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Hyundai Sonata Plug-In HybridModel year report

2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid Problems

Complaints
26filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
28,100miles, 20 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
40 mpgcombined (gas only), 2.0L 4-cyl · plug-in hybrid FWD · 38 city / 41 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid. The part named most often is engine, with 18 complaints (69% of the total), followed by electrical system (12) and other or unknown (5). 20 of the complaints include a mileage, and 85% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 28,100 miles. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 82 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 23 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Engine: “My car completely lost power while I was driving on the freeway. The dash read hybrid system failure . It shut off while I was driving in the carpool lane. There was no warning, just shut right off. I was able to coast over to the shoulder to safety until aaa came to tow me away. The car would not start back up. It turned on but couldn't start the car.”

NHTSA complaint #11084582, filed 2018-04, 38,175 miles

Electrical system: “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 complaint #11144863, filed 2018-11, 30,000 miles

Other or unknown: “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 complaint #11121258, filed 2018-08, 8,550 miles

Hybrid propulsion system: “The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid. The contact stated that on three separate occasions while driving approximately 65 MPH, the “Check Hybrid System - Turn Off Engine” message was displayed. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact then stated that the vehicle decelerated and went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was towed to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure recurred. …”

NHTSA complaint #11529173, filed 2023-06, 65,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

85% of the 20 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 21,000 and 38,175 miles.

10%0–1025%10–2550%25–5010%50–750%75–1005%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (20 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 28,100 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

201620172018102019202020222023
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); plug-in hybrid figures are for gasoline-only (hybrid mode) driving, so no annual cost is shown.

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Sonata Plug-in Hybrid FWD2.0L 4-cyl · plug-in hybrid6-speed automatic384140 gas only—

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 82 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 82 bulletins →

Other model years of the Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2019512,4890—39—Not enough data
20173212,7352—39Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising
20162628,1002—40Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling

All Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid have?

NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 18 complaints (69% of the total), followed by electrical system with 12.

Has the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid (Sonata Plug-in Hybrid, 2.0L 4-cyl · plug-in hybrid) at 40 mpg combined, 38 city and 41 highway when running on gasoline in hybrid mode. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid reported?

Among the 20 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 28,100 miles and the middle half falls between 21,000 and 38,175 miles; 85% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.