2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Electrical Problems

The car will randomly lose acceleration and jerk forward. It will make a beeping noise while the hev system warning flashes on the dash. It also says to turn off engine. While the warning is flashing and engine light is on it goes into a limp mode and you have limited acceleration. It has almost caused multiple wrecks when I go to acceleration from turning or at lights in traffic because I cant go over 20-30 mph. I have turned the car on and off and the hev system and engine light turns off and the car continues to work normal. It eventually comes back on and does the same loss of power/hev warning. It will be random and does not matter on how fast you are going to trigger the warning lights and loss of power.

NHTSA ID

11692279

Incident

Jan 1, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, and the message "Warning - Do not Attempt to Restart" was displayed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure of the engine wiring harness. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and was diagnosed as a failure with the engine wiring harness. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle had been back to the dealer several times. Recently, the contact was informed that the wiring harness was soy-based insulated, and rodents were causing damage to the wiring harness due to the smell. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11658460

Incident

May 2, 2025

Mileage

80,000 mi

While on the highway vehicle started shaking violently, flashing engine light then service hybrid system along with every light on the dash! Car still running poorly, stiff steering very hard to slow down to get to safety! By the time I was able to pull over the engine was knocking and a burning smell was coming from the engine compartment. I popped the hood shut the car off , the exhaust manifold and converter(in one together) was so hot it was glowing! I’m thankful I was able to get to safety without it catching fire because it was on its way there! I called for a tow and sent it to the dealer where Hyundai is replacing the engine.

NHTSA ID

11615081

Incident

Aug 31, 2024

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

NHTSA ID

11572766

Incident

Feb 4, 2024

My check Hybrid system light comes on and then my car stops allowing me to drive , the gas stops working ! This happened 3 times on the highway very dangerous

NHTSA ID

11566685

Incident

Jan 20, 2024

HEV WARNING TURN OFF ENGINE SIGN WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE MY CAR LOST POWER AND THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO SUDDENLY MOVE OVER THIS IS VERY UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE

NHTSA ID

11551358

Incident

Oct 19, 2023

HEV WARNING TURN OFF ENGINE CAR STARTED SHAKING while driving on the interstate gas pedal went to the floor car started making a loud noise from the engine I put car in park and it would not move for 45 minutes at a stop sign

NHTSA ID

11551356

Incident

Oct 19, 2023

As I was driving on the highway at 65MPH, a sudden warning appeared on the dashboard that read, "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM/TURN OFF ENGINE". Immediately after that, I noticed that my vehicle started behaving erratically, making it difficult to control. I stepped on the gas pedal expecting the car to pick up speed and move forward. Despite the pressure I applied, the car failed to accelerate, leaving me stuck in my current position. After nearly causing a severe accident on a busy interstate, I was able to safely pull my car over to the side of the road. After conducting extensive research, I discovered that the issue I am facing with my hybrid vehicle is actually quite common among Hyundai Sonata Hybrids. It's surprising to note that despite this problem's prevalence, no recall or common solution has been provided to address it. I am highly concerned that Hyundai has not taken any action to address this issue. I request an immediate resolution as I could have been severely injured or lost my life today!

NHTSA ID

11549710

Incident

Oct 12, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond. The "Stop Car, Check Brakes" message was displayed. The ABS and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle, and stated that after restarting the vehicle, the warning lights were no longer illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine) and 21V749000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System). The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred intermittently. The vehicle was then taken to Homestead Hyundai (111 S Homestead Blvd, Homestead, FL 33030) where it was diagnosed that the power brake booster and rear wheel speed sensors needed to be replaced. The power brake booster was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was then taken back to the dealer, and the wheel speed sensors were replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11518028

Incident

Apr 7, 2023

Mileage

130,000 mi

HEV turn off engine light pops up WHILE driving. I could’ve been on the highway or the middle of no where and have to turn off my car, just to turn it back on and it seems fine? This has happened a total of 5 times since owning this vehicle, and I’ve gotten all code on the car fixed about a month ago.

NHTSA ID

11514654

Incident

Mar 30, 2023

While driving on the highway at speed, I received a red Check Hybrid System error, and immediately lost all acceleration, putting myself and all occupants at risk on a busy interstate highway, as we tried to find a safe way to quickly change lanes and coast to a stop in a safe location. The cause is under diagnosis by a Hyundai Service Center. This was a sudden failure and there had been no previous warning alerting us to substandard system condition.

NHTSA ID

11494395

Incident

Nov 20, 2022

The car requires a quart of oil every 1 to two weeks. Brought it to multiple dealerships and was never given a reason why. Car was making knocking noises anytime driven at 45 or below and sometimes higher. We believe it had to be about the recall Hyundai has advised us about multiple times. We brought it to them on Friday July 22nd. They updated the Hybrid system and we left. Driving the car to work July 27th and the car went into “limp” mode and stated that there was a issue with the hybrid engine and to shut the car off immediately. I was able to pull the car off the road and turn it off. The engine light constantly blinked when the error happened. When I shut the car off and turned it back on, it the same hybrid error shows up on the screen again. We had to have it towed to the same dealership we went to the previous day. They have to diagnose the issue but it might take weeks because they have one hybrid tech.

NHTSA ID

11476347

Incident

Jul 27, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V749000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the vehicle was unable to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11472959

Incident

Jul 8, 2022

Mileage

110,000 mi

I have a 2016 Hybrid Sonata [XXX], the dash started flashing and said...... HEV trouble! STOP the engine now! Now I have a orange engine light. I brought the car to the dealer. They will look at it and contact me. This car cost me plenty, last year they made me pay for a new engine, it would eat up a quart of oil every two weeks. That is 2 quarts a month. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11470513

Incident

Jun 22, 2022

The NHTSA has numerous complaints from owners of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata and 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid with failures associated with the following: abnormal (knocking) noise from engine, reduced motive power and/or hesitation, illumination of the “Check Engine” warning lamp, illumination of engine oil pressure warning lamp, and a burning smell, oil leaking, and smoke. After research, I found the recall 21V301000, which lists “Part 573 Safety Recall Report 21V-301”, and I have attached it. I believe the piston oil rings are potentially a source of engine failure for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata and 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (since they are from the same manufacturer) and not the process and defect that Hyundai previously listed (that they stated was corrected), yet referenced in their recall. Hyundai and Kia both have defects with their ignition coils that have the shared part number: 27300-2E601, which also appears as: 27300 2E601. We have a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited that is on its 3rd set of ignition coils, and some Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte owners have reported the use of a 4th set of ignition coils. I have researched this part number by contacting multiple Hyundai Certified Parts Departments. A Hyundai Parts Department verified that the Hyundai Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 16-01-003-1 states that it “replaces” part number 27300-2E601 with part number 27300-2E601QQH, but they are the same exact part down to the 27300-2E601 appearing on both parts. One of the Hyundai parts people that I spoke to said that Hyundai put white circle stickers on the top of the ignition coils to differentiate between the older and newer part numbers, but the parts are identical. He said that Hyundai contacted their supplier of the ignition coils and negotiated a lower price due to a high failure rate. This means a significant price difference per ignition coil for the dealers, but keeps a defective part in the concerned vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11461452

Incident

Nov 26, 2019

IF I drive long distances for 30 minutes or more and then stop in somewhere and shut the vehicle off. Once I try and start it, it will give the Yellow CIL Check engine light and the HEV error, bring car to dealer. You have to wait approx 15-25 minutes and then it will start up again. I also seem to notice that it happens even faster when I put the transmission speed control into High Performance. The battery seems to overcharge and go well past the halfway mark almost to 80% and then once I power off and back on vehicle, I get the HEV error message and must wait 15-25 minutes before it will start.

NHTSA ID

11460291

Incident

Mar 16, 2022

******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE THE CONSUMER PLACED THE REQUEST*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******

NHTSA ID

11451378

Incident

Jan 29, 2022

Mileage

61,236 mi

The parking mechanism in the transmission failed. The car was parked in my garage . The lever was in the "Park" position when the car drove backwards out of my garage and crashed into the fence. It continued driving into the street and into the neighbors yard. Two people were out walking and saw it happen. I know I did not leave my car in neutral or reverse when I parked it in my garage. When I tested this later sitting in my car, in my garage, the car immediately began moving backwards instantly, while i was still at the wheel. Had the car been in neutral or reverse at the time this incident occurred, I would have known it was moving immediately and shifted it into park right away. When this incident happened I put the car into park, and I got out of my car , I got things from my trunk and went inside the house. Then I went back to the car to get more things. This is when I witnessed it driving out of my garage backwards. I was standing on my back step. Then I ran across the street to my car and got in the drivers seat to attempt driving it back to my garage. I had to yank it out of park and then shove it back into park to get it to start correctly. Then I was able to get it running again and drove it back across the street to my house. thank God no one including myself got hurt. The possibility of this happening shook me up for days. I reported this to Hyundai and waited 3 months for them to make a determination, they said they cant prove it , that it is my word against theirs. I looked online , and saw reports of this happening to other vehicles as late as 2017 even tho the recall for this was 2011-2014. I started using the electronic parking brake because i read online that other people who have had this happen said to do it. I need to buy a new car dont feel safe in this one.

NHTSA ID

11439193

Incident

Jun 27, 2021

IN JUNE OF 2020 I GOT AN EMERGENCY WARNING ON MY VEHICLE'S DASH THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HYBRID SYSTEM AND SHOULD STOP MY CAR IMMEDIATELY AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO 20 M.P.H. THEN CAME TO A STOP, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS KEPT FOR 10 DAYS, I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE. HALF A BLOCK FROM THE DEALER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS A SPARK PLUG WHICH WAS REPLACED. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN WITH THE CAR COMING TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ON MARCH 3, 2021, THE SAME THING HAPPENED, A WARNING ON MY DASH, THE VEHICLE SLOWED AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I AGAIN TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE WATER PUMP AND NEW PUMP WOULD BE ORDERED. I AGAIN EXPRESSED CONCERN AS NOW I DO NOT FEEL THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND TAKE THE FREEWAYS ON A REGULAR BASIS. HAVING THE CAR COME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY FREEWAY IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO ME AND OTHER DRIVERS.

NHTSA ID

11399621

Incident

Mar 3, 2021

Mileage

39,330 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THIS BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER 2020. I WOULD PULL OVER AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD BE FINE AND LIGHT WOULD BE OFF. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES AND THEN ON A LONG DISTANCE TRIP I SHIFT IT OFF AND IT TOOK ABOUT15-20 MINUTES TO RESTART. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE RELAY ASSEMBLY AND THAT IT WAS A RECALL. IT HAD COMPLETELY MELTED THE CASING AROUND MY BATTERY. THEY REPLACED IT FOR FREE IN OCTOBER. NOW IN JANUARY IT HAS STARTED THE SAME THING. I WILL NEVER GET ANOTHER HYUNDAI. THIS CAR HAS HAD MORE PROBLEMS THAN MY 2000 HONDA ACCORD THAT HAS 300,000 MILES ON IT. AND MY HYUNDAI ONLY HAS 84,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

11388095

Incident

Jan 14, 2021

Mileage

84,000 mi

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT BEEPS AND COMES ON. THE MESSAGE REQUEST TO TURN ENGINE OFF. THE GAS ENGINE SOMETIMES WILL CUT THE POWER TO THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSS POWER ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

11374244

Incident

Nov 6, 2020

NUMEROUS POSTS AND THIS HAS OCCURRED TO ME NUMEROUS TIMES WITHIN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY, AND GETTING OFF TO GET GAS OR STOP TO GET GROCERIES OR ANYTHING, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE IS DISABLED. WILL NOT START OR ATTEMPT TO START FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES. WHEN VEHICLE STARTS BACK UP THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AGAIN THEN THE CEL GOES AWAY. SOUNDS LIKE NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE, I HOWEVER HAVE BEEN LUCKY THAT IT HASN'T SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, SOUNDS LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE IT HAS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OR THE CAR BE LABELED AS LEMON OR SOMETHING.

NHTSA ID

11354802

Incident

Sep 13, 2020

Mileage

50,000 mi

AT ABOUT 58K MILES I STARTED TO NOTICE WHEN I TURNED THE TURN SIGNAL TO INDICATE A LEFT TURN THE RIGHT BLINKER WOULD COME ON AND THEN AFTER A MOMENT SWITCH TO THE LEFT OR NOT SWITCH AT ALL. THIS WAS TOTALLY RANDOM. I TRIED TO CAPTURE IT ON CAMERA TO SHOW MY LOCAL DEALER BEFORE THE 60K WARRANTY RAN OUT BUT I COULD NEVER CAPTURE IT BECAUSE IT WAS SO RANDOM AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE IT. OVER THE LAST YEAR THE ISSUE HAS GOTTEN WORSE WHERE NEARLY EVERY TIME I USE THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL THE RIGHT SIGNAL WILL TURN ON INSTEAD. THE LAST TIME MY CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE I MENTIONED IT AGAIN AND TOLD THEM I THINK THEY CAN REPLICATE THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT HAPPENS NEARLY EVERY TIME NOW. WHEN I INDICATE A LEFT SIGNAL AND THE RIGHT SIGNAL COMES ON OTHER CARS THINK I AM MERGING INTO THEM WHILE MY SIGNAL IS STUCK. THE SIGNAL STOCK SEEMS TO HAVE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE SENDING THE CORRECT SIGNAL TO THE LIGHTS. THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE AND I HOPE IT DOES NOT CAUSE ACCIDENTS AS THE SIGNALS BECOME STUCK. THIS OCCURS REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE SPEED.

NHTSA ID

11350205

Incident

Aug 18, 2020

Mileage

68,000 mi

AFTER FILLING TANK FOR LONG ROAD TRIPS THE CAR DOES NOT START AND THE CHECK HEV HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON.

NHTSA ID

11310129

Incident

Feb 13, 2020

Mileage

70 mi

I STOPPED FOR GAS AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START CAR AN ALERT CAME ACROSS MY SCREEN SAYING CAR HAS A HEV ISSUE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR 15 TO 20 MINUTES FOR MY CAR TO START AGAIN. I WAS ASSUMING IT WAS BAD GAS BUT MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT IT WASN'T A BAD GAS ISSUE. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT'S A POTENTIAL ELECTRIC ISSUE THAT MY WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER. I HAD YET EVEN EXCEED MILEAGE ABOVE 70000 MILES. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS AN INCONVENIENCE TO ME AND OTHER DRIVERS BECAUSE IT IS STARTING TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY. THIS COULD BE A FATHER FOR ANYONE IN A URGENT SITUATION AND NEED TO BE ABLE TO ACTIVATE THE CAR TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

NHTSA ID

11308023

Incident

Nov 22, 2019

Mileage

68,005 mi