2016 Hyundai Sonata Engine

Driving and engine began to tick, for a couple minutes, then died. Would not restart.

Rod bearing failed at highway speeds, loss of power and flashing check engine light only after engine failure. This could have caused an accident putting myself and others at risk of bodily damage had I not been able to pull off of the freeway. Engine knock/rattle, eventually leading to catastrophic engine failure. This has been confirmed by a third party trusted and certified technician at an independent shop. Currently in the process of having the damage inspected by the manufacturer.

The vehicle is burning oil, so I had a Hyundai dealer (Brandfon Hyundai New haven, CT) start an oil consumption test. At 1,000 miles the vehicle has no oil. Therefore, the engine can seize and shutdown without warning, which could cause serious injury or accident. Hyundai declined an engine cleaning, which the dealership indicated doesn't work anyway. The next step is engine replacement. However, the dealership won't return my calls. This is a common engine problem with older Hyundai's.

Driving back home [about a 20 min ride] car has been driving fine, with no lights on dashboard EVER showing , obviously on a red light i had the break, then when it turn green the car would not accelerate at ALL. Car was still on with light and radio working the car would just not accelerate. I was on a busy street so I had to push the vehicle by foot with my partner to get it out of the way. Oil and battery seemed fine, I had to call my dad for help he as well did not find anything. We had no other choice but to leave the car on that street parked. Next morning my dad went to check it out and the car would not turn on AT ALL. He called a towing truck and took it to a mechanic in where he said that it was in fact the engine. When driving and prior to other cars I've driven the car there was never a warning sign what so ever this came out unexpectedly, putting my partner and I at risk in a busy street having to move the vehicle by foot.

There is an oil problem with this car - my engine light keeps going on, then it backfires, I brought to the dealership and $2,800 later, I still have the same problem. There is no leak that I can see, the oil just disappears. My mechanic said this is a known problem but Hyandai will not get back to me, I have tried several times with no interaction back

The vehicle is consuming oil because it’s burning it. The mechanic changes my oil and the same day the oil turns black. I have to constantly check the oil gauge and top up the oil when low. Unsure of the damage this might be doing to the motor.

The engine stopped as I was driving on the road.

Engine its completely shot won't go past 55 mph showing code p1326 knock senor bull crap. Which is the same reason and shows same symptoms as all the other recall 198 engines but hyundai won't cover my model vehicle because its not "part of the recall" when it should be I still owe 10k on my vehicle hyundai quoted me 10k to replace the engine i shouldn't be paying anything due to the fact that yall consistently have to same problems on all your vehicles.

I am writing to formally request reconsideration of a denied warranty claim regarding my [XXX] son's 2016 Hyundai Sonata, which recently suffered complete engine failure and Hyundai has denied. The vehicle is equipped with the Theta II engine, which is widely known to be associated with engine failure risks and is covered under Hyundai’s extended warranty program. Despite this, my warranty claim was denied due to the fact that two recall-related services were not completed. I would like to respectfully challenge this decision for the following reasons: The engine failure is consistent with the known defects in the Theta II engine, which Hyundai has acknowledged through its extended warranty program and recall campaigns. I was not properly informed of the outstanding recalls or their impact on warranty eligibility. We purchased the vehicle in November 2024 and had not received any notifications of these recalls. Had I been made aware of these recalls I would have taken immediate action but again, I was not ever notified. The failure of the engine is unrelated to any owner negligence and should be covered regardless of recall status, especially under a defect-related extended warranty program. The failure has left my son without a functioning vehicle and facing a costly engine replacement for an issue Hyundai has accepted responsibility for in thousands of similar cases. He started working at [XXX] to begin saving for his first vehicle. He spent $8,000 of his own money and is now devastated by an issue outside of his control. I am requesting a full reconsideration of my claim and repair costs under the extended warranty program. Due to the Engine failure my sons car locked up and died while traveling with passengers. This was a terrifying safety event as my son was stuck in the driving lane with traffic until the car could be towed. Please let me know what additional information you need to review my case. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Engine failure

While driving my 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SE (89,000 miles), a “Check Hybrid System” warning appeared on the dashboard, followed by a sudden loss of power. Shortly after, the engine began knocking loudly. A local mechanic scanned the codes and saw engine misfire and hybrid system faults. After clearing the codes, the engine ran worse and the knocking increased significantly. I had to tow the car over 700 miles from Whitehorse, Yukon, to the Anchorage Hyundai dealership in Alaska, which cost me over $5,000. The dealership said they hear engine knocking but refuse further diagnosis unless Hyundai initiates a goodwill assistance case. My car has a rebuilt title, but this issue appears to be similar to other known failures and recalls, such as Campaign 198 / NHTSA 20V746000. It is a serious safety issue — I was stranded in the middle of a remote highway. This appears to be a major defect, and Hyundai needs to investigate and support affected customers.

See attached document for complaint.

My car on the freeway started knocking. The check engine light came on. The car immediately caught fire. It is at the tow yard now. We just went through the oil consumption testing and the cleaning. I filed a report in November it failed for misfire and we paid to have the top rebuild. The car failed the oil consumption 1000 miles after the cleaning. We were told to continue to drive. We had 4 people in the car. I have the dash cam with the rod knock. The car has a check engine code. Hyundai needs to be held accountable.

Oil consumption issues burning oil no leaks.

While accelerating from a red light, the engine suddenly lost power and the car stalled in the left turn lane in the middle of traffic. We had to have the vehicle towed to a repair shop, where I was informed that the engine had seized or locked up. The mechanic mentioned this type of failure can happen if the engine loses oil pressure, but we received no warning lights (oil, check engine, or otherwise) prior to the failure. The vehicle has always been properly maintained, including an oil change just a few months prior, and it had not been driven much since. This vehicle was purchased for my daughter to travel to and from college safely and reliably. We have taken great care of it, so the sudden and catastrophic failure of the engine (without any prior warning) is both unacceptable and devastating to our family and we have no way to get her back to her college. I’ve now learned that this year, make, and model: 2016 Hyundai Sonata has had numerous complaints and issues related to sudden engine failure and oil system issues. To my knowledge, this issue has not been officially recalled, despite a pattern of numerous similar reports. This kind of failure puts drivers and passengers at serious risk, particularly when it occurs during active driving conditions like what happened to us as we were stranded in the road and it almost caused a vehicle to hit us. As a parent, I entrusted Hyundai with my family’s safety. I am extremely disappointed by what appears to be a systemic issue and . I urge the agency to reconsider investigating these failures and pressure the manufacturer to do the right thing, stand behind their product and support affected customers like us.

I just recently purchased about a month and a half ago. I was on my way to work and it was a thudded knocking noise before my car slowed down and shut off on the highway. I had to get it towed to a nearby restaurant I had a mobile mechanic come by he put it on a scanner code p0014 came up with the engine light on.. When he cut the car on and heard the noise he said my engine has failed.. I haven’t had any prior issues with my car before this date.. He mentioned it’s recalls on the engine I have my VIN doesn’t show it’s a recall but it’s the same issues described happened

My Hyundai is experiencing severe and continuous engine oil consumption that creates a safety risk. The vehicle loses a significant amount of oil within 1,000–1,500 miles, sometimes showing almost no oil on the dipstick despite recent oil changes. There are no external leaks, no burning smell, and no visible oil under the car. The cause remains UNKNOWN, but it appears to be internal engine burning or a manufacturing defect. I have taken the vehicle to the Hyundai dealer multiple times. They performed oil consumption tests but either reported “normal results” or did not provide clear explanations. The issue continues exactly the same. I also contacted Hyundai corporate, but no meaningful assistance or goodwill support was provided. The dealer acknowledges no leaks but still refuses to repair or replace the engine. This problem is dangerous because the oil level drops without warning lights or error codes. If I do not manually check the dipstick, the engine could run dry and seize while driving. Sudden engine failure on highways or in traffic can cause accidents. I now have to frequently top up oil just to keep the engine alive. I have maintained the vehicle properly and completed all requested tests. The cause is still UNKNOWN, but based on similar Hyundai cases, it may involve piston rings, valve seals, or internal engine wear. Many Hyundai owners report the same issue, suggesting a broader defect. The dealer’s only advice is to “keep monitoring oil,” which is not a safe long-term solution. This defect poses a serious safety concern and financial burden. I am filing this complaint so NHTSA can investigate, as the engine may fail unexpectedly, putting me and others at risk.

My 2016 Hyundai Sonata with the DOHC GDI Theta-II engine is experiencing severe engine oil consumption consistent with Hyundai's known TXXI/TXXC extended warranty defect. The oil pressure warning has flashed while driving or braking, the engine runs rough when slowing down, engine has made knocking noises, and there is smoke/vapor with a burnt oil smell when removing the oil cap after driving. The oil level drops rapidly between changes despite proper maintenance. This issue poses a risk of engine failure, stalling, or fire while driving. I have maintained the vehicle on time with all oil change receipts. A Hyundai dealership refused to perform the required warranty diagnostics even though this issue falls under Hyundai's extended warranty for Theta-II engines. This is a serious safety concern, and no corrective action has been taken.

Engine failure. Happened in the middle of the beltway in dc. Was left in the middle of traffic had to get car towed. No lights were on prior to this happening. Seems everyone i have talked to with a senata has had engine failure and has ultimately got a new one replaced by the delorship. The 2016 isn't on the recall list only models 2011-2014. But I have heard of numerous 2015-2016 models having the same issue. This car barley had 110k miles on it before the engine failure. These vehicles are not safe and there needs to be something done. It is currently being looked at by delorship. Im hoping for the best.

My vehicles engine gave out on highway 95 . I towed it to the Hyundai dealership after a mechanic friend informed me of the recall with the Sonata Engines. Hyundai is refusing to assist with my engine failure under the recall or my lifetime warranty. They are stating that the recall is voided due to my dipstick size and that my lifetime warranty on the engine is voided due to another safety software recall not being updated before the engine recall; I was not informed by Hyundai of either recall. I am now without a vehicle

THE ENGINE THEY EVEN HAVE A RECALL ON MY CAR ENGINE THIS HAVE CAUSED NO RISK THIS PROBLEM HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED BY A MECHANIC HAVEN’T BEEN LEGALLY INSPECTED YES THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON OFTEN

Extremely well maintained car began burning excessive amounts of oil. Called Hyundai corporate and they said that there is an extended 150,000 mile warranty on the engine and set me up with the Metrowest Hyundai dealership in Framingham, MA to begin oil consumption test procedure. Dealership performed test and I burned almost 2 out of 5.1 quarts in 1,000 miles. There is no reason a well maintained engine, with regular oil changes well within the manufacturer recommended interval and using full synthetic oil, coupled with regular engine maintenance and Techron, plus at least 80% highway miles, should be doing this. Dealership then performed combustion chamber clean as step 2 of process and the entire timing system began failing after that (P0010 and P0011). The car is now at the point of almost catastrophic engine failure and it will cost $6,200 to repair (the value of the car itself). Hyundai corporate then told me I'm actually not covered and that the warranty only covers rod bearing failure. So both they and/or the dealership strung me along, and the car is clearly not made well and Hyundai is not addressing these concerns. I know many people have had these issues with these cars. In my case, trying to get them addressed then destroyed my car.

Unknown

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Engine How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was driving 60 mph down a busy highway when I lost the ability to accelerate—putting myself and others at risk while trying to get off the road to a safe location. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? Yes. A mechanic that has been in our area for decades. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem before the failure, and when did they first appear? No.

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to respond. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while driving around a corner, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact continued depressing the accelerator to the floorboard; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and the engine seized. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with bearing failure. The contact then towed the vehicle to the residence. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,336.