2016 Hyundai Sonata Interior & seats Problems

The driver’s seat / passenger seat assembly, including seat rails, mounting brackets, and Smart Junction Box (SJB) connections if electrical adjustment was involved, completely failed during a crash. The seat lifted off the floor anchors and almost entirely came apart, including both the seat cushion (where you sit) and the backrest, leaving the occupant crushed within the collapsed seat structure, resulting in catastrophic injuries. During the crash, the seat collapsed and disassembled, exposing the occupant to extreme trauma. This caused: •Pelvic fracture •Broken femur, hip, and back •Collapsed lung and punctured liver •Foreign object from the seat mechanism punctured pelvic bone The failure directly contributed to life-threatening injuries that would not have occurred if the seat had remained securely anchored. The malfunction posed an immediate risk of death and permanent disability. Not yet reproduced under controlled conditions. The incident has been documented by police and medical personnel. The vehicle is currently in a tow yard, and we have not had access to it, but it remains available for inspection by Hyundai, NHTSA, or a qualified service center Police: Yes, crash scene documented. •Insurance: We are unsure whether the insurance company has inspected the seat. The vehicle remains in the tow yard and has not been repaired or altered. •Manufacturer (Hyundai): Not yet inspected; formal inspection requested. The vehicle and seat are preserved and ready for inspection by Hyundai, NHTSA, or other qualified representatives. There were no warning lamps, messages, or prior symptoms of seat failure. The seat functioned normally prior to the crash, and the malfunction occurred only during the impact, demonstrating a sudden and catastrophic failure under crash conditions.

NHTSA ID

11712545

Incident

Nov 20, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the trunk latch had failed to open. The contact attempted to use the key fob and the key to unlock the trunk however, the latch failed to release. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed and determined that the trunk latch and key entry needed to be replaced. The vehicle had been repaired. The contact stated that the failure had reoccurred. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 176,000.

NHTSA ID

11537874

Incident

Apr 11, 2022

Mileage

176,000 mi

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated the trunk latch failed to latch properly and had fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V619000 (Latch/Locks/Linkages) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11530646

Incident

May 1, 2023

Mileage

70,000 mi

I am writing to report a safety issue with my 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The trunk is stuck closed and I am unable to open it using the key fob or the button on the trunk itself. Additionally, the button to fold down the rear seats is located inside the trunk, which makes it impossible to access the trunk from the rear seats. I have also tried using the keyhole on the trunk, but it does not work either. This is a serious safety issue that poses a risk to myself and others on the road. In the event of an emergency, I may need quick access to the trunk to retrieve necessary items or a spare tire, but due to the malfunction, I am unable to do so.

NHTSA ID

11516839

Incident

Apr 11, 2023

The trunk panel latch in this vehicle has failed due to a broken trunk latch pawl. The trunk will not open even when pushing the emergency trunk release latch inside the trunk. This failure presents the risk of injury to an occupant locked inside the trunk. As such, the involved vehicle might not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no 401, "interior trunk release." A recall (Campaign 208) has already been placed on the 2016- 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrids due to this issue, but this particular VIN number is not covered under that recall. I have contacted Hyundai about this issue, and they will not repair or address this problem stating that although the model has had a recall issued, this particular VIN is not covered. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request

NHTSA ID

11507453

Incident

Jan 28, 2023

For no apparent reason and very little passenger usage the seat sensor for the passenger air bag is supposedly not working properly and if there is an accident the air bag may not deploy.

NHTSA ID

11453325

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

My trunk has opened while driving and now my trunk will not open at all, even with the manual key.

NHTSA ID

11429490

Incident

Aug 16, 2021

A SCREW THAT CONNECTS THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE RAIL AND CAR FRAME CAME OUT ON IT'S OWN OVER TIME. CAR HAS BEEN USED IN A NORMAL MANNER. DISCOVERED THE ISSUE WHEN GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE CAR AND THE SEAT STARTED ROCKING AND WOBBLING. NO PIECES ARE BROKEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

11330495

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

Mileage

70,000 mi

ISSUE #1 SEAT BELT SAFETY-CHOKING INCIDENT FILED SEPARATE TRACKING # 10935641 ISSUE # 2 BOUGHT VEHICLE SEPT. 29, 2016 WITH ZERO MILEAGE ON CAR. HAPPENED OCTOBER 1, AND 2ND, AND RANDOM. ON OCTOBER 3, 2016 BROUGHT VEHICLE INTO MAINTENANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS MAKING THUMPING SOUND WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING ON THE STREET, LESS THAN 25-30MPH CAR SPONTANEOUSLY DOES THIS SOUND. I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE, TO SEE IF SOMETHING IS DRAGGING. NOTHING IS THERE. I START DRIVING AGAIN, THE SOUND RETURNS, PULL OVER, AGAIN NOTHING FOUND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE OR UNDERNEATH. INSIDE THE VEHICLE I NOTICE THAT THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE LIGHT IS ON AS A SIGNAL ON THE DASH BOARD. I DID NOT TURN IT ON. IT SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING ON THE VEHICLE. I LIFT THE HOOD. NOTHING FOUND. I RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON OCTOBER 3, 2016 FOR INSPECTION AT THE HYUNDAI GERALD DEALERSHIP IN NORTH AURORA ILLINOIS WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SAME SCENARIO SINCE PURCHASING UP UNTIL DECEMBER 4, 2016. HYUNDAI MAINTENANCE FOUND NO PROBLEMS. ISSUE # 3 INCIDENT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE ABOUT 1 WEEK AFTER VEHICLE PURCHASE AT START OF CAR AND WHILE DRIVING. INTERIOR CAR LIGHTS RANDOMLY COME ON. THIS CAN BE INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE, INTERIOR PASSENGER SIDE, AND INTERIOR REAR LIGHTS. UNABLE TO REPLICATE HAPPENS SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING AS WELL. USUALLY FIXED BY DEPRESSING BUTTON. BUT, BUTTON WAS NOT ORIGINALLY PRESSED TO TURN THIS LIGHT ON. HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER OR DEALERSHIP HAS NOT RESOLVED OR FOUND THE ISSUE. THESE ISSUES ARE DOCUMENTED IN VEHICLE MAINTENANCE REPORTS ANYTIME VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE. ISSUES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO HYUNDAI MANUFACTURER. NO RESOLUTION HAS BEEN OFFERED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10935654

Incident

Oct 2, 2016

Mileage

100 mi