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2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: engine knocking or ticking

21 of the 133 complaints about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid describe engine knocking or ticking.

owner complaints
21
of this car's complaints
16%
typical mileage
89,000
recalls
1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 31 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below

Engine knocking or ticking by model year

What owners say

Filed Sep 17, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · OH

While on the highway vehicle started shaking violently, flashing engine light then service hybrid system along with every light on the dash! Car still running poorly, stiff steering very hard to slow down to get to safety! By the time I was able to pull over the engine was knocking and a burning smell was coming from the engine compartment. I popped the hood shut the car off , the exhaust manifold and converter(in one together) was so hot it was glowing! I’m thankful I was able to get to safety without it catching fire because it was on its way there! I called for a tow and sent it to the dealer where Hyundai is replacing the engine.

Filed Feb 21, 2023 · Engine · 163,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at a slow speed out of the driveway, she heard a knocking sound coming from under the hood. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that after the vehicle was retrieved from the dealer, the check engine warning light illuminated after 300 miles. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 163,000.

Filed Sep 1, 2022 · Engine · 34,252 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated and the vehicle decelerated independently. The contact was able to park on the side of the road before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the knock sensor to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 34,252.

Filed Aug 9, 2022 · Engine · NC

My vehicle first went into limp mode and stalled while driving December 2021. Vehicle was taken to Dealership in Alpharetta, GA. I was advised the knock sensor needed an update. The update was completed but the vehicle continued to go in limp mode and stall again March 2022 after driving less than 1000 miles since previous repair. The vehicle was taken to dealership in Wake Forest, NC. This time there was no update for the knock sensor so I was advised they would need to replace knock sensor but it was on backorder until end of May 2022. The knock senor was replaced picked up vehicle and engine light came on by the time I had drove 50 miles and vehicle started to go in limp mode and stall again and car started shaking an bad vibration. Drove the car next morning and it put me down again going into limp mode, stalling, whole dash board lit up every warning light on and dinging, car shaking and made loud noise had to have towed back to dealership. This time dealership claim it came from misfire on cylinder 3 but that doesn't explain all the issues. I was called to pick up car again June 2022 car had bad vibration, knocking, still going into limp and stall mode, hybrid system warning light came on again, gear sticking not changing like it's supposed to had towed back to dealership. This time dealership replaced other 3 cylinders picked up car July 2022. Did a test drive advised car is still stalling, gear still sticking, vibration still , air not cooling and hybrid indicator needle bouncing back and forth from power to 80 never stabilized. Dealership claims can't find anything wrong. I have almost been hit 10 times since December 2021 because of vehicle going into limp mode while driving this is very dangerous to be going 55 to 70 and vehicle drops speed back to 10 all of a sudden in traffic

Filed Jul 28, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · TN

The car requires a quart of oil every 1 to two weeks. Brought it to multiple dealerships and was never given a reason why. Car was making knocking noises anytime driven at 45 or below and sometimes higher. We believe it had to be about the recall Hyundai has advised us about multiple times. We brought it to them on Friday July 22nd. They updated the Hybrid system and we left. Driving the car to work July 27th and the car went into “limp” mode and stated that there was a issue with the hybrid engine and to shut the car off immediately. I was able to pull the car off the road and turn it off. The engine light constantly blinked when the error happened. When I shut the car off and turned it back on, it the same hybrid error shows up on the screen again. We had to have it towed to the same dealership we went to the previous day. They have to diagnose the issue but it might take weeks because they have one hybrid tech.

Filed May 17, 2022 · Engine · WI

Recently Service Campaign 966 (the federal safety agency ID Number: 10210205 Manufacturer Communication Number: 22-01-028H) was applied to my vehicle for improved knock sensor detection system (KSDS) logic. Six days following the software update, my vehicle stalled when DTC P1326 came active during my wife's commute home. We had the vehicle towed to the dealership where a knock sensor was identified to be replaced. 10 days after getting the vehicle back, knocking was heard from the engine compartment and DTC 1326 came active again, causing the vehicle to immediately stall. It did not go into engine protection mode as service campaign 966 indicated it would. My concern is that Hyundai changed the sensitivity of knock detection to prevent warranty claims on engines that may be affected by increased bearing wear; and in preventing replacing engines, they have caused engines (mine included) to stall. This engine stalling is a safety issue and they have left customers with no option to use their vehicle safely if the engine passes their bearing clearance test, which is required for an engine replacement under warranty.

Filed Apr 28, 2022 · Fuel system · WA

Hybrid system shut down while driving on I5 freeway at 60mph speed. Lost power completly finding myself in a very dangerous situation barely making it to the shoulder without being hit by other cars. This happened twice after 2 recalls performed on the car. Knock sensor replacement and software update. First recall was attempted by Hyundai of Kirkland WA. HEV system failure and multiple lights turned on while driving on the freeway the following day. Car was towed to Lee Johnson in Everett WA and I was told the recall was not performed correctly. After repair, same thing happened the following day. HEV failure and multiple lights turned on finding myself once again in very dangerous situation on the same busy freeway. Manufacturer is not taking this seriously. I see they have lots of vehicles with the same problem. Please investigate this failure before somebody dies. Next will file a police report. Car still at the dealership with no news on what might cause this. Has been at the dealer for over a week.

Filed Apr 20, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · TX

the federal safety agency has numerous complaints from owners of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata and 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid with failures associated with the following: abnormal (knocking) noise from engine, reduced motive power and/or hesitation, illumination of the “Check Engine” warning lamp, illumination of engine oil pressure warning lamp, and a burning smell, oil leaking, and smoke. After research, I found the recall 21V301000, which lists “Part 573 Safety Recall Report 21V‑301”, and I have attached it. I believe the piston oil rings are potentially a source of engine failure for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata and 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (since they are from the same manufacturer) and not the process and defect that Hyundai previously listed (that they stated was corrected), yet referenced in their recall. Hyundai and Kia both have defects with their ignition coils that have the shared part number: 27300-2E601, which also appears as: 27300 2E601. We have a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited that is on its 3rd set of ignition coils, and some Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte owners have reported the use of a 4th set of ignition coils. I have researched this part number by contacting multiple Hyundai Certified Parts Departments. A Hyundai Parts Department verified that the Hyundai Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 16-01-003-1 states that it “replaces” part number 27300-2E601 with part number 27300-2E601QQH, but they are the same exact part down to the 27300-2E601 appearing on both parts. One of the Hyundai parts people that I spoke to said that Hyundai put white circle stickers on the top of the ignition coils to differentiate between the older and newer part numbers, but the parts are identical. He said that Hyundai contacted their supplier of the ignition coils and negotiated a lower price due to a high failure rate. This means a significant price difference per ignition coil for the dealers, but keeps a defective part in the concerned vehicles.

Filed Apr 11, 2022 · Engine · FL

On 04/09/2022 around 6:30 PM EDT, while driving on the Florida Turnpike at the posted 70 mph in Orlando FL, the 2015 Sonata Hybrid suddenly shut down in the center of 4-lanes with heavy traffic. The engine would not run and only sputtered and jerked when I gave it any gas. The display screen lit up with multiple failure symbols including the Hybrid System failure, lane detection failure, and several others. I exited the Turnpike and had a local auto store scan the vehicle finding the following DTC’s: 1. P1326: Excessive connecting rod bearing wear 2. U0293: Lost Communication with Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 3. U1004: Not certain The vehicle was checked and found to be full of oil. The vehicle was serviced at the Hyundai Dealer on 02/25/2022 where they specifically updated the “Excessive connecting rod bearing wear” knock sensor software along with a turn signal issue. Having the engine go into a default mode at 70 mph in heavy traffic was a near disaster. A simple warning would have been adequate to all me to safely navigate to the roadside.

Filed Dec 30, 2021 · Engine · CT

1. engine blew 2. driving on highway, lost power, had to coast off exit 3. at dealer was told waiting to hear from Hyundai 4. at dealer 5. oil light went on in between oil changes, had to add oil in between oil changes, knocking, and poor gas mileage, prior to engine blowing, no other warning lights no other warning lights

Filed Mar 25, 2021 · Engine · 76,000 miles · NC

Driving down the road at 65 MPH, the engine started making a ticking noise. Further down the road the ticking became knocking. This prompted the command center to tell me to turn the vehicle off immediately. The vehicle would no longer crank and was giving a camshaft sensor code. I received a recall notice 5 days later. Had the vehicle towed to the dealership. After being told I would need a new engine, and that it wasn't a recall issue, I called national. After a week or so it was confirmed that hyundai would replace the motor at their expense. Never confirming it was because of the recall though I had all the symptoms other than catching on fire. It has now been 2 months and my motor is supposedly on back order, but coming in weekly. Hyundai seems to really be dragging there feet though they lost a lawsuit over motor issues before.

Filed Mar 22, 2021 · Engine · TX

To who reads this, thank you first and foremost to take the time to read this. This is a real person, this is my real story. I have been noticing a knocking engine noise for 5 to 6 weeks and then got the federal safety agency recall number20v746000 in the mail. I set the soonest appointment with the dealership. The day of the appointment I was advised by andy that it would take 3 to 4 weeks for them to look at my vehicle and run it through hyundai's recommended diagnosis. Later I called the hyundai campaign hotline and open case # 18081104. I was told to wait 3 to 5 days for a national representative to get back with me. I called two days later requesting an update and shortly later the dealership called me to inform me my car was ready. Andy said it cleared inspection and I asked if it passed all their tests, I was told yes. This was the same staff member that told me a few steps days prior 3 to 4 weeks. While I was waiting for my vehicle to be brought to me, I overheard the another hyundai rep saying same story told to me about the length of time to diagnosis. Got the diagnosis (repair) details back to find their inspection concluded taking the vehicle for a 7 mile test drive in the city to observe odd knocking noises. Nothing remotely advised from the manufacturer to dealership. I have their report attached but have no clue what to do at this point. I called back hyundai campaign hotline again after getting my vehicle back today. I am told I have the same case no. And to wait another 3 to 5 days for another representative to contact me.

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

EngineReported December 1, 2020 · 128,948 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Veloster, 2012 Santa Fe, 2011-2013 Sonata Hybrid, and 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which over time can result in engine damage.
Risk
A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 198.

Recall number 20V746000 · Recall details

Questions about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid knocking

Is engine knocking or ticking a common problem on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?

21 of 133 owner complaints about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (16%) mention engine knocking or ticking. The model year with the most reports is 2016.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?

There is 1 recall and 31 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Check engine light 31Engine failure 19Stalling 13Loss of power 9Fire or smoke 6Won't shift 6Sunroof shattered 5Won't start 5

All model years of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

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