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EnginePart report

2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid Engine Problems

Complaints
18about this part
Share
69%of 26 total for the year
Median mileage
25,925miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 18 complaints about the engine of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid, 69% of the 26 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 25,925 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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

“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

“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 complaint #11099959, filed 2018-06, 25,000 miles

“My sonata phev had hybrid system failed not once, but twice within a span of 1.5 months. It's been hardly 1.5 years since I had bought this car. In both cases the check hybrid system warning comes up and engine looses total power. The 1st time it happened, it was in the middle of a busy 405 freeway and was left all of a sudden with no power on the engine. Extremely dangerous and life threatening problem to face with. With whatever power was left, was able to coast to the ramp on the right. …”

NHTSA complaint #11024125, filed 2017-09, 32,284 miles

“Over the past two months, I have had the yellow engine light come on. Even though there were no issues related to performance noted, I took vehicle to my garage to diagnose. The diagnosis did not find any issue, but mechanic proceeded to check the gas cover cap. Lo and behold, both times, removing the cap and replacing seemed to correct the issue and the yellow engine light went off. Quite annoying as don't want to have to keep checking if light comes on incorrectly and not address if there was indeed a problem to correct.”

NHTSA complaint #11031772, filed 2017-10, 9,500 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2019120%
20171753%
20161869%

Other parts of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid

Electrical system
12 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsHybrid propulsion system
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
3 complaintsFuel system
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology