Home · 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (157)Crash / fire / injury (7)Engine (90)Electrical system (46)Transmission & drivetrain (16)Fuel system (9)Brakes (7)Lights (7)Hybrid Propulsion System (5)Speed control (4)Visibility & wipers (4)Driver assistance (3)

7 of 157 complaints match · Lights · clear filters

Apr 20, 2023Service Brakes, AirElectrical systemLights

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 ODI 11518028

Mar 30, 2023Electrical systemLightsEngine

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 ODI 11514654

Jul 8, 2022Electrical systemLights

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 ODI 11472959

Oct 2, 2020Lights

WITH THE HEADLIGHTS SET TO AUTO, WHEN USING USING THE TURN SIGNAL THE HEADLIGHT TURN OFF OCCASIONALLY. THIS HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN SIGNALING RIGHT TURN OR LAIN CHANGES. LINK TO VIDEO THE FILE IS TO LARGE TO UPLOAD. THIS HAPPENS DAILY NOW. HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/-GOIGZ3TBHY

NHTSA ODI 11362438

Jun 13, 2017Lights

JUST SAW ON TV CONSUMER REPORTS ABOUT POOR NIGHT VISION WITH SUV HEADLIGHTS AND WAS REMINDED OF A PROBLEM I HAVE THAT MAY AFFECT OTHER VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE A 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT THIS LAST WINTER DURING A VERY HEAVY WET SNOWSTORM WHEN I NOTICED MY HEADLIGHTS SEEM TO BE GETTING DIMMER AND DIMMER. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE SNOW STORM WAS JUST GETTING WORSE BUT IT WAS WAY TOO UNSAFE TO STOP AND CHECK THEM SO I JUST DROVE SLOWER AND SLOWER. WHEN I GOT HOME IN MY GARAGE, I NOTICED THAN THERE WAS AT LEAST A COUPLE OF INCHES OF SNOW BUILT UP OVER MY HEADLIGHTS SEVERELY LIMITING HOW MUCH LIGHT WAS PASSING THROUGH THEM. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ALSO BURNING WAY TO COOL TO MELT OFF THE SNOW AS OUR OTHER VEHICLES HAD. SO ARE MOST OF THE NEWER HEADLIGHTS BURNING COOLER OR IS THIS JUST A FREAK PROBLEM I HAD?

NHTSA ODI 10995027

Dec 3, 2016Lights

ON A DARK OR DIMLY LIT ROAD THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS CREATE A SHARP BOUNDARY LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WITH HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION ON THE LOWER AREA AND DARKNESS ON TWO THIRDS DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE VIEWING AREA. IT IS AS IF THE WINDSHIELD HAS A LINE HORIZONTALLY ACROSS IT TWO THIRDS DOWN IN THE FIELD OF VIEW. THE LINE BOUNCES WHEN THE CAR BOUNCES AND DARK UPPER PORTION CAN NOT BE PROPERLY VIEWED THROUGH TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. THE DEALER HAS SAID A FEW TIMES THERE IS NO ISSUE AND NO REPORTED ISSUE. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS FLAW IN THE CAR FROM WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED IN NOV 2015.

NHTSA ODI 10929758

Jul 26, 2016Lights

MY CAR HAS BEEN IN MOTION AT NIGHTTIME WITH THE HEAD LIGHTS ON, WHILE DRIVING AT 55 TO 75 MPH THE LIGHT IS SPREAD UP ON MY SIDES INSTEAD OF BEING DIRECTLY IN FRONT WHERE THE FOCAL POINT IS NEEDED THE MOST. I HAVE TAKEN THIS UNIT BACK TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL THE ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED, I AM TOLD ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN. I TRAVEL MOSTLY ON INTERSTATES AND HAVE 20/20 VISION. MY PREVIOUS CARS LIGHTS DID MAKE MY PATH KNOWN TO ME, WITH THIS CAR, I AM SEEING DEFUSED LIGHT AND IT SCARES ME. I'VE MADE IT KNOWN TO MY LAWYER THAT IF I HAVE A WRECK AT HIGH SPEEDS, THEN AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS MAKE AND LINE OF CARS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. AM I IN A CAR THAT IS WAITING TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT? OTHERWISE, I LOVE THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10888842

Working with the data? Download all 157 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in verdict →