2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: sudden loss of power

Filed Oct 9, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · FL

The car will randomly lose acceleration and jerk forward. It will make a beeping noise while the hev system warning flashes on the dash. It also says to turn off engine. While the warning is flashing and engine light is on it goes into a limp mode and you have limited acceleration. It has almost caused multiple wrecks when I go to acceleration from turning or at lights in traffic because I cant go over 20-30 mph. I have turned the car on and off and the hev system and engine light turns off and the car continues to work normal. It eventually comes back on and does the same loss of power/hev warning. It will be random and does not matter on how fast you are going to trigger the warning lights and loss of power.

Filed Oct 23, 2023 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · FL

Hev warning turn off engine sign while driving on the interstate my car lost power and the car behind me had to suddenly move over this is very unsafe while driving down the interstate

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 Feb 17, 2022 · Engine · 204,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle started to violently shake and lose power while being powered by the engine. The contact stated the accelerator pedal was released and the shaking stopped as the vehicle switched to being powered by the battery. The contact stated as the vehicle was a hybrid vehicle the switch between using the engine and battery was done automatically when the accelerator pedal was released. The contact also stated that an abnormal noise was coming from the engine compartment when the vehicle was started. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was diagnosed as an engine misfire and that the coils needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure continued as soon as the vehicle was picked up from the dealer. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was awaiting diagnostic testing. The contact recently received a Service Campaign from the manufacturer for the engine monitoring logic. The contact was relating the Service Campaign to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 204,000.

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 May 19, 2021 · Engine · CA

The engine begins to shake and makes a dieseling sound, the check engine light comes on, and we lose power to car. As we remove our foot from the gas, the light goes out and the engine stops. Sometimes it comes back on again and we have to pull to the side of the road and turn the car off. After that the check engine light goes away. When the light comes on, power to the engine is immediately cut and reduces as you press the accelerator pedal.

Filed Nov 12, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · NY

While the vehicle is moving the check hybrid system warning light beeps and comes on. The message request to turn engine off. The gas engine sometimes will cut the power to the vehicle causing the vehicle to loss power on the road.

Filed Jul 10, 2019 · Engine, Fuel system · 66,500 miles · NC

Intermittent loss of power "sputter" at any speed with solid mil. Releasing the throttle clears the condition and the mil goes out. Vehicle drives normally with no warning indicators until next occurrence. Cause unknown at this time, began happening a few weeks after engine long block replacement under warranty campaign.

Filed Jun 12, 2017 · Engine, Fuel system · 1,500 miles · NC

Abrupt and total loss of acceleration at full throttle at or near high RPM shift points. This behavior can be reliably reproduced by "flooring it" (all the way, including kickdown) and not letting go - as if one is executing a passing maneuver. The power loss will occur at the next shift point after kick down, and will not be cleared until the accelerator pedal is released and re-applied - or after approximately 15 to 20 seconds after the occurrence if the driver does not release the pedal. In cases where the pedal is not released after the power loss, the vehicle will surge suddenly after the condition has cleared and repeat the behavior described above. This behavior can be reproduced in any drive program mode (eco, normal, sport,) and in both automatic and manual shift selection modes, and is especially prevalent at speeds above 45 MPH where sudden full throttle command causes kickdown. The drivetrain should respond reliably when it is commanded full-throttle. A sudden power loss at a shift point during a full throttle maneuver is unsafe: (1) it disorientates the driver and; (2) causes un-commanded, unexpected, and rapid changes in driving force, weight distribution, friction, and reaction forces which could lead to a loss of control.