stranded on the highway. It was towed to a nearby location, richfield service center-richfield wi. Both the tow truck driver and the service station rep, sean, advised this oil-leaking engine business was a widespread and well-known manufacturer defect for this vehicle's make/model/year. They performed a brief diagnostic review and advised the engine would need full replacement to continue driving. I reported this incident to Hyundai's customer service online portal this day, too and have requested they replace the engine, given the mileage has not even reached 77,000 miles. I found no active recall or warranty on this vehicle but can prove I am the second owner, having inherited it from the original purchaser, the late [xxx] in 2016/2017 (unsure exact date). The vehicle is available for inspection at this time. I felt traumatized by this event, praying not to be run over on the highway while the car moved at a snail's pace and feeling terribly unsafe in pushing the car to the closest gas station. I felt everyone around me was in danger of not seeing me in time to stop or avoid collision with me. No official inspection has been completed by manufacturer, police, insurance or anyone besides the mechanics at the richfield service center locatio in richfield Wisconsin, on [xxx]. more detail not afforded in text space here. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #358

Feb 262024

Sonata

  • miles
I have a 2016 Hyundai Sonata that I purchased in 2021. The engine began "knocking" at 142,000 miles so I took it to dealership as it looked to be the same issue many of the Hyundais have been experiencing. I was then informed my claim was denied because a Service Campain from 2018 had not been performed. This is a known issue with these vehicles but my claim was denied over something outside of my control.

- Gaston, OR, USA

problem #357

Jan 102024

Sonata

  • miles
Recall code on my engine p1326

- Spotsylvania, VA, USA

problem #356

Feb 042024

Sonata

  • miles
While driving the car completely cut off i could not use my brakes my horn or steering wheel

- Navarre, FL, USA

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