2016 Hyundai Sonata Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 38about this part
- Share
- 5%of 729 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 55,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 38 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata, 5% of the 729 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 55,500 miles. 3 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My alarm horn dont work, my overhead light does not shut off properly , doors dont lock back shows opned when closed. Water in back door latch froze and cracked my casing. This all happemed at the same time. Drained my battery and they replaced a box in door. Now battery dies again and it is doing it again. A constant problem since last year. It is not dependable for me due to disabled and senior citzen.”
NHTSA complaint #11164572, filed 2019-01, 17,000 miles“Hi, the Sonata lim the light issue is not only terrible, but I feel extremely dangerous. We brought in the car this week for this issue and with the service team, determined that it is a problem with the limited's only. The non-limited version, if you look at the light assembly, although it looks the same, the entire bulb is encased in the metal/aluminum. When looking at the Sonata limited one, you will notice that the top edge of that same housing is cut off. The dealer ordered another light assembly as they didn't have a limited in their lot, and he just called to tell me it looks identical. …”
NHTSA complaint #11166282, filed 2019-01, 10,000 miles“On 3 separate occasions while driving between 45 and 60 MPH, on a arkansas state hwy and a us hwy both head lights went completely off and then came back on. Twice in oct. 2019 while changing from high beam to low beam, once in nov 2019 head lights went off with out using high beam to low beam. Taking car to dealership on 12/4/19.”
NHTSA complaint #11286910, filed 2019-12, 99,989 miles“Hard shifts when in sport mode and when it doesn't do a hard shift the vehicle will shut off on the highway causing the headlights and power steering to not fiction cause a possible crash have to stop and put in park to restart engine”
NHTSA complaint #11019424, filed 2017-08, 20,000 miles“I was driving at night and my passenger headlights went out. About 2 years prior the same thing happened but it was the driver side headlight that went out. It was $1100 to get the driver side replaced and now here i am having to pay the same amount to replace the passenger side headlights. It was not a simple replacing the bulb. Something inside went broke causing the dealership to have to install a whole new headlight set.”
NHTSA complaint #11741649, filed 2026-06Related service bulletins
- 11025476Nov 6, 2025This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp…
- 10178175Jul 14, 2020This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to moisture accumulation in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. The…
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 15% |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2020 | 2 | 1% |
| 2019 | 18 | 11% |
| 2018 | 22 | 6% |
| 2017 | 20 | 3% |
| 2016 | 38 | 5% |
| 2015 | 38 | 3% |
| 2014 | 120 | 16% |
| 2013 | 197 | 10% |
| 2012 | 141 | 9% |
| 2011 | 249 | 7% |
| 2010 | 10 | 3% |
| 2009 | 14 | 3% |
| 2008 | 20 | 5% |
| 2007 | 35 | 5% |
| 2006 | 45 | 4% |
| 2005 | 17 | 10% |
| 2004 | 5 | 2% |
| 2003 | 3 | 2% |
| 2002 | 2 | 1% |
| 2001 | 1 | 0% |
| 2000 | 2 | 1% |
| 1999 | 3 | 2% |
| 1998 | 1 | 2% |
| 1997 | 2 | 4% |
| 1996 | 1 | 4% |
| 1993 | 1 | 4% |
| 1992 | 1 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata
453 complaintsOther or unknown
92 complaintsElectrical system
89 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
59 complaintsBrakes
47 complaintsFuel system
34 complaintsSteering
34 complaintsBody and structure
31 complaintsVehicle speed control
30 complaintsAir bags
21 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