What 157 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in

DRIVING TO AIRPORT IN CAR. JUST PULLED IN TO FREEWAY AFTER STOPPING AT STORE 45 MINS INTO DRIVE. MY 3016 SONATA HYBRID LIMITED STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. MY BOYFRIEND WHO IS A MECHANIC RECOGNIZED IT IMMEDIATLY. THEN SUDDENLY ENGINE MADE LOUD NOISE AND PARTS AND OIL FLEW ALL OVER BEHIND US FROM UNDERNEATH CAR. HE MANAGED TO GET IT OFF ROAD WITHOUT US GETTING HIT.WAITED 4 HOURS FOR TOW THAT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTIES I PURCHASED. HYUNDAI TRIED TO STATE THAT ONLY 2 PEOPLE COULD RIDE IN TOW TRUCK. SO ONE PERSON (THERE WERE 2 ADULTS AND A CHILD) WOULD HAVE TO WAIT IN MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WHILE OTHER 2 WENT THE HOUR BACK HOME WITH TOW TRUCK AND THEN CAME THE HOUR BACK. THERE WASN'T A GAS STATION OR ANYTHING AROUND. THE CAR IS IN SHOP WAITING TO SEE WHAT WARRANTY SAYS ABOUT IT NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. ALL MAINTENANCE WAS DONE AND WAS IN HYUNDAI SHOP 5 WEEKS PRIOR WITH ABS UNIT NEEDING REPLACED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT OR ENGINE LIGHT THAT ALERTED US TO A POSSIBLE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11292204

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON THE 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID WENT OUT ON THE CAR OCT 31, 2019. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR, WHEN SHE LOST DRIVABILITY OF THE CAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO, SHE WAS ABLE TO PARK IT ON A SIDE STREET. SHE RESTARTED THE CAR BUT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP, WHEN SCANNED, INDICATING OF A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE OCT 31, 2019 WITH NO ETA OF WHEN A NEW TRANSMISSION WILL BE AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE CAR. AT THIS POINT I CAN NOT SALE THE CAR BECAUSE IT NEEDS A TRANSMISSION. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO GIVE A DATE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO TIME FRAME WHEN THEY WILL GET A TRANSMISSION FROM HYUNDAI.

NHTSA ODI 11289249

THE ANCHOR THAT HOLDS THE SUNROOF DEFLECTOR IN PLACE SEPARATED WHERE IT WAS BONDED AND GETS IN THE WAY WHEN THE SUNROOF TRIES TO CLOSE. THE DEFLECTOR PARTIALLY DETACHED IN THE FRONT, AND INTERFERES WITH THE GLASS OF THE SUNROOF WHEN CLOSING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STAND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE ANOTHER PERSON CLOSED THE SUNROOF. WE NEEDED TWO PEOPLE TO GET THE SUNROOF CLOSED.

NHTSA ODI 11269434

INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER "SPUTTER" AT ANY SPEED WITH SOLID MIL. RELEASING THE THROTTLE CLEARS THE CONDITION AND THE MIL GOES OUT. VEHICLE DRIVES NORMALLY WITH NO WARNING INDICATORS UNTIL NEXT OCCURRENCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME, BEGAN HAPPENING A FEW WEEKS AFTER ENGINE LONG BLOCK REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY CAMPAIGN.

NHTSA ODI 11230694

HEV ENGINIE ERORR

NHTSA ODI 11220241

ON 5/11 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE HEARD A CLICKING SOUND. SHE WAS NOT FAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND DECIDED TO DRIVE THE CAR IN TO GET LOOKED AT. AS SHE GOT CLOSE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. SHE PULLED OVER TO A SAFE LOCATION WHERE SHE COULD GET OUT AND AS SHE WAS PULLING OVER THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FLAME. SHE IMMEDIATELY GRABBED THE DOG AND JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND CALLED 911. WITHINJUST A COUPLE MINUTES OF EXITING THE VEHICLE IT WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND EXPLODED.

NHTSA ODI 11209538

VEHICLE BEING DRIVEN DOWN HIGHWAY AND CAUGHT FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11208561

ENGINE KNOCKING WHICH LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE REQUIRING A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING FROM THE ENGINE WARNING SYSTEM. HYUNDAI CORPORATE SAID SINCE I AM THE SECOND OWNER THEY WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR WHICH WAS OVER $3200. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE ENGINE BEARING PROBLEMS HYUNDAI HAD IN THE PAST. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD 85,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE PROBLEMS BEGAN. THE COMPANY ALSO REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE MECHANICS NOTES REGARDING THE REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI 11206144

CLATTERING OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE OBSERVED BY CUSTOMER UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. CAME ON SUDDENLY. ROD NOISE. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE FAILURE 58,884 MILES CAUSE DUE TO METAL SHAVINGS LEFT OVER FROM MANUFACTURING PROCESS AS DISCOVERED THROUGH MANUFACTURER PRESCRIBED WARRANTY REPAIR PRIOR AUTHORIZATION PROCEDURES. DEALER PERFORMED NO COST LONG BLOCK REPLACEMENT. OUT OF SERVICE APPROXIMATELY 25 DAYS. MANUFACTURER DID NOT WARRANTY REPLACEMENT ENGINE BEYOND ORIGINAL WARRANTY MILEAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11205896

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE SIDE COLLISION AVOIDANCE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. DURING THE FAILURE, THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND ABRUPTLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. ON A SECOND OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO VEHICLE CLOSE BY, THE BRAKES APPLIED ABRUPTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOSEPH AIRPORT HYUNDAI (1220 W NATIONAL RD, VANDALIA, OH 45377, (937) 665-1777) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE WARNING CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11203433

SUN ROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THERE WAS NO KNOWN ROAD HAZARD THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11196109

SHATTERED SUNROOF. DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY, SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. THE OUTSIDE TEMP WAS APPROXIMATELY 55-60 DEGREES F.

NHTSA ODI 11184973

I HAD DROVE MY CAR TO WORK ON TUESDAY THE 19TH. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT TO MY CAR 6 HOURS LATER AND STARTED MY CAR IT WAS NOT MOVING AT ALL THERE WAS A BIG CLANKING NOISE. I HAD PARKED MY CAR AND HAVE NOT DRIVEN SINCE I HEARD THE NOISE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE. I HAVE KEPT UP ON MY MAINTENANCE AND EVERYTHING AND FEEL AS THOUGH THIS MUST BE A FLAW WITH MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11182141

WENT TO GO GET AN OIL CHANGED ON FEB 9TH. MONDAY, FEB 11TH DROVE TO WORK AND BACK HOME, WHEN I REACHED THE EXIT OFF THE BELTWAY, THE CAR STARTED PUT PUTING, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE BACK, ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT 6 MILES HOME TO PARK IT. HAD IT TOWED AN HOUR LATER. THE SHOP SAID THE ROD BUSTED AND WENT THROUGH MY ENGINE AND NO OIL WAS IN THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUES WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR. THIS EXPERIENCE HAS REALLY DRAMATIZED ME. NOT SURE IF MY INSURANCE WILL PAY FOR IT AND I WILL HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE AN ENGINE THAT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN A RECALL. BASED OF MY VIN: ITS NOT, BUT JANUARY 2019 & APRIL 2016, THERE WERE RECALLS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. ITS NOT RIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11180233

AFTER THE CAR HAS SAT IDLE FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN I DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO START THE CAR I GET A WHOOOOMP SOUND. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT AFTER THE CAR SITS IDLE FOR AWHILE THE AIR GOES OUT OF THE BREAKING SYSTEM AND THEREFORE IT MAKES THIS SOUND AT START UP. MY QUESTION ARE WHY, AFTER TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, IS IT HAPPENING NOW? AND, WHY ISN'T THE PART ALLOWING AIR TO ESCAPE REPLACED?

NHTSA ODI 11176637

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS FAILED TO PROPERLY RETRACT AND LOOSEN WHEN NECESSARY. THE SEAT BELTS RESTRICTED THE BREATHING AND BODIES OF THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS WHEN THE SEAT BELTS WERE SECURED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LUNGED, JERKED, AND ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE WAS MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE ECO AND CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTIONS WERE ACTIVATED. ECKERT HYUNDAI, INC. (4011 S INTERSTATE 35, DENTON, TX 76210, (940) 243-6200) STATED THAT THE ECO AND CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTIONS FAILED AND PROVIDED AN INTERIM REPAIR OF DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY TO CLEAR THE ECU AND ECM CODES, WHICH AFFECTED THE TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER DEALER (JAMES WOOD HYUNDAI, 2110 US-287, DECATUR, TX 76234, (940) 627-4600) ASKED THE FIRST DEALER TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO GENERATE THE CODES. THE SECOND DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE ECO FUNCTION ACTIVATED. BOTH DEALERS STATED THAT IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, IT MAY BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11172744

THE PLUG OF THE ELECTRICAL CHARGER FOR THE BATTERY OF MY PLUG -IN CAR OVERHEATED AND BURNED THE SURGE PROTECTOR THAT IT WAS PLUGGED INTO.

NHTSA ODI 11152996

"TAKATA RECALL" AUGUST 25TH THE CAR WAS DRIVEN INTO SOME HIGH WATER AND WAS PARKED BY A GAS STATION NEAR GREEN ROAD AND ALDEAN WESTFIELD R. THE CAR WAS UNDERWATER FROM THE FRONT END. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR MULTIPLE TIMES FOR REPAIR. FROM WARRANTY ISSUES TO FLOOD REPAIR, BOTH CAN'T GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER TO WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CAR STOPS AND COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF HYBRID MALFUNCTION. WE DONT HAVE ANY DOCUMENTS, THE DEALERSHIP HAS COPYS OF ALL REPARS.

NHTSA ODI 11144863

TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITH THE TRIANGLE SHAPED (MASTER WARNING LIGHT) WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKE TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,600.

NHTSA ODI 11144245

VEHICLE STATIONARY. TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN WITH ELECTRIC SWITCH, USED VEHICLE KEY TO OPEN TRUNK, THEN TRUNK WOULD NOT LATCH CLOSED. INTERMITTENT AND OR UNRELIABLE TRUNK OPEN/CLOSED WARNINGS IN DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER... TRUNK LIGHT INTERMITTENT AND/OR UNRELIABLE, IRRESPECTIVE OF OPEN/CLOSED STATUS IN DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. DEALER SERVICE DETERMINED LATCH ASSEMBLY TRUNK LID HYUNDAI PART 81230 ' C1010 FAILURE OF DETENT SPRING INTERNAL OF LATCH, BROKEN AND LOOSE. DEALER RESOLUTION, REPLACE MENTIONED PART.

NHTSA ODI 11141130

II OWN A 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID WITH 34,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR UNTIL THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON AUG 5, 2018 WHILE DRIVING ON THREE LANE HIGHWAY 99 NORTH OF MODESTO. AT ABOUT 70MPH THE DASHBOARD LITE UP WITH BRAKE SYSTEM WARNINGS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I STRUGGLED IN TRAFFIC TO MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GOT TO THE APRON AND FOUND I HAD NO BRAKES BUT MANAGED TO STOP. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND VISUALLY INSPECTED THE CAR, ESPECIALLY THE BRAKES. SEEING NOTHING, AFTER A FEW MINUTES, TURNED IT BACK ON. THE ENGINE STARTED BUT THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ON. I HAD BRAKES AND SLOWLY DROVE TO AN OFF RAMP TO GET HELP. AFTER GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY, I STOPPED AND AGAIN TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, ALL SYSTEMS WERE GOOD. I DROVE OVER 100 MILES HOME WITHOUT PROBLEMS. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALER, ALEXANDER HYUNDAI, OXNARD CA. AFTER 2 DAYS, THEY FOUND NO FAULTS BUT IN CONSULTATION WITH HYUNDAI SUPPORT, DECIDED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM AND PERFORMED THE HYUNDAI RECOMMENDED SERVICE. I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR BASED ON THE SERVICE PERFORMED. I WAS NOT USING THE BRAKES AT THE TIME OF THE SHUTDOWN AND WOULDN'T EXPECT IT TO FIX ITSELF. I WOULD NOT EXPECT THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED TO CAUSE AN ENGINE SHUTDOWN CREATING A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I RECEIVED NO ASSURANCES THAT IT WOULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN. THERE SHOULD BE A LIMITED NUMBER OF FAULTS THAT CREATE AN IMMEDIATE SHUTDOWN AND THE FAULT DESCRIBED SHOULD BE NOT BE ONE OF THEM. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN AND DID WHAT HYUNDAI TECHNICAL SUPPORT RECOMMENDED. THEY PROVIDED NO EVIDENCE THEIR SERVICE REVEALED ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. SINCE THEY HAVE DONE WHAT THE HYUNDAI CORPORATION PRESCRIBED, THEY FEEL NO LIABILITY OR CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY.

NHTSA ODI 11124404

HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES. NOW IT IS NOT OPERABLE. CAR WAS CHECKED BY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER SERVICE 3 DAYS AGO. THEY DID NOT HAVE PARTS AT THE TIME OF SERVICE, THEY DID NOT PERFORM THE RECALL SERVICE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT BACK HOME SAFELY, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN 3 DAYS LATER IN THE EVENING, IT GAVE WARNINGS. CAR IS NOT OPERABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11121258

I WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MPH IN FULL ELECTRIC MODE AND THE CAR REMOVED ALL POWER FROM MY GAS PEDAL, THERE WAS LOTS OF DINGING SOUNDS AND THE DASH SAID "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, TURN YOUR CAR OFF". LUCKILY I WAS ALREADY TO THE FAR RIGHT SO I COULD JUST PULL TOT HE SHOULDER AND STOP THE CAR, THE BREAKS AND STEERING WERE STILL WORKING. TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOPING THE MARCH 2018 RECALL IS THE FIX. I HAD TO CALL AAA, ALL BLUE LINK CAPABILITIES STOPPED WORKING AS WELL. 2016 PLUGIN WITH ABOUT 25,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11099959

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AND THE ENGINE AND HYBRID INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. BROWN'S MANASSAS HYUNDAI (8651 CENTREVILLE RD, MANASSAS, VA 20110, (703) 361-9600) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI 11098766

ON APPROXIMATELY APRIL 30, 2018, WHILE DRIVING MY HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID TO MONTGOMERY ALABAMA I STOPPED TO FILL UP ON GAS. AFTER FILLING UP I GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START MY CAR, THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE STEERING WAS LOCKED AND THE ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A GAS PUMP

NHTSA ODI 11093719