2016 Hyundai Sonata Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 21about this part
- Share
- 3%of 729 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 58,500miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 21 complaints about the air bags of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata, 3% of the 729 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 58,500 miles. 9 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The airbag indicator light came on while I was driving. I contacted the dealer who was unable to inspect for a period of time. During the period of time, the sensor no longer lit. I brought it to a local mechanic who checked the codes. It appeared the driver's side airbag had illuminated the sensor. He tried to replace but it's on 6 weeks back-order.”
NHTSA complaint #11416438, filed 2021-05, 71,500 miles“On february 19 2019 I was driving a car rental from hertz driving on the freeway in southern ca driving only 25 MPH I crashed trying to avoid crashing into car in front of me kept putting on my breaks and the car would not stopped the breaks malfunction I tried to changing lane I still crashed I was going 25 MPH the car was totaled bumper was plastic or fiber glass the air bag exploded not deployed. …”
NHTSA complaint #10870226, filed 2016-05, 25 miles“Deer ran in front of my car. Air bags inflated and stayed so for quite a while. When I got out of the car I noticed my foot was burnt with skin off and legs were burning from the powder in air bags. I know the bags should inflat but the smoke from this kept up for quite a while. I did not think this powder should have kept coming out so much and so did passerby people who stopped to help. We had the powder in our eyes.”
NHTSA complaint #10870409, filed 2016-05, 500 miles“- sudden accecleration surge when releasing brake. When turning into parking and when light turn green and releasing brake. - spuratic acceleration decrease when driving... Most recent: pulling into parking stall ( left) as I pulled foward and release brake to move up another foot, the car suddenly accelerated. Car went over parking block ( 1-2 feet in front of me) then jump over into a tree. ( 1-2 feet in front of parking block). Force of surge left skid marks on parking block. Air bags did not deploy, but caused serious damage (approx 5k)”
NHTSA complaint #11267606, filed 2019-10, 29,000 miles“Reciban cordiales saludos, el 11/01/2020 dicho vehiculo es usado como lyft venia de pasajero y tuvimos un accidente. Las bolsa de aire jamas se abrieron, echo que agrabo mi condicin. Ya que impacte mi cabeza fuertemente contra el marco de puerta del vehiculo ocasionando mi lesion cerebral. No se, si este vehiculo forme parte del problema con el sistema takata. …”
NHTSA complaint #11404606, filed 2021-03, 54,000 milesRelated recalls
- 16V615000Aug 24, 2016Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured March 28, 2016 through April 12, 2016. The affected vehicles…Covers: Hyundai Sonata 2016
- 16V232000Apr 21, 2016Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 29, 2014 to February 11, 2016, 2017 Elantra…Covers: Hyundai Sonata 2015–2016, Sonata Hybrid 2016, Elantra 2017
Related service bulletins
- 11032523Apr 10, 2026The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province…
- 11032522Apr 10, 2026The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by…
- 11027047Dec 19, 2025A Class Action settlement regarding the TRW Airbag was recently decided. Based on the Class Action, customers are eligible for certain settlement benefits. Please see attached…
- 11027046Dec 19, 2025A Class Action settlement regarding the TRW Airbag was recently decided. Based on the Class Action, customers are eligible for certain settlement benefits. Impacted vehicles are…
- 11027045Dec 19, 2025Hyundai has settled a class action lawsuit that alleges that certain Hyundai and Kia Class Vehicles (defined below) contain defective ZF-TRW airbag control units (“ZF-TRW ACUs”)…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 6% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2021 | 4 | 3% |
| 2020 | 7 | 4% |
| 2019 | 9 | 6% |
| 2018 | 4 | 1% |
| 2017 | 22 | 3% |
| 2016 | 21 | 3% |
| 2015 | 25 | 2% |
| 2014 | 31 | 4% |
| 2013 | 104 | 5% |
| 2012 | 170 | 11% |
| 2011 | 419 | 12% |
| 2010 | 20 | 6% |
| 2009 | 30 | 7% |
| 2008 | 137 | 32% |
| 2007 | 257 | 37% |
| 2006 | 435 | 42% |
| 2005 | 55 | 33% |
| 2004 | 46 | 23% |
| 2003 | 43 | 22% |
| 2002 | 51 | 16% |
| 2001 | 47 | 23% |
| 2000 | 43 | 16% |
| 1999 | 31 | 25% |
| 1998 | 6 | 12% |
| 1997 | 8 | 16% |
| 1996 | 3 | 13% |
| 1995 | 15 | 23% |
| 1991 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata
453 complaintsOther or unknown
92 complaintsElectrical system
89 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
59 complaintsBrakes
47 complaintsExterior lighting
38 complaintsFuel system
34 complaintsSteering
34 complaintsBody and structure
31 complaintsVehicle speed control
30 complaintsEngine cooling
17 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology